Sure I like Shirley Bassey but this performance by Nancy Sinatra is my favorite
shareDiamonds are Forever ππ
shareShe sung it regularly in concert. Great stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Diamonds+Are+Forever+Shirley+Bassey+Live
My rankings (with singer and composer and/or arranger listed), with an aggregate ranking based on the quality of the music, the instrumental arrangement, the vocal performance, how well the song stands on its own, and the quality and universality of the lyrics:
(01) You Only Live Twice (Nancy Sinatra / John Barry) You Only Live Twice {1967}
(02) Diamonds Are Forever (Shirley Bassey / John Barry) Diamonds Are Forever {1971}
(03) We Have All the Time in the World (Louis Armstrong / John Barry) On Her Majesty's Secret Service {1969}*
(04) Nobody Does It Better (Carly Simon / Marvin Hamlisch) The Spy Who Loved Me {1977}
(05) Goldfinger (Shirley Bassey / John Barry) Goldfinger {1964}
(06) Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney / George Martin) Live and Let Die {1973}
(07) For Your Eyes Only (Sheena Easton / Bill Conti) For Your Eyes Only {1981}
(08) From Russia With Love (Matt Munro / John Barry) From Russia With Love {1963}
(09) Mr. Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang (Dionne Warwick or Shirley Bassey / John Barry) Thunderball {1965}#
*Warwick's was the superior version
(10) All Time High (Rita Coolidge / John Barry) Octopussy {1983}
Near Misses:
The Look of Love (Dusty Springfield / Burt Bacharach) Casino Royale {1967}^
Underneath the Mango Tree (Diana Coupland / Monty Norman) Dr. No {1962}
#(The alternate Thunderball song never appeared in its sung version in either the movie or the soundtrack to Thunderball, and wasn't released until the 1990s).
*(This movie had no opening theme song as per usual)
^(This is technically not a real Bond film, although I would put it in the Top 10 if it was, pushing All Time High out of the running.)
Postscript: Frankly, I never cared for A View to A Kill (gibberish lyrics) or the official Thunderball theme (too bombastic and silly title). Never Say Never Again, The Living Daylights, License to Kill/If You Ask Me To I'm not fond of, either. The Man with the Golden Gun has a nice tune but the words are hopeless. Not much you can do with a title like that, anyway. The music to Moonraker is nice but again the song is hamstrung with an awkward title. Although Goldfinger is also an odd title to set words to, the tune, lyrics, and arrangement get it past the finish line. The post-Dalton Bond film songs I'm not very familiar with. The James Bond Theme, 007 Theme, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Casion Royale {1967} instrumentals are all great, but not songs, obviously.
Good list, I like A View to a Kill and The Man With the Golden Gun a little better than you, and I'm not as big a fan of the Carly Simon one as most people seem to be, but overall good ranking.
Thunderball is probably my biggest disappointment, as I really like Tom Jones, but the song (the one that made it to the movie) is quite forgettable.
I'm not familiar with he newer ones.
Gladys Knight did a good job singing her theme when she sang it live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItDMFnCQT-o