Oscars: Music of James Bond Celebrated in Song by Lisa, Doja Cat and Raye – Hollywood Reporter
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood ReporterSubscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter“Live and Let Die,” “Diamonds are Forever” and “Skyfall” were on the set list as Margaret Qualley opened the tribute with a dance performance.
By Shirley Halperin, Benjamin Svetkey
March 2, 2025 5:33pm
The James Bond franchise got its own moment at the 2025 Oscars with a medley dedicated to the films and performed by Lisa, Doja Cat and Raye, with a preamble by Margaret Qualley in the form of a dance to the movie’s theme. Lisa sang a snippet of “Live and Let Die” while showing off her own dance moves, Doja took on “Diamonds are Forever,” originally sung by Shirley Bassey, and Raye sang “Skyfall,” for which Adele won an Oscar in 2012.
James Bond has been in the headlines quite a bit lately, and not because there’s a new movie in the franchise.
Related Stories
News
Tate McRae Earns First U.S. No. 1 Album With ‘So Close to What’
Movies
Oscars 2025: Where to Stream the Award-Winning Films Online
Last week, news broke that producers and siblings Michael G. Wilson, 83, and Barbara Broccoli, 64, the guardians of the Bond film franchise, were selling their interest in their late father’s EON — the company that’s kept the Broccoli dynasty in creative control of 007 since the character first swaggered onto the screen in 1962 — to Amazon.
In November, the two were feted with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, one of several Governors’ Awards honors. And on Oscar night, the two were recognized as Bond received a musical tribute to its decades of film-specific songs.
The music of Bond is as iconic as the character himself, blending cinematic grandeur with pop sensibilities. The surf-guitar melody of the “James Bond Theme” was written by Monty Norman and arranged by John Barry. But just as impactful have been songs written specifically for the franchise, including Shirley Bassey’s “Goldfinger” (1964) and “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971); Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die (1973), Duran Duran’s “A View to a Kill” (1985), Adele’s “Skyfall” (2012), Sam Smith’s “Writing’s on the Wall” and Billie Eilish’s “No Time to Die” (2020) — all three songs from the 2000s were Oscar winners.
Asked about her song partners on the red carpet, Raye said “They are two ridiculous true artists. … I love them both so much.”
The British singer brought down the house with her take on “Skyfall.” Note to the franchise’s future music supervisor: if this was an audition, she nailed it. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every daySign up for THR news straight to your inbox every daySubscribe for full access to The Hollywood ReporterSend us a tip using our anonymous form.
