Certain movie theme songs seem to perfectly capture the character they were written for. John Williams has a particular knack for this (Indiana Jones, Superman, Harry Potter to name a few). But perhaps the theme that best evokes the title character of any movie is the James Bond theme by John Barry. Interestingly, there are three musical themes for James Bond: the aforementioned James Bond theme (which has the surf guitar riff), the 007 theme (introduced in From Russia with Love), and the On Her Majesty’s Secret Service theme (which resurfaces in a number of Bond movies, mostly during chase sequences).

In addition to the eponymous James Bond theme, beginning with Goldfinger, every Bond movie has had song that was sung over the title sequence. Like the Bond movies themselves, some of these are timeless and badass, others are shit, pure shit (yes RayRay, I meant to type it that way — it’s a riff on Bond, James Bond).

Dr No – An odd start to the franchise featuring the surf guitar sound of the James Bond theme over a fairly annoying title sequence of colored dots on the screen. Odd because it abruptly switches to silhouettes of people dancing and then finishes three blind guys walking (to a Calypso version of Three Blind Mice). Fortunately, subsequent Bond title sequences were much better and would (for decades to come) have adolescent boys straining their eyes attempting to discern the nipples of the silhouetted figures of women.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5jjYLsh1V4

From Russia with Love – There is something sweeping and epic about this theme. It sounds more like something out of one of those 3 hour movies from the 1960’s than it does a Bond movie. It probably could have worked just as well as the theme for Dr. Zhivago. Incidentally, the version that plays over the opening titles (complete with a belly dancer) is instrumental only. The vocal version of the song is heard 18 minutes into the movie playing on a radio and has been added to the video below.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pka0FczsOfo

Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey sings what feels like the first real James Bond song. Maybe that’s because it’s the first one to be sung over the opening credits. The lyrics really come off as a warning to materialistic women to beware of Goldfinger and his “cold finger”. Not having a vagina myself, I’m not sure the implications of this. Kinda creepy and really has little to do with the actual character of Goldfinger. “Do you expect me to talk?” “No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to feel my cold finger.”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgN50uAp4pg

Thunderball – Here we go, boys. If this song doesn’t jack you up and make you ready to kick ass, then you probably don’t like the movie 300 either. Tom Jones pretty much lays out what a badass Bond is through the song’s lyrics: “He always runs while others walk, He acts while other men just talk, He looks at this world and wants it all, So he strikes like Thunderball.” Seriously, why not just call this the Sean Connery theme? And this was back when Tom Jones was getting as much pussy as Sean Connery. Like I said: Bad Ass. Oh, and I’m pretty sure I saw a tit in the opening credits.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-uFNGk5K7Y

You Only Live Twice – Nancy Sinatra sings what sounds like the theme song to “From Japan with Love”. When you think of 007, are the first two words in your brain “love” and “dreams”? Well, they’re the most used words in this song. I thought Bond was about kicking ass and boning hot babes… Nancy herself was pretty bone worthy herself back in 1967. In fact, her spread in Playboy in 1995 was pretty smoking too.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDitUVMMzE0

So, five movies into the franchise and we basically have an amazing musical theme, one badass title song (Thunderball), and a singer I totally would have boned back in 1967 had I not still been swimming around in my dad’s ballsack. Next week, we’ll look at the next five songs in the series (which includes the introduction of two new actors in the role of Bond).