Rejected James Bond themes

And it's crazy that they turned down Shirley Bassey for Quantum of Solace!

Interesting, OP. I agree, the Blondie one is pretty good!

Radiohead's magnificent song for SPECTRE really owns this thread. I didn't hate the Sam Smith song as much as others did, but the Bond producers really missed an opportunity here.

I would have never have imagined Elvis or Johnny Cash singing a Bond theme.

What is all this "submitted and rejected" business? In the Bond golden age, John Barry wrote the score AND the title song. Singers "auditioned," not songwriters.

Miss Julie Rogers (pre top school for models).

Thanks R1, I've been playing that for a few days now. Someone commented on Youtube that they were glad the Bassey wasn't chosen because they that would make them think they were going to see a good movie.

Not rejected, but alternate artist.

But would Johnny Cash pass out in the recording booth hitting a high note?

Phyllis Hyman -Never Say Never Again

The Johnny Cash theme for Thunderball is a much better song but it's not a theme. It gives away too much of the plot.

There is a cd collection of rejected/alternate Bond themes I downloaded several years ago.

R10 Phyllis was amazing in that version. It's really absurd that they didn't go with her and instead went with someone who could barely sing. All because of the ego of the composer on the project

That "Mr. Kiss-Kiss-Bang-Bang" song (recorded by Shirley Bassey and Dionne Warwick) is just... bad.

Like, bordering on old SCTV skit parody. Lola Heatherton should have performed it on one of her "Valentine's Day Luv-In" specials.

[quote]Interesting, OP. I agree, the Blondie one is pretty good!

I was about to say how AWFUL it was and how weak her voice. The worst of all of them.

R12 Bonnie Tyler apparently rejected the chosen song

Damn R3, you are right, and thanks! I listened to the others and just couldn’t hear any of them replace the songs eventually chosen for each film. And while I think Sam Smith’s song was just fine for Spectre, Radiohead’s submission isn’t “too dark,” it’s perfect. Good on them for putting it out nonetheless.

Alice Cooper.

I really loved Clay Aiken's version of Skyfall. Why did they reject it?

Probably because he sang it on all fours, R18....

^ LOL!

I can understand why they turned down Alice Cooper's song, but then I don't understand why they commissioned it in the first place. Kind of like hiring Prince to do the 1989 "Batman" soundtrack.