# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published October 24, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-james-bond-theme-song*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Goldfinger** — score 1000/1000
   Shirley Bassey's brassy 1964 showstopper, the template every Bond theme has been measured against ever since.
2. **James Bond Theme** — score 914/1000
   Monty Norman's surf-guitar instrumental arranged by John Barry for Dr. No (1962), the riff that has opened every Bond film since.
3. **Thunderball** — score 871/1000
   Tom Jones's bombastic 1965 belter, recorded so forcefully that he reportedly fainted holding the final note.
4. **GoldenEye** — score 862/1000
   Tina Turner's slinky 1995 theme, written by Bono and The Edge for Pierce Brosnan's first outing.
5. **Skyfall** — score 767/1000
   Adele's majestic 2012 ballad, the first Bond theme to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
6. **Nobody Does It Better** — score 767/1000
   Carly Simon's 1977 soft-rock ballad for The Spy Who Loved Me, a worldwide hit and Oscar nominee.
7. **On Her Majesty's Secret Service** — score 633/1000
   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.
8. **For Your Eyes Only** — score 632/1000
   Sheena Easton's 1981 power ballad, the only Bond theme whose singer appears on screen during the title sequence.
9. **The Man with the Golden Gun** — score 548/1000
   Lulu's raunchy 1974 glam-rock number for the Roger Moore film, famously disliked by composer John Barry himself.
10. **A View to a Kill** — score 548/1000
   Duran Duran's 1985 synth-pop anthem, the only Bond theme ever to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
11. **The World Is Not Enough** — score 548/1000
   Garbage's brooding 1999 orchestral-rock theme with Shirley Manson channelling classic Bond glamour.
12. **Tomorrow Never Dies** — score 448/1000
   Sheryl Crow's smoky 1997 ballad, chosen over k.d. lang's Surrender, which was relegated to the end credits.
13. **No Time to Die** — score 448/1000
   Billie Eilish and Finneas's hushed 2020 theme, written at 18 and the third consecutive Bond song to win the Oscar.
14. **From Russia with Love** — score 448/1000
   Matt Monro's velvety ballad from the 1963 film, the first Bond title song with lyrics, heard over the end credits.
15. **The Living Daylights** — score 329/1000
   a-ha's 1987 Norwegian synth-pop theme for Timothy Dalton's debut, co-written with a reluctant John Barry.
16. **Another Way to Die** — score 329/1000
   Jack White and Alicia Keys's abrasive 2008 duet for Quantum of Solace, the only Bond theme performed as a duet.
17. **Diamonds Are Forever** — score 329/1000
   Shirley Bassey's sultry 1971 return, a glittering ode to jewels later sampled by Kanye West.
18. **Die Another Day** — score 329/1000
   Madonna's divisive 2002 electro track with heavy vocal processing, a worldwide chart hit despite critical scorn.
19. **You Only Live Twice** — score 329/1000
   Nancy Sinatra's dreamy 1967 theme with its sweeping John Barry strings, later sampled by Robbie Williams on Millennium.
20. **Licence to Kill** — score 329/1000
   Gladys Knight's soulful 1989 ballad, built on the Goldfinger horn riff and a UK top-ten hit.
21. **Writing's on the Wall** — score 329/1000
   Sam Smith's falsetto-led 2015 ballad for Spectre, which won the Oscar and became the first Bond theme to top the UK chart.
22. **Live and Let Die** — score 0/1000
   Paul McCartney and Wings' explosive 1973 rock theme, the first Bond song nominated for an Academy Award.
23. **All Time High** — score 0/1000
   Rita Coolidge's smooth 1983 love song for Octopussy, one of the few themes not named after its film.
24. **Moonraker** — score 0/1000
   Shirley Bassey's third and final Bond theme, a lush 1979 ballad with a disco version over the end credits.
25. **You Know My Name** — score 0/1000
   Chris Cornell's muscular 2006 rock theme for Casino Royale, the first of the Daniel Craig era.

Tags: movies, music, spy, james bond, soundtracks, theme songs