Adele - Skyfall (instrumental)

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• published: 23 Feb 2013
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Title: Skyfall Artist: Adele Released: 5 October 2012 Format: CD single, digital download, 7" vinyl single Recorded: May and August 2012 at Abbey Road Studios, London Genre: Pop, soul, spy Length: 4:46 Label: XL, Columbia Writer(s): Adele Adkins, Paul Epworth Producer: Paul Epworth "Skyfall" is the theme song of the James Bond film of the same name performed by English singer-songwriter Adele. It was written by Adele and producer Paul Epworth and features orchestration by J. A. C. Redford. It was released at 0:07 am BST on 5 October as part of the "Global James Bond Day", celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of Dr. No, the first James Bond film. The song is currently nominated at the 85th Academy Awards for Best Original Song, becoming the first Bond theme to receive an Academy Award nomination since 1982's "For Your Eyes Only". "Skyfall" won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 70th Golden Globe Awards ceremony in January 2013. The song also won the Brit Award for Best British Single at the 2013 BRIT Awards. It was confirmed on 25 January 2013 that Adele would perform "Skyfall" live at the 85th Academy Awards in tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Bond franchise. Background Adele first mentioned recording a "special project" in September 2011 in an interview on The Jonathan Ross Show, leading to speculation in the media that she would be recording the theme for the film. She later told NRJ in April 2012 that she would have a new single out by the end of 2012, but that the single would not be from a new album. Rumours continued to spread in September after Adele was reportedly seen at Abbey Road Studios where Thomas Newman was recording Skyfall's score. The song was originally rumoured to be called "Let the Sky Fall" and, in September 2012, OneRepublic vocalist Ryan Tedder posted a message on Twitter claiming he had heard the title track and that it was "the best James Bond theme in his lifetime". Adele's publicist, Paul Moss, mentioned the song on his Twitter. Both later deleted their messages. Cover art for the single release was later leaked online, but Adele's involvement in the project was not officially confirmed until 1 October. Composition After being approached to perform the theme song for the film, Adele enlisted Paul Epworth as her co-writer and producer. The song was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, and features a seventy-seven piece orchestra arranged by J. A. C. Redford. With the announcement that she would be performing the theme, Adele admitted that she was apprehensive about the project when she first got involved because of the pressure involved in producing a Bond theme. Her enthusiasm was piqued after reading the script and ideas for the theme began to take shape, with the lyrics intended to reflect the narrative of the film, rather than emphasise romanticism. In discussing the composition of the song, Paul Epworth described the inclusion of Monty Norman's "James Bond theme" in the harmonies and chord progression as a conscious decision. Epworth stated that the producers request was for "a dramatic ballad basically," so he and Adele tried to "do something that was simultaneously dark and final, like a funeral, and to try and turn it into something that was not final. A sense of death and rebirth." Epworth watched the first thirteen Bond films seeking the "musical code" of the songs ("I think it's a minor ninth as the harmonic code... the Bond songs, they have that elaboration to it") and wrote what would become the instrumental part of "Skyfall". He afterwards called Adele, and the two went to the studio, where in ten minutes Adele performed the first draft of the verse and chorus. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Skyfall" is written in common time in the key of C minor with a tempo of 76 beats per minute. The song follows the chord progression Cm -- A♭ -- F7 for six measures, followed by Cm/D -- Gsus4 -- G. Adele's vocals range from G3 to C5. Credits and personnel Recording Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England in May and August 2012 Personnel Adele Adkins -- songwriter, vocals Paul Epworth -- songwriter, producer, percussion, choir arrangement, orchestral Pete Hutchington -- production assistant Joe Hartwell Jones -- production assistant Matt Wiggins -- engineer Simon Rhodes -- orchestra recording Tom Elmhirst -- mixer Tom Coyne -- mastering engineer James Reid -- guitar Leo Taylor -- drums Nikolai Torp Larsen -- piano Tom Herbert -- bass Metro Voices -- choir Jenny O'Grady -- choir master J. A. C. Redford -- orchestral arrangement, orchestrator, conductor Isobel Griffiths -- orchestra contractor Charlotte Matthews -- assistant orchestra contractor Thomas Bowes -- orchestra leader