I haven’t kept up with Lana Del Rey in years. It’s not that I don’t like her — I’m a huge fan of Born to Die (duh) and the lesser-loved Ultraviolence — but I guess I’ve kinda felt like she’s been meandering since then. Her sound hadn’t evolved all that much. I was kinda outgrowing my sad girl era. The list goes on. Then boom, IO Interactive just announces out of nowhere that LDR will be performing the title song for 007 First Light.
And guess what? It’s actually a good ass song. I’m beyond hyped to hear this play for the first time when I get my hands on 007 First Light, and I think it’s going to really set the tone for the rest of the game.
The title tracks and intro sequences have always been a huge highlight of the Bond movies, so I’m glad to see the game’s going to be retaining that tradition as well. The Bond movies have seen no shortage of A-list pop singers performing the title tracks, including Adele’s excellent Skyfall and Billie Eilish’s slightly less impressive No Time To Die. I don’t think First Light quite matches the emotional highs of Skyfall sonically, but I’m definitely already liking it a lot more than No Time To Die.
It also makes so much sense for Lana Del Rey to do one of these that I’m not sure how no one thought of it before. These songs are often sensual and emotional, and LDR is nothing if not sensual and emotional.
Per the press release:
“It’s a joy to watch two extraordinary talents like Lana Del Rey and David Arnold combine forces, the result feels instantly ‘Bond’ while still bringing a fresh identity for 007 First Light. Bond’s return to gaming is a landmark moment for us at IO Interactive, and having a title song of this quality makes it even more special,” highlighted Hakan Abrak, CEO at IO Interactive.
“The music of James Bond has always been a huge part of its identity. A title song has to tell us about the world we are about to enter into. It has to intrigue, excite, and beckon us in. This song joins a long line of genre defining songs, each one creating a benchmark of style that adds to the magnificent heritage that is ‘The Bond Song’. That’s why I was so excited to work with Lana, an artist who brought elegance, atmosphere, and her totally unique character to this piece, which I hope will open the world of Bond to a whole new audience,” stated David Arnold.
007 First Light is set to be released for PC and consoles on May 27.
