What is the best James Bond theme song?

Brassy sixties belters, eighties synth-pop and hushed modern ballads have all opened a Bond film, and only a few won an Oscar for it. Decide which title sequence deserves the top billing.

1. 1
   Goldfinger

   Shirley Bassey's brassy 1964 showstopper, the template every Bond theme has been measured against ever since.
   1000pts
2. 2
   James Bond Theme

   Monty Norman's surf-guitar instrumental arranged by John Barry for Dr. No (1962), the riff that has opened every Bond film since.
   914pts
3. 3
   Thunderball

   Tom Jones's bombastic 1965 belter, recorded so forcefully that he reportedly fainted holding the final note.
   871pts
4. 4
   GoldenEye

   Tina Turner's slinky 1995 theme, written by Bono and The Edge for Pierce Brosnan's first outing.
   862pts
5. 5
   Skyfall

   Adele's majestic 2012 ballad, the first Bond theme to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
   767pts
6. 6
   Nobody Does It Better

   Carly Simon's 1977 soft-rock ballad for The Spy Who Loved Me, a worldwide hit and Oscar nominee.
   767pts
7. 7
   On Her Majesty's Secret Service

   John Barry's driving Moog-powered instrumental for the 1969 film, with Louis Armstrong's We Have All the Time in the World as its love theme.
   633pts
8. 8
   For Your Eyes Only

   Sheena Easton's 1981 power ballad, the only Bond theme whose singer appears on screen during the title sequence.
   632pts
9. 9
   The Man with the Golden Gun

   Lulu's raunchy 1974 glam-rock number for the Roger Moore film, famously disliked by composer John Barry himself.
   548pts
10. 10
    A View to a Kill

    Duran Duran's 1985 synth-pop anthem, the only Bond theme ever to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
    548pts
11. 11
    The World Is Not Enough

    Garbage's brooding 1999 orchestral-rock theme with Shirley Manson channelling classic Bond glamour.
    548pts
12. 12
    Tomorrow Never Dies

    Sheryl Crow's smoky 1997 ballad, chosen over k.d. lang's Surrender, which was relegated to the end credits.
    448pts
13. 13
    No Time to Die

    Billie Eilish and Finneas's hushed 2020 theme, written at 18 and the third consecutive Bond song to win the Oscar.
    448pts
14. 14
    From Russia with Love

    Matt Monro's velvety ballad from the 1963 film, the first Bond title song with lyrics, heard over the end credits.
    448pts
15. 15
    The Living Daylights

    a-ha's 1987 Norwegian synth-pop theme for Timothy Dalton's debut, co-written with a reluctant John Barry.
    329pts
16. 16
    Another Way to Die

    Jack White and Alicia Keys's abrasive 2008 duet for Quantum of Solace, the only Bond theme performed as a duet.
    329pts
17. 17
    Diamonds Are Forever

    Shirley Bassey's sultry 1971 return, a glittering ode to jewels later sampled by Kanye West.
    329pts
18. 18
    Die Another Day

    Madonna's divisive 2002 electro track with heavy vocal processing, a worldwide chart hit despite critical scorn.
    329pts
19. 19
    You Only Live Twice

    Nancy Sinatra's dreamy 1967 theme with its sweeping John Barry strings, later sampled by Robbie Williams on Millennium.
    329pts
20. 20
    Licence to Kill

    Gladys Knight's soulful 1989 ballad, built on the Goldfinger horn riff and a UK top-ten hit.
    329pts
21. 21
    Writing's on the Wall

    Sam Smith's falsetto-led 2015 ballad for Spectre, which won the Oscar and became the first Bond theme to top the UK chart.
    329pts
22. 22
    Live and Let Die

    Paul McCartney and Wings' explosive 1973 rock theme, the first Bond song nominated for an Academy Award.
    0pts
23. 23
    All Time High

    Rita Coolidge's smooth 1983 love song for Octopussy, one of the few themes not named after its film.
    0pts
24. 24
    Moonraker

    Shirley Bassey's third and final Bond theme, a lush 1979 ballad with a disco version over the end credits.
    0pts
25. 25
    You Know My Name

    Chris Cornell's muscular 2006 rock theme for Casino Royale, the first of the Daniel Craig era.
    0pts

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