No Time to Die BOTB Showdown
In today’s edition of James Bond Theme Song series BOTB, it brings me to the 25th spy thriller movie release with Billie Eilish performing the self-titled song No Time To Die from 2021 starring Daniel Craig for the last time as 007.
First artist: Ben Woodward, UK singer, songwriter, & producer. This is a nicely produced music video. Ben has a pleasant tone and he didn’t overuse his ability. I really liked that he didn’t sing every other note in falsetto. Click play to listen to Ben’s cover.
My second artist’s YT bio starts off… Sean Haywood, somehow lesser known as Atlus, is a talent-less hack, who’s trying to get famous in literally any way possible. I think he has a nice voice with a real shot at going somewhere in the music industry. What I like about Atlus singing this song is it seems unpretentious, straight vocals. Does Atlus have what it takes to win this round?
I found a third male artist, Vincent Anthony. He has a music style similar to Chris Cornell who performed the Bond film theme song for Casino Royale “You Know My Name” which got featured last September. He has a nice sound, so naturally, I liked Vincent’s cover. Will his edgy rock style carry him to victory? I don’t know. It’s up to you, listen and decide.
Who captured your ear best in this round, Woodward, Haywood, or Anthony? The choice is yours! Cast your vote in comments before you leave.
Polls close noon ET on Feb. 6th
I invite you to check out other these participants found in my side bar below the BOTB banner. Next week, same time slot I’ll be back to announce the winner in this round, so be sure to mark your calendar to see if your favorite artist wins in this showdown. Have a bandtastic day! X💋X💋, Cathy
21 Comments
Debbie D.
Hi Cathy, interesting mix of singers! Ben Woodward’s vocals were the most pleasing to my ears, so that’s my vote. 🙂 I enjoyed Atlus’ version as well, though. He has a cool, rough quality to his voice – definitely NOT a talentless hack! Vince Anthony didn’t resonate, which surprised me, since I like Chris Cornell’s style.
Mike
Ben gets my vote on this one
Cathy Kennedy
Hey Mike,
Gotcha down for BEN WOODWARD. Thanks for voting, my friend!
messymimi's meanderings
Atlus/Haywood. He sings like he means it.
Cathy Kennedy
Mimi,
I felt his pain in the song better than the others. Thanks for voting for SEAN HAYWOOD!
John Holton
I liked Sean Haywood’s voice the best. Give my vote to him.
Cathy Kennedy
John,
I never know how these battles will go but this one surprised me a bit. SEAN HAYWOOD gets another vote. Thanks for joining in the fun, my friend.
Birgit
I am going for Mr. Talentless:). I never heard of hi. So I wonder why you call him that? I pick him because he made this depressing, cut my wrists, song the most appealing. The first one was drab and the 3rd one, he was trying too hard. Talentless gets my vote.
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit,
Thanks for voting for SEAN HAYWOOD. I hadn’t heard of him before putting this battle together. His bio stated that he refers to himself as a talent-less hack. It has to be all in fun because this fella is anything other than talentless. I agree with you his version is the most heart-felt of them all and he doesn’t have a bad voice.
Arlee Bird
All three versions are pretty comparable so that makes it a somewhat difficult choice.
My preference leans more toward Ben Woodward’s style. Give my vote to his version.
Lee
Cathy Kennedy
Good day, Lee! I hope you’re getting your computer/Internet issues straightened out. I have you down for BEN WOODWARD who now has two votes.
Mary B
Hi Cathy!
Hope all is well with you. I am doing fairly well. I’m voting for the first guy, his was more pleasant to the ears.
~Mary
Cathy Kennedy
Hey Mary,
Yeah, all is well on this end. You’re giving BEN WOODWARD his first vote in this round. Awesome! Thanks for stopping by, darlin’!
diedre Knight
Hi Cathy!
I just had to peek at Billie’s version, not knowing much about her. Thanks for providing the video. All song versions suggest a more somber Bond movie than I’ve yet to see. My vote goes to Vincent Anthony for closely matching the mood.
Happy day!
Cathy Kennedy
Diedre,
You’re the first to vote for the dude with two first names as Stephen pointed out. Thanks for voting for VINCENT ANTHONY!
Stephen T. McCarthy
HiYa, CAThy! Look! Look! It’s that YOU!!
I’d re-cog-o-nize ya anywheres!
So, let’s see…
The first one wasn’t bad. And I felt the little grains of sand in his voice fit the woids pert-good. But… maybe it was just a little wee bit o’ too slow for my personal tastes.
The second dude – SEAN HAYWOOD – seems to think he’s me. I mean, after all, I am the ORIGINAL “talentless hack” and he’s stealing that from me. The only difference between us is that I’m a talentless hack who DOESN’T want to be be famous. I prefer my anonymenny– I prefer my anawnymitt– I prefer being unknown!
The third bloke, Vincent Anthony, has two first names and no surname. So, I think maybe he grew all that hair in order to compensate for his lack of a last name. He was OK but I was afraid he was going to strain his throat with all that intensity. I almost called 9-11 for him.
I’m “boting” for Sean, because he dun purdy good… for a talentless hack… and I like the fact that he has a surname and he’s not afraid to use it.
~ D-FensDogG
‘Loyal American Underground’
Cathy Kennedy
You can’t forget my furry face, can you? Home remedies aren’t doing the trick. Maybe, I need seek professional help. lol Anyone who hasn’t been with me through CAAC face lifts won’t understand that you talking about that cute little kitty exclaiming “Hello, is that you?” banner. Anywho, I thank you for your time and honest assessment of the three blokes singing their hearts out. Billie Eyelashes’ (that’s what DH calls her) song is really a real tear jerker. The song doesn’t feel like a treat Bond theme but it is what it is. I got tickled with your reference to Vincent Anthony having two first names. DH has a friend, former co-worker, who’s has two first names and I’m forever calling him by his last name. He’ll say do you mean so-and-so and I’ll say yeah then complain that it’s his fault I can’t get it right with two first names. 🙂 That talentless hack is doing alright in this round. SEAN HAYWOOD gets another bote!
Sandee
I didn’t care for #3 at all. One is good, but I’m going with the more upbeat #2.
Have a fabulous day and rest of the week, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
This song no matter who sings it is sad but I understand what you mean, SEAN HAYWOOD gave the song more energy despite the sorrow it casts on your mood. Thanks for taking part in battle of the bands, my dear.
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
Happy Wild, Wacky and Almost Wordless Wednesday, 1st day of February, and BOTB day, dear friend! I hope you are having a great week. A special shout-out to my good buddy Foghorn Leghorn. Tell him the new mallet he ordered from ACME Corp. is in the mail and on its way! 🙂
This Bond theme, “No Time To Die,” is sad, somber moody, bleak and almost painful to listen to, especially the original version by Billie Eilish which has garnered 2.4 million likes on YouTube. It is quite different from the brassy, swaggering, power-packed themes of Goldfinger and other early Bond films of the 1960s. I do not particularly like a weepy, subdued song of this type used as the theme of a sequel in this famous action spy series. I prefer the kind of theme that boldly declares, “Yeah, I know I’m probably gonna die, but I’m gonna have a blast before the curtain comes down.”
I noticed that artists #1 and #3 are playing instruments as well as singing. #1 plays guitar and piano and #3 plays guitar over what appears to be a pre-recorded orchestral backing track of the theme. Contestant #2 merely sings at a mic. Regardless, of the three performances in your battle, I prefer the cover by artist #2, Sean Haywood aka Atlus. His version is bold, masculine, angry and defiant. I love how he adds power and emphasis to the lyrics by finishing off the last syllable at the end of a verse. Your third challenger, Vincent Anthony, also does a good job, but his voice seemed hoarse and strained at times and his habit of emoting with eyes closed became creepy after a while. Therefore, I’m giving my vote to artist #2 – Haywood/Atlus.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cathy. I invite you to witness the fashion parade now in progress at Shady Place!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom,
Foghorn will be happy to know his ACME mallet is on its way. 😀 “No Time To Die” tone is quite moody. It makes me feel 007 vulnerability. I prefer the old powerful themes like you that gives the audience the sense of death doesn’t scare me because I’m Bond, James Bond! I appreciate your early visit taking the first vote in this battle for SEAN HAYWOOD. Have a bandtastic weekend, my friend!