The James Bond series is made up of many iconic elements, from the gadgets to the fast cars and the elegant tuxedos. One thing that should not be missing from any part of the agent series: the music of Monty Norman. Now the composer of unmistakable title theme died.
James Bond composer Monty Norman has died aged 94
His death was announced on the musician’s official website. Norman died in London on July 11, 2022 after a short illness. He was 94 years old. In the course of his career he was not only active as a composer. As a lyricist and singer, he was also involved in various stage productions.
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However, his greatest legacy is definitely the Bond theme, first appearing in James Bond 007, released in 1962, chasing Dr. No came into use and since then musical identifiers has become its turn. It either appears directly in the later films or is woven into the scores in variations.
Monty Norman originally composed the James Bond theme for another project
Norman originally composed the tune for another project. Under the title Bad Sign Good Sign she was part of an adaptation of VS Naipaul’s A House for Mr. Biswa. Ultimately, the project never materialized, so Norman came back to the composition when he was hired by Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli.
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There is something incredibly vibrant and exciting about the Bond theme, but also something mysterious. You can literally Cool and lightness feel, with which Sean Connery introduces himself as an agent in Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but also the moments of tension that slowly build up, as well as the explosions and shots that have echoed through the most diverse Bond adventures for six decades.
Apart from James Bond, Monty Norman has also left his mark on film history
Although the Bond theme overshadows the rest of Norman’s work, by the early 1960s he was in several exciting movies involved. He wrote the film music for the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde adaptation hit 12 in London and underscored the sci-fi film The Day the Earth Caught on Fire. He also wrote the music for Bob on Safari, which was produced by Eon Productions with many Dr. No-participants was produced.
Later this year, The Sound of 007 will be released on the Apple TV+ streaming service 60th anniversary of the Bond films commissioned and deals with the musical world of the series. Monty Norman and the title theme will certainly also play an important role in this.
What do you associate with Monty Norman’s James Bond theme?