You Only Live Twice (song)
Encyclopedia
"You Only Live Twice" was the title song
from the film of the same name
and was sung by Nancy Sinatra
, with music by John Barry and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
. The song is widely recognised for its striking opening bars, featuring a simple 2-bar theme in the high octaves of the violins and lush harmonies from French horns.
There are two very different recordings of the song. The version featured on the summer-of-'67 single
— released on a double A-side with Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood's
cover of "Jackson
" — is in the key of C and features vocal overdubbing, backing chorus, brass and stinging twangy guitar, with a running time of 2:56. The more sweeping, grand and wistful version (2:46) featured in the film's opening title sequence and on the soundtrack LP is in the key of B and has a single vocal track. There is also an earlier, unused theme for the film, also entitled "You Only Live Twice," labeled as a "demo"
version on CD releases. This song has some lyrical similarities to the final theme but features a completely different tune. This version was sung by Julie Rogers
.
duo Soft Cell
— fronted by Marc Almond
— included a cover on the B-side
of their 1984 single Soul Inside. Australian band The Scientists
released a heavy guitar version of the song as a single in 1985. In 1998, Robbie Williams
re-recorded portions of the song (notably the opening strings) for use on his song Millennium
–the music was re-recorded rather than sampled as this was less expensive than licensing the original recording. A rock version of You Only Live Twice was covered by Coldplay
when they toured in Norway in 2001 and was released as a B-side on the Don't Panic
single, and was covered by Natacha Atlas
and appeared on her 2005 compilation album The Best of Natacha Atlas
. The Icelandic singer Björk
also recorded a cover version. The UK rave
and breakbeat hardcore
producer Acen also sampled the string section on his song "Trip II the Moon" in 1992. The Floridian indie-pop group The Postmarks
also recorded a version for their cover album By the Numbers
, released in 2008. Cee-Lo Green also samples it for his third solo hit single, Bright Lights Bigger City
.Little Anthony & The Imperials
recorded a powerful version of the song as a single , taken from their album, Movie Grabbers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxvF88bAds4
Shirley Bassey
, the vocalist for the title songs Goldfinger
, Diamonds Are Forever
, and Moonraker
, performed the song on her 2007 UK Top 10 album Get the Party Started
.
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
from the film of the same name
You Only Live Twice (film)
You Only Live Twice is the fifth spy film in the James Bond series, and the fifth to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's screenplay was written by Roald Dahl, and loosely based on Ian Fleming's 1964 novel of the same name...
and was sung by Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
, with music by John Barry and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright.Although best known for his partnership with Anthony Newley, Bricusse has worked with many other composers. He was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge...
. The song is widely recognised for its striking opening bars, featuring a simple 2-bar theme in the high octaves of the violins and lush harmonies from French horns.
There are two very different recordings of the song. The version featured on the summer-of-'67 single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
— released on a double A-side with Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood's
Lee Hazlewood
Lee Hazlewood , born Barton Lee Hazlewood was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s.Hazlewood had a distinctive baritone voice that added an ominous...
cover of "Jackson
Jackson (song)
"Jackson" is a song, written in 1963 by Jerry Leiber and Billy Edd Wheeler, about a married couple who find that the "fire" has gone out of their relationship...
" — is in the key of C and features vocal overdubbing, backing chorus, brass and stinging twangy guitar, with a running time of 2:56. The more sweeping, grand and wistful version (2:46) featured in the film's opening title sequence and on the soundtrack LP is in the key of B and has a single vocal track. There is also an earlier, unused theme for the film, also entitled "You Only Live Twice," labeled as a "demo"
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
version on CD releases. This song has some lyrical similarities to the final theme but features a completely different tune. This version was sung by Julie Rogers
Julie Rogers (singer)
Julie Rogers is an English pop singer. She is best known for her multi-million selling song, "The Wedding".-Career:...
.
Cover versions
The song is one of the most covered Bond themes. English synthpopSynthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
duo Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
— fronted by Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
— included a cover on the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of their 1984 single Soul Inside. Australian band The Scientists
The Scientists
The Scientists are an influential post-punk band from Perth, Australia, led by Kim Salmon, initially known as Exterminators and then Invaders. The band had two primary incarnations: the Perth-based punk band of the late 1970s and the Sydney/London-based swamp rock band of the 1980s...
released a heavy guitar version of the song as a single in 1985. In 1998, Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
re-recorded portions of the song (notably the opening strings) for use on his song Millennium
Millennium (song)
"Millennium" is a song by Robbie Williams, released as the first single from his second album, I've Been Expecting You. The song was released in 1998....
–the music was re-recorded rather than sampled as this was less expensive than licensing the original recording. A rock version of You Only Live Twice was covered by Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
when they toured in Norway in 2001 and was released as a B-side on the Don't Panic
Don't panic
Don't panic may refer to:* "Don't Panic" , a catchphrase from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams*Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion, a book by Neil Gaiman...
single, and was covered by Natacha Atlas
Natacha Atlas
Natacha Atlas is a Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western electronic music, particularly hip-hop. She once termed her music "cha'abi moderne" . Her music has been influenced by many styles including Arabic, hip hop, drum 'n' bass and reggae.Atlas began her career as part of...
and appeared on her 2005 compilation album The Best of Natacha Atlas
The Best of Natacha Atlas
The Best of Natacha Atlas is a compilation album by Belgian singer Natacha Atlas. It was released by Mantra Recordings on 23 May 2005. The album contains previously released and re-recorded material, unreleased remixes, and cover songs.- Track listing :...
. The Icelandic singer Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
also recorded a cover version. The UK rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
and breakbeat hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore is a derivative of the acid house and techno, of the late 1980s and early 1990s, that combines four-to-the-floor rhythms with breakbeats, and is associated with the UK rave scene.-The rave scene:...
producer Acen also sampled the string section on his song "Trip II the Moon" in 1992. The Floridian indie-pop group The Postmarks
The Postmarks
The Postmarks are a pop band from Pompano Beach, Florida. Their self-titled LP was released in February 2007 and has been met with critical acclaim from Rolling Stone and Spin, as well as Pitchfork Media and a host of other music blogs. The group was discovered by Andy Chase of Ivy and...
also recorded a version for their cover album By the Numbers
By the Numbers
By the Numbers is an album of covers performed by The Postmarks, released in 2008.-Track listing:#"One Note Samba" - 3:05#"You Only Live Twice" - 2:57#"Three Little Birds" - 3:51#"Ox4" - 4:56...
, released in 2008. Cee-Lo Green also samples it for his third solo hit single, Bright Lights Bigger City
Bright Lights Bigger City
"Bright Lights Bigger City" is the third single from American soul singer Cee Lo Green's third studio album, The Lady Killer. The song was produced by Ben H. Allen III and Graham Marsh, and written by Cee Lo, Tony Reyes and Ben H. Allen III. The single was released on March 27, 2011, and has so...
.Little Anthony & The Imperials
Little Anthony & The Imperials
Little Anthony and the Imperials is a rhythm and blues/soul/doo-wop vocal group from New York, first active in the 1950s. Lead singer Jerome Anthony "Little Anthony" Gourdine was noted for his high-pitched falsetto voice, influenced by Jimmy Scott...
recorded a powerful version of the song as a single , taken from their album, Movie Grabbers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxvF88bAds4
Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey, DBE , is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the late 1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century"...
, the vocalist for the title songs Goldfinger
Goldfinger (film)
Goldfinger is the third spy film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1964, it is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. The film also stars Honor Blackman as Bond girl Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe as the title...
, Diamonds Are Forever
Diamonds Are Forever (film)
Diamonds Are Forever is the seventh spy film in the Eon Productions James Bond series, and the sixth and final Eon Productions film to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film is based on Ian Fleming's 1956 novel of the same name, and is the second of four James Bond films...
, and Moonraker
Moonraker (film)
Moonraker is the eleventh spy film in the James Bond series, and the fourth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The third and final film in the series to be directed by Lewis Gilbert, it co-stars Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale, Corinne Clery, and Richard Kiel...
, performed the song on her 2007 UK Top 10 album Get the Party Started
Get the Party Started (album)
Get the Party Started is a 2007 album by Welsh singer Dame Shirley Bassey.- Background :Released in June 2007, the album features newly remixed tracks by contemporary producers. The remixes feature recorded vocal tracks previously issued in the 1980s and '90s. "I Will Survive" was recorded in 1996...
.