A James Bond theme song has two purposes — to lead the marketing charge that drives folks to the box office and to be a sonic backdrop while nude women dance in silhouette over the opening credits. This may explain why the Bond songbook is not overstuffed with examples of subtlety. Bond tunes are commercials, but often they’re very good ones.
(MORE: 50 Things You Didn’t Know About James Bond)
Here’s TIME’s list of the five best — and worst — of the genre. On which end do you think the Adele’s new “Skyfall” theme lands?
