Top 10 James Bond theme songs

Louis Armstrong’s swan song for 007 isn’t too Bondian in nature, but it’s deeply poignant for a reason; the title is taken from Bond’s final words in the film, spoken after his wife was gunned down by Blofeld. That devastating scene destroyed us.
Most Bond moment: ‘We have all the time in the world / Just for love’

A Beatle singing a Bond song: Aggressive solo number, bombastic guitars, dramatic key changes – it’s all quite remarkable.
Most Bond moment: ‘What does it matter to you when you got a job to do / You gotta do it well’

The first title song to be titled something other than the name of the Bond film, the ‘You’re so Vain’ singer captured the spirit of Roger Moore’s Bond: cool, charming, suave.
Most Bond moment: ‘Nobody does it half as good as you / Baby you’re the best’

It’s the most successful song of the series – no, it doesn’t have ‘Skyfall’s Oscar but the theme topped the Billboard charts – and it’s easy to see why: it’s danceable, it’s fun, it’s a total ’80s classic.
Most Bond moment: ‘Dance into the fire, that fatal kiss is all we need’

One of the most underrated, underappreciated Bond songs in the franchise, it’s the Bond formula updated for a fresh, leftfield alt-rock vibe. It makes us wish Portishead would record a Bond banger.
Most Bond moment: ‘There’s no point in living if you can’t feel the life’

Expectations were high for ‘Skyfall’ – back in 2012, Adele could do no wrong. It’s a cryptic, moody ballad – every inch the Adele song, every inch the classic Bond theme – that not only drew from Monty Norman’s original theme but also drew comparisons to Shirley Bassey’s Bond tunes. Adele was the most inspired choice in recent times, especially after the butchering that was Madonna’s ‘Die Another Day’.
Most Bond moment: ‘You can take my name but you’ll never have my heart’

The man behind many an iconic Bond theme, John Barry returned to score the sultry song – this time infused with an Oriental flavour befitting the film’s Japan setting. It’s one of the prettiest, most sparkling 007 title themes; the tune is haunting, its opening bars with the iconic, lush French horns and violins pave the way for Nancy Sinatra’s silky smooth vocals against an exotic, romantic orchestration.
Most Bond moment: ‘You drift through the years and life seems tame / Till one dream appears and love is its name’

The crooner nailed it with this classic – an expansive, old-school approach to the title theme which, seeing as ‘Dr. No’ was accompanied only by the instrumental Bond theme, was the first official Bond song and the first to be fully scored by John Barry. The track set the tone for the long-lasting Barry/Bond relationship: it had style, it had size, it told a story.
Most Bond moment: ‘My running around is through / I fly to you from Russia with loveee!’

It was a close call between ‘Diamonds are Forever’ and ‘Goldfinger’ (the less said about ‘Moonraker’, the better), but the former won out on account of its larger-than-life, pop culture versatility: Arctic Monkeys covered it at Glastonbury and Kanye West sampled it in ‘Diamonds from Sierra Leone’. Brass-led, it has a chorus as big as Shirley Bassey’s sly vocals, backed by John Barry’s suspenseful soundtracking.
Most Bond moment: ‘I don’t need love, for what good will love do me?’

If you ever needed a testosterone-fueled romp, ‘Thunderball’ it is. Tom Jones was born to sing a Bond song; his swagger matches that of Sean Connery’s, the bravado all but sprints with the song. It’s not always about the best song; it’s also that, upon first listen, you should be awash with visions of a 007 film. It should be easy and elegant, and it should exude Bondness. It should be compulsory that every singer campaigning or commissioned to sing a Bond title theme be forced to listen to ‘Thunderball’ over and over and over again.
Most Bond moment: ‘Any woman he wants, he’ll get’