Wikipedia

Writing's on the Wall (Sam Smith song)

"Writing's on the Wall" is a song by English singer Sam Smith, written for the release of the 2015 James Bond film Spectre. The song was released as a digital download on 25 September 2015.[1] The song was written by Smith and Jimmy Napes, and produced by the latter alongside Steve Fitzmaurice and Disclosure.

"Writing's on the Wall"
Single by Sam Smith
Released25 September 2015 (2015-09-25)
Recorded2015
StudioRAK, Abbey Road, and the Pierce Rooms (London)
GenreOrchestral pop
Length4:38
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Sam Smith singles chronology
"Omen"
(2015) 		"Writing's on the Wall"
(2015) 		"Momentarily Mine"
(2016)
James Bond theme singles chronology
"Skyfall"
(2012) 		"Writing's on the Wall"
(2015) 		"No Time to Die"
(2020)
Music video
"Writing's on the Wall" on YouTube

"Writing's on the Wall" received mixed reviews from critics, some comparing it unfavourably to previous Bond theme songs.[2][3][4][5] The mixed reception to the song led to Shirley Bassey trending on Twitter on the day it was released.[6][7] Despite this, the single became the first Bond movie theme to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top 10 in a few other European countries, but unlike other James Bond film themes, it was not as successful outside Europe, only peaking at number 43 in Canada and Australia and number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100. Only the instrumental version of the song appeared on the film's official soundtrack album. The song won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards[8] and the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 88th Academy Awards, making it the second consecutive Bond theme to win (after "Skyfall" by Adele in 2012).

Background and composition

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"Writing's on the Wall"
A 27-second sample of "Writing's on the Wall". The song has been called "very slow and surprisingly restrained", with it deemed inferior to the previous James Bond theme "Skyfall".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Writing's on the Wall" was co-written by Smith and Jimmy Napes[9] in a single session: they wrote it in under half an hour and quickly recorded a demo. They were so pleased with Smith's vocal performance that they used it on the final release.[10] On 8 September 2015, Sam Smith announced that they were singing the song for the James Bond film Spectre. They described performing the theme as "one of the highlights of my career".[11] The English band Radiohead also composed a song for the film, "Spectre", which went unused.[12]

The song is written in the key of F minor with a tempo of 66 beats per minute (Larghetto). Smith's vocals range from A ♭3 to D♭5.[13] Smith said it was "horrible to sing" as the notes are "just so high".[14]

Critical reception

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"Writing's on the Wall" received a mixed response from critics.

Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote that the song attempted to capture the mood of Adele's "Skyfall", but "doesn't feel anywhere near as striking [...] the chances of it joining the pantheon of Bond themes that anyone with even a passing interest in pop music can hum seem pretty slender".[15] Chris Willman of Variety similarly noted the song was "unbecoming of a Bond movie", comparing it negatively to "Skyfall" and "No Time to Die". He ranked the song as the worst James Bond theme song.[16]

Lewis Corner of Digital Spy rated it three out of five stars.[17]

Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph called the song a "monster Bond ballad", stating, "(The song) is very, very slow and surprisingly restrained, at times floating by on resonant piano notes, the faintest brush stroke of orchestra, with all the focus on Smith's intense, tremulous vocal, rising with controlled pace and tension to an audacious chorus pay-off".[18]

Chris DeVille of Stereogum felt it was inferior to Radiohead's rejected song.[19]

Commercial performance

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In the United Kingdom, "Writing's on the Wall" became the first James Bond theme to reach number one, on the issue dated 8 October 2015.[20][21] The previous highest-charting Bond themes were Adele's "Skyfall" and Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill", which both reached number two.[22][23] It also became Smith's fifth UK number-one single within two years. The song spent a total of 16 consecutive weeks in the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, "Writing's on the Wall" debuted and peaked at number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100, compared to the previous Bond song, "Skyfall", which debuted at number 8 in October 2012. In Canada, the song debuted at and peaked number 43. In Australia, the song performed moderately, debuting at number 44, and later peaking at number 43, but in Ireland, the song was a much bigger hit, debuting and peaking at number 9. The song has also charted in several other European countries though to a far lesser degree than its predecessor.

Track listing

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Digital download[24]
No.TitleLength
1."Writing's on the Wall"4:38
CD single and vinyl[25][26]
No.TitleLength
1."Writing's on the Wall"4:38
2."Writing's on the Wall" (instrumental)4:38

Credits and personnel

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Recording and management
Personnel
  • Sam Smith – vocals, songwriter
  • Jimmy Napes – producer, songwriter, piano
  • Steve Fitzmaurice – producer, mixing and recording, additional programming
  • Guy Lawrence – co-producer, additional programming
  • Howard Lawrence – co-producer, additional programming
  • Steve Price – orchestra recording
  • Simon Hale – orchestra arrangement and conducting
  • Charles Wong – assistant recording engineer
  • Mike Horner – assistant recording engineer
  • Gordon Davidson – assistant recording engineer
  • Matt Jones – assistant recording engineer
  • Toby Hulbert – assistant recording engineer
  • Charlie Paakkari – assistant recording engineer
  • Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
  • Lucy Whalley – assistant orchestra contractor
  • Everton Nelson – orchestra leader
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • Aya Merrill – mastering assistant

Charts and certifications

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Release history

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Release dates for "Writing's on the Wall"
Region Date Format Label
Worldwide 25 September 2015 Digital download Capitol
United Kingdom 23 October 2015 CD single
6 November 2015 7" vinyl

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sam Smith's 'Writing's on the Wall' Is the Theme of New Bond Film Spectre". Time. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Sam Smith Bond song splits opinion". BBC News. 25 September 2015.
  3. ^ Petridis, Alexis (25 September 2015). "Sam Smith's James Bond theme review – 'It feels like an X Factor ballad'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Sam Smith's 'Writing on the Wall' 'Spectre' Song Hasn't Impressed 'James Bond' Fans". The Huffington Post UK. 25 September 2015.
  5. ^ "The Writing's on the Wall: Sam Smith's James Bond Spectre theme panned online". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Sam Smith's James Bond theme song 'Writing's on the Wall' makes Shirley Bassey trend on Twitter because people hate it". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Sam Smith Releases New Bond Theme But Twitter Reckons He's No Shirley Bassey". MTV UK.
  8. ^ Merry, Stephanie; Yahr, Emily (10 December 2015). "Golden Globes nominations 2016: Complete list". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  9. ^ Guardian music (25 September 2015). "Sam Smith's new Bond theme, Writing's on the Wall – listen here". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Hear Sam Smith Break Down Their Bond Theme, 'Writing's on the Wall'". NPR. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Instagram". Non-loginwalled link at bibliogram.pussthecat.org
  12. ^ France-Presse, Agence (26 December 2015). "Radiohead's Bond theme the gift that fans didn't Spectre receive for Christmas". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse in New York. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  13. ^ "'Writing's on the Wall' sheet music". Salli Isaak Music Publishing. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  14. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (26 October 2015). "Sam Smith 'almost regrets' Bond theme: 'It's so high that I have to grab my balls'". NME. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  15. ^ Alexis Petridis (25 September 2015). "Sam Smith's James Bond theme review – 'It feels like an X Factor ballad'". The Guardian.
  16. ^ Willman, Chris (8 October 2021). "Every James Bond Theme Song, Ranked Worst to Best". Variety. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  17. ^ "This week's new singles reviewed: Little Mix, Sia, Sam Smith, Rudimental". Digital Spy. 25 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Writing's on the Wall review: 'Sam Smith's monster Bond ballad'". The Telegraph. 25 April 2016.
  19. ^ "Sam Smith Doesn't Know Who Thom Yorke Is, Hasn't Heard Radiohead's "Spectre"". Stereogum. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  20. ^ "Sam Smith – Our Exclusive Cover Interview With The Man With The Golden Lungs". NME. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017.
  21. ^ "WRITING'S ON THE WALL". Official Charts. 8 October 2015.
  22. ^ "SKYFALL". Official Charts. 13 October 2012.
  23. ^ "DURAN DURAN". Official Charts. 21 February 1981.
  24. ^ "iTunes – Music – Writing's on the Wall – Single by Sam Smith". iTunes Store (GB).
  25. ^ "Writing's on the Wall – Theme from Spectre (James Bond 007)". HMV. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
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  31. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  32. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2015 in the date selector. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
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  35. ^ "Sam Smith: Writing's on the Wall" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
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  39. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
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  43. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  44. ^ "ライティングズ・オン・ザ・ウォール on Oricon" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  45. ^ "The Official Lebanese Top 20 - Sam Smith". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  46. ^ "Luxembourg Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  47. ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
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  51. ^ "Portugal Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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  53. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201605 into search. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  54. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201546 into search. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  55. ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
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  59. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
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  61. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  62. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2015" (in Dutch). Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  63. ^ "MAHASZ Single (track) TOP 100 – eladási darabszám alapján – 2015" (in Hungarian). Association of Hungarian Record Companies. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
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  65. ^ "Swiss Year-end Charts 2015". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  66. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  67. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  68. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Sam Smith – Writing's on the Wall" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  69. ^ "Italian single certifications – Sam Smith – Writing's on the Wall" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 28 September 2017. Select "2016" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Writing's on the Wall" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  70. ^ "Danish single certifications – Sam Smith – Writing's on the Wall". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  71. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  72. ^ "British single certifications – Sam Smith – Writing's on the Wall". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  73. ^ "American single certifications – Sam Smith – Writing's on the Wall". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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