Adele - Skyfall (2012)

“Skyfall” is the theme song for the 2012 James Bond film of the same name, performed by British singer Adele. It was written by Adele and producer Paul Epworth and features orchestration by J. A. C. Redford. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with a 77-piece orchestra.

The Story

The lyrics open with an ending: “This is the end, hold your breath and count to ten.” The world is collapsing. The singer has “drowned and dreamt this moment.” There is a sense of surrender, but not defeat. In the chorus, the song turns: even if the sky falls, “we will stand tall, face it all together.” It is a promise of loyalty in the face of destruction, which mirrors Bond’s relationship with M in the film.

The song was released at 0:07 BST on 5 October 2012, timed to Global James Bond Day and the 50th anniversary of Dr. No. It topped the charts in eleven countries and sold 7.2 million copies worldwide. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Brit Award for British Single, the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, and the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. It was the first Bond theme ever to win an Oscar.