It may not be the James Bond theme that fans have long pined for, but Lana Del Rey and 007 have finally teamed up: In collaboration with five-time Bond film composer David Arnold, the singer has dropped the official title song for the upcoming video game “007 First Light,” from IO Interactive and Amazon MGM Studios.
The song certainly sounds Bond-esque, with a sultry introduction that opens up into dramatic horns and strings, complete with a snippet of the classic Bond theme at the end of the chorus.
The video game is “a fully original, reimagined origin story of James Bond,” according to the announcement, that “presents a bold new take with a reimagined origin story, following a 26 year-old James Bond at the very beginning of his journey in the world of espionage.”
Del Rey is not the only singer tied to to the project: Lenny Kravitz stars as new Bond villain Bawma opposite Patrick Gibson’s young 007. The cast also includes Priyanga Burford as M, Lennie James as mentor John Greenway, Kiera Lester as Moneypenny, Alastair Mackenzie as Q, Gemma Chan as Dr. Selina Tan, and Noémie Nakai as Ms. Roth.
“007 First Light” was initially slated for a March 27 release but that was shifted to May 27 last December when IO Interactive, also the makers of the “Hitman” video game franchise, announced more time was needed for polishing the Bond title.
The “007 First Light” title sequence reveal featuring Del Rey’s track will drop on April 17 at 3 p.m. ET.
“The music of James Bond has always been a huge part of its identity,” Arnold says. “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. This song joins a long line of genre defining songs, each one creating a benchmark of style that adds to the magnificent heritage that is ‘The Bond Song’. 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.”
“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,’” IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak said. “Bond’s return to gaming is a landmark moment for us at IO Interactive, and having a title song of this quality makes it even more special.”
More than three years have passed since the usually prolific Del Rey released her most recent album, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.” At first her next album was going to be a country outing called “Lasso,” although its current direction — which is not country — is unclear. Her most recent song before the 007 theme, “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter,” is an innovative and unusual collaboration with longtime musical partner Jack Antonoff that, promisingly, sounds nothing like anything either has released in the past.
Source: variety.com
