5 Artists Who Need to Sing the Next James Bond Theme Song
Collider has put together a list of artists it believes should be considered to sing the theme song for the next James Bond film, currently in development as the search continues for Daniel Craig's successor. The piece argues that, with rap, country and pop dominating today's charts, the modern music scene remains diverse enough to produce a worthy successor to classics such as "Skyfall" and "Goldfinger", the last three of which won the Oscar for Best Original Song.
Among the artists named are RAYE, praised for her jazz-and-pop style and prior Bond connection through her performance of "Skyfall" at the 2025 Academy Awards; Lana del Rey, who previously submitted an unused song for Spectre and later worked with Bond composer David Arnold on the theme for the video game 007 First Light; and Spanish singer Rosalía, highlighted for her multilingual range at a time when all Bond themes to date have been performed in English by British or American artists.
In short
- Collider lists artists it wants to sing the next James Bond theme.
- RAYE and Lana del Rey both have prior Bond-related connections.
- Rosalía suggested as a first non-English-singing Bond artist.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates of expanding the search beyond the traditional mould argue that Bond themes should reflect the diversity of today's music scene, pointing to artists like Rosalía as evidence that a multilingual or genre-blending performer could bring fresh energy and global relevance to the franchise. They value artistic risk-taking and see the series' willingness to reinvent itself, as it has done with each new Bond actor, as reason enough to also reinvent its musical identity, potentially widening the films' appeal to newer and more international audiences.
The case against
Those who favour sticking closer to convention argue that the Bond theme is a beloved institution precisely because of its consistency: a sweeping, dramatic ballad performed in English by a British or American artist, in the tradition of Shirley Bassey and Adele. They value continuity and craftsmanship over novelty, worrying that departing too far from the formula, whether through language, genre or style, risks diluting a signature element of the franchise's identity that has itself produced Oscar-winning results.
Explained simply
RAYE performing "Skyfall" at the 2025 Oscars, and Lana del Rey working on the theme for the video game 007 First Light.
There is no confirmed news here about who will actually sing the next Bond theme. Rather, the entertainment site Collider has published its own suggestions for who should be considered, as part of ongoing speculation about the next Bond film following Daniel Craig's departure from the role. The film itself is still in early development, with no lead actor or release date confirmed.
James Bond films have long been known for their theme songs, several of which have become hit records in their own right, including "Skyfall" by Adele and "Goldfinger" by Shirley Bassey. The last three Bond themes all won the Oscar for Best Original Song, which has raised expectations for whoever takes on the job next. Collider's list floats artists such as RAYE, Lana del Rey and Rosalía as possible candidates, based on their musical style or past connections to the franchise, though these are opinions rather than confirmed casting news.
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