Still more lazy thoughts from this one…

Friday Song – “Skyfall” by Adele

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Skyfall-Title

Well, with a certain film…ahem…opening today, thought this a good time to look back at one of those recent Bond songs. Only helps that the singer Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, aka Adele, has done it again. Her pre-album release single “Hello” is capturing my heart and mind at the moment. As my good friend, Richard Kirkham, highlighted it in the final post yesterday for his Double O Countdown series, under the heading of:

Adele gives Shirley Bassey a run for her money.

“The title song is lush, mysterious and romantic. It kicks in with a chorus that is dramatic and brings the intensity level up very effectively. That it is played over some spectacular title images adds to it’s luster.”

So very true. Has it really been three years since “Skyfall” debuted? Time sure flies. Seems like James Christopher Monger agreed with both of us in his Allmusic review from awhile back:

“Speculation as to whether or not Adele would be providing the 23rd James Bond installment with its signature theme song began in 2011 after she mentioned a “special project” in an interview with BBC One chat show host Jonathan Ross. Co-written with producer Paul Epworth and swaddled in appropriately lush orchestration by composer J.A.C. Redford (Thomas Newman was responsible for the film’s score), “Skyfall” didn’t disappoint, skillfully marrying the brooding cinematic bombast of previous Bond outings to the soulful English singer/songwriter’s stylish retro-croon, resulting in one of the most satisfying slabs of 007 goodness since Shirley Bassey‘s “Goldfinger.””

I’m holding back judgment for Sam Smith’s Writing’s on the Wall till after seeing SPECTRE and how well the song works within the film. Still, it was bound to suffer some compared to Adele’s stellar work with this. “Skyfall” an immediate throwback to the grand theatrical musical interludes that marked the early Bond films, and certainly within this artist’s wheelhouse. Right in tune at meeting chart expectations out the gate, and then exceeding them, too.

That said, sit back once more and enjoy the glory of a song that plays wonderfully on the big screen, or with your eyes closed and your headphones on…in other words, a tune working on all cylinders, preferably those pumping in an Aston Martin DB5, to be sure.

26 Responses to “Friday Song – “Skyfall” by Adele”

    • le0pard13

      Can’t wait for this evening! If I could leave early from work, it’d be better. 😉

      Look forward to seeing how Sam’s song works with the titles. Thank you very much, Richard. 🙂

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  5. The Sci-Fi Fanatic

    An absolutely mammoth track. It ranks among the best and I’m stunned when I don’t see it on the Top 10 Bond songs lists. It’s an incredible track to a great movie.

    I love the new song as well Michael. Just amazing.

    I can’t wait to buy 25 and the Target edition will have three bonus tracks in case you didn’t know.

    Also, one final point, I liked Skyfall almost immediately and have since never tired of the song. Adele is that kind of talent.

    Interestingly, I LOVE Sam Smith and his album In The Lonely Hour ranks among one of my favorites of that year. In fact, that album along with anything Of Monsters and Men are among the very best for me, but I have to tell you I was disappointed by the new Sam Smith theme. It’s okay and maybe it will grow on me, but it doesn’t touch Adele and Skyfall.

    Okay, there you have it from a fellow music fan.

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  6. ruth

    Man how I miss Adele’s voice singing this beautiful song. I can’t stand Sam Smith’s latest and unfortunately it sort of translates to how I feel about the movie too 😦

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    • le0pard13

      Yeah, we’ve a difference of opinion with regard to this, Ruth. Granted, while it’s not in the same league as Adele’s wonderful “Skyfall” song, I like Sam’s a bit more now that I’ve seen the film and how it fits in the opening titles sequence. Obviously, I enjoyed “SPECTRE” more than you. Strangely, it has some of the quiet, more personal elements I liked in “Quantum of Solace”, without some of the badly staged action sequences, and rectified some of those things that irked me about “Skyfall”. “Casino Royale” is still my favorite among Craig’s, but “SPECTRE” now edges past it’s predecessor. For me, anyways. 😉

      Always glad to hear from you about Bond films, Ruth. Thank you very much for chiming in. 🙂

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      • ruth

        Yeah it seems that we differ again about Spectre but it’s cool to still discuss things even if we disagree. Lots of ppl chiming in on my review love it more than I did, but that’s what makes film ndiscussions, esp the Bond franchise, so interesting 😉

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        • le0pard13

          Interesting how this is dividing so many Bond fans where “Skyfall” was enjoyed by a clear majority. Still, what’s life without a Bond film to bring us all together. 🙂

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