IF YOU ASKED ME TO, Patti LaBelle, from Licence To Kill, 1989: It may have been covered by Celine Dion and Johnny Mathis, but Patti LaBelle's recording of If You Asked Me To remains the best.
The song is played at the end of Licence to Kill and serves as a refreshing ballad after one of the most violent films in the 007 series. The lyrics by Diane Warren tell of the softer side of everyone's favourite secret agent.
TOMORROW NEVER DIES
(SURRENDER), KD Lang, from Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997: It's not often that the secondary song from a Bond film out-shines the title track, but this does just that. The song is another used during the closing credits and was penned by David Arnold as part of his first outing in the 007 composer's chair. Sheryl Crow's forgettable title track stood no chance against the powerful Canadian songstress.
WHERE HAS EVERYBODY GONE, The Pretenders, from The Living Daylights, 1987:Why The Pretenders were never asked to record a main Bond theme, I'll never know. Where Has Everybody Gone was playing on villain Necros's then state of the art Sony Walkman as he killed the MI6 agent in Vienna. The melody was also woven into other parts of the film's score by long-time Bond maestro John Barry.
EXPERIENCE OF LOVE, Eric Serra, from Goldeneye, 1995: Eric Serra came under critical fire for his soundtrack to Goldeneye, but one area in which he hit the spot was in this slower song for the final credits. The track was performed by the writer, in a style reminiscent of Sting. Another gentle song, contrasting with the rest of the film's action-packed soundtrack.
MR KISS, KISS, BANG, BANG, Shirley Bassey, from Thunderball, 1965: Probably the most famous Bond B-side of all, Mr Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang was originally intended to be the main theme for 1965's Thunderball but the producers reportedly had a last-minute change of mind and asked John Barry and lyricist Don Black to pen the Tom Jones song Thunderball instead. Mr Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang was later recorded by Dionne Warwick.
