GOLDFINGER

GOLDFINGER theme:

Probably one of the most recognisable tunes in film production, all over the world, Bond fan or not, once can instantly recognise the dominance and legacy of Shirley Bassey remarkable voice as she sings the song that everyone relates to the 007 agent, GOLDFINGER.

Like this astonishing piece of music the film GOLDFINGER appeared in cinemas in the year of 1964, where agent Bond was already begging to grow into fame following the successes of previous films in the series such as Casino Royale and DR NO, GOLDFINGER following From Russia with love.

This title song was composed by John Barry, adding lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newly. As Girl rising into the hallway of fame, GOLDFINGER was major success for Bassey, reaching to number 8 in the Billboard hot 100 at the time. In 2008 the successful single was introduced to the Grammy hall of fame. The release of Bassey’s version sold more than a million copies in the United States breaking the world record.

To me the GOLDFINGER theme encapsulates the Bond franchise to pin point persecution. The theme certainly delivers as Bassey can certainly keep up with timing (the last word of gold is memorable as it carries with a mighty crescendo). Bassey is known for her powerful voice and she does not disappoint. The technique her voice used from being a fast temp with a low dynamic to a loud cry of tuneful energy that once cannot help but gain shivers of amazement when listened to the first time. I would highly recommend listening to this theme, for not only is it remembered as one of the most iconic films of all time but of the captivating talent that Bassey posses, even to this day.

The theme itself is simply gold.

ADELE: soundtrack to SKYFALL:

To celebrate 50 years of the greatest secret agent that has ever lived we and 007 gain a treat as it was announced that the talented singer ADELE would be performing and sinning for the new Bond theme.

Even before listening to the soundtrack and having listened to ADELE before I already knew that the theme would be overwhelming. After all seeing as ADELE, in her first week sold 208,000 copies in the UK alone it was evident that her James Bond theme would not be looking to shabby.

Co-written by ADELE along with successful collaborator Paul Epsworth, casually flaunting out to the public that a 77-peice orchestra would be used as they would record at the graceful abbey-road studio it had already seemed clear to me that the song would be polished as well as perfected, indeed I was not wrong.

When I first listened to the soundtrack I was at once washed with the richness of ADELE’s voice as throughout the whole piece lasting unfortunately a mere 4:49 sec, it conveyed not only her talent but of the key figure of Bond himself, highlighting his stealth with a soft fluid tone as well as his danger levels with an astonishing amount of crescendo’s which beautifully fly over the slow yet stimulating tempo in one graceful arc.

All accompaniments such as the piano and drums are all chosen wisely and are all put in the places where they are needed creating a sense of mysterious and serious depth to the song that when listened to conveys a story of loss and friendship.

Conclusion:

SKYFALL is one of the most meaningful and beautiful soundtracks I have ever listened too, some might say that she has done such an excellent job that she tops Dame Bassey herself. Once listening for the first time its stays in your head and is certainly a toe tapper. It is clear that ADELE certainly has a licence to thrill.

My Way: The Review:

Music industry review: My way: the best of Frank Sinatra

Sinatra is a world known name as it should be for he is known as one of the greatest musical figures of all time, recognised for his charm, charisma and evidently his voice that outruns any of today’s singers. As we know his most memorable pieces of work were during the 50s 60s and 70s with other pieces placed before and after this era.

 My way is a collection of all of Sinatra’s finest pieces that have been known to everyone of the last century. The Album My way features his greatest hits such as fly me to the moon, For once in my life as well as the lady is a tramp and many more.

Disc 1:

1. My Way

2. Strangers In The Night

3. New York New York

4. I Get A Kick Out Of You

5. Somethin' Stupid

6. Moon River

7. What Now My Love

8. Summer Wind

9. For Once In My Life

10. Love And Marriage

11. They Can't Take That Away From Me

12. My Kind Of Town

13. Fly Me To The Moon

14. I've Got You Under My Skin

15. Best Is Yet To Come

16. It Was A Very Good Year

17. Come Fly With Me

18. That's Life

19. Girl From Ipanema

20. Lady Is A Tramp

21. Bad Bad Leroy Brown

22. Mack The Knife

23. Love's Been Good To Me

24. LA Is My Lady

Disc 2:

1. Let's Face The Music And Dance

2. Come Rain Or Come Shine

3. Night And Day

4. Very Thought Of You

5. Pennies From Heaven

6. Bewitched

7. America The Beautiful

8. All The Way

9. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

10. Way You Look Tonight

11. Three Coins In The Fountain

12. Softly As I Leave You

13. All Over Nothing At All

14. Yesterday

15. Moonlight Serenade

16. Somewhere My Love

17. Mrs Robinson

18. Something

19. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life

20. Send In The Clowns

21. It Had To Be You

22. Best Of Everything

In total an impressive 42 tracks are collected and given in this magical musical offer from the king of swing himself. All of these many songs represent the warmth of ‘o’l blue eyes’ and how he appealed to everyone around the world with his soft voice, his smart profound suit, the slanted balck hat dipped slightly to the side. All of these things encapsulates Sinatra and his music by offering fantastic songs such as ‘come fly with me’ and ‘pennies from heaven’ which have known to have been performed by many other famous swingers who have left their imprint in music history thanks to Sinatra including Ella Fitzgerald and Dean Martin.

However as I examined the CD further I sadly discovered some songs had unfortunately managed to linger amongst the brilliant classics that we all know and love such as ‘best is yet to come’. For example songs such as ‘Mack the knife’ or ‘bad bad Leroy Brown’ which have not been some of my favourite pieces especially coming from an artist with such immense skill as Sinatra, I was slightly disappointed for I felt the songs such as the following did not do justice to Franks name.

To conclude I am satisfied, but pleased of this CD as it is a compelling history of the singer who ruled the last century. I give this CD five stars despite some of the poor collaboration of song choices during halfway through disc 2 (yet i suppose that’s why the skip button is available to every swinger). I am pleased to say however that there is more good than bad when it comes down to the end of things. As it says on the king of swings tomb the best is yet to come, than it is indeed right for the best has come in my way.