Jane Zhang sings 007 James Bond

[read italian version]

Welcome back Jane’s fans,
a show of hands for those of you who doesn’t know James Bond! I don’t see hands raised, that’s to be expected!

James Bond is the most iconic character of spy cinema of all time, born from the pen of the writer Ian Fleming, he landed on the big screen in 1962, when, as protagonist of the first movie of this long series, “Dr. No“, there was Sean Connery (today Sir Thomas Sean Connery), who at the rate of about a film a year, gave his face to the most charming secret agent of the collective imagination of the whole world for 9 years.

Daniel Craig is James Bond in 007 Spectre

From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig

Sean Connery succeeded Roger Moore (1973 to 1985), Timothy Dalton (from 1987 to 1989), Pierce Brosnan (from 1995 to 2002) and finally Daniel Craig, from 2006 until 2015, when, in the cinemas of the whole world peeps’s latest film 007, “Spectre“, directed as the previous “Skyfall” by Sam Mendes.

Here’s the official trailer for the movie

The cast of Spectre

“Spectre” is the 24th motion picture in the series in which we meet alongside Daniel Craig, the French actress Léa Seydoux in the role of Madeleine Swann and the timeless Italian beauty Monica Bellucci who plays Lucia Sciarra, the beautiful and inaccessible widow of an infamous criminal.

Daniel Craig and Monica Bellucci pose for photographers, Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome, 18 February 2015. (photo ANSA/Claudio Onorati)

Daniel Craig and Léa Seydoux – 007 Spectre: the movie poster

The fourth adventure of 007 Craig

This is the fourth time that Daniel Craig plays the role of 007 and this adventure sees him advancing forward the heart of Spectre, the mysterious criminal organization that would like to conquer the whole world, discovering a chilling connection between him and the enemy. Theaters of this last mission are Mexico City and then Rome, the Eternal City, in which James Bond is sent because of an enigmatic message from the past.

Daniel Craig, Barbara Broccoli and Sam Mendes

The Lady Bond and the Eternal City

Rome was a strongly desired location by the film’s producer, Barbara Broccoli, daughter of Albert R. Broccoli from which Barbara has inherited the production of the Bond saga.
Barbara, who in the movie business is commonly referred “Lady Bond“, is highly bound to Italy (well three of his grandparents were Italian) and when the director Sam Mendes asked her where she would like to set the new 007 adventure she has chosen Rome unhesitatingly because it’s a city she loves and in which, as a child, she spent many happy moments with her dad. The other reason behind his choice was the architectural majesty that makes it the ideal place for the gathering of Spectre.

Gathering of Spectre in Rome. (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures/EON Productions’)

Speaking of Rome, Barbara says of the cooperation offered by the citizens of the capital to the filming of the movie despite the many inconveniences caused by the presence of the sets.

James Bond’s Aston Martin during shooting in the streets of Rome

The movie promotion

The premiere of “Spectre”, whose production has cost 300 million dollars, followed a precise road map that led the movie on 25 October 2015 in UK cinemas, on November 5, at the same time, in those American and Italian, and on November 12 the Chinese ones.

The Chinese stage was Beijing, where Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux and Barbara Broccoli attended the premiere and then participated in some events including the TV show “Every Day” (天天 向上) aired on Hunan TV.

Daniel Craig, Barbara Broccoli and Jane Zhang pose for photographers in the Every Day TV show

Jane Zhang meets James Bond

On both occasions Jane Zhang participated in events related to film promotion.
Jane’s contribution to the launch of the movie on Chinese market was very significant because she was entrusted with the recording of the theme song “Writing’s on the Wall“, written and interpreted by the Grammy award Sam Smith, and therefore reinterpreted entirely in English by wonderful and heartbreaking Jane’s voice.

Jane Zhang’s Writing’s on the Wall – Poster

The result is a memorable version of the song that toured China after “Fighting Shadows“, from OST of “Terminator Genisys“, performed with rapper Big Sean and “Battlefield” chosen as “The Great Wall” movie promotional song by the director Zhang Yimou (“Raise The Red Lantern”, “Curse of the Golden Flower”, “House of Flying Daggers”).

Writing’s on the Wall

Here’s the official video for the movie promotion with Jane’s song

Here instead is a step from Hunan TV show “Every Day” (天天 向上) in which the cast of “Spectre” listens to Jane’s live rendition of “Writing’s on the Wall”.

Jane Zhang and Daniel Craig

The producer, Barbara Broccoli, introducing Dolphin Princess:

This time we chose Sam Smith and one of his fantastic pieces … we wanted a romantic song because in this movie James Bond has a romantic and intense relationship with Léa and we wanted it to be played in English language by a wonderful Chinese singer: Jane Zhang !

And who could blame her ? During the Jane’s live performance I got a chill up my spine !

Jane Zhang sings (live) Writing’s On The Wall, 007 Spectre movie OST

The future of James Bond

Daniel Craig signs autographs in Beijing during the premiere of 007 Spectre

Beijing, Jane Zhang at the premiere of 007 Spectre

In August of this year Daniel Craig, interviewed on the CBS television show, “The Late Show” stated that he’ll return to wearing the James Bond tux for one last time. Today there are rumors about a probable release of the 25th film in the series that’s scheduled for 2019. We wait impatiently for it, hoping for another awesome collaboration with Jane.

Jane Zhang – 007 Spectre OST: Writing’s on the Wall

“Writing’s On The Wall” Lyrics

Lyrics and music by Sam Smith and James Napier

[Instrumental]

[Verse 1]
I’ve been here before
But always hit the floor
I’ve spent a lifetime runnin’
And I always get away
But with you I’m feeling something
That makes me want to stay
I’m prepared for this
I never shoot to miss
But I feel like a storm is coming
If I’m gonna make it through the day
Then there’s no more use in runnin’
This is something I gotta face

[Pre-Chorus]
If I risk it all
Could you break my fall?

[Chorus]
How do I live? How do I breathe?
When you’re not here I’m suffocating
I wanna feel love run through my blood
Tell me is this where I give it all up?
For you I have to risk it all
Cause the writing’s on the wall

[Verse 2]
A million shards of glass
That haunt me from my past
As the stars begin to gather
And the light begins to fade
When all hope begins to shatter
Know that I won’t be afraid

[Pre-Chorus]
If I risk it all
Could you break my fall?

[Chorus]
How do I live? How do I breathe?
When you’re not here I’m suffocating
I wanna feel love, run through my blood
Tell me is this where I give it all up?
For you I have to risk it all
Cause the writing’s on the wall

[Bridge: Instrumental]
The writing’s on the wall

[Chorus]
How do I live? How do I breathe?
When you’re not here I’m suffocating
I wanna feel love, run through my blood
Tell me is this where I give it all up?
How do I live? How do I breathe?
When you’re not here I’m suffocating
I wanna feel love run through my blood
Tell me is this where I give it all up?
For you I have to risk it all
Cause the writing’s on the wall

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