In 50 years of films and some of the best-loved songs in Hollywood history, no James Bond theme tune has ever reached number one.
That, surely, is about to change as the Bond franchise signs up pop star Sam Smith to deliver the title song for the 24th film, Spectre.
Smith, who has four number one singles and a number one album to his name, has confirmed he will be performing Writing’s On the Wall, recorded in secret earlier this year.
He will become the first solo British man to sing the Bond theme tune in half a century, since Sir Tom Jones delivered Thunderball in 1965.
Smith has a huge international fanbase, and will carry the hopes of the Bond franchise’s hopes of finally reaching the coveted number one slot.
Despite popular hits in the past, the Bond theme has rarely gained chart traction with a handful of top tens and just two number one slots.
Last time, Adele’s song for Skyfall was beaten to the top slot by Swedish House Mafia in what has been called the “curse” of the James Bond theme tune. Her song did, however, go one to win best soundtrack at the Golden Globes, the Brit Awards and the Academy Awards.
After months of rumours, Smith finally announced he was taking on the Spectre song on Tuesday.
“This is one of the highlights of my career,” he said. “I am honoured to finally announce that I will be singing the next Bond theme song.
“I am so excited to be a part of this iconic British legacy and join an incredible line up of some of my biggest musical inspirations. I hope you all enjoy the song as much as I enjoyed making it.”
In an interview on Radio 1, he added: “I’m so relieved to actually talk about this, this has been a top secret mission of my own.
“I got called into the office with [producer]Barbara Broccoli and [director]Sam Mendes and they gave me the script, I read the script… they said ‘have a go at the song’.”
“It’s the quickest I’ve ever written a song – it took 20 minutes… and they loved it!”
The track has been released for pre-order overnight on Tuesday and will debut on September 25. Spectre, the film, is released in the UK on October 26 and internationally on November 6
Top chart positions so far, according to the Official Charts Company:
2012: Skyfall, performed by Adele. Reached number 2, beaten by Swedish House Mafia’s Don’t You Worry Child
1985: A View To A Kill, performed by Duran Duran. Reached number 2,beaten by Paul Hardcastle’s 19
2002: Die Another Day, performed by Madonna. Reached number 3,beaten by DJ Sammy’s Heaven
1969: We Have All The Time In The World, performed by Louis Armstrong. Did not chart originally but reached number 3 on its re-release in 1994, beaten by Baby D’s Let Me Be Your Fantasy
1987: The Living Daylights, performed by A-Ha. Reached number 5, beaten by the Pet Shop Boys’ It’s A Sin
Other famous Bond theme tunes which missed out:
1965: Thunderball, performed by Sir Tom Jones. Reached number 35, beaten by the Spencer Davis Group’s Keep On Running
1964: Goldfinger, performed by Dame Shirley Bassey. Reached number 21, beaten by Sandie Shaw’s (There’s) Always Something Her To Remind Me
1971: Diamonds Are Forever, perofrmed by Dame Shirley Bassey. Reachednumber 38, beaten by T-Rex’s Telegraph Sam
1973: Live and Let Die, performed by Paul McCartney & Wings. Reachednumber 9, beaten by Slade’s Skweeze Me Pleeze Me
