Releases
Adele - Skyfall - CD Single / 7" Single instores Oct. 29th
Coming on the heels of the biggest album of the last decade, 21, Adele releases new single, Skyfall, the official theme song to the new James Bond film of the same name.
The current Rolling Stone cover star called the song “one of the proudest moments of my life” in a statement. “I’ll be back combing my hair when I’m 60 telling people I was a Bond girl back in the day I’m sure!” she added.
Recorded at Abbey Road studios in London with a 77 piece orchestra, Adele penned Skyfall alongside Paul Epworth who co-wrote and produced her massive hit Rolling In The Deep.
The track will be available as a limited edition UK import 7” Vinyl and CD Single, both formats also feature an instrumental version of the song.
Friday Oct. 5th marked 50 years of the James Bond film franchise and was celebrated as Global James Bond Day. Adele premiered Skyfall via her official site at 0:07 British Standard Time and within 24 hours the track topped the digital music charts in 35 countries including Canada.
After just 5 days of release, Skyfall is already a Canadian Gold digital download.
Adele follows in the footsteps of recent Bond musical collaborators such as Jack White and Alicia Keys, Chris Cornell, Madonna and Sheryl Crow. Other pop musicians who have recorded tracks for Bond films include Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Carly Simon, Duran Duran, Tom Jones, Gladys Knight and A-Ha.
After an overwhelming 2011 in which she was dubbed the year’s top musical artist (by Billboard Magazine) and suffered serious vocal issues that required surgery, Adele kicked off 2012 by winning six Grammy Awards in February. Since then, she has also announced she is expecting her first child.
Skyfall, the 23rd film in the James Bond franchise, sees Daniel Craig reprise his role as 007, with director Sam Mendes at the helm and Javier Bardem as the film’s villain. The movie will have its world premiere in London October 23rd, before it is released in North America on November 9th.
Adele’s 2011 collection, 21, was last year’s biggest release in Canada and this year’s best seller to date, and has sold 1.4 million copies domestically and more than 24 million worldwide.
Visit “adele.tv”: adele.tv to hear Skyfall.
The singer was not initially sold on the idea. “I was a little hesitant at first to be involved with the theme song for Skyfall,” she said. “There’s a lot of instant spotlight and pressure when it comes to a Bond song.” But after enlisting the help of “Rolling in the Deep” co-writer/producer, Paul Epworth, the multi-platinum
selling singer agreed to participate. “Paul had some great ideas for the track and it ended up being a bit of a no brainer to do it in the end. It was also a lot of fun writing to a brief, something I’ve never done which made it exciting.”
“Skyfall suggests a slightly softer Adele: not the Rolling In The Deep singer who could rival Shirley Bassey for lung power. “Hear my heart burst again,” she begins with vulnerability…This delivery also reveals the best of Adele: the sound of an ordinary girl capable of extraordinary feeling.” – Guardian
“The song is exactly what a Bond song should be. No silly Madonna/Chris Cornell/A-Ha antics here. This is both homage to the best of the oeuvre with just the right amount of pastiche-ish tribute and a pretty awesome song in its own right. This is beautiful-woman-with-pipes-of-steel-sings-rousing-ballad just as
Daniel Craig’s six-pack intended.” – Toronto Star
“Adele’s performance is more understated than the classic belters from Shirley Bassey (it would be hard not to be) but there’s a warmth and soul in her voice that lends the lyrics a quality of emotional depth” – The UK Telegraph
“It’s an ominous, dramatic ballad, with lots of gorgeous horn flourishes peeking out through Adele’s now trademark vocals.” – LA Times
Selections:
Skyfall
Skyfall (Instrumental)
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