Tomorrow Never Dies (song)

"Tomorrow Never Dies" is the song, performed by Sheryl Crow, which served as the theme song to the James Bond film of the same name. The song was co-written by Crow and the song's producer Mitchell Froom,[1] and became her fifth UK top-twenty hit, peaking at No. 12 in 1997.

"Tomorrow Never Dies"
Single by Sheryl Crow
from the album Tomorrow Never Dies: Music from the Motion Picture
B-side
  • "Strong Enough"
  • "The Book"
  • "No One Said It Would Be Easy"
  • "Ordinary Morning"
ReleasedDecember 1, 1997
GenreRock
Length4:50
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mitchell Froom
Sheryl Crow singles chronology
"Home"
(1997)		 "Tomorrow Never Dies"
(1997)		 "My Favorite Mistake"
(1998)
James Bond theme singles chronology
"GoldenEye"
(1995)		 "Tomorrow Never Dies"
(1997)		 "The World Is Not Enough"
(1999)

History

Another song, "Tomorrow Never Dies", written by the movie's composer David Arnold and performed by k.d. lang, was originally produced as the official theme tune. When Crow's song became the official theme, the k.d. lang song was relegated to the end credits and renamed "Surrender". The melody of "Surrender" still remains in Arnold's score.[2]

In addition to k.d. lang's song, the James Bond producers solicited tracks from other artists, including Pulp, The Cardigans, Saint Etienne, and Swan Lee. These ultimately were rejected in favour of Sheryl Crow's song.[3]

Reception

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Entertainment Weekly[4]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Crow steps forward with a tune that perfectly fuses her distinctive rock/pop style with the bombastic sound that has become the Bond signature. She wails with appropriate melodrama as an array of fluid guitar riffs and swooping strings and piano lines collide at the song's climax." He added, "It's a wonderfully delicious moment that tops off a stellar, deservedly hit-bound recording."[5] Entertainment Weekly music critic Jim Farber negatively reviewed the song, explaining, "While Crow's music has the right swank and swing, her brittle voice lacks the operatic quality of the best Bond girls and boys, like Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, or even Melissa Manchester. Tomorrow Never Dies should be for her ears only." (Manchester has never recorded a song for a James Bond film.)[4] Farber called the choice of Crow "the worst hire since A-ha fronted one of these themes."[4] Writing for Filmtracks.com, Christian Clemmensen wished Lang's song had remained, and thought Crow's "beach-bum voice and lazy performance was a disgrace to the film."[6] Music & Media wrote that "this is a topnotch song and a classy record. In true Bond style, it could best be described as a mini epic."[7] Also NME complimented the song, stating, "But, believe it or not, this is a low-key beauty and probably the best thing 'Miss' Crow has ever done. Crow has virtually reinvented the Bond theme by shrugging off the weight of history and playing it straight."[8] Rolling Stone was also critical, believing Lang's song to be superior.[9] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror gave the song 9 out of 10. He commented, "Miss Crow follows the fine tradition of Bond themery with a dreamily brilliant rock song demanding play after play."[10]

Awards and nominations

At the 55th Golden Globe Awards, "Tomorrow Never Dies" received a nomination for Best Original Song, but it lost to "My Heart Will Go On" by James Horner and Will Jennings.[11] The song also received a nomination at the 41st Grammy Awards for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media, losing again to "My Heart Will Go On".[12]

Track listing

2-track CD Single

  1. "Tomorrow Never Dies" (Sheryl Crow, Mitchell Froom) – 4:47
  2. "Strong Enough" (Bill Bottrell, David Baerwald, Crow, Kevin Gilbert, Brian MacLeod, David Ricketts) – 3:10

European CD Single (Cat. No. 582 457-2)

  1. "Tomorrow Never Dies" (Crow, Froom) – 4:47
  2. "The Book" (Crow, Jeff Trott) – 4:34
  3. "No One Said It Would Be Easy" (Bottrell, Crow, Gilbert, Dan Schwartz) – 5:29
  4. "Ordinary Morning" (Crow) – 3:55

Charts

Alternate rejected theme songs

After the financial and critical reception of Tina Turner's "GoldenEye", which bolstered and revamped her career, the theme to its sequel was an unusually hot commodity. Producers took the opportunity to offer the job to several different artists, allowing them to submit their best effort. Sheryl Crow's was ultimately chosen, but just as other Bond themes before it, it was not the only song recorded for the film. A top contender, alternative rock band Pulp, wrote a song for the film, which was later retitled "Tomorrow Never Lies" and released as a B-side to their This Is Hardcore album in 1998. Britpop band Saint Etienne recorded their own version of a song titled "Tomorrow Never Dies", which was later released as an exclusive to their fanclub on their Built On Sand album in 1999. Canadian country and pop singer k.d. lang's optioned theme, "Surrender", which was co-written by the film's composer, David Arnold, ended up being used as an end-title song.

See also

References
  1. Maslin, Janet (December 19, 1997). "FILM REVIEW; Shaken, Not Stirred, Bond Is in Business". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  2. "Filmtracks: Tomorrow Never Dies (David Arnold)". Filmtracks.com. Retrieved May 8, 2007.
  3. "Five Other Great Rejected Bond Themes". Vulture. August 13, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  4. Farber, Jim (November 21, 1997). "Music review: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  5. Flick, Larry (November 15, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 68. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  6. Clemmensen, Christian (November 25, 1997). "Editorial Review: Tomorrow Never Dies". Filmtracks.com. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  7. "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. November 22, 1997. p. 27. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  8. "Singles Archive 6/12/97". NME. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  9. "Crow, Sheryl Crow Debuts At No. 11". Rolling Stone. December 17, 1997. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  10. Hyland, Ian (November 30, 1997). "Sheryl's Really Got Something to Crow About". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  11. "The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1998)". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  12. "Grammys high on Hill". CNN. January 5, 1999. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  13. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  14. "Ultratop.be – Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  15. "Ultratop.be – Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  16. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3569." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 51. December 20, 1997. p. 12. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  18. "Sheryl Crow: Tomorrow Never Dies" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  19. "Lescharts.com – Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  21. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 11. March 14, 1998. p. 14. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  22. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (25.12. 1997–01.01. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 27, 1998. p. 47. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  23. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tomorrow Never Dies". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  24. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  25. SA, Polskie Radio. "Lista Przebojów Trójki – Polskie Radio Online". lp3.polskieradio.pl.
  26. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  27. "Swedishcharts.com – Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  28. "Swisscharts.com – Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  30. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
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