The Diamonds Are Forever Theme

Unfortunately there is not going to be a lot of new information in this portion of the series, as this is the first time the collaborators of a James Bond theme song are all veterans to the series.  With 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever, it was not only the return of Sean Connery to the franchise, following a one-film sabbatical, but it also saw the return of composer John Barry, lyricist Don Black, and singer Shirley Bassey.  This would be the second of three theme songs Bassey contributed and to date she is the only musical artist to record multiple James Bond theme songs.

One-half of the 007 production duo loathed the title track, but Albert Broccoli, who ultimately would become the sole owner of the Bond film series, approved the theme song.  It has been reported that producer Harry Saltzman took issue with the lyrical innuendos of “Diamonds Are Forever,” which have been further supported from other stories regarding Barry’s insistence that Bassey sing the song as if she were singing to a penis.

 

Bassey’s “Diamonds Are Forever” didn’t chart well in either America or Britain.  The highest position was 38 in the UK and 57 in the United States.  The theme was sampled in Kanye West’s “Diamonds from Sierra Leone.”

 

John Barry was born November 3, 1933, as John Barry Prendergast.  His work with the 007 film series includes 12 soundtracks from 1962 to 1987.  His efforts on Dr. No comprised of arranging the music that Monty Norman had previously composed, including the “James Bond Theme.”  Barry then went on to compose the soundtracks for From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds are Forever, The Man with the Golden Gun, Moonraker, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, and The Living Daylights.

 

Other notable film scores include The Lion in Winter, Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa, Dances with Wolves, King Kong (1976), Robin and Marian, The Black Hole, Body Heat, Howard the Duck, Peggy Sue Got Married, Zulu, Chaplin, and The Ipcress File.

 

Barry started his own band in 1957 and went on to write some of the most legendary music in film history.  His accolades include winning five Academy Awards, four Grammys, two BAFTAs, two Emmys, and a Golden Globe.  He also received two Lifetime Achievement Awards, was made a fellow of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

 

Having been married four times, he died of a heart attack in January 2011 and at the time of his death was survived by his wife of 33 years, four children, and two grandchildren.

 

English lyricist Don Black, born June 21, 1938 worked frequently with Andrew Lloyd Webber on musicals and “Diamonds Are Forever” was his second of five James Bond theme songs.

 

He started in the music industry as an office boy with a music publishing firm and later worked as a song-plugger.  He was later personal manager to Matt Monro, who sang the From Russia with Love theme song.

 

His collaboration with Barry includes 1966’s “Born Free,” which won the Oscar for Best Song, and Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves.  He received further Oscar nominations, including his work on True Grit, and he also worked with future James Bond singer Lulu for the To Sir, with Love theme.  Other film work included collaborating with Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson.

 

Black’s theatrical work has won him a Tony Award for Best Book for the musical adaptation of Billy Wilder’s film Sunset Boulevard.  Along with Webber and Barry, Black has worked with Jule Styne, Geoff Stephens, and Mort Shuman.

 

Black lives in London with his wife, Shirley, of more than 50 years.  In 2007, Black was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

 

Shirley Bassey, made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on December 31, 1999, by Queen Elizabeth II, is a Welsh singer and her 60-year career has resulted in her being called one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century.

 

Shirley Veronica Bassey was born January 8, 1937, signed her first professional singing contract in 1953 to sing in a touring variety show based on the life of Al Jolson.  She briefly left show business and became pregnant at 16, but returned to singing in 1955.  Her success continued to increase and at one point in the late 1950s she had two hit singles in the top three of charts at the same time.

 

Although the James Bond theme song “Goldfinger” was her only successful hit in the United Sates, her star continued to shine throughout the 1960s and 1970s, having numerous hits on the UK charts and 10 albums in the Top 15.  “Goldfinger” is now Bassey’s signature hit.

Bassey was married twice, both ending in divorce.  She birthed a son and two daughters, one of which died in 1985, and has five grandchildren.  She currently resides in Monaco.