In addition to exotic locales, extravagant action sequences and ingenious gadgetry, Bond films are memorable for the unique scoring of their opening credits.

In this video, music essayist Barnaby Martin surveys the evolution of the long-running spy movie franchise’s theme music, with an especial focus on its 24th installment: ‘Spectre’.

‘Spectre’ begins with a title sequence accompanied by Sam Smith’s ‘Writing’s On The Wall’, yet this composer was not the first choice to scoring the film’s opening. Instead, as Martin explains, the band Radiohead were initially approached for the task, and what they delivered was, he argues, one of the greatest Bond themes ever written.

To make his case, Martin breaks down the musical components that make up a truly memorable Bond theme, and reveals why Radiohead’s ‘Spectre’ offering had been a cut above the rest.

‘No Time to Die’, the upcoming Bond movie, is set for a September 30 release date, and is scored by renowned movie composer Hans Zimmer.

View the original video here.

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