Radiohead fans can be forgiven for wondering why the band’s latest release “Spectre” wasn’t used as the signature tune for the James Bond Film of the same name. Lead singer Thom Yorke and his compatriots decided that the track merited being released anyway and have subsequently put it out on the streaming service Soundcloud.
Approached by Bond film producers
After Radiohead had initially been asked to write the theme tune for the film “Spectre” last year, the result was a typically dark and haunting orchestral piece. Sadly for them, in the final analysis producers instead opted for “Writing’s on the Wall” sung by Sam Smith as the accompaniment for Daniel Craig’s latest outing as 007.
History made by Sam Smith
Although Smith made a piece of musical history to become the first artist to reach number one with a Bond theme tune in the UK, thereby justifying the choice in many observers’ minds, Yorke has stated that he and his band mates still retain much affection for their own track.
Radiohead love their own track
Yorke said that Spectre became “something of our own, which we love very much.” As the end of the year approached, they decided to share their output with their loyal fans and show the Bond film followers what they were missing. Perhaps as a slight nod to the box office record breaking Star Wars film they added on Twitter “we thought you might like to hear it. Merry Christmas.
May the force be with you.”
Non-use of Spectre track remains unexplained
No explanation has been offered by Radiohead as to why their track was dropped for the film, other than suggesting that it just “didn’t work out.” “Spectre” seems to have proved popular with their fans though judging by social media feedback on the track and the thousands of re-tweets and ‘likes’ of the band’s goodwill message.
Facebook comments such as “this is indeed a wonderful song” and “it’s a travesty that this wasn’t used” indicated the dismay felt by their fans. Although some seemed glad that it wasn’t used by the film in the end, calling the band’s work “too good for James Bond 007.”
