Another Way To Die

(Given that I have had so much lately to deal with, I haven't had time until now to comment on this.)

On 29 July 2008 James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced that Jack White and Alicia Keys have recorded the title track to the upcoming Quantum of Solace. The title of the song will be Another Way to Die. It will also be the 1st theme sung by a duet, Alicia Keys & Jack White of The White Stripes. they just finished recording it.

1st, the title. They have decided not to use Quantum of Solace as the song title. I'm sure they could have come up with something using the movie title. Most of the Bond movies have. But not always successfully. In light of the reaction when the producers announced the name of this movie, I think not using the movie title is the right move.

2nd, the singers. I am familiar with Alicia Keys.

Jack White I am not familiar with. So I went to YouTube & checked him out. Not that impressed. The White Stripes were Ok, not much more. I didn't really see anything original. I will admit their cover of Dolly Parton's Jolene was interesting, if not a bit bizzarre.

I agree with Ajay Chowdhury, editor of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (A Bond fan magazine) when he said that the combination is intriguing. The 2 voices together could work, with the right song. Which leads to:

3rd, the actual song. This is the wild card. I know David Arnold is doing the soundtrack. He has done an excellent job of taking up where John Barry left off. It looks like Jack White is the composer. It will be interesting to see how well he does. Recently the songs have been adequate, but not memorable like some of the earlier ones. The last really good theme was GoldenEye by Tina Turner. Again I agree with Mr Chowdhury, a good theme doesn't guarentee a good movie. & some of the better movies have not had, as I said, the greatest themes.

From the 60s the decisions of the Bond movie producers have generated controversy. At times the concerns have been valid, but mostly the decisions have been the right ones. It will be interesting to see how Quantum of Solace plays out. The story line sounds interesting. If there is as good a script for this one as for Casino Royale then this should be a worthy sequel.