Here's the recording by Coldplay of the 1967 song by John Barry and LESLIE BRICUSSE from the James Bond film, "You Only Live Twice", as well as the original song from the film.
While the movie itself is not as memorable for Bond fans as some of the other films, it features some beautiful outdoor cinematography of the Japanese coast and its many architectural treasures. And "YOLT" has one of the great sets in movie history, one of the titanic "villain's lair" sets designed by Ken Adam. Mr. Adam also did other Bond films as well as the "War Room" in "Dr. Strangelove". A great deal of the film was shot on location in Japan, and one book on the Bond years reveals that the fans who hung around the fringes of the exterior location shoots so harassed Sean Connery with their ardor that it became the last straw to add to his typecasting worries and he decided to call it quits on playing the character...for a few years at least.
It also is the film that reveals the identity of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who turns out to be...Donald Pleasance, who really is a good actor but not as scary as you might expect for such a diabolical mastermind who had been a shadowy mystery in both "Thunderball" (1965) and most of this film.
Three decades later Mike Meyers pretty much lifted the Blofeld persona and wardrobe and "lair" to create his retro-spoof, "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery"
There's a certain wistful quality that I think both of the versions capture. Here's the original version, featuring Nancy Sinatra
And here's the version by Coldplay, vocal by Chris Martin,
Yes I like that recording Doug. Donald Pleasance is a fine actor. His daughter has also acted in films.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, this was difficult to read because of page stretch.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Cassandra, this blog wasn't quite ready for the big time. I think I have both versions represented now.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Didn't realize one of his daughters acted as well. According to the IMPD site, she has quite an impressive career herself.
ReplyDeleteAh that is much easier to read, thank you! I like both of these videos very much. The first is the most well known and became quite popular over here.
ReplyDeleteCassandra
Have to come back and shall...alway was a big bond fan. I don't have sound at the moment there Doug.
ReplyDeleteWoah Doug - You're really spoiling us here!
ReplyDeleteThe Nancy Sinatra doesn't have all the pomp and orchestration you'd typically associate with a Bond theme despite the perfect strings arrangement. It lazily meanders along.
The Coldplay starts in a positively pared down manner but builds to an anthemic ending.
They are in great contrast. I vaguely knew the tune, but wasn't really aware of either. Thanks for sharing these
I agree, Ian. This is one that caught me off guard when I first saw the film. Unlike other themes like "Goldfinger", this one does sort of meander--a melancholy and romantic counterpoint to what the Bond themes had been before. This one stands on its own to me, but it took a few listens to really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteThe Coldplay version certainly does justice to the original.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe she did Shakespearean works in film and theatre.
Bond....
ReplyDeleteJust the word is magic...
What can you say about Sean Connery that hasn't already been said...
When I think of James Bond, he is the man...
All the music and songs were legendary.....
I totally agree. Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteBoth vversions are good, though the first one is a full of action.
ReplyDeleteI would be hard-pressed myself to pick one above the other--I suppose I'd give the nod to the original.
ReplyDeleteI can see how Meyer took the character and I never knew that cold play did a remake of this song.
ReplyDeleteAs for all the Bond movies, I really don't feel that anyone will ever be able to beat Sean. There have been many remakes that are really great but Sean Connery was James Bond.
He definately was a hard act to follow, and defined the character (at least on film) for as long as the franchise has been around (at least to me). Although I like many of the other actors, including Roger Moore, Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan
ReplyDeleteNice electrics on Coldplay - a sort of electric, dreamy quality; whereas, Sinatra's was more romantic.
ReplyDeleteThat's an important distinction, Red. Every "cover" of a song should add something new to the work and the electric sound makes it more edgy, nervy, and modern but it somehow still serves the original quality of the song.
ReplyDeleteI could never get into Bond movies but I always loved this song. This is the first time I have heard the Coldplay version, I think they have done a good job with it. Definitely more edgy. Thank you Doug.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the songs, Iri Ani. I don't think the Bond films are meant to be everyone's cup of tea. Not all women care for the way the ladies are often treated--like that one poor redhead who got fed to a crocidile in the movie trailer. I think giving her the sack would have been sufficient.
ReplyDeleteAnd why is it the diabolical masterminds are never women? Like it would kill 'em to have one diabolical woman feeding the odd male subordinate to a croc? Like a woman would never want to blackmail the world's major powers with a stolen nuclear device? Why I dated a woman back in the 1980's who had this crazy plan to...sorry, that's a bit of oversharing ;-)
At least in the new films, Bond's boss is Judi Dench.
Oh dear, just as we were getting to the juicy bits lol
ReplyDeleteThe nefarious plan by my ex-steady date was not carried out, Iri Ani, and I heard later she handled her borderline sociopathic tendencies by becoming a dentist. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't Squeaky Fromm was it Doug? No of course not she carried out all her nefarious plans :-)
ReplyDeleteI had never heard the Coldplay version of this one, I've not heard much by them at all. It was a good version I thought, I of course remember the Nancy Sinatra version from the far off days of my comparative youth. Thanks for posting them Doug
ReplyDeleteYes, AA, anytime I can combime a James Bond/Nancy Sinatra retro post, I'm libable to do it. :-) I need to do that blog explaining how I've prefected nuclear cold fusion, but I'll save that for first week of June.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked both versions as well.
Re: ex-Charles Manson girl and would-be Presidential Assassin Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme. No, she was already clapped in prison by the time I started dating. My grandmother always said if you go out on a date at a restaurant and all your blind date wants to talk about is how cool some southern California cult-leader/serial killer is, and how she'd like you to help her crack him out of jail, then's its okay to just ask for the check, pay the bill, and make a run for the public bus!