A definitive ranking of all 24 Bond theme songs

You can't have a Bond movie without a Bond song.

The two are so intrinsically linked, both in terms of the movie itself and in popular culture, that very often the strength and popularity of both tied together.

Down through the years, there's been some highlights and some truly awful ones. Before we get started, a little light housekeeping on this list. We've gone through the entire catalogue, excluding Monty Norman's instrumental track from 'Dr. No' and used Louis Armstrong's secondary title song from 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' for the sake of ease, and we're ranking from worst to best.

Here now, our definitive, iron-clad, scientific ranking of the best Bond songs.

24. RITA COOLIDGE - All Time High from 'Octopussy'

We went through this list twice before we realised we left this one out. That tells you all you need to know about the impact of the song and the movie. Plus, how do you not use a word like 'Octopussy' in a song? It's so easy.

23. Sam Smith - Writing's On The Wall from 'Spectre'

Not only is this easily the poorest, most bland Bond song ever produced, it won an Oscar. This actually won an Oscar. How did that happen? Why did that happen? What was wrong with Radiohead's far better song?! Madness. Absolute madness.

22. Madonna - Die Another Day from 'DIE ANOTHER DAY'

Much like a Bond theme shouldn't really stand at the cross section between grunge rock and operatic orchestra, trying to put an electronic beat on a Bond theme will not and will never work. No, Madonna. No.

21. Jack White & Alicia Keys - Another Way To Die from 'QUANTUM OF SOLACE'

Much like the movie itself, this song didn't really make a whole lot of sense. Confusing, not-at-all catchy, poor. Just poor. Terrible video, as well.

20. Chris Cornell - You Know My Name from 'CASINO ROYALE'

Yes, 'Casino Royale' reignited our interest in Bond. Yes, Craig was a fine choice. That being said, there's something about this song that just doesn't quite fit as well as it should. Chris Cornell, in fairness, was an odd choice but it mostly worked but overlaying a brassy score on a guitar track just didn't come off.

19. Shirley Bassey - Moonraker from 'Moonraker'

In fairness, trying to force the word 'Moonraker' into a song structure is tough. Yet, somehow, this didn't work. And, in fairness, the movie was pretty terrible as well. Largely forgotten and with good cause.

18. Louis Armstrong - We Have All The Time (In The World) from 'ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE'

Beautiful, wondrous and silky smooth, this song became a hit in its own right and is now barely associated with Bond or the movie itself.

17. a-Ha - The Living Daylights from 'THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS'

Although when you say a-Ha, most people reply with Take On Me, their track for the movie of the same name was quite the chart hit and a decent song to boot. It still features in their live set, FYI.

16. Matt Monro - From Russia With Love from 'FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE'

Sometimes erroneously attributed to Frank Sinatra, Matt Monro's lilting voice sits easily over this mandolin-inspired track. Best Bond movie, by the way.

15. Sheryl Crow - Tomorrow Never Dies from 'TOMORROW NEVER DIES'

Who'd have honestly thunk it? A country / folk singer making a song like this that calls back to the likes of Shirley Bassey or Nancy Sinatra? Inspired choice.

14. Tom Jones - Thunderball from 'THUNDERBALL'

Tom Jones' sweeping theme was the height of overblown, overproduced, excessive Bond. Listen to those daft lyrics, for feck sake.

13. BILLIE EILISH - No Time To Die from 'No Time To Die'

After Adele's effort and Sam Smith's bland-as-bland-could-be effort, Billie Eilish's moodiness is a welcome change of pace. There's a lot going on with it, but the quietness of it really is unique for a Bond song.

12. Adele - Skyfall from 'SKYFALL'

Yes, it won an Oscar. Yes, it was a chart success. But don't, for one second, try and tell us that it was original. It wasn't. It was clearly and blatantly calling back to Shirley Bassey. That's what keeps it out of the Top Ten. It's a cover.

11. Nancy Sinatra - You Only Live Twice from 'YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE'

Speaking of covers, check out Bjork's pitch-perfect cover of this track to get a sense of how to adapt a song to a different voice with a different intonation.

10. Sheena Easton - For Your Eyes Only from 'FOR YOUR EYES ONLY'

Trivia time! Sheena Easton is the only singer to actually feature in the opening credits of a Bond movie and became the first singer to receive an Oscar nomination.

9. Garbage - The World Is Not Enough from 'THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH'

Shirley Manson's voice matches perfectly with this electro-tinged effort and as a sweeping throwback to the likes of Shirley Bassey, it's just fantastic. Shame the film was garbage, though. WORDPLAY.

8. Lulu - The Man With The Golden Gun from 'THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN'

Trivia time, part deux! Alice Cooper - yes, THAT Alice Cooper - was originally tipped for song duties on this one. However, a delay in shipping the song to the producers saw Lulu's version luck out instead of his. They're both excellent songs, in fairness, so either or would have taken this spot.

7. Paul McCartney - Live And Let Die from 'LIVE AND LET DIE'

Much like Band On The Run, there's almost three different songs meshed together into one suite. It's iconic, it's been covered (poorly, we may add) by Guns 'N Roses, it's arguably the best song of Macca's solo career.

6. Duran Duran - A View To A Kill from 'A VIEW TO A KILL'

If ever there was a song that was a million times better than the movie it was promoting, Duran Duran's A View To A Kill was it. Duran Duran really kicked off the idea of a chart-topping act taking on a Bond theme. Sure enough, this song was the only one to top the charts until Adele's Skyfall.

5. Shirley Bassey - Goldfinger from 'GOLDFINGER'

It's almost become a parody, such is the popularity. Yes, she's done no less than three Bond songs - but our favourite of hers is yet to be revealed...

4. Gladys Knight - Licence To Kill from 'LICENCE TO KILL'

We had originally planned to put this in at No.1, however we were shouted down in the office consensus. Nevertheless, Gladys Knight's take on the classic Bond themes mixed with soul and r'n'b is definitely the best of the '80s. What a drum track, as well.

3. Carly Simon - Nobody Does It Better from 'THE SPY WHO LOVED ME'

Carly Simon's yacht rock-inspired became an instant classic when it debuted back in 1977. Alan Partridge was on to something when he said that 'The Spy Who Loved Me' was the best.

2. Tina Turner - Goldeneye from 'GOLDENEYE'

Tina Turner's sultry tones suit a Bond theme so perfectly, it's baffling to think it took so long for her to finally do the honours. Written by our Bono & The Edge, it's a modern classic and completely reinvigorated the idea of the Bond theme.

1. Shirley Bassey - Diamonds Are Forever from 'DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER'

Diamonds Are Forever perfectly encapsulates the core values of a Bond theme. It has to be campy as hell. It has to hugely over-produced. You've got to get the title of the movie in there, too. It's got to have a hint of sexuality to it and more importantly, it's got to have a soaring vocal. Diamonds Are Forever hits all of these and then some. The best of the best.