SECRET AGENT MAN
Capitol's Sam Smith has recorded the theme for Spectre, the new James Bond film. The news that Smith co-wrote (with writing partner/producer Jimmy Napes) and sang the theme, "Writing's on the Wall," follows months of speculation about the identity of the next Bond's opening-title vocalist.
"Writing’s On The Wall" will be released on 9/25, the film will follow in the U.K. on 10/26 and in the U.S. on 11/6.
Smith was approached to submit an idea to Spectre producer Barbara Broccoli and director Sam Mendes after being given the film’s script to read. Napes and Smith wrote the track immediately and recorded the demo with a 52-piece orchestra. It’s the first Bond theme song recorded by a British male solo artist since 1965's Thunderball, when Tom Jones got the gig.
Universal will “support Sam and his Bond song 100%” Capitol U.K. President Nick Raphael told HITS. “This is another milestone in his career.” Added the label’s Senior VP of A&R Jo Charrington: “The Bond song is a huge honor for any artist. He is the first British solo male since Tom Jones in 1965! We are proud he has been chosen.”
Smith spilled the beans to BBC Radio 1 host Nick Grimshaw, who allegedly took the phone knowing only he'd be speaking to the next Bond singer:
Smith—who just recently broke the record for most weeks spent in the U.K.'s Top 10 album chart, which was previously held by The Beatles—posted the below photo to Instagram. The ring on his finger features a symbol that 007 fans know well, as it's the insignia for the infamous evil organization, SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion).
The singer has previously denied involvement, most recently telling BBC Radio 2, "That's not me. That's definitely not me," he said. "I've still got loads to do."
Sure, it was a lot of intrigue. But Bond themes, in case you've forgotten, are a big, hairy deal. Most recently, the theme song for 2012's Skyfall (sung by Adele) was the first of the series' themes to win at the Golden Globes, the Brits and the Academy Awards. It went Platinum across the pond and double platinum here in the States.
Stay tuned for further details on Smith's role in the Bond project.
If all goes well, Smith may just need to add another notch to his belt of hits, and possibly a holster for a Walther PPK.
