Why does James Bond sound like James Bond?

Across the entire franchise, there's still an unmistakable sound to the music of James Bond. So why does James Bond sound like James Bond? And how do you write a new Bond song?
This video was made by Dan Golding: / dangolding
I also do a podcast about film music called Art of the Score. We've just done a three part series on the music of James Bond! www.artofthescore.com.au
For educational purposes only.
The James Bond theme is by Monty Norman, arranged by John Barry.
Orchestral performance of James Bond music by the Qatar Philharmonic. • Qatar Philharmonic Orc...
Film excerpts from all James Bond films are copyright EON and their respective owners.
Excerpts from
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Jay Roach, 1999
Johnny English, Peter Howitt, 2003.
All films, performances, and music owned by their respective rights holders and are used here only for educational purposes.

[@gobblenater]

This is going to be one of those things I will notice for the rest of my life, isn't it?

[@DS-gn5vu]

Correcto mundo senor

[@93BlazinFire]

I'm not sure i want this. I'm 30 seconds in. I think i'll drop this video.

[@KlausSgroi]

Even though the James Bond theme is officially attributed to Monty Norman, most Bond fans I know (and even some film critics and musicians) agree that it was really John Barry (composer of 11 Bond soundtracks) who actually gave 007 his distinctive and instantly recognisable signature sound. In fact, this sequence of semitones that begins the theme and was later reused several times came from Barry's mind, not Norman's. Look for Poor Me, a song Barry co-composed in 1960, and prepare to be in awe.

[@jondellar]

I couldn't agree more. It always made me bristle seeeing Norman preening himself over having "written the theme". I read one account by someone who attended *that* court case and they said, in their view, the defendant's legal representation was the problem.

[@Zveebo]

Excellent video, Dan - this is the first time I’ve seen the basis for the ‘Bond sound’ so clearly explained.

[@concienda]

Brilliant. I absolutely love your work.

[@Brian6587]

The Bond films and music will always be timeless. Always.

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

the key is the leading tone comming back after the chromatic step. The chromatic alteration means a highlight of a cadencial move that doesn’t come, thats why it makes suspense and sounds also very sensual

[@jakecavendish3470]

Yeah I was about to say that

[@ethanpolley1085]

Billie Eilish probably watched this video

[@DavidRussell323]

Love this video and the analysis! WHY DIDN'T YOU END THE VIDEO WITH THE E69 STABS AAAAA

[@littleego]

Brilliant video, wish it was longer!

[@HerrJoehnke]

This is the video I was looking for and I was not disappointed. Brilliant explanation for a question that was on my mind for a longer time.

[@magicman554]

This deserves so many more views. Great explanation 👏🏼👍🏼

[@fezzex71]

I enjoyed that. Love your work, Dan.

[@TequilaToothpick]

Incredible video!! Can't believe I never noticed that or that ten movies end on a boat.

[@erintoney7137]

Skyfall actually has that motif in there after the first chorus. That’s when I was like “yeah this is a Bond song.”

[@Soundole]

Really appreciated your analysis here. Great video.

[@nightshade807]

I always thought they sounded similar but I didn't know why. This is a great video! Very well edited and has made me finally understand the bond music! :)

[@BenJustSaid]

Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!

[@GLORYNEVADASMITH]

As to Spectre : There are hundreds of exciting pop songs with or without the Bond formula that could have been used . If they are going to use Music Supervisors that are less qualified than the average fan...pick me .

[@hyalinamusic18]

My favorite non-Bond Bond song is Supremacy by Muse. It sounds so much like a Bond theme, I'm surprised that they haven't written a Bond theme.

[@budgiecat9039]

Snake Eater

[@attilabodnar5236]

Robert DeLong - Long Way Down (The later bond sound)

[@__-bb9yz]

"I will always love you" in minor

[@harshvardhan959]

This is brilliant. Great video!

[@TheChaosLupin]

I had noticed the pattern when I bought the CD of The Best of Bond, James Bond with all the main title songs up to GoldenEye. However its use in YOLT was not very clear to me. This is an awesome video, well made. Congratulations!

[@GuidoGautsch]

Those piano chords over the Skyfall theme are epic! What are they? Oh, and great video, Dan!

[@maryseeker7590]

Trying to figure out this also

[@Direktorhkbergdahl]

If you’re fine with waiting 2 years: Em C A

[@TachyBunker]

Your videos have a lot of quality! And I go on educated, thanks!

[@Bondoz007]

I still think using the tambourine in Thunderball and other incidental music was genius...

[@vithormoraes]

And guess what? The three notes "motif" is also present in the intro of No Time To Die :P

[@hennareytutorials]

Came here because I thought "Impossible" by Nothing but Thieves sounds like a bond song and I was wondering why haha. Great explanation, great video!

[@dabigdikdangler]

That's what I needed to know, thank you! (after searching what makes James Bond songs sound alike)

[@Jack_Wolfe]

This is extremely helpful!

[@toyotagaz]

finally, a video talking about it

[@bwswrestling]

Never noticed some of these, thanks!

[@cyberprinc3ssASMR]

who's here after no time to die?

[@kinjoyokai367]

OMG you knew!

[@vithormoraes]

And guess what? The three notes are also in the intro of No Time To Die :P

[@justcallmeteacup4711]

Lol me. I have to understand why these songs are so perfectly Bond

[@J.D....]

@@vithormoraes i dont hear them into the intro? which notes are you referencing?

[@beanie7936]

@@J.D.... I think it’s the first note of the 3 chord progressions at the start.

[@brand0n63]

Excellent video!!!!

[@laurensnieuwland4657]

The absolutely amazing thing is that it had such a far reach, that the Jugoslavian band Videosex made a song called Detektivska Priča in 1984 which even had this theme in it! Also Handsome Boy Modeling School's 2023 How Does It Feel has the same theme in it .

[@justsomeguywithsunglasses3661]

Great analysis! Always wondered what was the pattern that made the themes so similar

[@vintageclouds9510]

Awesome !! Thanks

[@smug880]

i really hope they don't change that characterisic chord progression. i especially like it in craig's bond songs where at first listen you don't really notice that it's a bond song, but after a few repeats you started to hear that classic bond chord progression, i really like it.

[@mads_in_zero]

I'd love to see someone analyze Metal Gear Solid 3's main theme *Snake Eater* since it (and the game as a whole) is a big shout-out to James Bond. Snake Eater is even designed to sound like a Bond Theme... but I wonder if it follows this chord pattern.

[@NashMuhandes]

It does have the Bond pattern, during the part where the vocals go "what a thrill // with darkness and silence through the night", you can hear the 3 chromatic notes on the strings in the background.

[@__-bb9yz]

Ещё "I Will Always Lоve You" в миноре внезапно стала идеальной бондовской темой.

[@captaindedo]

outstandingly well done! Bravissimo!

[@BigZ7337]

Excellent video

[@zebluque]

Very nice!!

[@DrPOP-jp7eb]

I had this question in my mind, decided to search for it, and your video answered it EXACTLY. You deserve more subs! Oh and are you planning to do one for the No Time To Die one?

[@jakubpociecha8819]

3:48 "It's no longer a spy creeping around..." *SPAH CREEPIN' AROUND HERE!*

[@erlenmeyer4810]

INTRUDER ALERT! A RED SPY IS IN THE BASE!

[@jakubpociecha8819]

@@erlenmeyer4810 *A RED SPY IS IN THE BASE!?!?!*

[@erlenmeyer4810]

@@jakubpociecha8819 WE NEED TO PROTECT THE BRIEFCASE!

[@jakubpociecha8819]

@@erlenmeyer4810 Yo! A little help here?

[@erlenmeyer4810]

@@jakubpociecha8819 Stand back, son. 1, 1, 1, uuuuhhh… 1!

[@michakomar1551]

I like the fact, that you used colored dots which look like these in Dr No intro. That is attention to detail.

[@spamandegg6663]

Awesome video.

[@alexanderscheul4643]

Wow-Looove this

[@itzzakindofmagic]

Great video

[@huemanbeing3455]

Awesome man

[@grahambird4135]

How many times have you heard a song and thought WOW that would make a great Bond tune.

[@manakshbhanushali]

This was brilliant !!!!

[@Blodir_]

Hey dan, i love you and your buddies on artofthescore.

[@DanGoldingVideoEssays]

Thanks Pyry!

[@samyakjain4468]

@@DanGoldingVideoEssays Hey, isn't this same chord pattern in the avengers theme song as well?

[@birdmanilikeflying]

Thanks, excellent excellent fascinating

[@missdiamond169]

This is cool !!

[@craiggorham3522]

the river boat chase in Sahara is probably the most bond like non bond music ever.

[@AquosFrost]

I first discovered this sound in the videogame, Rayman Legends, in the "20,000 Lums Under the Sea" world.

[@cesarmarinhorj]

Great!!!

[@singechamberlain2967]

Brilliant! Right, I'm off to write a bond song.

[@hartsty]

Stravinsky's' The Firebird Suite'. Lullaby from 1910. Could easily be a Bond score .

[@mads_in_zero]

I wish you'd have a look at Snake Eater from Metal Gear Solid 3. It's a homage to Bond Movie themes.

[@creativityreimagined]

Wow. Interesting analysis

[@stefanozundl-marx6387]

One of my favourite variations of the bond-theme is within the song of Casino Royal. This rock version is really cool :D

My respect for you. Thank you

[@popcorn908]

Would definitely love to hear your thoughts on Billie Eilish's song for the new james bond movie.

[@gabrielberganton5049]

UP!

[@jaymendoza4616]

Im trying to analyze how Billie Ellish made No Time To Die such a great contemporary homage to Bond.

[@jaymendoza4616]

@@mlg_lame you dont have to take everything literally. What value does your comment add

[@mlg_lame]

Jeremy Mendoza my bad I didn’t mean to come off aggressive. I’m a big fan of Hans Zimmer so yeah sorry

[@jaymendoza4616]

@@mlg_lame its ok. We are all fans of music here.

[@mikeolivero293]

@@mlg_lame her brother and Billie wrote it and assisted the composer because finneas (her brother) is a profesional producer...

[@thomashaigh6098]

She took Skyfall and slowed it down.

[@justcallmeteacup4711]

This is so trippy lol. I love it

[@christantoseno]

Aespa black mamba orchestra version also have this note patterns at the chorus

[@nickarmstrong9815]

I must note, the 60’s rock n roll hit “secret agent man” used the same pattern!

[@bobwood856]

And not a mention of the instigator of the Bond music sound, John Barry. Without him there wouldn't be the Bond sound we know today. And may I add that, imho, the Bond sound has gone rapidly downhill since his death.

[@notproductiveproductions3504]

I like to imagine that if you do a DragonForce style guitar cover of the Bond theme song it sounds like how a roller coaster feels

[@reginomusicHD]

Which are the chords?

[@Sheogorath555]

Thank you for this great Video. You answered a years old question. I hope you like the Subtitles I wrote for it. My girlfriends english is not good and I wanted her to enjoy this as much as I did.

[@brianmavenrich5808]

So what's the genre? :v

[@roderichemnetrand6423]

What are the 15 bond themes with the risng motif? In your video you are showing 17 screens of opening credits at 1:57

[@Fruitymasterz]

Alrighty :D let's make a Bond song!

[@VivScribbles]

I’m wondering how to do the beginning tho....

[@VivScribbles]

I’m wondering how to do the beginning tho....

[@arxeha]

i am watching this video when i waited for the "no time to die" music video premiere

[@pierreg8827]

Late-coming question. I can't find this in "Writing's on the Wall", the song for Spectre. Am I right or is there anything I missed in the chords ?

[@youtubeviolatedme7123]

It isn't prominent in WotW, but that being said, I think WotW still succeeds as a more "delicate" Bond theme. I can go into the music theory as to why I chose to use the adjective "delicate" if you'd like, but only if you're interested, as I tend to ramble, and it could take me a while to form a response.

[@SonyaLCH]

Billy Eilish's No Time to Die follows this pattern as well.

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

It would have been nice, not to say essential, when the chords were given their names. Apart from that, great video.

[@Vylkeer]

No Time to Die by Billie Eilish was just released and it sounds amazing and ... very Bond-like.

[@mikieknight6607]

I heard my gf listening to that song and asked her if it was a bond movie song. Thats what got me thinking about "the bond sound"

[@iaial0]

It passed on the radio, and reminded me of You know my name, and that propped up the question

[@gundarsmiks4889]

Why do you ask me how it sounds?!

[@maryseeker7590]

It’s hard to tell what chords you are playing in this video though I replayed it over and over. Would you mind being a little more specific about the chords?!

[@MattDoesSound]

I'm not sure on the earlier formula but for Casino Royale, Quantum, Skyfall it's Bm, G major, E major. Or, i - VI - IV. Note that in the key of Bm you would usually have an Em chord but this has been substituted for an E Major.

[@paulkyle]

Soooo what are the chord progression? Would like an example

[@MattDoesSound]

I'm not sure on the earlier formula but for Casino Royale, Quantum, Skyfall it's Bm, G major, E major. Or, i - VI - IV. Note that in the key of Bm you would usually have an Em chord but this has been substituted for an E Major.

[@jimike7297]

Because of one man Barry John Barry!

[@DavidMartinez-zk8vs]

And what are those 3 keys please.

[@HxH2011DRA]

And if you don't know now ya know

[@bigbrain5502]

3:34

[@beanerama9]

Garbage’s ‘The world is not enough’ accomplishes the same pattern aswell.

[@patrickgreene2593]

At the end of the song yeah you hear those four chords.

[@peteskyrunner4845]

The name is Tone...Semi Tone.

[@kroadster3249]

and what are the chord names?

[@youtubeviolatedme7123]

They're just minor triads where the top note shifts in chromatic intervals. If that didn't make any sense, try: b d f# b d g b d g# b d g and repeat to your heart's content Edit: While that might be a solid progression, it could be a tad spicier. You could try what modern Bond music does, and begin with the minor triad (b d f#) as you normally would, then still progress to the augmented minor triad (b d g) but then land on a major fourth instead (b e g#) and then go back down to the augmented minor triad and repeat. It has a more heroic feel to it - I think cadence is what it's called in the music world, but I didn't study music theory outside of high school. Anyway, I think an improved progression would look like this: b d f# b d g b e g# b d g

[@powysdewhurst]

Thanks for this great essay Dan. This has been nagging me for years, but I think Rihanna's song for Star Trek Beyond is completely a James Bond song. Or maybe it was a pitch for a Bond song, I don't know, but it doesn't feel like a Star Trek song. Anyway it was driving me crazy. As a Bond fan for decades, I just had to make this. If you know her song I'm sure you thought the same thing. What do you think?:kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqOtnqNjjqpkm8k

[@bobgoran]

This is a bit misleading. The idea that every Bond song has to be based around the "007 harmony chords" started during the Craig era, essentially.

[@davide.valentini]

I mean, it's been 15 years (but was inspired by older 007 movies), not a couple years like you're trying to picture it

[@bobgoran]

@@davide.valentini Well, you could count the years or you could count the songs, and I prefer the latter.

[@Tommieb86]

I wonder if Billie Eilish will be watching this?

[@snailforsale]

T Brooks same haha

[@AlejandroFlores-Ibarra]

She DIDN'T.

[@josiahferrell5022]

*Radiohead has entered the chat*

[@aladdintrips]

I v actually composed my own james bond song. We play it with my band but it’s still sketches.

[@fivetimesyo]

Billie Eilish watched this.

[@tomfurstyfield]

The best bond song is Radiohead's Spectre so disappointed they didn't use that, although the film was a pile of crap so maybe it's for the best

[@michaelwinkler7841]

And you get someone lika Lana del Rey to sing over it. Yes, it‘s time.

[@imbeingjudgemental644]

What makes bond sound like bond? Not Billie Ellish that's for sure

[@amiger1412]

Billie elish version sounds like this..

[@classicmusicforce25]

she ripped off Sam Smith