Casino Royale Title Sequence

Stats

Title sequence created by Daniel Kleinman

'You Know My Name' performed by Chris Cornell, written by Chris Cornell and David Arnold

Featured in Casino Royale (2006)

Visuals

After a long break between Bond films, the series is rebooted, or reinvented for the Daniel Craig era. The traditional gun barrel opening sequence was now integrated very nicely into the beginning of the title sequence, rather than at the start, suggesting changes ahead. The new Bond was inexperienced, rougher and harder than previously seen, so equally the visuals reflect that.

Gone are the silhouetted female forms in all of their guises, in come faceless blocky characters, representing Bond's untamed violence and aggression. Matching the casino and gambling theme of the film excellently, Bond is placed in a world of vector characters out to get him. The theme works on many different levels and provides a visual treat with card tentacles, bodies exploding into playing cards, guns firing hearts and spinning roulette wins aplenty. There is even a fleeting glimpse of the face of Vesper Lynd as the Queen of Hearts, complete with her mirrored image as the Queen of Spades.

For only the second time to date, the title sequence further continues the narrative of the film. Bullet holes are shot into a seven of hearts playing card, following a computer screen showing that Bond's 00 has been confirmed. Unusually the sequence ends with Bond's face appearing over his vector counterpart, showcasing his steely blue eyes, before his face is blackened out like a ninja and another great sequence ends.

Theme

With the producers wanting a strong male singer for the Casino Royale title theme », they decided to approach American singer Chris Cornell. This would be the first time since The Living Daylights that a male vocalist would be used, and the first time ever that it was an American male. Cornell mentioned that he couldn't imagine fitting the name of the film into the lyrics, so David Arnold came up with 'You Know My Name' instead, which tied in with the new character of Bond being inexperienced.

'You Know My Name' would actually end up having three versions of the song. The first would be a 'rock' version that would feature as track one on the actual single release. There is the pop mix that is used in the music video and on Cornell's 'Carry On' album. Finally there was the third 'film' version which featured more orchestral sections that is used in the films opening and closing credits.

In a departure from the usual style of Bond theme, Chris Cornell delivers a rock number with a sense of urgency and grittiness to the song, aptly belonging to the new beginnings of Bond. Reviews have compared it to sounding like John Barry, similar to Goldfinger, Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough, and very apt for the new darker reboot of the Bond series. While there are critics of the song, who say that the song is uninspired and Cornell's voice is either not suited, or isn't give a chance to fully realise what he is singing, it's not such a divide like that of Madonna's offering in Die Another Day.

In terms of chart performance, it faired well in the European markets, peaking at number 2 in Denmark, number 3 in Finland and number 4 in both Italy and the UK download chart (number seven on the singles chart). Surprisingly however the single only managed to reach number 57 on the US Hot Billboard Digital Songs chart.

Lyrics

If you take a life, do you know what you'll give, odds are you won't like what it is. When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me? By the merciless eyes I've deceived.

I've seen angels fall from blinding heights, but you yourself are nothing so divine, just next in line.

Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you. The odds will betray you, and I will replace you. You can't deny the prize it may never fulfil you, it longs to kill you. Are you willing to die? The coldest blood runs through my veins. You know my name.

If you come inside, things will not be the same, when you return to the night. If you think you've won, you never saw me change, the game that we have been playing.

I've seen diamonds cut through harder men, then you yourself, but if you must pretend, you may meet your end!

Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you, the odds will betray you, and I will replace you. You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you. It longs to kill you. Are you willing to die? The coldest blood runs through my veins.

[Try to hide your hand, forget how to feel (forget how to feel). Life is gone in just a spin of the wheel (spin of the wheel).]

[Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you, the odds will betray you, and I will replace you. You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you. It longs to kill you. Are you willing to die? The coldest blood runs through my veins.]

You know my name. You know my name. You know my name. You know my name. You know my name! You know my name! You know my, name!

[ ] Not heard in the title sequence. §