Die Another Day ● (2002) ● 'Die Another Day OST' and 'American Life'

 

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With the 23rd James Bond film Skyfall released on Monday, I thought it would be a chance to celebrate Die Another Day - the theme song to the film of same name.

 

Background

Die Another Day not only celebrated the 20th James Bond film, it also marked 20 years since the release of Madonna's first single Everybody. It was written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï (who produced all songs on American Life and contributed to many songs on Music: the title track, Impressive Instant, Paradise (Not For Me), Don't Tell Me). Opinions on the track were very divided - nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes and Worst Original Song at the Razzies, yet voted 9th on Channel 4's James Bond's Greatest Hits. Die Another Day was also nominated at the 46th Grammy Awards for Best Dance Recording, but was beaten, perhaps surprisingly to some, by Kylie Minogue's Come Into My World.

 

The music video features many James Bond references with the film series celebrating 40 years of Bond, such as a fight scene from Moonraker (where Bond is thrown into many glass cabinet), a man with metal teeth (Jaws), a fencing scene and a torture scene similar to the ones in the film Die Another Day. Cost of the video were over $6m (which equals $7.7m today), meaning it overtook her own Express Yourself for the second most expensive music video, behind Michael & Janet Jackson's Scream.

 

Die Another Day had large chart success, reaching number one in Canada, Italy, Japan and Spain, the Top 5 in Austria, UK, Germany, Sweden and Australia and #8 in the US. It's performance in the UK made it the most successful Bond theme since A View to a Kill.

 

Madonna has performed this on her Re-invention World Tour using an auto-tuned microphone, then later included it as a video interlude to her Sticky and Sweet Tour and as a one off mixed with Beautiful Killer on her MDNA Tour.

 

Opinion

This is my favourite single to be released from American Life. As a song I think it is incredible - that eerie violin at the beginning always sends chills down my spine - however I think it is quite weak as a Bond theme: Madonna is one of the greatest songwriters of all time, I think she could have created something much better lyrically. I love the Dirty Vegas Mix - if anyone has seen the film Die Another Day, it's played in the ice palace and also on the end credits. There's an edit of it on YouTube here. Oh, and yet another showstopping live performance on the Re-invention World Tour, boy she has moves!

 

Versions

Album Version [4:38]

Radio Edit [3:27]

Brother Brown's Bond-Age Club [7:51]

Deep Sky Edit [4:06]

Deepsky Remix [7:27]

Dirty Vegas Dub [9:10]

Dirty Vegas Main Mix [10:08]

Thee Die Another Dub [8:26]

Thee RetroLectro Mix [6:59]

Thunderpuss Club Mix [9:25]

 

Videos

Official Music Video:

 

Re-invention World Tour performance

 

If you have any requests for Song of the Week, feel free to PM me or SweetCandy! Also, I've added links to previous Songs of the Weeks below, so if you missed one, please do comment in them.

 

Songs of the Week

Week 1: I Know It

Week 2: Bad Girl

Week 3: Jump

Week 4: Sky Fits Heaven

Week 5: Causing a Commotion

Week 6: Die Another Day

The strings make this song. I've always liked the lyrics too despite the bashing they get. It doesn't sit right on American Life though and there's never been a great performance of it.

 

Edited February 17, 201312 yr by Jark

Liam you forgot the best version (I'm only kidding)

Sticky & Sweet Tour interlude

 

Love this, the whole image and remix is superb.

Edited February 17, 201312 yr by SweetCandy

The video is incredible and I can remember watching the making of it very clearly! The tour interlude on sticky and sweet is incredible. Non Madonna fans at the time I found really dug this tune

The strings make this song. I've always liked the lyrics too despite the bashing they get. It doesn't sit right on American Life though and there's never been a great performance of it.

Yeah, the strings are great, and I guess the lyrics aren't bad, it's just that they are underwhelming for a James Bond theme. I'd say it stands out for me on American Life, whether that's the same as not sitting right or not I don't know, but I think it stands out in a good way! :P

Liam you forgot the best version (I'm only kidding)

Sticky & Sweet Tour interlude

I did check that out, but since it's not actually a live performance I went with the Re-invention Tour instead. :P

Yeah, the strings are great, and I guess the lyrics aren't bad, it's just that they are underwhelming for a James Bond theme. I'd say it stands out for me on American Life, whether that's the same as not sitting right or not I don't know, but I think it stands out in a good way! :P

 

I did check that out, but since it's not actually a live performance I went with the Re-invention Tour instead. :P

 

That told me lol. I'm only messing.

That told me lol. I'm only messing.

I know, it's fine! :D It is a very good interlude, but I think I'd prefer seeing Madonna perform it at the same time.

It just when I think of a song or someone else says what do you think of ..

I instantly think well she did this version of it on that tour, another on this tour, a remixed was used on this etc.