Lana Del Rey Reveals Rejected James Bond Theme and More at Ivor Novello Awards
Rejected Bond Theme
Lana Del Rey recently disclosed that she had written a James Bond theme song in 2015, only for it to be turned down by the producers. This revelation came during her backstage interview at the Ivor Novello Awards in London, where she received a special award for her career and influence.
A Missed Opportunity for Spectre
When asked if she would consider writing a Bond theme in the future, Del Rey responded, “I mean, how has that not happened?” She then sang the chorus of her song “24” from the album Honeymoon, revealing, “I wrote that for them.” The song would have been a contender for the Bond film Spectre, which ultimately featured Sam Smith’s “Writing’s On The Wall,” winning an Oscar.
Reaction from Fellow Artists
Pop star Raye, who won songwriter of the year at the Ivors, expressed surprise at Del Rey's rejection, saying, “I can't believe she would have been rejected by them, because she just has the perfect energy for it.” Raye added that she would love to write a Bond theme herself, calling it an “absolute pleasure.”
A History of Rejected Bond Songs
Del Rey joins a notable list of artists whose Bond themes were rejected, including Pulp, Blondie, Johnny Cash, Pet Shop Boys, and KD Lang. Producers often commission multiple songs and decide which to use once the film is complete. Radiohead also recorded a potential theme for Spectre, which was released later.
Other Rejected Bond Songs
Johnny Cash – "Thunderball"
Dionne Warwick – "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (Thunderball)
Shirley Bassey – "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (Thunderball)
Julie Rogers – "You Only Live Twice"
Lorraine Chandler – "You Only Live Twice"
Alice Cooper – "The Man with the Golden Gun"
Blondie – "For Your Eyes Only"
Phyllis Hyman – "Never Say Never Again"
Pet Shop Boys – "The Living Daylights"
Ace of Base – "GoldenEye"
Pulp – "Tomorrow Never Lies" (Tomorrow Never Dies)
Saint Etienne – "Tomorrow Never Dies"
Swan Lee – "Tomorrow Never Dies"
KD Lang – "Surrender" (Tomorrow Never Dies)
Straw – "The World Is Not Enough"
Shirley Bassey – "No Good About Goodbye" (Quantum of Solace)
Muse – "Supremacy" (Skyfall)
Radiohead – "Spectre"
Lana Del Rey – "24" (Spectre)
Skylar Grey – "I’m A Soldier" (No Time To Die)
Del Rey’s Future Plans
At the Ivors, Del Rey also revealed that she turned down a world tour offer following her Coachella headline set. Instead, she plans to visit McCreary County, Kentucky, to connect with people there. “I decided not to do a stadium tour this year because I want to go meet with the people, and say hi and have breakfast with them,” she said.
Inspiration Behind Her Latest Album
Del Rey talked about her Grammy-nominated 2023 album Did You Know There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, which was largely written during jam sessions with her then-boyfriend, Mike Hermosa. “Everything was just easy, and I thought, here comes another record,” she said, adding humorously, “I was looking to get married, not to have another record!”
