GoldenEye (song)

"GoldenEye" is a song performed by Tina Turner, and the eponymous theme song for the 1995 James Bond film, GoldenEye. Released as a single in November 1995, the song was a big chart hit in Europe, topping the Hungarian Singles Chart and reaching the top five in Austria, Finland, France, Italy and Switzerland, as well as number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. It was less successful outside the continent, reaching number 43 in Canada, number 63 in Australia, and number two on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.

"GoldenEye"
Single by Tina Turner
from the album GoldenEye: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from the United Artists film and Wildest Dreams
Released	November 7, 1995
Recorded	September 1995[1]
Studio	Olympic Sound Studios (London, UK)
Length	4:41
Label	Parlophone (UK) Virgin (US)
Songwriter(s)	Bono and the Edge
Producer(s)	Nellee Hooper
Tina Turner singles chronology
"Proud Mary" (1993) "GoldenEye" (1995) "Whatever You Want" (1996)
James Bond theme singles chronology
"Licence to Kill" (1989) "GoldenEye" (1995) "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997)
Music video
"GoldenEye" on YouTube

Background and release

The song was written by Bono and The Edge of U2.[2] Bono and The Edge wrote the song for Turner when they learned that she had been invited to sing the theme to the upcoming Bond movie. The track was produced and mixed by British producer/remixer/composer Nellee Hooper, best known for his work with Massive Attack, Madonna, U2 and Björk. The track reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-five hit in several European countries.[3][4]

"GoldenEye" was first released on the original motion picture soundtrack and the following year it was included on Turner's album Wildest Dreams. The song has been covered by Nicole Scherzinger for the 2010 remake of the GoldenEye 007 video game.[5]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "tingly, feline performance" and added that producer Nellee Hooper "captures the essence of the movie, wrapping the track in sweeping strings and horns that are fondly reminiscent of the classic "Goldfinger"." He noted that U2's Bono and the Edge "get in on the fun, writing a tune that's fraught with cryptic lyrical twists and romantic intrigue."[6] Nisid Hajari from Entertainment Weekly said that "the James Bond myth certainly allows for the trinity of Sex, Danger, and Elegance to verge on melodrama." He noted the song's "self-conscious vocals and maudlin horns and strings" and added that "Goldeneye" "blithely crosses the line".[7] David Cook from The Michigan Daily wrote that "it's amazing how similar this song sounds to other opening songs from previous James Bond movies — there must be some magic formula to making all of the sound so Bondlike."[8] Music & Media called "GoldenEye" a "perfect candidate for the soundtrack of 007's latest adventure" and wrote that Tina Turner "and her raw R&B power easily fit in the Shirley Bassey tradition." They also noted that composers Bono and The Edge "stayed close to the traditional James Bond sound".[9] Jeff Farance from The News-Journal said in his movie review that "the title sequence is pure Bond, with Tina Turner belting out the title song in the grand tradition of magnificent music for 007."[10]

Music video

Tina Turner in the music video of "GoldenEye".

The music video for "GoldenEye" was directed by English film director Jake Scott and made its debut at the end of October 1995.[11][12]

Versions and remixes

• Soundtrack album version/Wildest Dreams album version (U.S.) – 4:43
• Single edit/Wildest Dreams album version (Europe) – 3:31
• A/C Mix – 4:02
• Urban A/C Mix by Dave Hall – 4:58
• Club Edit by David Morales – 4:02
• Morales Club Mix – 10:00
• Morales 007 Dub – 9:37
• Morales Dub of Bond – 5:36
• Video edit – 3:20

Samples and covers

• In 1999, French rapper Kohndo has sampled parts of the instrumentals in his song "Survivre".
• In 2008, Lil Mass, another French rapper, sampled it in the song "Beatdown".
• The song appeared in an episode of MTV series Human Giant and again in the 2010 film Beatdown.
• American singer Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer of pop group Pussycat Dolls, covered the single for the 2010 remake of the video game GoldenEye 007. The song plays during the game's introduction.
• Finnish alternative rock band End of You covered the song for their 2008 album Mimesis.
• Prominent DJ David Morales has performed a club remix of the song, while record producer Dave Hall has provided a more urban flavour on his remix, both versions were included on the European four-track CD single.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 63 scope="row" Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 5 scope="row" Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 9 scope="row" Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[16] 6 scope="row" Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] 43 scope="row" Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[18] 2 Denmark (IFPI)[19] 9 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[20] 3 scope="row" Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 3 scope="row" France (SNEP)[22] 3 Germany (Official German Charts)[23] 8 Hungary (Mahasz)[24] 1 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[25] 14 scope="row" Ireland (IRMA)[26] 15 Italy (Musica e dischi)[27] 5 scope="row" Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 14 scope="row" Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 17 scope="row" Norway (VG-lista)[30] 9 Poland (LP3)[31] 14 scope="row" Scotland (Official Charts Company)[32] 13 scope="row" Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[33] 6 scope="row" Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] 3 scope="row" UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[35] 10 scope="row" UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[36] 2 scope="row" US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[37] 2 scope="row" US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[38] 22 scope="row" US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[39] 89

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[40] 98 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41] 120 Norway Christmas Period (VG-lista)[42] 14 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[43] 54 Chart (1996) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[44] 86 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[45] 52 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[46] 58 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[47] 25 France (SNEP)[48] 66 Germany (Official German Charts)[49] 73 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[50] 155 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 36 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/sales France (SNEP)[52] Silver 171,000[52] Germany (BVMI)[53] Gold 250,000^^ Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[54] Gold 25,000^^ ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Alternate rejected theme song

Like many Bond themes before it, Tina Turner's version was not the only recorded song for the film. Swedish pop band, Ace of Base also recorded a song that was optioned to the studio. Ace of Base's "The GoldenEye" was later reworked into "The Juvenile" which appeared on their Da Capo album in 2002.

See also

• James Bond music
• Outline of James Bond

References

1. Bego, Mark (2005-07-29). Tina Turner: Break Every Rule. ISBN 9781461626022.
2. https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/17/movies/film-review-that-sexist-misogynist-dinosaur-james-bond.html
3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited
4. MI6: GoldenEye (1995): James Bond 007 mi6.hq.com. Retrieved 11 December 2011
5. GoldenEye 007 Video Game: Behind the Music with Nicole Scherzinger HD Game Trailers.com. Retrieved 11 December 2011
6. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 1995-11-04. p. 94. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
7. "Goldeneye". Entertainment Weekly. 1995-11-10. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
8. "RECORDS: "GoldenEye" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". The Michigan Daily. 1995-12-08. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
9. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1995-11-11. p. 16. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
10. "'GoldenEye' is James Bond without peer". The News-Journal. 1995-11-17. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
11. http://mvdbase.com/video.php?id=28514
12. "Tina Turner - Golden Eye". YouTube. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
13. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 18 Feb 1996". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved July 21, 2017. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
14. "Austriancharts.at – Tina Turner – GoldenEye" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
15. "Ultratop.be – Tina Turner – GoldenEye" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
16. "Ultratop.be – Tina Turner – GoldenEye" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
17. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2872." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
18. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2846." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
19. Danish Singles Chart 9 January 1996
20. "The Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. January 13, 1996. Archived from the original on March 11, 2005. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
21. "Tina Turner: Goldeneye" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
22. "Lescharts.com – Tina Turner – GoldenEye" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
23. "Tina Turner - Top Titel" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
24. "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
25. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (2.12.1995 – 8.12.1995)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir -–Tónlist. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – GoldenEye". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
27. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12 no. 49. December 9, 1995. p. 14. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved October 6, 2015.
29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Tina Turner – GoldenEye" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
30. "Norwegiancharts.com – Tina Turner – GoldenEye". VG-lista. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
31. "Notowanie nr726-727" (in Polish). LP3. January 5, 1996. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
32. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
33. "Swedishcharts.com – Tina Turner – GoldenEye". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
34. "Swisscharts.com – Tina Turner – GoldenEye". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
35. "Tina Turner: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
36. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
37. "Tina Turner Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
38. "Tina Turner Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
39. "Tina Turner Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
40. "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
41. "Jaarlijsten 1995" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
42. "Topp 20 Single Julen 1995" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
43. "Årslista Singlar - År 1995" (in Swedish). GLF. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
44. "Jaaroverzichten 1996" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
45. "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
46. "RPM Year End: Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. December 16, 1996. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
47. "The Eurochart Hot 100 Singles of 1996". Music & Media. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
48. "Classement Singles - année 1996" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
49. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
50. "Jaarlijsten 1996" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
51. "Swiss Year-end Charts 1996". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
52. "Les Certifications depuis 1973" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2015. Select Turner Tina from the menu, then presso Ok.
53. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tina Turner; 'GoldenEye')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
54. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Tina Turner; 'GoldenEye')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.

External links

• Music video on YouTube