Bond 25: Who should sing the theme for 'No Time To Die'?

The theme song is as crucially important to a James Bond film as the plot, the cars, the gadgets or the villain.

A killer tune can elevate a Bond film beyond its stature (Shirley Bassey’s Diamonds Are Forever), a bad one can dent its reputation further (Moonraker, also Shirley Bassey), while the worst ones are often sympatico with the most dreadful movies (Madonna’s Die Another Day).

So with the release of No Time To Die looming in 2020, speculation has begun on who will be singing the song - likely of the same name - that plays over the title sequence.

Ed Sheeran has thrown his hat into the ring for the gig, with his manager Stuart Camp revealing that the ginger singer met No Time To Die producer Barbara Broccoli in 2017 and discussed the possibility.

Read more: The troubled timeline of Bond 25

But is being the most successful pop star in the world right now enough qualification to sing a Bond theme? It certainly worked for Adele on 2012’s Skyfall, but her orchestral, sweeping style was a great fit for Bond whereas Sheeran’s acoustic, busker style doesn’t immediately seem entirely appropriate.

However, if it’s not going to be Ed Sheeran, who *should* sing No Time To Die? Don’t forget to vote in the poll at the bottom of the article to have your say.

Dua Lipa

With EON, the production company responsible for the Bond films, hoping to draw in new punters for No Time To Die, we wouldn’t be surprised if they turned to someone with a younger audience for theme duties, and 24-year-old Brit Dua Lipa would certainly fit that bill.

She describes her sound as “dark pop” and has the pipes to belt out a killer ballad. Plus her self-titled debut album was a big hit on both sides of the Atlantic, so we bet she’s in EON’s sights already.

Janelle Monáe

Singer-turned actress Janelle Monáe is the one name out there who we could sing the theme song, play the Bond girl, heck even be a future 007 themselves, and she already has tunes that exude Big Bond Energy.

Have a listen to ‘Sincerely, Jane’ from her 2007 EP Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) and tell us she’s not the perfect fit for the gig.

Lana Del Rey

American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey’s style is often described as cinematic, and she was once described as a "self-styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra", who of course sang the theme for You Only Live Twice.

Read more: No Time To Die to introduce ‘new 007’

A Del Rey tune for No Time To Die would have widescreen appeal, and with an American behind the camera (director Cary Joji Fukunaga), he might want to send singing duties Stateside too.

Biffy Clyro

A popular suggestion online to sing the theme song for Daniel Craig’s 007 swansong are Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro. Bond themes generally go to solo singers (Duran Duran, a-ha, and Garbage being the obvious exceptions to the rule) but the Kilmarnock rockers’ bombastic sound with their soaring choruses would be a great fit should No Time To Die want to follow in Casino Royale’s footsteps and opt for a rockier theme. The bands limited appeal Stateside might rule them out.

Adele (again)

Adele’s Oscar-winning Skyfall theme is one of the all-time great Bond songs with real 007 swagger, so why not tempt her back to see Daniel Craig out in style? Her last album 25 was released in 2015, and she’s rumoured to be working on her fourth studio album at the moment, so the timing could work perfectly. If she returned, she’d be the first to perform multiple Bond songs since Shirley Bassey.

Beyoncé

The former Destiny’s Child singer is arguably the most critically-acclaimed female artist in the world right now, and only ever gets out of bed for the most prestigious of projects. Her last tour (On the Run II Tour with husband Jay-Z) album (2016’s Lemonade), Netflix film (Homecoming), and Disney movie (The Lion King) have all been massive cultural events, and what bigger pop culture jewel to add to her glittering crown that a Bond theme?

Read more: Who is the new Little Mermaid?

And what better way to distance herself from her previous spy movie: Austin Powers: Goldmember, in which she starred and recorded classic bop Work It Out for the soundtrack.

Muse

Although their status as one of the most exciting rock bands on the planet may be waning, Teignmouth trio Muse retain a huge global following and continue to sell out stadiums around the world. They have a huge, doomy sound that would fill the screen for No Time To Die, sending Daniel Craig off into the sunset on an all time high.

No Time To Die, starring Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Billy Magnussen, Ana de Armas, Rory Kinnear, David Dencik, Dali Benssalah with Jeffrey Wright and Ralph Fiennes is set to release in the U.K. on 3 April and in the U.S on 8 April, 2020.