10 Amazing Rock Songs Written For Movies

2. Live and Let Die - Paul McCartney

By the time the '70s rolled around, Paul McCartney had certainly been no stranger to the big screen. While not really the acting type, McCartney's roles in the Beatles films showed that he already had a clear knowledge of the kind of things people look for in movie scores, from the excitement of Can't Buy Me Love to the lovelorn wistfulness of Yesterday. Even though fun rock and roll films were more than enough, it wasn't until he got the call from 007's camp that his cinematic contributions became legendary.

Getting acquainted with the James Bond book Live and Let Die shortly after taking on the role of composer, McCartney's take on a Bond theme perfectly toes the line between classical music and pop music. Instead of using the soundtrack slot as an excuse to just write another hit, McCartney really brings the musical sophistication that a Bond film deserves, starting off like a typical ballad before delving into sweeping strings and horns that personify the world of espionage that Bond thrives in.

Given that McCartney would go on to produce classical pieces all on his own, this may have served as a subconscious influence for his later projects. Though McCartney might not have gotten the #1 spot off of this song, Live and Let Die might be the one James Bond theme with the healthiest shelf life.