An early pioneer of blockbuster entertainment, a defining triumph of spy cinema, and arguably the most iconic franchise in the history of the medium, the James Bond series has long been a pillar of big-budget filmmaking as well as a title of enduring cultural significance. In addition to its sense of action spectacle, the Bond movies have endeared themselves to fans through their ability to master set tropes, ranging from eccentric villains and Bond girls to the gadgetry, one-liners, Aston Martins, and, of course, the popularity of each movie’s opening title song.
Over the years, the Bond song has become an essential element of each film, typically performed by a major artist and becoming a commercial hit in its own right while reflecting the integral themes and ideas of the Bond movie they represent. It is interesting to see how each of these songs fares according to Spotify’s streaming numbers, especially as such figures illuminate an intriguing intersection between each film’s success and each artist’s popularity in the modern day.
10
“Die Another Day” by Madonna From ‘Die Another Day’ (2002)
Madonna is simply one of the biggest icons the music industry has ever seen. Over her decades-spanning career, the pop star has broken records aplenty, won hundreds of awards (including seven Grammys), and stands as the best-selling female artist of all time. It is little surprise then that, even with Die Another Day standing as one of the worst and most forgettable movies in the entire Bond franchise, Madonna’s star power alone has helped the film’s song enter the top 10 most-streamed Bond movie songs on Spotify.
With over 50 million streams, “Die Another Day” is enshrined in the franchise’s top 10 best-performing songs on the music streaming platform, eclipsing Shirley Bassey’s 11th-placed theme for Diamonds Are Forever (which is her most-streamed Bond song) by over 12 million listens. However, such is the Queen of Pop’s expansive library, “Die Another Day” doesn’t just fail to make her top 10 songs, but ranks as low as 35th. Still, its genre-bending sways and incorporation of electronic and dance music elements make it a unique entry in the pantheon of Bond songs, while its lyrics of the destruction of ego and survival illuminate the movie’s central themes with greater consideration than many other Bond songs.
9
“Another Way to Die” by Jack White Feat. Alicia Keys From ‘Quantum of Solace’ (2008)
Recency bias understandably plays a significant role in the success of Bond songs on Spotify, if only because of the artist’s contemporary popularity. This isn’t to say that the collaboration between Jack White and Alicia Keys on the “Another Way to Die” theme for Quantum of Solace was bad in any way, but it is to acknowledge that its ranking at 9th on Spotify’s charts—above the themes for Goldfinger, GoldenEye, and The Living Daylights particularly—is more a reflection on general audience opposed to the quality of the song, or indeed the Bond movie itself.
Subverting the classic Bond sound—perhaps too much for some franchise purists—“Another Way to Die” offers a duet rich with heavy drums and orchestral swells that, lyrically, delves into themes of betrayal and fate to mixed effect. Still, regardless of critical evaluation, Quantum of Solace’s unique and, for better or worse, bold song choice has amassed an impressive figure of 56.2 million streams, an achievement that must be considered a testament to the popularity of both White and Keys in their own careers.
8
“For Your Eyes Only” by Sheena Easton From ‘For Your Eyes Only’ (1981)
It will surely warm the hearts of old-school Bond fans to know that, even today, there are still some of the franchise’s older songs polling terrific numbers among music lovers. Released in 1981, For Your Eyes Only marked the fifth film in Sir Roger Moore’s tenure as 007, with it following the British spy’s efforts to retrieve an encryption device from a sunken submarine before it can fall into the wrong hands. Sheena Easton’s song captures this more grounded tone superbly, finding an impactful weight in its soft rock ballad and romantic, even vulnerable tone.
Composers Bill Conti and Michael Leeson strived away from the disco liveliness of some of the more recent Bond songs, incorporating elements of funk, traditional orchestral sounds, and distinct synthesizer beats that make it unmistakably an ’80s song. “For Your Eyes Only” sits eighth overall on Spotify’s most-streamed Bond songs with 61.2 million streams, making for a somewhat surprising triumph that, quite poetically, represents what is a surprisingly good Bond movie.
7
“Nobody Does it Better” by Carly Simon From ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ (1977)
It is difficult to think of a James Bond song that epitomizes the titular spy’s debonair style and suave sophistication better than Carly Simon’s iconic opening tune to The Spy Who Loved Me. Widely regarded as being the best of Moore’s outings as Bond, the film follows 007’s difficult union with Soviet operative Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach)—whose lover he killed during a mission—to investigate the disappearance of a submarine carting 16 nuclear warheads. It is not only the most absorbing of Moore’s Bond movies, but the most emotionally commanding and tender as well, traits that are a hallmark of the song “Nobody Does It Better.”
It is easy to view it as a celebration of Bond’s womanizing ways, but the song always flaunts a more profound depth anchored in feelings of romantic surrender, a desire for safety and freedom, and even a hint of frustration at the perceived perfection of a lover. Starting gently before building up to a powerful rhythm, “Nobody Does It Better” is easily among the greatest Bond songs of all time. It is vindicating to see that, even almost 50 years after The Spy Who Loved Me was released in theaters, its unforgettable theme song is still attracting listeners en masse with over 68 million streams on Spotify.
6
“You Know My Name” by Chris Cornell From ‘Casino Royale’ (2006)
Casino Royale is the most significant Bond movie since the franchise’s earliest films, a triumph of action cinema that maintained a sense of traditionalism while delivering a Bond movie imbued with the grit and intensity that appeals to modern viewers. In many ways, Chris Cornell’s energetic Bond theme illustrates this point. Following a cold black-and-white sequence depicting Bond’s first mission as a 00 operative, the song bursts with its thundering drums and energetic riff while a visually marvelous display of casino motifs and combative action enthralls viewers.
Featuring a raw rock’n’roll sound and an infectious tempo, “You Know My Name” leans on the Bond songs that came before it while reinventing the title tune into something pulsating, punchy, and modern. Thematically, it is a dark descent into the life Bond leads as a secret agent fighting and killing for his country. It stands among the best and most impressionable songs in the entire franchise, with its impressive Spotify tally of 103.2 million streams, a testament to both the impact of Cornell’s music and the cultural significance and quality of the film. It stands as Cornell’s most-streamed song on the platform.
5
“A View to a Kill” by Duran Duran From ‘A View to a Kill’ (1985)
A rare case where the title song was significantly better than the film it appeared in, Duran Duran’s synth-pop ballad is truly the best part of A View to a Kill, especially when complemented by the striking credits sequence of darkness being punctured by neon highlights and blazing fire. Exploring ideas of espionage intrigue and dangerous romance, the song highlights the movie’s underlying narrative, which, in the film itself, was unfortunately hindered by the 57-year-old Roger Moore’s limited physicality and an overly cheesy approach to its story.
Buoyed by Duran Duran’s signature style and the orchestral style of composer John Barry, “A View to a Kill” became the first James Bond theme song to hit #1 on the U.S. billboards, an accomplishment that few other theme songs have ever achieved. Its popularity has proved to be enduring as well, with the song’s 113.9 million streams on Spotify emblematic of its lasting legacy.
4
“Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney and Wings From ‘Live and Let Die’ (1973)
Following the initially underwhelming response to George Lazenby’s take on 007 in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (which is now considered one of the great Bond movies) and the subsequent though brief return of Connery to the role, Live and Let Die was given the formidable task of proving the franchise had a future after Connery. The 1973 film excelled in this regard, and it did so from the outset with Paul McCartney and Wings delivering a dynamic rock tune infused with Caribbean-style reggae.
Defined by its numerous change-ups, orchestral bombast, and its vibrant rock’n’roll energy, “Live and Let Die” has become an iconic song in its own right, even being covered by hard rock band Guns N’ Roses 18 years later in 1991 to present the song to a new generation. Still, it is Paul McCartney’s version that reigns supreme, with the original song netting over 208 million streams on Spotify to highlight not only the song’s striking brilliance, but McCartney’s enduring status in pop culture as well.
3
“Writing’s on the Wall” by Sam Smith From ‘Spectre’ (2015)
Throughout Daniel Craig’s five Bond movies, the franchise achieved a groundbreaking thematic might and dramatic gravitas, especially with its endeavor to tell an overarching story across the movies rather than simply offer episodic action entertainment. Spectre is an intriguing example of this, a flawed though admirable delve into Bond’s inner turmoil as his mission forces him to reconcile with his past. Sam Smith’s song, “Writing’s on the Wall,” is similarly audacious yet polarizing.
While some viewers found the implementation of a falsetto and the song’s extended run to be turn-offs, others embraced its orchestral grandiosity, melodic bravado, and thematic significance with great approval. It focuses on Bond’s vulnerability as he reckons with his past, particularly his relationship with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), and the shadow it casts on his future. Flaunting a sense of intimacy and impending doom, “Writing’s on the Wall” has amassed 295.4 million streams on Spotify, while also earning Smith an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
2
“No Time to Die” by Billie Eilish From ‘No Time to Die’ (2021)
Being the most recent release in the Bond franchise, and considering it was sung by one of the modern era’s greatest stars in Billie Eilish, it is no surprise that No Time to Die’s titular theme has performed so well on Spotify. Additionally, it is also one of the franchise’s most contemplative and commanding tunes, with Eilish using her trademark whispered vocals to conjure a sense of vulnerability, betrayal, and reflection before leaping into more powerful belts to illustrate resolve and strength.
The song is a ravishing marriage of Eilish’s signature style and traditional elements of Bond theme songs, featuring swelling strings and brass and soft yet compelling vocals that work in concert with the dazzling credits sequence quite magnificently. Not only has the song reached in excess of 752.6 million streams, but it also netted Eilish an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a category she would win again in 2024 for her song “What Was I Made For?” in Barbie, thus making her the youngest person ever to have won two Oscars.
1
“Skyfall” by Adele From ‘Skyfall’ (2012)
Not only a great Bond song, but also standing as one of the most iconic tracks of the 2010s at large, “Skyfall” occupies an air of epic magnitude and looming destruction. Adele’s stunning vocals and song co-writer Paul Epworth’s orchestral might perfectly deliver a thematic focus on mortality, decimation, and despair to prepare audiences for the emotional pointedness of the film and its emphasis on Bond’s complex relationship with M (Dame Judi Dench).
It is little surprise that “Skyfall” has become the most-streamed James Bond title track by a significant margin, with Adele’s impressive vocals and star power, Skyfall’s universal acclaim from critics and fans alike, and even the song’s enduring standing in pop culture all conspiring to make for an immensely popular, meaningful, and enthralling number. With over 1.2 billion streams, it stands as Adele’s 9th most prolific track. It also saw her (along with Epworth) become the first artist to ever win an Academy Award for singing a James Bond title song, paving the way for Smith and Eilish.
