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August 07, 2005

My name is Biswas ... James BiswasFilm

Everybody knows the James Bond theme music, right? Well, did you know that the tune was originally written for a musical based on a VS Naipaul story?

Norman first wrote the classic tune … for a musical version of VS Naipaul’s novel A House for Mr Biswas. After he was hired to provide music for the first Bond film, Dr No, he reworked the song as a theme tune. [BBC]

The tune was then given its distinctive, big band orchestration by composer James Barry. Monty Norman (the composer of the original tune) is now going to record it, with its original lyrics intact. The song was called “Good Sign, Bad Sign” and the lyrics are as follows: bond.jpg

I was born with this unlucky sneeze

And what is worse I came into the world the wrong way round

Pundits all agree I am the reason why

My father fell into the village pond and drowned. [BBC]

Kinda bollywood actually …

p.s. am I the only one who finds the idea of a VS Naipaul musical in 1961 (?) really bizarre?

ennis on August 7, 2005 05:09 PM in Film · T·r·a·c·k·b·a·c·k address · Direct link · Email post



5 comments

 1 · jeevan on August 8, 2005 12:16 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Wow, that has to be the weirdest nexus ever


 2 · Mr. Everything Comes From India on August 8, 2005 12:17 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Vindicated again!


 3 · Saheli on August 8, 2005 01:56 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

p.s. am I the only one who finds the idea of a VS Naipaul musical in 1961 (?) really bizarre?

Whoa. What the hell? No, you really aren't.


 4 · Punjabi Boy on August 8, 2005 07:12 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)


I think VS Naipaul would have made a good James Bond in his youth he was quite dapper - although now he would make a good M - giving a lecture on the darkness of the post-colonial soul to 007 just before sending him off on assignment to save the world from SMERSH


 5 · st. on October 20, 2005 03:52 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

How did you find this out? Was this musical ever recorded? Who made it? Can you send me any info you have about this? Thanks.


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