#10: “A View to a Kill” by Duran Duran, 1985

You can surely tell that this song dates from 1985, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sure, nobody remembers Duran Duran now, but way back then this song went all the way to number one, making it one of the most successful of the Bond songs. Dance into the fire. Do it!

#9: “All Time High” by Rita Coolidge, 1983

The movie was called Octopussy, but that’s a tough title to make a love song out of, so you’ll forgive them for going in another direction. The track didn’t have the success that “A View to a Kill” would, but it did reach number one on the Adult Contemporary char—but try not to hold that against it. It also contains a line that nicely sums up what the Bond movies are: “a sweet distraction for an hour or two.”

#8: “Tomorrow Never Dies” by Sheryl Crow, 1997

When a song mentions “martinis, girls and guns,” you know it has the best interests of James Bond at heart.

#7: “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” by John Barry Orchestra, 1969

Poor On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Everybody’s always bagging on the flick because it’s the one with George Lazenby in it. But the fact is, this is one of the best Bond movies. Everything about the movie is great except Lazenby’s performance, including this instrumental title song. Check out that Moog synthesizer!

#6: “Diamonds Are Forever” by Shirley Bassey, 1971

Bond songstress extraordinaire Shirley Bassey records her second title song with “Diamonds Are Forever” (she’d earlier done “Goldfinger” and would go on to record “Moonraker”). I really like this one. It’s got a “bum-bum-bum” thing in the bass that makes me very happy, indeed. P.S. Guys, she is kind of singing about a penis.

#5: “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey, 1964

Gollllld-fin-ger! Wah WAH wah! Just as Goldfinger is the standard by which all other Bond movies are judged, Shirley Bassey’s recording of the title tune is the ultimate example of a Bond song, putting everything about them in one neat little package. The song made it to the top five, but more importantly it made its way into the brains and hearts of moviegoers all over the world for decades.

#4: “You Only Live Twice” by Nancy Sinatra, 1967

Nancy Sinatra = totally hot. That’s enough for me, I’ll admit it.

#3: “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney and Wings, 1973

Paul McCartney comes in and gets the job done nice and quick. Granted, there’s the little matter of the insanely redundant lyrics (”this ever changing world in which we live in”), but as a counter to that I present this evidence: also there are xylophones!

#2: “James Bond Theme” by John Barry Orchestra, 1962

With this one piece, composer Monty Norman guaranteed himself immortality. Has there ever been a more iconic theme, a piece of music more instantly evocative of a character and his way of life? There sure hasn’t. The music is used throughout all the Bond films, but it actually does play over the opening titles of his first big-screen adventure, Dr. No. The movie world was never the same.

#1: “Nobody Does it Better” by Carly Simon, 1977

The AFI (American Film Institute or, more accurately, Absolutely Fucked-up Idiots) put this theme from The Spy Who Loved Me as the 67th greatest movie song, behind Whitney Houston’s terrible, over the top version of “I Will Always Love You” and even, if you can believe it, “My Heart Will Go On.” Is that the most insane thing you’ve ever heard or what? This song is absolutely fantastic, reaching number 2 on the charts and getting an Academy Award nomination. “Baby, you’re the best” is right!

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