Over the decades countless major musical artists have contributed James Bond franchise has changed its tone countless times over the decades, with Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan’s Bond outings having a campy, light-hearted sense of humor where the likes of Daniel Craig or Timothy Dalton took the part of 007 more seriously.
However, one thing that every Bond movie has in common is a theme song written specifically for the movie. Ever since the late Sean Connery’s third appearance in 1964’s Goldfinger brought with it the Shirley Bassey title track, James Bond has always boasted impressive musical accompaniments for his adventures. However, not every artist offered the opportunity to record a Bond theme of their own has leaped at the chance, much like not every actor offered Bond has taken it.
The Living Daylights' theme was originally intended to be recorded by New Wave duo Pet Shop Boys, only for the group to turn down the chance when they discovered they wouldn’t be able to record an entire soundtrack. Similarly, 1967’s fifth Connery Bond movie You Only Live Twice has a memorable theme song from Nancy Sinatra of "These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” fame. However, the singer wasn’t the original artist the producers wanted on the track. Instead, it was her Rat Pack crooner father Frank Sinatra who got her the gig after he - as The Rolling Stones later did with Brosnan's Bond debut Goldeneye - turned down the chance to provide a theme for the movie.
Switching to Sinatra junior was not the end of the Bond producer’s troubles in securing a theme song for You Only Live Twice. Nancy Sinatra was reportedly extremely nervous when recording the song, worrying she sounded like “Minnie Mouse” and causing composer John Barry to record twenty-five takes and stitch them together for the finalized track. Unlike future Bond theme song creators A-ha, Sinatra wasn’t offered a cameo in the film for her troubles, perhaps due to her nerves during recording. However, given how infamously embarrassing future James Bond theme song creator Madonna’s Die Another Day cameo was, this could have been a blessing in disguise.
Unlike some other Bond themes, "You Only Live Twice" has gone on to become a classic and the soundtrack recording of the track, the alternate cut, and the original demo version featuring Lorraine Chandler that was unearthed years later have secured cult status among franchise fans. Frank Sinatra may have turned down the track, but this James Bond theme song nonetheless managed to secure a legacy despite the Rat Pack singer’s absence from its recorded versions.
