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Q Branch Archive for posts tagged ‘Diamonds are Forever’

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John Barry and the Bond Music

Eleven of the James Bond Films, from EON Productions, had the illustrious John Barry to thank for the bond music.

As a young boy John Barry gained most of his musical influences after spending hours with his father who worked as a projectionist in cinemas all over York.  He was a trumpet player in the army and after leaving became a music arranger for Jack Parnell and the Ted Heath Orchestras.  He then spent many years composing music for organisations such as the BBC and  EMI Columbia and, in 1962 the producers of Dr No approached him to write for the latest James Bond film, and with Monty Norman writing the theme, John Barry was the arranger of the one and only James Bond Theme. Unmistakable and unforgettable.  The second this bond theme is heard every man in the room will start raising an eyebrow and putting on their best bond impression!

John Barry worked on the soundtracks for all the following James Bond films and his brassy and moody style can be heard in each and every one: 1962 Dr No – James Bond Theme with Monty Norman, 1963 From Russia with Love with Lionel Bart, 1964 Goldfinger with Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, 1965 Thunderball with Don Black, 1967 You Only Live Twice with Leslie Bricusse, 1969 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service with Hal David, 1971 Diamonds Are Forever with Don Black, 1974 The Man With The Golden Gun with Don Black, 1979 Moonraker with Hal David, 1983 Octopussy with Tim Rice, 1985 A View To A Kill with Duran Duran, 1987 The Living Daylights with Paul Waaktaar-Savoy.

The Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band love playing the Bond music at events, parties and celebrations all over the UK and abroad.  Each Bond theme is different but they all have fantastic orchestral scores and the challenge we face is replicating these amazing scores so that our live 10-piece band is as close and authentic to the original as possible.

June 28, 2013 Short URL
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Diamonds Are Forever

 

Diamonds Are Forever.  This song has been recorded by the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band and is one of our favourites!  A slow seductive start on the piano, a little gentle push with the vocals and then all the band enter with passion, feeling and a whole lot of brass.

Diamonds Are Forever – the James Bond Film made in 1971 with the title track of the same name, sung brilliantly by Dame Shirley Bassey and written by the incredible John Barry.  This Bond Theme only just made it however as the producer of the film hated it, and it was only through persuasion by co-producer Cubby Broccoli that ensured the song was used in the end!  The Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band are really pleased they did!  What a cracking number and as always, sung with passion by Dame Shirley Bassey.  According to rumours it was said that John Barry suggested, when singing the typical 007 Bond lyrics that were filled with innuendo – that she imagined she was singing to erm… well… a phallic shaped object!  We’re not really sure if that would have been inspirational or not!

To hear our version please follow the link to Soundcloud.  In order to give the best representation of our sound, this demo was recorded in the studio and mixed down by our own Sound Engineer Tony – who also happens to be one of the UK’s top recording engineers!  Please note – there are no multiple tracks or layers in this recording.  Just 10 musicians doing what they do best – and loving the end result.  Because we always bring Tony with us for all our Bond Themed events we can ensure that we always sound as authentic to the original music as possible – whatever bond music we are playing – whether in the recording studio or performing live at events.

As we only ever perform LIVE and only ever as a 10-piece, with the arrangements written especially for Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band, we know we sound like this each and every time we perform at all our events.  So, if you are looking to book band for a band for a James Bond Event then look no further! We are a lively Bond Tribute Band with an entertaining Cabaret style Bond themed set which is followed by a further set of non-stop party hits to really get the party started.  We know that for all the events we attend that our sound for the Bond Tribute set will be as close to the original themes as possible.  In addition, our performance is lively, professional, and above all we really do enjoy what we do.  This ensures that the client and all their guests also have an amazing evening and a night to remember!

April 11, 2013 Short URL
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Bond Girl Hairstyles

Sarah (female vocalist and Bond Girl in the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band) has spent hours looking on-line for inspirational Bond Girl hairstyles for a recent live DVD recording. The Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band recorded several songs: Skyfall, From Russia With Love, Live & Let Die, The Man With The Golden Gun, Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever. To see the videos then visit our website.

Sarah found that the early iconic styles used big curlers followed by a huge amount of backcombing.  Then followed about a litre of hairspray to hold it all in place so everything moved at the same time or didn’t move at all!  Thankfully new products and styles have been made since then and Bond girl hairstyles now are much more relaxed but are still really glamorous.  There isn’t really a Bond Girl hair look anymore so there are lots to choose from.  So whether your hair is long, short, curly or straight there is a glamorous and sexy style that will suit both the event and your chosen dress for the evening.

If you have long hair then go for the loose big curls that fall casually to the shoulders, or tight curls along the 50’s Hollywood styles. For short hair, opt for the cropped sultry look or even the messy “bed hair” look for the ultimate in phooaar.  If you have mid-length hair a tousled and loosely pinned “up-do” or a well-groomed and brushed back but seriously sexy ponytail.

Add some sparkles, diamante pins, ribbons, fresh flowers, bows, sequins to the finished hairstyle for added bling.  All Bond girl hairstyles have something in common though – the hair looks glossy and healthy and has ooooodles of glamour! So whatever your own hair length and style there is a Bond girl look that will match both you and your chosen outfit.

When that bond music starts, and if you’re lucky enough to be at a Thunderball where The Name is Band the Bond Tribute Band are performing, then you’ll be A View to a Kill on the dancefloor!  (See what we did there?)

March 8, 2013 Short URL