Which theme songs from Daniel Craig's time as James Bond had a license to thrill, and which ones left fans shaken, rather than stirred? After the poor critical reception afforded to Pierce Brosnan's final Bond film, Die Another Day, the iconic franchise was in need of an overhaul. 007 would return stripped-down, updated and humanized with Casino Royale in 2006, kicking off a new dawn with Daniel Craig in the lead role. During this era, James Bond achieved unprecedented critical and commercial success, most notably with Skyfall, and although the series hasn't always been perfect (looking at you, Quantum of Solace), Craig is generally considered to have been a stellar Bond.
Of huge significance to any era of the James Bond franchise are the theme songs, some of which have even lingered in the memory longer than the films they accompanied. Bond themes are an international cinematic institution, and performing one is widely considered an honorary achievement. Like the films, however, the themes of the Daniel Craig era include both hits and misses. Here are all 5 modern James Bond theme songs ranked from worst to best, including Billie Eilish's new "No Time To Die."
Sam Smith - "Writing's On The Wall"
Sam Smith is already a fairly divisive singer, and the added expectations that come with performing a Bond theme song didn't do him any favors. "Writing's On The Wall" is easily one of the most forgettable tracks in Bond's history, and Smith's delicate vocals don't evoke the same emotions 007 followers have come to expect. The Spectre theme also fails to meaningfully connect to the film it represents - the lyrics barely relate to Daniel Craig's character and the music lacks the punch a spy soundtrack requires.
Jack White & Alicia Keys - "Another Way To Die"
A celebrated songwriter he may be, but offbeat indie raconteur, Jack White, is hardly a natural musical accompaniment to the confident and seductive Bond. "Another Way To Die" is a solid song, featuring the kind of toe-tapping chorus and wacky guitar riffs that made The White Stripes famous, but it lacks the qualities fans would usually associate with a Bond theme. The undoubted highlight is Alicia Keys' vocals (when White lets her get a word in), and it's an enigma as to why she wasn't just given a Shirley Bassey-esque ballad to belt out instead.
Chris Cornell - "You Know My Name"
Renowned for his work with Soundgarden and Audioslave, Chris Cornell was an outside choice to pen the soundtrack for Daniel Craig's debut, especially as a solo artist. While even the singer's biggest fans are unlikely to consider "You Know My Name" one of his best tunes, the high-energy song has an exotic swagger that fits Bond perfectly and the horn motifs hark back to the classic Bond era. A good song, perhaps overshadowed by the film itself.
Billie Eilish - "No Time To Die"
Although Eilish was a somewhat controversial choice to sing out Daniel Craig's tenure as James Bond, she proved the doubters wrong with "No Time To Die." The sorrowful instrumentals perfectly fit the film's function as a definitive ending to this iteration of Bond. Lyrically, Eilish is mysterious without being vague and her vocal gymnastics are reminiscent of the more iconic Bond themes of yore. The song itself might be a little poppy compared to previous efforts, but never in a way that undermines the darker elements woven throughout.
Adele - "Skyfall"
Adele's Oscar winning "Skyfall" ensured that Daniel Craig's third James Bond movie wasn't just the pinnacle of his cinematic output, but also featured the definitive theme song of his era. Just as Craig's 007 dragged the classic character kicking and screaming into the modern age, "Skyfall" is an old-school James Bond track given a contemporary makeover. With Adele's flawless vocals, the song more than deserved its big Oscar win.
