Alternative Music

Alternative Music - Thunderball

By MI6 Staff

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James Bond fever was taking over the globe and, thanks to the chart success of Shirley Bassey's 'Goldfinger', artists were starting to eye the franchise as a lucrative opportunity to raise their profiles worldwide. When it was announced that 'Thunderball' was to be the Ian Fleming novel adapted for the big screen, American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash submitted a title song to EON Productions. Despite being one of the 20th century's most influential musicians, his submission was not selected to be used for the film. The Bond sound had set a new paradigm, and Cash's very earnest baritone do not fit the style of composer John Barry's scores.

The original main title theme to Thunderball was titled 'Mr. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang', which was written by Barry and Leslie Bricusse. The song was originally recorded by Shirley Bassey. When there were problems with Bassey's singing it was later re-recorded by Dionne Warwick and featured a longer instrumental opening designed so the lyrics would not be heard until after the title "Thunderball" appeared in Maurice Binder's title design. But at the last moment, it was decided that another song was needed. Composer John Barry teamed up with lyricist Don Black and wrote 'Thunderball' in a rush.

Lyrics
There is a rumble in the sky and all the world can hear it call
They shutter at the fury of the mighty Thunderball
The power of her engines, now, has drowned in the sea
But the deadly force from within her is somewhere running free

Thunderball, your fiery breath can burn the coldest man
And who is going to suffer from the power in your hand

Somewhere, there is a man who could stop the thing in time
He is known by very few but he's feared by all in crime
By courage and by fighting, he has not been known to fall
But neither has the fury of the mighty Thunderball

Thunderball, your fiery breath can burn the coldest man
And who is going to suffer from the power in your hand

Money hungry minds need a thread to launch a scheme
But those, who hold the Thunderball, could rule the world, it seem(s)
Cannot the peaceful world find the clue to where she's gone
The silent sea won't answer now but terror lingers on

Thunderball, your fiery breath can burn the coldest man
And who is going to suffer from the power in your hand