When it comes to the latest James Bond theme-song, we have had it up to here. For months there have been rumours, denials, boasts, speculation – and even large bets - about who will be singing over Quantum of Solace's opening credits. Thankfully, this epic, painful, flip-flopping journey seems at last to have come to a close. The lineup for the theme-song has been announced, only – surprise! – it's not one singer, but two.
The White Stripes' Jack White and R&B singer Alicia Keys will together perform the theme-song for Quantum of Solace, making the 22nd James Bond film the first to feature a duet.
Although recent reports had made Duffy the frontrunner for singing duties, it seems our confidence was mistaken. Duffy now follows Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Beyonce and the Last Shadow Puppets into the ranks of James Bond also-rans. Then again, perhaps MGM producers were reading our article – at the time we cheekily suggested a musical team-up.
Keys first expressed her wish to work with the White Stripes earlier this year. "They're very raw, very cut and dry," she enthused to Rolling Stone. "Drums and guitar. I think that combining that style with mine, which already has a raw feel to it, and my voice, I just think we could do something really interesting that mixes rock and soul together, the blues and emotion, and it could be really touching."
"We've had some conversations," she said at the time. "When the time works out, and it definitely will, it will happen."
And, indeed, it's happening. Jack White and Alicia Keys will be performing a song called Another Way to Die, written and produced by White – who also plays drums. The film soundtrack will be released on October 28, a few days ahead of the movie's Halloween release in the UK.
