• Entertainment

Hear Sam Smith’s James Bond Theme ‘Writing’s on the Wall’

1 minute read

Sam Smith is making good on all those Adele comparisons he received early on in his career by landing a James Bond song of his own. After initially denying that he was taking over the coveted theme-song duties from the “Skyfall” singer, Smith debuted on Friday the full version of “Writing’s on the Wall” from the upcoming Bond film Spectre, due in theaters Nov. 6. The sweeping ballad keeps it fairly traditional—you won’t find the glitched-out vocoder weirdness of Madonna’s “Die Another Day”—and it’s already gotten the approval of Sir Roger Moore, the actor who played 007 for seven movies between 1973 and 1985. You can get the track here.

See Every Singer of the Bond Theme Songs

Coupland And Norman
Monty Norman is one of the composers, and also sang the theme of Dr. No.Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
john-barry-james-bond
John Barry composed the scores many of the earlier Bond films.GAB Archive—Redferns/Getty Images
matt-monro-james-bond
Matt Morno, together with John Barry, sang the theme song for From Russia with Love.David Redfern—Getty Images
shirley-bassey-james-bond
Shirley Bassey sang the theme songs for the films Goldfinger; Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.John Pratt—Getty Images
tom-jones-james-bond-theme
Tom Jones sang the theme song for the film Thunderball.Terry O'Neill—Getty Images
nancy-sinatra-james-bond-theme
Nancy Sinatra sang the theme song for You Only Live Twice.Redferns/Getty Images
louis-armstrong-james-bond-theme
Louis Armstrong sang the theme song for On Her Majesty's Secret Service.Afro Newspaper/Gado/Getty Images
wings-james-bond-theme
Paul McCartney and Wings sang the theme song for Live and Let Die.RB—Redferns/Getty Images
lulu-james-bond-theme
Lulu sang the theme song for The Man with the Golden Gun.CA/Redferns/Getty Images
carly-simon-james-bond-theme
Carly Simon sang the theme song for The Spy Who Loved Me.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
sheena-easton-james-bond-theme
Sheena Easton sang the theme song for For Your Eyes Only.Doug McKenzie—Getty Images
rita-coolidge-james-bond-theme
Rita Coolidge sang the theme song for Octopussy.AP
duran-duran-james-bond-theme
Duran Duran sang the theme song for A View to Kill.Fin Costello—Redferns/Getty Images
a-ha-james-bond-theme
A-ha sang the theme song for The Living Daylights.Dave Hogan—Getty Images
gladys-knight-james-bond-theme
Gladys Knight sang the theme song for License to Kill.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
tina-turner-james-bond-theme
Tina Turner sang the theme song for GoldenEye.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
sheryl-crow-james-bond-theme
Sheryl Crow sang the theme song for Tomorrow Never Dies.Michel Linssen—Redferns/Getty Images
garbage-james-bond-theme
Garbage sang the theme song for The World is Not Enough.Mick Hutson—Redferns/Getty Images
madonna-james-bond-theme
Madonna sang the theme song for Die Another Day.Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty Images
chris-cornell-james-bond-theme
Chris Cornell of the band, Audioslave, sang the theme song for Casino Royale.Kevin Mazur—WireImage/Getty Images
jack-white-james-bond-theme
Jack White, together with Alicia Keys, sang the theme song for Quantum of Solace.Matt Carr—Getty Images
jack-white-james-bond-theme
Alicia Keys, together with Jack White, sang the theme song for Quantum of Solace.Andreas Rentz—Getty Images
adele-james-bond-theme
Adele sang the theme song for SkyfallFred Duval—FilmMagic
sam-smith-james-bond-theme
Sam Smith sang the theme song for Spectre.Tord Litleskare—Getty Images

 

 

 

More Must-Reads From TIME

Write to Nolan Feeney at nolan.feeney@time.com