'You Know My Name' - discussion

i expect u2 die

'You Know My Name' by Chris Cornell has been released to Radio Stations, and it has been 'leaked' onto the web.

I won't link to it for fear of getting AJB into trouble, but it can be found at the mi6.co.uk forums.

Its certainly different, and it certainly won't please everyone. But I was very impressed - its damn cool. Thats right, 'cool', and I think its really going to help Bond's image - especially with the younger generation. The song itself could probably be compared closest with 'The Living Daylights' or 'Live and Let Die', but its very unique and very aggressive. I like Cornell's voice (but I always have anyway), and it suits the song well.
It would have been nice to hear more from the orchestra I think, it compliments the roaring guitars well but could have done more. The lyrics are nice, if a little OTT.

Overall, its different. But I'm whistling it now, which is a good sign!

emtiem

I'm honestly surprised- I really quite like it. There's just enough orchestra and blarey trumpets, although as you say the lyrics are a bit stereotypical Bond. I think it's a real grower and although it sort of plods along without reaching a huge cresendo I can imagine it'll stay in my head for a while.

arthur pringle

I listened to the song about two minutes ago. I have to say, it sounds like an entry in the Eurovision song contest. Awful.

jamesbondagent007

Hmm. It's not a bad song, but I don't think it's a very good Bond theme. It just sounds like a typical Audioslave or Cornell song...

i expect u2 die

emtiem wrote:

I think it's a real grower.

Definitely - my first listen was decidedly 'meh', but Its really got into my head, and I'm getting over the departure from the normal sound. I really think it sounds 'cool', and its the first Bond song I've felt the urge to share with my friends. I really do like it.

emtiem

jamesbondagent007 wrote:

Hmm. It's not a bad song, but I don't think it's a very good Bond theme. It just sounds like a typical Audioslave or Cornell song...

Well it's full of trumpets, lyrics about death and an (admittedly fake) orchestra; I'd say it's pretty Bond-y. Definitely a step up from TWINE-ish derivative Bond songs.

jamesbondagent007

I don't know, it's definitely catchy, and it's growing on me. I guess the fact that I keep playing it over and over is a good sign...

jetsetwilly

Four words:

Dirty love - dirty love!

I am going to have to listen to this about 1000 times more of course, but there is absolutely no excitement here. It sounds like a dreadful, awful 80s abomination - poodle rock. It sounds unfinished too, so I'm hoping this is a demo. But the words don't seem to fit the music - it's like there are too many lyrics for the tune.

My opinion could change of course, but right now: yuk.

jamesbondagent007

It helps to play it loud and repeatedly, and play it while reading the lyrics. It's also nice to mute the trailer, and play it along with that. This song will grow on you fast; at first I didn't really like it that much.

Thomas Crown

I can't say I'm a huge fan. It's not to say I hate it. Rather, it's so unlike most other Bond themes. I stand by my original statement that it has a Live And Let Die quality to it. However, it's difficult to judge it as good or bad right now because most Bond songs are really only effective with the title sequence behind them. Take Die Another Dayfor example. The song itself leaves much to be desired, but the title sequence legitmize's it because it fits well with it. As long as the same happens here, this should be passable. Bond songs really never were meant to go jamming to in the car anyways.

I still maintain the best choice would have been a David Arnold instrumental a la OHMSS. Clearly I'll have to wait another 18 months.

Nightshooter

Could someone PM me the link? I can't for the life of me find it on MI6.co.uk

Johmss

OK, FRIST IMPRESSION AFTER NEAR AN HOUR TRYING TO GET IT.

i´ll say it is too much of Cris Cornell and little David Arnold. (i would like to be the other way)

i can´t get pretty much the lyrics (remember: non- native speaker) so, in that aspect i can´t say much.

Doesn´t have the Bond theme, but there´re parts that say Bond (the guittars and near the ending) and i don´t see (or hear) the likeness with OHMSS.

It is catchy, it´s good (audioslave kinda good) but i agree in two things

1. With the main titles will rock.
2. it beats the hell of Die Another Day

jamesbondagent007

Thomas Crown wrote:

Bond songs really never were meant to go jamming to in the car anyways.

I beg to differ! ) I just got done making a new Bond mix CD!

emtiem

benskelly wrote:

Well, at least we know that positive review of the movie was the real thing, because he said the title song was 'crap'. Verification! )

Haha! I think that's probably why I quite like it (together with not really liking much of Cornell's stuff)- I was expecting something much worse!

Nightshooter

The chorus is great, the rest is awful. So for me it balances out to a "meh, I don't mind." Good enough, I suppose.

Hardyboy

My feelings are that it's a good song buried under heaviness and speed. If they slowed it down a bit (but they could leave the bridge, with its Bondian horns, intact) and perhaps gave it more of a jazzy sound we could have a hit on our hands.

Loeffelholz

80% downloaded...this is killing me...

emtiem

I think the almost-mariachi trumpets are the bit I like best. Feels Bondy and has a little attitude. The lyrics are a little too Bond, but there's some fun stuff in there.

Lazenby880

I found it in an obscure link and had a listen. I actually rather like it. Admittedly it's not the dark ballad I had expected originally but it *is* different from the norm which I appreciate. Rock is my 'bag' and while this sort of song is hardly innovative I quite like the tune and the chorus.

Question: Is 'Casino Royale' mentioned at all in the lyrics? I've listened a couple of times and didn't notice a mention, however I could be (and probably am) mistaken.

jetsetwilly wrote:

Four words:

Dirty love - dirty love!

I am going to have to listen to this about 1000 times more of course, but there is absolutely no excitement here. It sounds like a dreadful, awful 80s abomination - poodle rock. It sounds unfinished too, so I'm hoping this is a demo. But the words don't seem to fit the music - it's like there are too many lyrics for the tune.

My opinion could change of course, but right now: yuk.

I'm sure you can sympathise with many of us who were distinctly disappointed upon hearing "I guess I'll d-die, another d-day". It sounds like one of those Japanese robots one sees on the news with an odd malfunction, before gratifyingly shutting down three minutes later. From Madonna's "Let's run it through the synthesiser one more time" voice to the curiously lightweight beat, that song had no redeeming feature whatsoever.

Sorry, I've just been forced to watch one of the lady's recent performances and the seething anger needed venting.

Johmss

it´s true, afther a lot of plays, it becomes better and better.

The lyrics doesn´t mention "Casino Royale" ever, but the lyric obviously are refer about Bond and in some part about Vesper.

And yes, maybe if the orchertral part was louder ( more louder than TWINE) you change you mind.

I´ll say it again, it will become a Bond song (maybe for all) when you hear it in the main titles... before, it can be bondish, but not Bond enough

arthur pringle

I listened to it again and it still sounds very 80's and generic. It sounds like the sort of music Sly Stallone would have for a montage scene in a Rocky film circa 1986.

arthur pringle

benskelly wrote:

arthur pringle wrote:

I listened to it again and it still sounds very 80's and generic. It sounds like the sort of music Sly Stallone would have for a montage scene in a Rocky film circa 1986.

LOL. You mean, "Eye Of The Tiger" Part 2?

Two words:

Frank Stallone

Barry Nelson

First let me thank Ben for hooking me up.

Second, as of right now I believe it is the worst Bond theme song ever. Arthur hit the nail on the head, very 80's, Eye of the Tiger or Slayer sound to it. Musically very uninspired and I didn't care for Cornell's voice. Also found the lyrics very generic.

Sorry folks!

jamesbondagent007

Generic lyrics? Perhaps. Worst Bond theme ever? The Man with the Golden Gun has MUCH more stupid lyrics. And don't get me started on Lulu's singing...:s

Play the song a few more times. You'll eventually like it more, I swear.

Loeffelholz

Well, this is indeed a surprise...Barry and I disagreeing about something related to Casino Royale ) Cheers, Barry {[]

Love the horns.

I'd mix the horns and strings louder, I think (in fact, I'd be curious to hear this with only the orchestral scoring, as it would give us a flavour of how some of the cues in the rest of the score might manifest themselves), but I love the guitar hook that kicks off the phrase "I've seen angels fall from blinding heights..."

Truth be told, though Cornell's voice is distinctively his own, it could be argued that the song is more reminiscent of something the Foo Fighters might've come up with (just a thought), especially at the beginning of the chorus.

ben is right; it gets better---as do virtually all Bond themes (even the bad ones!), IMRO---with increased exposure. Personally, I think I like this one.

Did I mention I love the horns?

P.S. Frank Stallone ) LOL

TonyDP

I can't say I care much for Cornell's voice or the arrangement, but if you can cut thru the raspy vocals and inane instrumentals, the actual theme is pretty good, certainly better than Die Another Day. Too bad its buried under all those pyrotechnics. It does have an 80's rock sound to it; Beavis and Butthead would probably have a field day with this one ("Is this a Winger video?").

Spectreisland thinks it sounds like generic workout music ( feel the burn ) ).

Loeffelholz

My ears are drawn to the horns, the rather Spanish-sounding, Tarantino-esque 'Kill Bill Vol. 2'-flavour. It is weirdly dated, but...it seems to work.

[still collating]

the golden gun guy

It's a very VERY cool song B-) but it's not very bondish. Oh well I think it will work

Nightshooter

Been listening to it over and over, since you guys suggested it, and it does get a lot better! I'm gonna put it on my iPod!

Christianne

arthur pringle wrote:

I listened to it again and it still sounds very 80's and generic. It sounds like the sort of music Sly Stallone would have for a montage scene in a Rocky film circa 1986.

LOL {[] My oldest sister said the same thing about the 80s feel. It reminded her of the old Kenny Loggins song, "Danger Zone" in Top Gun. For me, after listening to it a few times, this is a stupid song. It's one of the worst in the series. It doesn't have a catchy melody and the groove doesn't match the dark tone that the trailers suggest that the film will have. The verse melody (where he sings "If you take a life/do you know what you give?...") reminds me of one of the songs from Phantom Of The Opera. Cornell's voice is the wrong range for this kind of rock song. Maybe it would've sounded better had they got a singer with a higher range. Then again, maybe not, because the lyrics are corny, as if Arnold and Cornell are trying so hard to be deep, but the lyrics sound like the kind of stuff you'd hear in bad country music. It's like something that Johnny Cash had scribbled and threw out because they're so bad. I hope the film version (if it's even played in the film) has a different arrangement. Oh, and there's a horn section that sounds like it's from a Mexican band. This is a really bad song, as if Arnold and Cornell ran out of time and just cobbled together a bunch of stuff.

MarJil

It's different, almost like it has echoes of the 60's and the 80's at the same time. Parts of it reminded me of Survivor (Eye of the Tiger should be happy), with it's driven chorus, but with a more sinister take on it. The verse, however was moodier in a way, reminding me of some stuff Tarantino would stick in one of his flicks. Easily, it's the catchiest tune since Spy Who Loved Me, not that that is the most important thing either. I wonder if they'll use a different version for the titles, though. It does seem a bit fast for running titles over. The lyrics are very good, though, very fitting for the story in CR.