Image Credit: White: George Pimentel/Getty Images; Keys: Matt Carr/Getty ImagesMy favorite part of “Another Way to Die,” the new James Bond theme song that just leaked, would have to be the lyric where Jack White attempts to work in the title of the movie — and can’t quite bring himself to utter that much-maligned phrase: “Another tricky little gun/Giving solace to the one/That’ll never see the sunshine.” Just say it, Jack. Quantum of Solace. It’s not as bad a title as everyone says. You could give those words a real cred boost if you’d just mention them in passing! Okay, maybe I’m still alone on that one. And maybe he’s saying “silence,” not “solace” — I can’t really tell from the fuzzy radio rip that I’m listening to (below).
Anyway! I really dig this song. Alicia Keys and Jack White have way better musical chemistry than I expected them to: Jack ratchets up his usual riff-tastic retroisms with some Bond-appropriate orchestral flourishes, which in turn complement Alicia’s soaring vocals better than your average stripped-down Stripes cut might. Granted, “Another Way to Die” is no “Goldfinger” or “Live and Let Die.” But it’s easily as much fun as “A View to a Kill” or “Die Another Day” (both of which are thoroughly enjoyable tunes, so don’t even start, naysayers).
Where would “Another Way to Die” rank on your personal list of fave Bond songs? A final note before you weigh in: I’d just like to point out that I kinda-sorta predicted that the Quantum of Solace theme song would be a historically unprecedented duet between a pasty, semi-reclusive indie dude and a soulful lady with a big voice. (Check out the parenthetical sentence at the end of the third paragraph.) And now my kinda-sorta prediction has come true, and the musical fruit it has borne is oh-so-glorious. Feel free to offer your thanks below — or don’t you like “Another Way to Die” as much as I do?
That is FAR better than I was expecting… I think it fits the redesigned Bond perfectly; I was listening and could instantly picture silhouettes of curvaceous women holding guns. I’m going to have another listen…
Did you just put the wretched, unlistenable “die another day” in the same sentence with Duran Duran’s classic “view to a kill”? Wow.
Loves it!
That was a terrible song!!!! I stopped listening half way through it, it just sounded like some hip hopper on the street corner and not the smooth moves of James Bond.
“You Know My Name” is still my favorite Bond song, this one easily becomes my least. I hope that you are wrong in saying this is Quantom of Solace’s song, or I’ll have to cover my ears when it starts to play
It is GONE – snatched from youtube!
Bad bad bad.
NOOOOO! It’s Gone! Dammit.
I like it better than the Chris Cornell song.
It’s here – http://www.imeem.com/people/Gnuk1-O/music/PFQVHzx8/alicia_keys_another_way_to_die_feat_jack_white/?d=1
Other than that weird break 40 seconds in, I like much of the music and the feel of the instrumental parts. Not a fan of the voices and lyrical flow really.
The tone of the song does fit the retooled Bond though.
But…not a fan…at all really.
Other than the weird break 40 seconds in, I enjoyed much of the music and instrumental parts.
I don’t like the voices or lyrical flow at all though really. Doesn’t sound right to me.
The tone does fit the retooled Bond though
But…not a fan…at all really, as a whole.
On first opinion, I really didn’t like this song. Especially considering I saw the Coca-Cola commercial that was just the first minute or so with no vocals. Based on that alone, I had a bad taste in my mouth.
That stuck for the first listen.
That being said, after a few listens, I’m really starting to like it. It has got a great flair and a classy feel to it, and the addition of the horns adds something nice to the atmosphere.
I still like “You Know My Name” better, though.
well, Alicia looks smoking hot in that picture. But the song blows. No where near as good as Chris Cornell in Casino.
MUCH better than I expected! Cornell’s song was good but didn’t go with the theme of the film at all. This sound fits a James Bond picture much better!
Curse you copyright claims! Curse you to hell! On a side note the very title “Quantum of Solace” screams Depeche Mode, non?