GoldenEye (song)

"GoldenEye" is a song written by Bono and the Edge and performed by Tina Turner that served as the theme song for the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye. Released as a single in November 1995, the song was a chart hit in Europe, topping the Hungarian Singles Chart and reaching the top five in Austria, Finland, France, Italy, and Switzerland, and the top ten in Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It was less successful outside the continent, reaching number 43 in Canada, number 63 in Australia, and number two on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.

"GoldenEye"
Single by Tina Turner
from the album GoldenEye: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from the United Artists film and Wildest Dreams
ReleasedNovember 7, 1995
RecordedSeptember 1995[1]
StudioOlympic Sound Studios (London, UK)
Length4:41
Label
Songwriter(s)Bono, the Edge
Producer(s)Nellee Hooper
Tina Turner singles chronology
"Proud Mary"
(1993)		 "GoldenEye"
(1995)		 "Whatever You Want"
(1996)
James Bond theme singles chronology
"Licence to Kill"
(1989)		 "GoldenEye"
(1995)		 "Tomorrow Never Dies"
(1997)
Music video
"GoldenEye" on YouTube

Background and release

The song was written by Bono and the Edge of Irish rock band U2[2] for Tina Turner, after they learned that she had been invited to sing the theme song to the upcoming James Bond movie. The track was produced and mixed by British producer/remixer/composer Nellee Hooper, best known for his work with Massive Attack, Madonna, U2 and Björk. The track reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-five hit in several European countries.[3][4]

"GoldenEye" was first released on the original motion picture soundtrack and the following year it was included on Turner's album Wildest Dreams. The song has been covered by Nicole Scherzinger for the 2010 remake of the GoldenEye 007 video game.[5]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "gloriously over-the-top James Bond theme".[6] He stated that it is a "tingly, feline performance" by Turner, and added that producer Nellee Hooper "captures the essence of the movie, wrapping the track in sweeping strings and horns that are fondly reminiscent" of the 1964 movie Goldfinger. He also noted that U2's Bono and the Edge "get in on the fun, writing a tune that's fraught with cryptic lyrical twists and romantic intrigue."[7] Nisid Hajari from Entertainment Weekly said that the James Bond myth "certainly allows for the trinity of Sex, Danger, and Elegance to verge on melodrama." He noted the song's "self-conscious vocals and maudlin horns and strings", and added that "Goldeneye" "blithely crosses the line".[8] Liverpool Echo noted that Turner "manages to sound like Shirley Bassey".[9] David Cook from The Michigan Daily wrote that "it's amazing how similar this song sounds to other opening songs from previous James Bond movies — there must be some magic formula to making all of the sound so Bondlike."[10] Music & Media called "GoldenEye" a "perfect candidate" for the soundtrack of 007's "latest adventure", and wrote that Turner "and her raw R&B power easily fit in the Shirley Bassey tradition." They also noted that composers Bono and The Edge "stayed close to the traditional James Bond sound".[11] Jeff Farance from The News-Journal said in his movie review, that the title sequence is "pure Bond, with Tina Turner belting out the title song in the grand tradition of magnificent music for 007."[12]

Music video

The music video for "GoldenEye" was directed by English film director Jake Scott and made its debut at the end of October 1995.[13][14] It features Sudanese model Alek Wek.[15]

Versions and remixes
  • Soundtrack album version/Wildest Dreams album version (U.S.) – 4:43
  • Single edit/Wildest Dreams album version (Europe) – 3:31
  • A/C Mix – 4:02
  • Urban A/C Mix by Dave Hall – 4:58
  • Club Edit by David Morales – 4:02
  • Morales Club Mix – 10:00
  • Morales 007 Dub – 9:37
  • Morales Dub of Bond – 5:36
  • Video edit – 3:20

Samples and covers
  • In 1999, French rapper Kohndo has sampled parts of the instrumentals in his song "Survivre".
  • In 2008, Lil Mass, another French rapper, sampled it in the song "Beatdown".
  • The song appeared in an episode of MTV series Human Giant and again in the 2010 film Beatdown.
  • American singer Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer of pop group Pussycat Dolls, covered the single for the 2010 remake of the video game GoldenEye 007. The song plays during the game's introduction.
  • Finnish alternative rock band End of You covered the song for their 2008 album Mimesis.
  • Prominent DJ David Morales has performed a club remix of the song, while record producer Dave Hall has provided a more urban flavour on his remix, both versions were included on the European four-track CD single.

Charts and certifications

Alternate rejected theme song

Like many Bond themes before it, Tina Turner's version was not the only recorded song for the film. Swedish pop band, Ace of Base also recorded a song that was optioned to the studio. Ace of Base's "The GoldenEye" was later reworked into "The Juvenile" which appeared on their Da Capo album in 2002.

See also

References
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  2. https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/17/movies/film-review-that-sexist-misogynist-dinosaur-james-bond.html
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited
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  5. GoldenEye 007 Video Game: Behind the Music with Nicole Scherzinger HD Game Trailers.com. Retrieved 11 December 2011
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