Film Fatale

On the radio this past weekend, I heard an NPR feature about some of the best and worst attempts at James Bond theme songs. Commentator Andy Trudeau, who usually checks in at Academy Award time to listen to the Oscar-nominated film scores, pointed out some of oddities of the audio portion of the Bond franchise. [CASINO ROYALE's song, "You Know My Name," is performed by Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell. Unlike most Bond theme songs, movie's title doesn't appear in the lyrics.]

NPR's site will let you listen to the story and four of the songs -- including Tom Jones' hip-shaking "Thunderball."

Pity the lyricists who had to fit some of the longer, stranger titles (A VIEW TO A KILL, THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS) Okay, don't pity A-ha, the Swedish synth-pop group who did the song for the latter film. Trudeau reads the lyrics and they're like refrigerator magnet randomness.

I'm fond of Lulu's song THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN. Too much information.

Love is required whenever he's hired, It comes just before the kill. No-one can catch him, no hit man can match him For his million dollar skill.

and

His eye may be on you or me.
Who will he bang?
We shall see. Oh yeah!