Amy Winehouse pitches for Bond theme Brit warbler and walking advert for the perils of tattooing, Amy Winehouse, is making a pitch for the theme song of forthcoming Bond movie Quantum Of Solace, the BBC reports. That's according to her producer Mark Ronson, who told BBC 6 Music that Winehouse was approached to knock something together for Bond 22, although he's …
Good-o. Amy ugly minger crack face stupid whine-house getting even more publicity for little discernable talent. She can sing a bit, when she is sober, which is less and less often these days. Make me wish Wings would get back together again!
Not very IT based this story, which makes her publicity even more galling!
I bet you're not a pretty picture either, Chris.
I'm going to need so many substances to get through this thread if none of you are going to acknowledge that she's one of the best artists of our generation, regardless of the tabloid mess that any intelligent bean with ears should be able to see past. In fact, I think a trip to the Hawley Arms at lunchtime, followed by a lost afternoon culminating in an alleged assault and a mislaid ballet pump.
You do know that she was the moderator here before she was famous, don't you? It explains EVERYthing.
As soon as I read the title I thought Amy would make a great evil side kick.
And why not? Grace Jones has done it. Though Grace had the advantage of being a genuinely scary character in real life. Amy has scary looks but lacks any physical presence. Grace would snap her like a twig, but I guess that would release some kind of toxic gas, killing Grace and so the outcome would be a draw… Hhmmmm…
God I'm bored...
Sarah,
She has a great voice - that's something I wouldn't deny but I would hesitate and think long and hard before I went anywhere near the phrase "one of the best artists of our generation". That's a matter for taste or the application of a suitable metric at some point in the future.
As for her doing the Bond theme. I think she would be a good choice - she has the right sort of vocal chords.
Best artist of our generation? Which generation is that? I'm 24, i've no doubt there are a significant number of 40 year olds here, and probably some retirees who check in on the odd occasion. I'd say Oasis were more of an influence than Amy Winehouse, or is that too far back?
Either way, I don't like Amy Winehouse. Her voice irritates me. If anyone asks me for a decent current musical artist, I tell them to look up Maynard James Keenan. Tool are possibly one of the most varied, vivid, and thought-provoking bands i've ever listened to. You might also consider The Mars Volta, althought they're pretty obscure and difficult to listen to.
Amy Stonedhouse, sorry - Winehouse, would be great at doing a bond theme - I find her warblings as intolerable as most of the other Bond Theme Artists - i.e. Madge, Garbage, Sheryl Crow, Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner etc. Looking at the list of title tunes, there's only there's only the original theme (Dr No) and "We Have All The Time In The World" (OHMSS) that I would count as greats/classics the rest are towards the dire end of hte scale. Perhaps we should run a TV competetion to find the next singer, the money from the phone-ins could then be used instead of all those terrible product placements splattered all over the recent films.
"she's one of the best artists of our generation"
Care to take a vote on that?
Ah, the poor troubled artist whose experiences give them a unique insight into the human condition...
As Paul Simon once wrote "Every generation throws a hero up the pop chart"
I think the marketing machine has pwned you.
Anyway I think Amy would make a great Bond Heroin....er ..Heroine.
Awful to look at, typical rock-star life, but isn't that missing the point? It's all about the music and that, is great.
Who cares or should care about an artist's appearance or life, it's all about the art. If they were "normal" like "us" there wouldn't be "decent" art. Generally the more fucked-up the artist, the better the art. There must be some kind of formula here? (If you like middle-of-the road drivel then this obviously doesn't apply.)
I wouldn't deny the importance of Oasis (up to a point) nor the brilliance of Liam as an actual rock star nor their influence (on a lot of really unneccessary and mediocre bands, though), but are these things the only reliable measure of importance? If Oasis are important, does that mean Winehouse can't be? Of course she's important.
Nuts to the Mars Volta, give me Sparta any day. (See, I don't care THAT much about importance. It's all subjective and er, mostly decided by overgrown adolescent boys at the decreasingly influential NME, which no one over 16 has any excuse to read anymore.)
As long as she can sing, and the arrangement is suitable for a Bond fillum (no reedy synth nonsense like `Die Another Day`), who cares? It's a film theme. It's entertainment. With governments criminalising you and your other half recording a fruity film of a night in the boudoir, there's better things to get animated about.
And as Bill Hicks said:
"you know the musicians who made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years.... rrrrrrrrreal f--kin' high on drugs"
Paris - cos if they'll approach Whine-arse, they'll approach anyone.
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This story, why is it on a (largely) IT site?
As for bond themes, get someone with some talent to write it in conjunction with a band or artist that people like.
There's few artists in our charts who have a powerful enough style to pull it off. They're all doing R&B or wimpy pop music.
Hello, Giles. Thank you for your question.
This particular story about a film theme is in Odds and Sods >> Entertainment.
That is, it has been filed in the section for odds and sods - specifically, the bit pertaining to entertainment.
There is no IT angle.
This is the part of this website where there is no requirement for an IT angle.
If you would like to read about IT then please repair to the home page where you will find all manner of stories with IT fairly coming out of their ears.
Now, would you like me to scratch your arse for you, or have you got that covered?
I think you're mixing apples with oranges.
That Manynard is a guy and the Mars Volta are guys too. Could you put an example of a female artist comparable to Amy right now?
This would include a beatiful voice, interesting lyrics and equally original band members.
Before Amy it was Norah Jones I would have thought (she got a lotta grammys too, but then again she was critisized for not being Jazzy enough).
The bad propaganda shouldn't impair people from enjoying the music, and personally I couldn't care less if she snorts, pops or smokes whatever. I just hope she lasts enough to give us a lot more good music.
Or would you rather have Britney Spears? feckin Paris Hilton?
I am not a fan of Amy Winehouse. I do not like her style of music, and although I will concede that her sound is "unique" it is one that I find more irritating than inspiring.
One of the best artists of our generation? I think that statement requires some serious backing up, lest you lose any credibility you might have left*
If you had said she was one of your favourite artists of our generation, or even one of the most distinctive that would be fine.
Oh, and in today's music / entertainment industry what you look like is at least as important as what you sound like, surely you are cynical enough to recognise that.
*I am aware of the irony of linking "credibility" to an El Reg Journo**
** I am also aware of the irony of an El Reg reader casting aspersions on the credibility of an El Reg Journo.
Oh Lee, I was all set to justify my perfectly reasonable statements on the basis of my experience in entertainment journalism, cite any number of swiftly-Googleable respected sources who go a lot further in their endorsement, etc. But then I realised you were merely allowing me to have an opinion
>>If you had said she was one of your favourite artists of our generation, or even one of the most distinctive that would be fine.
You are too kind! I wouldn't want to push it beyond that, you might get cross.
And then you said
>>Oh, and in today's music / entertainment industry what you look like is at least as important as what you sound like, surely you are cynical enough to recognise that.
Regardless of the fact that we are talking specifically about a film theme, to be run over an opening sequence and most unlikely to feature the singer's image.
And then there was all that credibility stuff. The last bit, I was totally with you. And I couldn't hope to add anything.
Mwah.
with that other genius docherty. she can sing, and she lives the lifestyle, perhaps pete when he gets out the pokey can go round hers for a bit of the brown stuff and they can slabber out a good one.
Sarah's gettin a bit touchy on this one :)
Wheres the IT angle, has some B*****D stole my coat, Paris for F**ks sake
One minute everyone is complaining that artists today are bland and have no character and are all mass-produceds. wah wah...
So along comes a proper good voiced artist with serious life and drug problems and lets face it she's bloody interesting and what happens.
wah wah.. she's no good etc.
All the best musical artists and singers than anyone remembers were drug addled or killed themselves. The rest aren't worth bothering with.
Why is it that when it comes in seeking role models that our kids will no doubt want to emulate at some point in their impressionable lives, we always seem to celebrate those who do drugs, alcohol, unsafe sex and selfishness, branding those who try and keep a clean nose as wimpish, pathetic, weak and lacking in value?
We always seem to be negative about positive things and positive about negative things. Hrumph!
Maybe it's the same mentality that makes the Empire's action toys cooler than the Rebels'
Nuff said,
Don't like Winewarehouse's voice, but then Madonna's Die Another day (and the entire Hard Candy album after hearing it yesterday) sucked too. Casino Royale's theme was so so but at least it wasn't as inaccessable as Madonna's.
Why not just go back to the Monty Norman theme, It's fantastic, fits the movie will, and timeless and probably a lot cheaper to re-do that paying a fortune to some big anme but about to self explode artist to do it.
----
That Manynard is a guy and the Mars Volta are guys too. Could you put an example of a female artist comparable to Amy right now?
This would include a beatiful voice, interesting lyrics and equally original band members.
----
Emilie Autumn is the one that immediately jumps to mind.
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Amy Crackhouse sings a song. Whoopee.
Personally, I find her songs to be as enjoyable as filling my mp3 player with the sounds of nails on a blackboard mixed with tortured cats, overlaid with a jackhammer outside the bedroom window at 6am on a Sunday morning, then setting it on repeat on max volume. But that's just my opinion.
I'm bored of seeing her everywhere, and double bored of "she's the greatest blah blah most inspirational blah blah blah most talented blah blah blah in the world" when, as far as I can tell, she's done nothing but sing a few songs that appeal to *some* people. There are many, many more talented artists. Many. But they don't have the might of the media splashing their latest self-harm / drug problem / relationship issue extravaganza over the front page of every glossy in the country. If she wasn't a publicity whore, she woudn't sell as many records, and wouldn't be such a phenomenon (*insert "ba-daaaa-ba-da-da!" here*).
She's a musical Jordan, where "musical" is used in its loosest possible sense.
She treats her fans abominably, considering how she behaves at her gigs - turning up late and so stoned she can't perform for thousands of people who paid good money for tickets and travelled to see her? Sorry, no artist like that deserves *any* respect, IMO.
Upshot: if she sings "writes the theme toon, sings the theme toon", then it's unlikely I'll go see it, because it would ruin any film to sit through that first. (I would arrive after the credits, but traditionally the best bits of a Bond film are before the start credits roll. Bah.)
PS Sarah - I never had you pegged as someone to follow the trend, and slavishly follow a mediocre-at-best performer just because she's "in" & winning various awards for "most stoned performer" which obviously makes her "t0tall1 K00L!!!!"...
I'm genuinely baffled by the suggestion that anyone who happens to admire someone or something which has been lauded by others can only possibly be 'following the trend' or 'pwned by the marketing guys'. You do know free will exists, don't you? And why would you have me 'pegged' as the type to do anything in any context? Based on what?
It's rather like suggesting that anyone who criticises another person is 'just jealous'. That is undeniably the case on occasion, or the cliche would never have been born, but it's rather indolent and backward and absurd to take that as your default position every time.
I think you're the one having trouble seeing past the hype and froth and cynical publicity bullshit, not me.
I admit that I probably have been pwned by the marketing guys. Not Winehouse's, mind you, the Daily Mail's. I was tipped from 'I quite like that song' to 'I'll buy the album' when the tabloids started demanding I *not* buy her records so I wasn't "funding her habits". Undoubtedly these are the same people who patronisingly demand to know of beggars whether they're going to spend their charity on drugs before they chuck them 50p.
Always doing the opposite of what the Daily Heil says you should do isn't the best lifestyle there is but it has its benefits. You'd probably be physically healthier, you'd have a much friendlier attitude towards your fellow man, and you wouldn't have supported the Nazis.
Re SB: She's welcome to use my lyrics if she wants them (from the original QoS comment thread).
To take in turn...
I "had you pegged" as individualistic and frequently contrary, based on posts you've made on El Reg, and having read your online bio previously. Although, I guess, in the context of this subject, it's possible that you're being deliberately contrary against the prevailing opinion based on comments above, just for the fun?
Nothing to do with hype and froth - I avoid tabloid literature at all costs, and have never actually read the Daily Mail. I also avoid glossy mags as far as possible, aside from looking at the covers when waiting to be served at Boots/WH Smith etc. I base my opinions of Ms Winehouse on:
* I have listened to her music, like I listen to a lot of music. I find it absolutely dreadful, and would sooner have root canal work without novocaine than listen to it again.
* People I know have been to see her and have been disappointed by her performance, or rather lack thereof, as she was barely capable of standing, never mind singing. They had paid to see her, and had taken time off work to do so, travelling a fair distance, like the thousands of others who did the same. She was being paid to be there, and to perform for less than 2 hours, to the people who had made her current lifestyle possible. At the very least, she could have come off the junk long enough to do that, but she instead smacked herself up to the eyeballs, and spent her time on stage stumbling about and forgetting the lyrics.
* She appears on glossy covers as much as the Peter & Jordan / Posh & Beck shows. Every time, it's about whatever new drama she's selling to promote her publicity and remain in the public eye, thus using these issues to promote her sales.
Overall, her success is based on a small amount of talent, no more than many other artists, and less than a lot, and a very effective marketing strategy - see my comparison to Jordan.
Note that I have not made reference to her appearance, the rights/wrongs of her drug taking, realationship issues, etc etc. I'm basing this purely on the fact that she is being lauded as the Messiah of British music, when her talent is minimal and her attitude to her fans appalling.
i make it 12 nay's to 13 aye's so far, some of the comments dont really say either way.
but of course to quote "the Empire's action toys cooler than the Rebels'" sorta gives me a general impression of the nay's, boring, listens to Queen on infinite loop while playing with star wars dollies, highlight of life so far was when LOTR was made into film and speaks at least some klingon. is that a better role model mmm, it may be hip to some lol
most of the best music comes from drug crazed states of mind, but then again i dont listen to christian rock, so some of you may know better.
when amy's on, she's on, no-one can deny that. her studio stuff is top drawer, it's when she gets mad with it and does live she's hit and miss.
I dont care what drugs she does and couldnt care less about her f****d up life, have my own to contend with. if you dont want to continually hear about the mess shes in stop reading heat magazine
i look forward to hearing her theme for bond. mind you i thought the best part of the last movie WAS the song at the start.
Sarah your quite coherant for sombody who must be in the pub
You're still doing it. Why assume? And why always the cynical assumption? Why wouldn't I think a particular artist is worthy of the plaudits she gets?
I don't think we're actually having the same argument here. You've got every right to your opinion, I'm just pointing out that it's at odds with the critical consensus, with which I happen to agree. (But that's because I think it's correct in this instance, not simply because it is a consensus, do you see?)
And you're still missing the point about the hype and the froth. You're completely suckered by it. Just because she is surrounded by a lot of the same crap that lesser artists get by on, doesn't make her one of them.
I've been to see her, incidentally. She was an hour late on, but she did perform, and she was really extraordinary. Of course it's Very Bad that she often can't get her shit together (although it doesn't occur as often, or as badly, as the tabs have told you) but I think anyone who's seen her perform at all will value it more in years to come than any number of smoothly executed, identikit, unimpeachably professional gigs by The Whoeverthefucks.
I did see your comparison to Jordan, and it's no more apposite the second time around.
Dan O'Donovan: I think 'Just' & 'Toxic' are very different from the originals - he definitely has creative input to the songs. His Radio 1 minimix was fantastic too. I think it depends on whether you think remixers or DJs (or perhaps conductors) are 'musicians' or not...
Gordon Pryra: Wot is this, 4chan?
dervheid: You're right, I'm off to read that article & have a look at the comments. I think the mod-baiting in here is what's encouraging the large number of posts, though...
<quote>But hopefully I'll still be alive for at least 12 more Bond themes. If we don't get this one maybe we'll get another one."</quote>
Duno if anyone realised that she tends to drift toward a hedonistic lifestyle and being a hard drinking, crack smoking, smack head generally doesn't end well or tidily.
Ronson should really try and get this one before she implodes and dissolves into a chemical puddle.
Good artist though, fully in the Bill Hicks model of a proper artist unlike that twat Pete Doherty who is just a smack head who's in the papers a lot, like a back street boy with a drug issue.
You are joking I assume ?
Ive witnessed 50 years of popular music, from Rock'n'Roll to the garbage that Amy Whinehouse is. Ive ploughed my way through thousands and thousands of hours of Jazz, Blues, Ragtime, Big Band, Prog Rock, Country, Light Opera, Classical, Glam, New Wave, Punk, New Romantic, Ska and Folk. Ive probably seen more live musicians perform than the average UK Voting Constituency has, and I can definitively state Amy Winehouse doesnt even come on the Radar when it come to talent. I know obscure 1940's jazz saxophonists that rate higher than her (E.G Harry Carney, Duke Ellingtons Baritone Sax Player) and totally unknown undiscovered self taught players like Mr Irvine (google it) who have more talent in the little fingers than the dire untalented junkie mess that Amy Winehouse is.
Could work, if we have daniel craig's dire acting, the weak plot line that (along with the concept that bond 21 was set in current day yet started the career of a 00 agent who has been going since the 60s) was Casino Royale, add DC's request for a homosexual encounter (No Mr Bond, I expect you to bend over and take it like a man) then I fail to see how amy whiteline could make a quantum of somnescence any worse than it would appear to be predestined to be.
Even the Aston Martin cars don't seem to want to be in this movie...
Definitely shaken, not stirred
Couldn't care less 'bout her music or her drug problems. Hell My all time favourite artist died asphxiating on his own vomit after a massive drinking session
Limiting your music selection based on the artists apparent clean lviing will, I think, limit you to a couple of christen bands and William Shatners spoken word album (shiver).
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A while back, I was mildly surprised to learn that Chris "Oo-er I've Got A Sore Throat" Cornell was to do the theme for "Casino Royale", and more surprised when it turned out to be one of the better parts of what was mostly utter bobbins. However, I'd pay over the odds to see a Bond James Bond film with Tool doing the theme song.
13 now Sarah. You'll have to post another comment so as not to upset the superstitious among us.
Yes the Beatles took drugs, and had up days & down days, good records & excellent records. They have made an impact on world music that has only been achieved by a few modern artists. And I still hear their records, and covers of their records on the wireless. It is also interesting to see how many seeders there are for their music on TPB.
Most of the previous theme tune singers have had international careers which spanned decades. Given Amy's life style, is she going to live that long?
It is my opinion that, however good she may be, Amy Winehouse is not in this class.
As for the Bond title sequence I turn down the sound and watch the girls. MUCH more interesting. Maurice Binder I could forgive you anything.
Cos I don't like posting over and over on the same subject.
But...
"And you're still missing the point about the hype and the froth. You're completely suckered by it. Just because she is surrounded by a lot of the same crap that lesser artists get by on, doesn't make her one of them."
Nope, I'm completely suckered by the fact that I find her music dreadful, and that people I personally know have gone to see her, with the result that it's been a complete waste of time and money for them, and has massively put them off her as an artist. Like I said, I ignore the tabloids. I don't give a monkey-fart if she junks herself up to the eyeballs in her spare time, but when it's causing massive negative effects on her performance, then to laud her for being the next Music Messiah seems nuts.
"Of course it's Very Bad that she often can't get her shit together (although it doesn't occur as often, or as badly, as the tabs have told you) but I think anyone who's seen her perform at all will value it more in years to come than any number of smoothly executed, identikit, unimpeachably professional gigs by The Whoeverthefucks."
The tabs haven't told me anything. I don't care what they say, as I know it's generally a crock of shit about whatever the current flavour of outrage is. It's based on people I know going to see her because they liked her before going, and supported her, and felt it would be a great night.
I certainly wouldn't value a performance like they got.
Incidentally, I'm hardly a "The Whoeverthefucks" fan, as I'm more into rock/metal than anything else - though with a healthy smattering of everything from opera to blues. (No, Good Charlatan and other such "We're totally rock!!1!1!!" identikit bands don't count...) - but I value a performance that I can enjoy over one where I would be saying "what the hell is she doing?" throughout. I'm certainly not into "smoothly executed, identikit, unimpeachably professional gigs" but I think expecting the artist not to stumble around like a zombie and forget all her lyrics isn't unreasonable.
Like I said, last one. I often agree with you on other subjects, but I reckon this "you (don't) like her so you've been suckered by the publicity and I (don't) like her and I haven't been suckered by anyone so there!!!" debate isn't going to go anywhere.... (And because I have work to do...!)
Stop because that's what I'm doing.
Agree entirely, Mr andy gibson
As for "what difference does it make what she looks like?" About as much difference as whether "...Chris Cornell is hot" I'd have thought. Back on topic: I dug his Bond theme.
Also: It's nice to see some bile directed towards the Shockwaves ad-filled indie/Heat *hitrag that is the "the decreasingly influential NME". It was only ever relevant between July 1999 – July 2003 if you ask me. ;-)
One other thing: I vote for a Portishead theme too.
-Amy Winehouse is a horrible singer, and I am qualified to say this because I have listened to music for 80 years. I have listened to lots of bands which are just obscure enough to make me cool for listening to them but not so obscure you've not heard of them and don't know that I'm cool for listening to them. And my vast experience has taught me that musical taste is, in fact, entirely objective.
-The only good Bond was David Niven.
-The only good Bond theme was by me singing in the shower.
If they must make another Bond film it should star me as me going round casinos and getting into beautiful women's knickers by impressing them with my knowledge of Alternative New Indie Ska Classical Metal from 1792 before defeating a conspiracy to make young people listen to music that actually has a tune and a beat by lecturing people on message boards. As a pretentious misogynistic twat I believe I am perfectly suited to the role of James Bond.
"You are joking I assume ?
Ive witnessed 50 years of popular music, from Rock'n'Roll to the garbage that Amy Whinehouse is. Ive ploughed my way through thousands and thousands of hours of Jazz, Blues, Ragtime, Big Band, Prog Rock, Country, Light Opera, Classical, Glam, New Wave, Punk, New Romantic, Ska and Folk. Ive probably seen more live musicians perform than the average UK Voting Constituency has, and I can definitively state Amy Winehouse doesnt even come on the Radar when it come to talent. I know obscure 1940's jazz saxophonists that rate higher than her (E.G Harry Carney, Duke Ellingtons Baritone Sax Player) and totally unknown undiscovered self taught players like Mr Irvine (google it) who have more talent in the little fingers than the dire untalented junkie mess that Amy Winehouse is."
^ Well said. Amy will not be played in 40 years (probably not in 5 years if she isn't around by then), no way. Sarah seems to be getting all defensive because she happens to be a fan (god knows why, but each to their own I guess...), but I cannot see anything in the claim that she is one of the most talented artists around. She can whine down a microphone roughly in tune and happens to have a fairly unique voice, that does not constitute talent.
For the record though, I thought Casino Royale was an excellent film (I don't understand why people don't like it), Craig was an excellent bond, the theme tune wasn't bad at all, and I am very much looking forward to the next film.
Die Another Day though, that was the worst bond film, and worst theme... let's hope they don't do another one of those.
Option 1:
Well my 360 beats the crap out of your ps3 you stupid sony fanboy!!
Option 2:
Linux is awesome - appletards are morons!!
Option 3:
Donna is a really good companion for the Doctor - not annoying in the slightest!!
OK people - pick an option - AND FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!! *cue mortal kombat tune*
Paris - 'cos she's awesome, truly spiritual, and I think she is the most influential artist of our generation!! :)
...you do need to try a bit harder on the 'leaving the empty-headed and incoherent to stew in their own bilge a.k.a. the comments section' side - dropping in for at most one snidey takedown of the most pompously ham-fisted swipe from the gutter is far more the Reg hack's style. Maybe one of the old hands can give you a masterclass.
I hope I'll hear no more of this shameful, preposterous and tawdry linking of Winehouse to the Bond franchise - Amy's above that kind of thing.
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