What are the best songs for sports highlight videos. How to choose the perfect soundtrack for your montage. Which music genres work well for athletic compilations. Where to find copyright-free tracks for highlight reels.
The Power of Music in Sports Highlight Videos
Music plays a crucial role in elevating sports highlight videos from mere compilations to emotionally resonant experiences. The right soundtrack can amplify the excitement, drama, and athleticism on display, creating a lasting impression on viewers. But what makes for an effective highlight reel song?
Ideal tracks for sports montages tend to have several key characteristics:
- Energetic tempo to match the action
- Powerful, anthemic feel
- Inspirational or triumphant lyrics
- Dramatic musical builds and drops
- Instrumental sections that allow commentary or sound effects
With these elements in mind, let’s explore some of the top song choices across various genres that can take your highlight videos to the next level.
Rock Anthems: Classic Choices for Sports Highlights
Rock music has long been a staple of sports montages, with its driving rhythms and soaring choruses perfectly complementing athletic feats. Some enduring rock favorites for highlight reels include:
- “We Will Rock You” by Queen
- “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
- “The Final Countdown” by Europe
- “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC
- “Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project
Why do these tracks work so well? Their combination of recognizable melodies, powerful instrumentation, and themes of determination and triumph resonate with sports narratives. The steady build of “Sirius,” for instance, creates anticipation perfect for player introductions or game-winning moments.
Contemporary Rock Options
While classic rock hits remain popular, newer rock tracks can also provide a fresh energy to highlight videos:
- “Believer” by Imagine Dragons
- “Hall of Fame” by The Script ft. will.i.am
- “Legendary” by Welshly Arms
- “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons
These songs offer a modern sound while maintaining the anthemic quality that works so well in sports contexts.
Hip-Hop and Rap: Bringing Urban Energy to Sports Montages
Hip-hop’s roots in street culture and its themes of overcoming adversity make it a natural fit for sports highlights. The genre’s driving beats and confident lyrics can amp up the intensity of any montage. Some standout hip-hop tracks for sports videos include:
- “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
- “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled ft. T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg & Rick Ross
- “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor ft. Styles of Beyond
- “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton
- “Power” by Kanye West
These tracks blend motivational lyrics with high-energy production, creating a perfect backdrop for showcasing athletic prowess. The staccato rhythm of “Remember the Name,” for example, syncs well with quick cuts between highlights.
Instrumental Hip-Hop for Versatility
For creators who want the energy of hip-hop without lyrical distractions, instrumental versions or beats-only tracks can be highly effective:
- “The Next Episode (Instrumental)” by Dr. Dre
- “Cinematic Orchestra Booms” by Various Artists
- “Epic Hip Hop” by Jincheng Zhang
These instrumentals allow for greater flexibility in editing and can be particularly useful when including commentary or on-field audio.
Electronic and EDM: High-Energy Beats for Dynamic Montages
Electronic dance music (EDM) has become increasingly popular in sports highlights due to its pulsating rhythms and ability to create a sense of excitement and momentum. Top EDM choices for sports videos include:
- “Levels” by Avicii
- “Titanium” by David Guetta ft. Sia
- “Sandstorm” by Darude
- “Bangarang” by Skrillex ft. Sirah
- “Animals” by Martin Garrix
The building tension and explosive drops characteristic of EDM tracks can be synced with key moments in a highlight reel for maximum impact. “Sandstorm,” with its iconic synthesizer riff, has become synonymous with sports highlight videos and arena playlists.
Cinematic Electronic Music
For a more dramatic feel, cinematic electronic tracks can add a sense of epic scale to sports montages:
- “Time” by Hans Zimmer (Inception Soundtrack)
- “Requiem for a Dream” by Clint Mansell
- “Heart of Courage” by Two Steps From Hell
These compositions, often used in movie trailers, can lend a sense of gravitas to sports highlights, elevating them to truly memorable experiences.
Pop Hits: Accessible Choices for Broad Appeal
Popular music can be an excellent choice for sports highlight videos, offering widespread recognition and often uplifting messages. Some effective pop songs for sports montages include:
- “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson
- “Roar” by Katy Perry
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
- “The Greatest” by Sia ft. Kendrick Lamar
- “High Hopes” by Panic! At The Disco
These tracks combine catchy melodies with inspirational lyrics, making them ideal for highlighting triumphant moments or season recaps. The upbeat nature of “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” can infuse a highlight reel with a sense of joy and celebration.
Pop-Rock Crossover Hits
Songs that blend pop sensibilities with rock energy can provide a perfect middle ground:
- “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy
- “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons
- “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World
These tracks offer the accessibility of pop with an added edge that complements the intensity of sports action.
Choosing the Right Music for Your Sports Highlight Video
Selecting the perfect soundtrack for your sports montage involves considering several factors:
- Target audience: Consider the age and preferences of your viewers
- Sport-specific traditions: Some sports have traditional music associations
- Video tone: Match the music to the emotional feel of your montage
- Editing style: Choose music that complements your cutting rhythm
- Licensing: Ensure you have the rights to use the music in your video
How can you navigate these considerations effectively? Start by creating a diverse playlist of potential tracks and experimenting with different options alongside your footage. Pay attention to how the music affects the emotional impact and pacing of your video.
Copyright Considerations
Using popular music in highlight videos can be tricky due to copyright issues. What are your options for legally incorporating music into your sports montages?
- Obtain proper licenses for commercial use
- Use royalty-free music libraries
- Commission original compositions
- Utilize Creative Commons licensed tracks
Many online platforms offer affordable licensing options for indie creators, while larger productions may need to negotiate directly with record labels or publishing companies.
Emerging Trends in Sports Highlight Music
The landscape of sports highlight music is constantly evolving. What are some current trends shaping the soundtracks of athletic montages?
- Increased use of local and independent artists
- Integration of athlete-produced music
- Customized remixes and mashups
- AI-generated music tailored to video content
These trends reflect a growing desire for unique, personalized soundtracks that can set highlight reels apart in a crowded digital space. Collaborations between sports teams and local musicians, for instance, can create a stronger connection with regional fan bases.
The Rise of Micro-Licensing
Micro-licensing platforms are changing how creators access music for their videos. These services offer pre-cleared tracks at affordable rates, making it easier for small-scale producers to use quality music legally. Popular micro-licensing sites include Artlist, Epidemic Sound, and Musicbed.
Crafting the Perfect Sports Highlight Soundtrack
Creating an effective music bed for your sports highlight video involves more than just choosing a great song. How can you optimize your soundtrack for maximum impact?
- Match musical cues to key moments in the action
- Use multiple tracks to create emotional arcs
- Balance music with natural sound and commentary
- Adjust audio levels to emphasize crucial plays
- Incorporate sound effects to enhance the viewing experience
Remember that the music should enhance, not overpower, the visual content. Skilled audio editing can make the difference between a good highlight reel and a great one.
The Importance of Pacing
Effective pacing is crucial in sports highlight videos. How can music help establish and maintain the right rhythm?
- Use tempo changes to signal shifts in energy or focus
- Align cuts with musical beats for a cohesive feel
- Build tension with slower sections before key plays
- Create natural breaks with musical interludes
By carefully crafting your music edit, you can guide viewers through the emotional journey of your highlight reel, keeping them engaged from start to finish.
The Future of Music in Sports Highlights
As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see new innovations in how music is integrated into sports highlight videos. What might the future hold for athletic montage soundtracks?
- Interactive viewing experiences with customizable music
- Real-time music generation based on game data
- Virtual reality highlights with 3D audio landscapes
- Integration of fan-created music and remixes
These developments could lead to more immersive and personalized highlight experiences, allowing viewers to connect with the content in new and exciting ways.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence
AI is already beginning to play a role in music creation and selection for video content. How might this technology shape the future of sports highlight soundtracks?
- Automated music recommendations based on video analysis
- AI-composed tracks tailored to specific highlight reels
- Dynamic audio mixing that adapts to viewer preferences
- Emotional analysis to match music mood to video content
While AI offers exciting possibilities, the human touch in music selection and editing will likely remain crucial for creating truly memorable sports highlight videos.
Best highlight videos Songs Lists for MCs: Your Complete avant-garde Playlist
By William Bryan Leave a Comment
Songs for highlight videos are a great way to express yourself, and there are plenty of music out there that can speak to who you are as a person. Whether you’re happy or sad, there’s a song for every mood and every occasion.
If you’re looking for a song to get you pumped up for your highlight videos, look no further than Adventure of a Lifetime – Coldplay. This song is about being a fighter and never giving up, which is perfect for anyone who’s about to embark on a new chapter in their life.
For those who are feeling a bit sentimental, Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake might be more your style. This song is all about looking back on the past and cherishing the memories that have been made. It’s a perfect way to say goodbye to your old life and hello to your new one.
Finally, if you want a song that’s just plain fun, Clocks – Coldplay is the way to go.
This song is all about celebrating life and enjoying the moment. It’s perfect for anyone who’s ready to party and celebrate their hard-earned achievement.
10 Best Songs for highlight videos
Music is one of the most essential parts of our lives, and it’s something that everyone can enjoy. No matter what your taste in music is, there’s a song out there for you.
1. Adventure of a Lifetime – Coldplay
2. Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
3. Clocks – Coldplay
4. Counting Stars – OneRepublic
5.Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
6. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
7. I Lived – OneRepublic
8. Lean On Me – Bill Withers
9. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
10. Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye ft. Kimbra
So if you’re looking for the perfect song to get you through your highlight videos, look no further than this list. We’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best songs for highlight videos, and we’re sure that you’ll find at least one that you love.
Let’s Take a Closer Look at Our Top 10 List Videos
In the first place, we’ve got Adventure of a Lifetime – Coldplay
In the second place, we’ve got Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
And in third, Clocks – Coldplay. This song has been all over highlight videos for a while now due to its catchy lyrics.
How to choose your own best songs for highlight videos
Now that you know what the best songs are, it’s time to figure out which one is right for you. To do this, think about what kind of mood you want to set with your highlight videos. Are you looking for something that’s happy and upbeat? Something that’s sentimental? Or something that’s just plain fun?
Once you’ve decided on the mood, take a look at the lyrics of each song and see which one speaks to you the most. If you’re still having trouble deciding, ask your friends or family for their opinion. They might have some great suggestions that you hadn’t considered before.
Finally, don’t forget to have fun! This is your highlight videos after all, so make sure to pick a song that you enjoy. After all, you’ll be listening to it for years to come.
FAQ
What are the best songs for highlight videos
There’s no definitive answer to this question, as everyone’s taste in music is different. However, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best songs for highlight videos, and we’re sure that you’ll find at least one that you love.
How do I choose the right song for my highlight videos?
To choose the right song for your highlight videos, think about what kind of mood you want to set. Are you looking for something that’s happy and upbeat? Something that’s sentimental? Or something that’s just plain fun? Once you’ve decided on the mood, take a look at the lyrics of each song and see which one speaks to you the most.
What are some of your favorite songs for highlight videos?
Some of our favorite songs for highlight videos include Adventure of a Lifetime – Coldplay, Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake, Clocks – Coldplay.
What are your favorite songs for highlight videos? Let us know in the comments below!
About William Bryan
DJ with 8+ years of experience skilled in MIDI and computer performance. A motivated hard working individual who is currently running StageBibles.com. And an ocean surfer, of course. Read More.
The 50 Greatest Sports Songs of All Time (With Video) | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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RM Herold@@BR_RollinTwitter LogoFeatured ColumnistJune 6, 2010
The 50 Greatest Sports Songs of All Time (With Video)
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NO. 50 – The Star Spangled Banner
1 of 50
NO. 49 – Sandstorm by Darude
2 of 50
NO. 48 – SportsCenter Theme
3 of 50
NO.
47 – Whoomp! (There It Is) by Tag Team
4 of 50
NO. 46 – Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men
5 of 50
NO. 45 – Tubthumping by Chumbawumba
6 of 50
NO. 44 – Center Field by John Fogerty
7 of 50
NO. 43 – Basketball by Kurtis Blow
8 of 50
NO. 42 – New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
9 of 50
NO. 41 – Braves / Seminoles Tomahawk Chop
10 of 50
NO. 40 – Y.M.C.A. by The Village People
11 of 50
NO. 39 – Talking Baseball by Terry Cashman
12 of 50
NO. 38 – It Takes Two by Rob Base
13 of 50
NO. 37 – Get Ready For This by 2 Unlimited
14 of 50
NO. 36 – I Love LA by Randy Newman
15 of 50
NO. 35 – Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles
16 of 50
NO.
34 – All Star by Smashmouth
17 of 50
NO. 33 – Jump Around by House of Pain
18 of 50
NO. 32 – Wild Thing by X
19 of 50
NO. 31 – Be Like Mike
20 of 50
NO. 30 – Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
21 of 50
NO. 29 – Let’s Get it Started by The Black Eyed Peas
22 of 50
NO. 28 – Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
23 of 50
NO. 27 – Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
24 of 50
NO. 26 – Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N’ Roses
25 of 50
NO. 25 – Blitzkrieg Bop by The Ramones
26 of 50
NO. 24 – Enter Sandman by Metallica
27 of 50
NO. 23 – Lose Yourself by Eminem
28 of 50
NO. 22 Monday Night Football Theme (Original)
29 of 50
NO.
21 – We’re Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister
30 of 50
NO. 20 – Are You Ready For Some Football? by Hank Williams Jr.
31 of 50
NO. 19 – Celebration by Kool & the Gang
32 of 50
NO. 18 – Another One Bites The Dust by Queen
33 of 50
NO. 17 – Living in America by James Brown
34 of 50
NO. 16 One Shining Moment by Luther Vandross
35 of 50
NO. 15 Super Bowl Shuffle by the 1985 Chicago Bears
36 of 50
NO. 14 – We Are The Champions by Queen
37 of 50
NO. 13 – Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas
38 of 50
NO. 12 – Bugler’s Dream by Leo Arnaud
39 of 50
NO. 11 – You’re The Best (Around) by Joe Esposito
40 of 50
NO. 10 – La Copa De La Vida (Cup of Life) by Ricky Martin
41 of 50
NO.
9 – Round Ball Rock by John Tesh
42 of 50
NO. 8 – Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti
43 of 50
NO. 7 – Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam
44 of 50
NO. 6 – Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
45 of 50
NO. 5 Rock and Roll, Part 2 by Gary Glitter
46 of 50
NO. 4 – Take Me Out To The Ballgame
47 of 50
NO. 3 – Chariots of Fire (Theme)
48 of 50
NO. 2 – We Will Rock You! by Queen
49 of 50
NO. 1 – Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor
50 of 50
13 best songs from Soviet films that became popular hits
Frame from the film: “Prisoner of the Caucasus”
What connects the lyrical comedy “I’m walking around Moscow” and the adventure drama “Sannikov Land”? That’s right, in both pictures there is a song that became a big folk hit.
KP and columnist Maxim TUVIM decided to rank the best songs from Soviet films – almost all of them are very familiar to you. So let’s start the countdown from position 13 – listen or even sing out loud!
13. “Call me, call”
Film: “Carnival” (1981)
Performer: Zhanna Rozhdestvenskaya
Music: Maxim Dunayevsky 90 013 Words: Robert Rozhdestvensky
The inner monologue of an abandoned Muscovite who, being in despair, continues to believe in the miracle of the “phone call”.
Fact: Why it was not indicated in the credits of Carnival that the songs in the film were performed by Zhanna Rozhdestvenskaya remains a mystery to this day.
12. “Nature has no bad weather”
Film: Office Romance (1977)
Artist: Alisa Freindlikh
Music: Andrey Petrov
Lyrics: Eldar Ryazanov
The most famous number from a lyrical comedy about office relationships in the 1970s – not so much about meteorological observations, but about finding peace of mind.
Fact: In 1978 “Nature Doesn’t Have Bad Weather” made it to the finals of the “Song of the Year” contest. It was performed, however, not by Alisa Freindlikh, but by Lyudmila Senchina.
11. “Song of a friend”
Film: “Vertical” (1967)
Artist: Vladimir Vysotsky
Music: Vladimir Vysotsky
Lyrics: Vladimir Vysotsky
A great bard’s reflection on friendship: one must test one’s comrades for reliability and loyalty in the mountains.
Fact: Mignon “Melodies” in 1968 with four songs from the film “Vertical” is actually Vysotsky’s debut disc.
10. “I like it”
Film: “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!” (1976)
Artist: Alla Pugacheva
Music: Mikael Tariverdiev
Lyrics: Marina Tsvetaeva
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A heartfelt romance based on a poem by the great poetess (it is dedicated to Mavriky Mints, the husband of Tsvetaeva’s younger sister), without which New Year is not New Year.
Fact: In different years this song was performed by Galina Besedina and Sergey Taranenko, “Surganova and Orchestra”, Zara, Ekaterina Guseva.
9. “Song about bears”
Film: The Captive of the Caucasus, or Shurik’s New Adventures (1967)
Performer: Aida Vedischeva
Music: Alexander Zatsepin
Lyrics: Leonid Derbenev
Both the legendary Soviet twist and one of the best songs about the “masters of the Arctic”.
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Fact: Another popular song about polar bears, interestingly, also appeared in the late 1960s. Moreover, it was also performed by Vedischeva – “Lullaby of the Bear” from the cartoon “Umka” by Vladimir Pekar and Vladimir Popov.
8. “Do you believe me?”
Film: The Great Space Journey (1974)
Performers: Ludmila Berlinskaya and Igor Kapitnikov
Music: Alexey Rybnikov
Lyrics: Igor Kokhanovsky
9 0140
Infinitely touching melody for two voices – dialogue of dreamers from a film about an unusual experiment.
Fact: In 2003 Natasha Koroleva and Tarzan recorded a cover of this masterpiece by Rybnikov and Kokhanovsky – their version became a big hit.
7. “I’m walking around Moscow”
Film: “I’m walking around Moscow” (1964)
Artist: Nikita Mikhalkov
Music: Andrey Petrov
Lyrics: Gennady Shpalikov
The most famous movie song about the capital is from the thaw comedy , which you want to revise indefinitely.
Fact: In the comedy “Thirty-Three” this song is performed by the soft drinks factory choir.
6. Waiting
Film: “Beloved woman mechanic Gavrilov” (1981)
Performer: Lyudmila Gurchenko
Music: Alexey Mazhukov
Lyrics: Igor Shaferan
90 186
Orchestral disco number “Wait” in due time and , of course, with a good combination of circumstances, he could be on the top lines of the European charts.
Fact: In 1982, Melodiya released Waiting for the minion Lyudmila Gurchenko.
5. White door
Film: Season of Miracles (1985)
Artist: Alla Pugacheva
Music: Yuri Chernavsky
Lyrics: Leonid Derbenev
Dream-pop masterpiece that it is not harmful to dream. On the contrary, it is harmful not to dream, especially if you are a creative person.
Fact : Through the Eyes of a Child is the English version of The White Door. It can be found on the 1986 disc “Alla Pugacheva in Stockholm”.
4. “All that memory forgets”
Film: A Little Favor (1984)
Artist: Nikolay Karachentsov
Music: Maxim Dunaevsky
Lyrics: Leonid Derbenev
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A lyrical number about the “properties” of conscience.
Fact: “A Little Favor” is one of the most underrated Soviet musical films: one day pop artist Ozernikov ( Nikolai Karachentsov ) realized that he could no longer bear the burden of fame.
3. “Two roads crossing”
Film: “All the way around” (1981)
Artist: Zhanna Rozhdestvenskaya
Music: Mark Minkov
Lyrics: Yuri Entin
A gentle number about the confusion of feelings, to which the main characters of the film are Natasha ( Olga Mashnaya ) and Andrey ( Mikhail Efremov ) – worn around snowy Leningrad.
Fact: This song got into Alla Pugacheva’s repertoire in a new arrangement and with a new text – “On the Road of Waiting”.
2. “There is only a moment”
Film: Sannikov Land (1973)
Artist: Oleg Anofriev
Music: Alexander Zatsepin
Lyrics: Leonid Derbenev
Okudzhava’s verses permeated with light sadness and Rybnikov’s bewitching melody – this, in general, children’s song is able to excite both 30-year-olds and 70-year-olds …
Fact: Bulat Okudzhava wrote the lyrics for seven songs for the film musical “The Adventures of Pinocchio”, the other six – to poems by Yuri Entin.
15 best Bond songs
Goldfinger
Goldfinger
, 1964
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Guy Hamilton
Cast:
Sean Connery Honor Blackman Gert Fröbe Shirley Eaton
Shirley Bassey “Goldfinger”
We would like to open our collection with the magnificent title track of the film “Goldfinger” performed by the brilliant Shirley Bassey in 1964.
The author of the music for the song that opened the third Bond film was the legendary John Barry, the author of the theme of James Bond films and the man whose compositions were used in 11 films of the series. The composition in the American Top 100 soared to 8th place, and in 2008 music critics introduced the song to the Grammy Hall of Fame. Last year, Bassey re-recorded the song for her new album, citing the fact that half a century ago she “sang a couple of notes wrong.”
Tomorrow Never Dies
Tomorrow Never Dies
, 1997
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Roger Spottiswoode
Cast:
Pierce Brosnan Jonathan Pryce Michelle Yeoh Teri Hatcher
Sheryl Crow “Tomorrow Never Dies”
The theme song for the film “Tomorrow Never Dies” turned out to be not a very beautiful story.
Initially, the main song of the film was supposed to be the composition of L.D. Lang and David Arnold with the same name, but the creators of Bond threw a cry around the world and, having received the song Sheryl Crow, simply pushed Lang’s work to the final credits under the name “Surrender”. This is not Cheryl’s big fault, her song really turned out beautiful, and she deserves to stand in our charts next to Shirley Bassey. “Tomorrow Never Dies”, by the way, was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Grammy, but lost out to the well-known song from Titanic.
The world is not enough
The World Is Not Enough
, 1999
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Michael Apted
Cast:
Pierce Brosnan Sophie Marceau Robert Carlyle Denise Richards
Garbage “The World Is Not Enough”
As if nothing had happened, in 1998 the authors of the Bond film asked the same David Arnold, who had been “rolled” two years ago, to write a song for the nineteenth Bond film.
Fortunately, Arnold turned out to be not a vindictive person and not only wrote a song, but also participated in the creation of the script for the film “And the whole world is not enough.” As for the musical composition, it was recorded by the Garbage band, playing in the alternative rock style that was fashionable for that day. The song performed well on the charts around the world, and some music critics called it the best and most “Bond” since “Goldfinger”.
You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice
, 1967
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Lewis Gilbert
Cast:
Sean Connery Akiko Wakabayashi Mie Hama Tetsuro Tamba
Nancy Sinatra “You Only Live Twice”
The songs for the fifth Bond film were traditionally taken up by John Barry. The composer himself wanted Aretha Franklin to perform his title song for the tape called “You Only Live Twice”, while the producers heard the voice of Frank Sinatra.
After long negotiations, a compromise was found – Frank’s daughter, the brilliant Nancy Sinatra. The composition written for the film was somewhat different from what Nancy had previously performed, but this only added flavor to her performance – music critics enthusiastically praised the bright singer, calling her performance style virtuoso, exciting and sensual.
Goldeneye
GoldenEye
, 1995
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Martin Campbell
Cast:
Pierce Brosnan Sean Bean Isabella Skorupko Famke Janssen
Tina Turner “GoldenEye”
In her new era, after another change in lead actor, Bond jumped in with the high-energy action of GoldenEye. The driving picture that accompanied the adventures of the significantly rejuvenated Agent 007 simply had to be accompanied by a bright soundtrack – and here the producers did not miss.
The authors of the title track were the musicians of the group U2, and the legendary Tina Turner, who is at the peak of her success, performed the song of the same name with the film. In the British charts, the composition reached number 10, while in most European charts it even settled in the top five.
Quantum of Solace
Quantum of Solace
, 2008
action adventure
/ UK
Director:
Mark Forster
Cast:
Daniel Craig Olga Kurylenko Mathieu Amalric Judi Dench
Jack White and Alicia Keys “Another Way to Die”
The title track for Daniel Craig’s second film era, Quantum of Solace, is different in two ways. Firstly, its title differs from the title of the film, which is quite rare in the Bond movie, which reverently binds all the commercial threads into one thick rope.
Secondly, this is the only duet in the history of the franchise – the song is performed by rocker Jack White and rhythm and blues singer Alicia Keys. The composition, written by White, received the 2008 Satellite Awards in the category “best song”, and the video for it claimed the Grammy award. The instrumental version of the song was used in their commercials by the Coca-cola company.
Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die
, 1973
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Guy Hamilton
Cast:
Roger Moore Yaphet Kotto Jane Seymour Clifton James
Paul McCartney and Wings “Live and Let Die”
Bond songs were often performed by the brightest musicians, but hardly anyone can compare with the popularity and deservingness of Sir Paul McCartney, the legendary member of The Beatles.
In the early 70s, Linda and Paul McCartney recorded an amazing song of the same name for the film “Live and Let Die”, which not only became one of the most popular in the history of the Wings group, but until recently the former leader of bond music in terms of chart positions – in the United States “Live and Let Die” was number two and number nine in the UK. The single was certified gold after selling over a million copies worldwide, and McCartney still enjoys playing the song in concert today.
For Your Eyes Only
, 1981
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
John Glen
Cast:
Roger Moore Carol Bouquet Chaim Topol Lynn-Holly Johnson
Sheena Easton “For Your Eyes Only”
Before the release of the twelfth James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only, the American band Blondie recorded a song with the same name, obviously hoping to get into the credits of the picture.
Alas, the composer of the film, Bill Conti, had a different view on the musical accompaniment of the tape – he saw Donna Summer as the performer of his title song. With Summer did not grow together, and the producers promoted to the microphone the growing popularity of the young Sheena Aston, whose debut album looked very promising. As a result, “For Your Eyes Only” hit the top ten hits in America and the UK, and then the composition was nominated for an Oscar. Interesting fact: Easton was the first Bond title singer at the time to be seen in the frame, she appears for a couple of seconds in the opening credits of the picture.
Casino Royale
Casino Royale
, 2006
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Martin Campbell
Cast:
Daniel Craig Eva Green Mads Mikkelsen Judi Dench
Chris Cornell “You Know My Name”
A new film with a new Bond in 2006 definitely needed a new sound.
Bond producers decided to move away from the sweetness of female vocals and turned to Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. Cornell accepted the challenge and created a composition that combines the energy of the new century with the new emotional portrait that the authors painted for Daniel Craig, Agent 007 of the 21st century. British listeners appreciated the composition very highly, the song climbed to seventh place in the charts, “You Know My Name” was nominated for a Grammy, and reached the shortlist in the list of contenders for an Oscar.
The Spy Who Loved Me
The Spy Who Loved Me
, 1977
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Lewis Gilbert
Cast:
Roger Moore Barbara Bach Kurd Jurgens Richard Keel
Carly Simon “Nobody Does It Better”
Bondiana herself makes the rules, she breaks them – the song “Nobody Does It Better”, which opens the tenth film about Agent 007 “The Spy Who Loved Me”, was the first to have a title that differed from the title of the film (to be fair, the line “The Spy Who Loved Me” is featured in the song).
The composition of Marvin Hamlisch, in which the voice belongs to the American Carly Simon, became a worldwide hit: the British put it in seventh place in their singles chart, and in America the song spent three weeks in second place on the Top 100. After many years, the composition was included among the most honored in the history of cinema according to many authoritative publications and film institutes.
License to Kill
License to Kill
, 1989
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
John Glen
Cast:
Timothy Dalton Carey Lowell Robert Davi Talisa Soto
Gladys Knight “Licence to Kill”
In 1989, in the absence of John Barry, who had undergone surgery, the reins of the musical reign of James Bond was taken by composer Michael Kamen. And this man almost turned the history of the musical design of the franchise, inviting Eric Clapton and Vic Flick to write the title song, people who put a powerful guitar sound above everything else in their musical composition.
Alas, the collaboration did not work out, and the only thing left of rock in License to Kill is Flick’s guitar riff in the original Bond theme that sounds in the picture. Clapton was replaced by the American soul diva Gladys Knight, the owner of seven (to date) Grammy awards. The video for the song “Licence to Kill” was shot by Daniel Klenman, the author of almost all branded opening credits for Bond films (and titles in Bond have their own director!).
The sparks from the eyes
The Living Daylights
, 1987
Action Romance Adventure
/ UK
Directed by:
John Glen John Glen
Cast:
Timothy Dalton Maryam D’Abo Jeroen Crabbe Joe Don Baker
A-Ha “The Living Daylights”
Despite the fact that John Barry is kindly credited as a co-writer of the theme song to the film “Sparks from the Eyes”, in fact, the composition “The Living Daylights” appeared rather despite, rather than thanks to the efforts of the famous composer.
The Scandinavians from A-Ha never found a common language with Barry, constantly redoing each other’s findings and almost sabotaging the record. As a result, the group described the conditions of working with the composer as “impossible”, in response, Barry called the musicians the “Hitler Youth”. However, the song still turned out to be excellent, which is confirmed by its fifth position in the British charts. Separately, it is worth noting the video for the composition, which was partially filmed against the background of a chroma key, a very expensive pleasure at that time.
Die but not now
Die Another Day
, 2002
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Lee Tamahori
Cast:
Pierce Brosnan Halle Berry Toby Stevens Rosamund Pike
Madonna “Die Another Day”
In the new century, the Bond producers decided that only top performers would be allowed to record the title songs, and boldly gave the rights to compose the composition to Madonna, who at that time was experiencing the thirtieth of her sixty youths to date.
The pop queen approached her duties with such energy that, in the end, her song and video for it turned out to be more successful than the film “Die Another Day”, the last one in Pierce Brosnan’s spy career. Successfully designed with electronic gadgets and effects of a military commander, the composition brilliantly laid down on the video sequence of the picture, but could not save the weak script and the sluggish performance of the actors. As a result, the song is in eighth place in the States and third in Britain, and the film is in the tail of James Bond’s achievements.
A View to a Kill
, 1985
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
John Glen
Cast:
Roger Moore Christopher Walken Tanya Roberts Grace Jones
Duran Duran “A View to a Kill”
The story of Duran Duran’s appearance in Bond is quite amusing.
It began with the fact that the band’s bassist John Taylor, a long-time Bond fan, who had drunk heavily, approached Albert Broccoli at one of the parties and asked him point-blank: “What the hell, when, finally, you invite really worthy performers to write a song for the film ?! » Not the best way to offer his services, but it worked – Broccoli asked John Barry about the insolent man, who spoke very warmly about the music that the British group was making. So the title track of “A View to a Kill” was the composition “A View to a Kill”, the biggest hit of Duran Duran, which became number one in the US and number two in England.
007: Skyfall coordinates
Skyfall
, 2012
Action Adventure Thriller
/ UK
Director:
Sam Mendes
Cast:
Daniel Craig Javier Bardem Judi Dench Ralph Fiennes
Adele “Skyfall”
The most successful and most well-deserved composition in the history of Bond was the song from the twenty-third film of the franchise – “007: Skyfall Coordinates”.
