Monday 25 April 2011

John Barry - Themes...

I've long had a theory that the worst Bond films produced the best theme songs.  'Moonraker' (as well as its disco version) and 'A View To A Kill' - fantastic songs, but the films weren't really all that good.  One exception, for me at least, is 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.  Opinion seems divided on George Lazenby, but I thought he was great and love this film.  I've read the book numerous times.  (When I first moved to London in 2003, I brought my old 80s paperback with me on the flight and 2/3 of the way through realized pages were missing, so one of the first things I did was go to the Notting Hill Gate Waterstone's to sit there and catch up).  But this was my introduction to Bond when I was 8 years old.  Our extended family had gone to Atlantic City for the weekend and my older cousins and I were left in the hotel room while our parents went to the casinos.  This was on TV.  I was fascinated, to say the least.  And this theme tune (an anomaly as an instrumental) is so badass and evocative.




And then there's 'The Persuaders' theme song which is so...Magnificent.  Otherworldly & Majestic - spacey synths, haunting strings and harpsichord conjure up an eerie pathway for a Slavic-tinged stately melodic procession.  Probably the best television show ever made, I can't recommend it enough.  Roger Moore and Tony Curtis as two millionaire playboys who travel the world chasing girls, drinking, gambling, just enjoying life really, and during the course of each episode a crime comes their way and they solve it, with style.  





And then there's the "Beat Girl" theme.  A dark, sexy, hipshaking stormer, just bursting with cool.



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