The James Bond theme song that never came to be.

trinityWed 23/04/08 12:49

Does anyone remember the theme song to that Bond remake called 'Never Say Never Again'? Was one of the few Connery movies that I did enjoy...but me liking it is not the subject of this thread.


To perform a song for a James Bond movie is a major deal for a music artist. Not only to their fans, but also to fans of one of the longest running movie franchises around today.

Prior to the release of 'Never Say Never Again' in 1983...Stephen Forsyth and Jim Ryan wrote what was intended to be the film's theme song, but their tune was axed when Michel Legrand (who created the film's score) threatened to sue. This revelation features in a blog by Tim Lucas - http://www.videowatchdog.blogspot.com/ .


In Forsyth's own words:

''During the filming of the James Bond movie NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, I co-wrote the title song for the movie with Jim Ryan. Warner Bros informed our attorney that the song was to be used as the title song in the picture. However, shortly before its release, Warner Bros informed us that the song could not be used because Michel Legrand, who wrote the score, threatened to sue them, claiming that contractually he had the right to the title song. So my song was never released.

''The legendary Phyllis Hyman was my first choice to sing the song and working with her is one of the highlights of my musical career. I personally auditioned and sang the song to her while she was having breakfast in her manager's office. After agreeing to sing the song, she arrived at the studio and, without any rehearsal and only having heard the song sung once at the breakfast audition, sang the song in one perfect take.


''Phyllis sadly took her own life in the early nineties. The year before she died, she called me late one night and told me she felt that 'Never Say Never Again' was 'her best and favourite recording.' I have just now made the song available on the Internet (itunes, amazon, emusic, rhapsody, etc.) on an album of some of my early songs. I'd like to make the song available to Video WatchBlog readers to listen to. Enjoy.''


To download Phyllis Hyman's version of the 'Never Say Never Again' theme (written by Stephen Forsyth and Jim Ryan)...check out the link below:

http://home.ican.net/~sforsyth/Music/NeverSayNeverAgain

(I do like her voice and music in general)


One thing is for sure..I can guarantee that there will be some of you who won't like either version! But for arguement's sake...which one stands out more suitable for Never Say Never Again?

Here's Lani Hall's theme that Michel ended up using in the end:

informer_ukWed 23/04/08 13:15

I thought Herb Alpert wrote the theme for this nightmare of a movie?

Personally, I thought NSNA was dire. Awful 'incidental' music and Connery going through the motions with as little gusto as humanly possible.

Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera were stereotype cacky bond lasses and Klaus Maria Brandauer did a big loogie-spit when he was snogging the unfortunate Miss Kim. Rank.

Hate it. Shame it's just a remake of Thunderball, too.

Gah.