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Ed Sheeran recounts one of his more recent career disappointments, where he was offered a dream job and then taken away.
During a performance on Die Peter Crouch Podcast, the pop star revealed he had been tapped to write and perform the theme song for Daniel Craig’s latest James Bond film, No Time To Die, when he was abruptly replaced by Billie Eilish.
“I’m not going to pretend it didn’t hurt not to,” the singer admitted to Crouch.
Heartbreak: Ed Sheeran revealed he was tapped to write and perform a theme song for the most recent Bond film No Time To Die, but was eventually replaced by Billie Eilish
The opportunity first arose in 2017 when Sheeran met Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, who had expressed an interest in having him compose and perform a Bond theme song, according to rolling stone.
While eagerly writing the theme, Sheeran was told by his manager Stuart Camp that music is often the last thing done before a movie.
But between the COVID-19 production delays and the music-making process at the end of the creative process, it eventually left the door open for another artist to slip in.
At the time, Danny Boyle, who had worked with Sheeran on the romantic comedy film Yesterday (2019), appears to have quit directing No Time To Die due to “creative differences” and replaced by Cary Joji Fukunaga.
In the end, the No Time To Die theme went to Billie Eilish, who had huge success with her version of the song.
The creative process had already begun: Sheeran confessed ‘I had started writing’ when he heard he was being replaced by Eilish
‘It hurt’: With the stab of disappointment evident in his voice, the How Would You Feel star on Die Peter Crouch Podcast confessed: ‘I’m not going to pretend it didn’t hurt not to do it,’ referring to losing the Bond theme song No Time To Die
Beginning of the end: and then they switched directors, they switched scripts and that was it,” said the Halifax, West Yorkshire, England native of Danny Boyle stepping down as director of No Time To Die due to “creative differences ‘.
When asked if he’d ever played a Bond song by Crouch, Sheeran smiled broadly and admitted, “I was near mosquito bites when I did one,” with a hint of heartbreak in his voice.
“But then they changed directors, the scripts changed and that was it,” explained the 31-year-old from Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, before adding: “We had done all the meetings, I had started writing of it.’
Despite the grief of missing out on the opportunity to be part of the long list of top musicians to write and perform a Bond theme song, Sheeran made it clear that he still hopes he will get another chance.
“But yeah, if they came back, I’d say, yes, of course, yes,” he said when asked if it was still something he likes to do.
Still a dream gig: Despite the sadness of missing out on the chance to join the long list of top-notch musical artists to write and perform a James Bond theme song, Sheeran made it clear he still has hopes that he has another chance
“But yeah, if they came back, I’d say yes, of course, yes,” Sheeran said when asked if a Bond theme song was still something he likes to do.
Bucket List: Sheeran still sees a James Bond theme song as a goal he will achieve in the near future
In addition to Eilish’s No Time To Die, the rich and varied history of James Bond title songs over the years includes Paul McCartney & Wings (Live and Let Die, 1973), Chris Cornell (You Know My Name, 2006), Tina Turner ( GoldenEye, 1995), Tina Turner (GoldenEye, 1995), Duran Duran (A View To A Kill, 1985), Nancy Sinatra (You Only Live Twice, 1967) and Madonna (Die Another Day, 2002).
Some of the other performers include Alicia Keys and Jack White (Another Way To Die, 2008), Sheena Easton (For Your Eyes Only, 1981), Gladys Knight – License To Kill, 1989), Carly Simon (Nobody Does It Better (1977 ) ), Sheryl Crow (Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997), and Shirley Bassey (Diamonds are Forever, 1971), among others.
Given the success Eilish had with No Time To Die, some would argue that the decision to switch from Sheeran to the then teen pop star was a good and profitable one.
Huge success: Eilish’s No Time To Die hit number one in the UK Singles Chart and the Irish Singles Chart and resulted in song accolades including a Grammy Award for Best Song Written For Visual Media; she is pictured at the ceremony in March 2021
Eilish’s song debuted at the top of the UK Singles Chart and the Irish Singles Chart, while it peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In addition, it became Eilish’s first number one single in the UK and became the first artist born in the 21st century to top the chart. The song is also only the second Bond theme to ever top the UK chart.
Ultimately, the song, which Eilish co-wrote with her brother and collaborator Finneas O’Connell, won numerous awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Song Written For Visual Media and the Academy Award for Best Original Song,
More accolades: Eilish, who wrote No Time To Die with her brother and collaborator, Finneas O’Connell, also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for No Time To Die; they are pictured at the Los Angeles ceremony in March 2022