Six-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish released the theme song she wrote and recorded for the forthcoming James Bond film No Time To Die. Eilish took the music world by storm with the aforementioned award wins, 13 platinum singles, and a massively popular debut album. Eilish, who is only 18-years old, is the youngest person to record a James Bond theme in the history of the 50-year old franchise, adding one more impressive note to her resume.
Each Bond film gets its own unique theme song, often a reflection of the film's era, from the silky Connery times to the more recent Daniel Craig years. Eilish joins an exceptional roster of musicians who have previously recorded themes, from old-timers like Tom Jones, Louis Armstrong, Paul McCartney, and Carly Simon to more contemporary artists, like Sam Smith and Adele. The theme song typically sets the tone for the rest of the film, and the inclusion of Eilish, who is known for particularly haunting melodies, suggests No Time To Die might be a somber entry in the long-running franchise.
The single, titled "No Time To Die," is produced with her brother/collaborator FINNEAS alongside Stephen Lipson, with orchestral arrangements by Hans Zimmer and Matt Dunkley, and Johnny Marr on guitar. Eilish released the song to her YouTube channel, and within minutes the song racked up over 250,000 views. “There are a chosen few who record a Bond theme. I am a huge fan of Billie and FINNEAS," said the film's director Cary Joji Fukunaga. "Their creative integrity and talent are second to none and I cannot wait for audiences to hear what they’ve brought – a fresh new perspective whose vocals will echo for generations to come.” Working on a film is a completely new experience for Eilish, who said, "It feels crazy to be a part of this in every way. To be able to score the theme song to a film that is part of such a legendary series is a huge honor. James Bond is the coolest film franchise ever to exist. I’m still in shock."
The young singer's rise to fame is something of an overnight success story. She began her career on SoundCloud, and then broke out into worldwide stardom when she released her album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, in March of 2019. Her single "Bad Guy" became the song of the year at the Grammy's, the album won album of the year, and Eilish was awarded best new artist.
No Time To Die is Daniel Craig's final Bond outing, and many believe that Bond will be killed off before the film's finale. But before Craig departs the series, he'll once again flirt with a femme fatale, drink a martini, crash a few cars, and blow up a bunch of stuff. The film also introduces a female secret agent, perhaps setting up James Bond's future replacement, according to some images from the set. Craig's been an excellent Bond, and he will be missed in the role he's played for the last fifteen years, but the female-future of the franchise sets up exciting possibilities for what comes next. We'll find out Bond's fate and get to hear Eilish's song on the big screen when No Time To Die hits theaters on April 10, 2020.
Source: Billie Eilish via YouTube