Lana Del Rey has finally landed a James Bond theme song. And as a massive Lana Del Rey fan, I couldn’t be happier.
The song is called ‘First Light’ and it’s the official theme for the upcoming James Bond video game, 007 First Light. It’s stunning.
Lana’s voice was made for a Bond theme. The smoky, cinematic quality she brings to everything she does fits the franchise like a tailored tuxedo.
This moment has been a long time coming. Lana actually recorded a Bond theme before, for 2015’s Spectre. The producers turned it down, opting instead for ‘Writing’s on the Wall’ by Sam Smith.
“First Light” was written by Lana alongside David Arnold, the legendary composer who has scored five Bond films including GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Casino Royale. So this is a dream pairing.
Arnold said of the collaboration, “The music of James Bond has always been a huge part of its identity. A title song has to tell us about the world we are about to enter into. It has to intrigue, excite, and beckon us in.”
He added: “That’s why I was so excited to work with Lana, an artist who brought elegance, atmosphere, and her totally unique character to this piece, which I hope will open the world of Bond to a whole new audience.”
I love the music, but I think the lyric are worth celebrating as well, with repeated references to playing games, such as “dying just to know whether you’ll play your life like a game” and “Will you? Will you play?” It’s a clever nod to the video game format without feeling too gimmicky.
Hakan Abrak, CEO at IO Interactive, the studio behind 007 First Light, stated, “It’s a joy to watch two extraordinary talents like Lana Del Rey and David Arnold combine forces. The result feels instantly ‘Bond’ while still bringing a fresh identity for 007 First Light.”
He’s right. “First Light” sounds like a Bond theme from the very first note. But it also sounds completely, unmistakably like Lana Del Rey. That’s a harder balance to strike than it sounds.
007 First Light is due out on May 27, and, if the game is half as good as its theme song, we’re in for something special.
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