Sam Smith has officially managed to go where every previous James Bond theme song performer failed.
“Writing’s on the Wall,” Smith’s self-penned track for the upcoming 007 movie Spectre, has reached the top spot in the U.K. music charts, the singer’s fifth No. 1 overall.
Even “Skyfall,” which earned Adele an Oscar, only got to No. 2 in 2012, as did Duran Duran’s “A View to a Kill” in 1985.
Related Stories
“Writing’s on the Wall” racked up combined physical and streaming sales of 70,000 copies, 13,000 ahead of its nearest rival, Justin Bieber‘s “What Do You Mean?”
The achievement came amid mixed reviews for the song. While the likes of former Bond Roger Moore claimed that it was “very haunting and wonderfully orchestrated,” others have criticized it for being too bland. The Guardian said it sounded “less like a Bond theme song than a latter-day pop ballad — the kind of thing that X Factor contestants have a crack at.”
The full video for “Writing’s on the Wall” has also been released, offering new glimpses from Spectre, including Union Jack-covered coffins and scenes featuring Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux.
See the video below.
