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Q Branch Archive for posts tagged ‘From Russia With Love’

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Happy Birthday FRWL

Happy 50th Birthday to From Russia With Love!

This James Bond film, the second by Eon Productions and the second with the suave Sean Connery in the role as Bond was released on the 10th October 1963!  This of course featured the gypsy scene where the two ladies fought furiously over James Bond with Spectre as the baddie and with Daniela Bianchi as the Bond girl Tatiana Romanova.

The theme at the start of the film was John Barry’s James Bond Theme but the title song was performed by Matt Munro and heard during the film and playing over the end credits.  This is a lovely piece of music and a favourite Bond Theme that The Name is Band – a Bond Tribute band love to play!  Our own crooner is of course Gavin Lazarus and our version can be heard here on soundcloud or here on our website – www.bondtributeband.co.uk

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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.

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From Russia With Love

From Russia With Love – starring Sean Connery as Agent 007 – Bond, James Bond.  The book written by Ian Flemming was apparently one of the top ten books that President John F Kennedy loved to read don’t you know!  Although John Barry had replaced Monty Norman as the soundtrack composer on this bond film, the bond theme was written by Lionel Bart. You may also recognise, and be able to sing along to, some of Lionel’s other songs from a famous film where a little boy asked for “More”- do you know what it is yet? Of course you do! It’s Oliver but he was also responsible for many more hits written for Shirley Bassey and Rod Stewart.  Lionel Bart couldn’t actually read or write music – he used to hum the songs and, for the 21 Carry On films, his co-partner at the time – Eric Rogers, used to transcribe them for him.

Matt Munro, who was affectionately nicknamed “the singing bus driver”, sang this Bond theme and his phrasing in this number is amazing.  The ease and sophistication in his vocals are like velvet.  Well the Bond Tribute Band The Name is Band have their own “fabulous crooner” in Gavin Lazarus who also has the ability to beautifully phrase lyrics old stylie when needed! When we were thinking about what Bond Themes to record for the website Gavin’s phrasing ability was a deciding factor in choosing From Russia With Love.

We hope you enjoy this one – To you….. From the Bond Tribute Band With Love …. awwwwww!

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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?)