The World Is Not Enough by Garbage

Album: The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Charted: 11

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This is for the theme song to the James Bond movie of the same name. The lyrics were written by Don Black, who also co-wrote "Diamonds Are Forever." David Arnold, who wrote the music, has also composed for British sketch show Little Britain and other Bond films, including Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.

"I just love the drama of it, the campness of it and the greediness of it," Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson told NME "It amuses me."
In the music video, Shirley Manson is a robot built to look identical to a singer. She kills the singer and takes her place in a concert. The crowd cheers for her, not knowing she carries a bomb inside her set to detonate at the concert. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Beth - MN, for above 2
Don Black's lyrics are from the point of view of The World Is Not Enough villain Elektra King. Its underlying themes are seduction and world domination.
People like us know how to survive
There's no point in living if you can't feel alive

The lyric is a line of dialogue from the movie said by Elektra King.
In 2006, IGN placed "The World Is Not Enough" ninth on their list of the Top 10 Bond themes.
Garbage released a remastered recording as a digital single on September 13, 2022 to promote their career-spanning 35-track collection Anthology.
Don Black was nearly at a loss for words when it came to "The World Is Not Enough." He felt it sounded like an intriguing title and wondered what the next line could be. This his wife shouted that she's opened the post and he's received an OBE.

"I said: 'Well, it's a good start... ' as if to say: 'Not a knighthood,'" he recalled to The Daily Mail. "And then I thought: the world is not enough, but it's a perfect way to start.'"

That thought led him to the eventual lyrics: "The world is not enough, but it is such a perfect place to start, my love."

Comments: 6

Smartalek from Boston, MaIt's definitely in a very different groove from most of Garbage's repertoire.
But it's absolutely brilliant, and much more so in its video incarnation. They get the whole original, cold-war era Bond-flick vibe perfectly -- lush, orchestral backing, a plotline that would be an Austen Powers sendup today, but would have been thrillingly exotic in its time -- and, of course, Shirley Manson as a perfect Bond-girl femme fatale.
I'd love to know how much of that came from Garbage themselves, and how.much was handed off to them ready-made?
And I wonder what it would take to get a whole movie made along those lines?
Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnShirley's voice really shines in this song, the video is wicked cool.
Chitra from Bangalorethe first part of the song sounds lot like 'superstar' by The Carpenters.
Alex from Austin, TxI was surprised when i found out it was a James Bond theme. It is very dark and lovely all at once. The lyrics are pretty much straightforward.
M from W, AustraliaI love this song. Shirley Mansons voice is so rich and full. The video clip is well made..and sparkly.
Dennis from Toledo, OhI've always thought this song sounded rather different from a lot of the rest of Garbage. I was fortunate enough to get ahold of a copy of the movie, when i rented it on VHS years ago, that featured the music video for this song as well.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Disco LadyJohnnie Taylor

The first #1 hit with the word "disco" in the title wasn't a disco song. It was an R&B song called "Disco Lady" by Johnnie Taylor in 1976. The lady he's singing about is disco, but the song isn't.

YesterdayThe Beatles

The melody to "Yesterday" came to Paul McCartney in a dream, but the lyrics he had to write consciously. His first attempt at the title was "Scrabble Eggs."

Crazy In LoveBeyoncé

Jay-Z did the rap on Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love" at the last minute. They had just started dating; she asked him to feature on the track the night before she had to turn in her album.

The first version of The Beatles' "Helter Skelter" was a 27-minute jam, so you can imagine what Ringo was going through pounding away on drums. To convince the guys he needed a break, he screamed, "I've got blisters on my fingers!" This was included on the fadeout.

Thinking About YouCalvin Harris

"Thinking About You" was the ninth track from Calvin Harris' 18 Months album to enter the UK singles Top 10. No other artist has obtained so many hits from one LP - Michael Jackson was the previous record holder with seven Top 10 tunes from both his Bad and Dangerous sets.

I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)Michael McDonald

Michael McDonald's "I Keep Forgettin'" is based on a '60s song with the same title written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.