Co-writer Stephen Forsythe quote: The legendary Phyllis Hyman was my first choice to sing the song and working with her is one of the highlights of my musical career. I personally auditioned and sang the song to her while she was having breakfast in her manager's office. After agreeing to sing the song, she arrived at the studio and, without any rehearsal and only having heard the song sung once at the breakfast audition, sang the song in one perfect take. Phyllis sadly took her own life in the [mid] nineties. The year before she died, she called me late one night and told me she felt that "Never Say Never Again" was her best and favorite recording
Phyllis, It's been 21 years today that my world suddenly stopped. The day you decided to go. Your memory is never far away. Rest in peace my pretty friend. Kenny.
I would love to have met her just to tell her how incredibly talented she was and how much her music touches me. I regularly play her albums. One of the greatest female Soul and R&B vocalists ever to grace the planet. RIP Phyllis Hymen.
EXACTLY... And trust you/me, Phyllis would have given "Unbreak My Heart" the heart, soul, and tear-wrenching emotion required to sing that song! Not only did Phyllis have a voice that no one else has had before, during, or since her short career (in the public eye of a mere 19 years), but she sang songs that -- after doing them either first, or doing a rendition of a previously released song by another artist -- no one else could effectively sing. She would "own" ALL of the songs she sang.
Many years ago I was in Georgetown walking down the streets with some friends. A limo stopped at a street light and I saw this beautiful woman looking back at me. The window came down, she smiled and said hello. I shook her hand and introduced myself. She said, "I'm Phyllis Hyman." Then she was gone.
Both versions should have been in the movie. On her majesty secrets service had the theme song and we have all the time in the world. This could have been the credit song.
Just heard this for the first time today when I read the history of it and the fact she sang it in one take. A shame it wasnt released due to legal issues.. RIP.. Beautifully sung!
I am so in love with this song....I wish the world wasn't so difficult that some of us get to tired to live and don't see any hope. I'm glad we had her, even if it wasn't long enough.
steven batty this is from phyliss hyman's wikipedia page: In 2008, an original version of the James Bond theme "Never Say Never Again", which was not used in the film due to contractual issues, was released by the track's co-writer Stephen Forsythe. Forsythe has been quoted as stating:During the filming of the James Bond movie Never Say Never Again, I co-wrote the title song for the movie with Jim Ryan. Warner Brothers informed our attorney that the song was to be used as the title song in the picture. However, shortly before its release, Warner Bros informed us that the song could not be used because Michel Legrand, who wrote the score, threatened to sue them, claiming that contractually he had the right to the title song. So my song was never released. The legendary Phyllis Hyman was my first choice to sing the song and working with her is one of the highlights of my musical career. I personally auditioned and sang the song to her while she was having breakfast in her manager’s office. After agreeing to sing the song, she arrived at the studio and, without any rehearsal and only having heard the song sung once at the breakfast audition, sang the song in one perfect take. Phyllis sadly took her own life in the [mid] nineties. The year before she died, she called me late one night and told me she felt that "Never Say Never Again" was her best and favorite recording.[7]
This song would have been perfect for the movie. Lani Hall's version is OK but THIS is a Bond song, full of powerful vocals. Yiu can just feel the action rising when you hear the music. Hands down the superior version.
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I totally agree with you, I thought the exact same thing when I heard both songs. It is sad that this song was not on the movie, but the good thing is that, at least, we can listen it here and appreciate it like it deserves. Note: Sorry my coment is not totally correct written, I am learning english and I am not very good at it yet (specially writing), but I love this language as much as I love spanish (my language).
I was coming home from my brothers funeral when the radio announcer stated Phyllis Hyman was no longer with us. It took my breath away. My heart dropped to a lower state of sadness.. I was just in the 10th grade and i was in love with her song MEET ME ON THE MOON. My soul perceived her greatness my tender age could not. Rest in Power MS. HYMAN #neverbelievedshedidittoherself
Lani's version (coupled with Herb Alpert's trumpet solo) is more suitable for the ending credits, much like Dame Shirley Bassey recording two versions of "Moonraker": a slower-tempo for the beginning credits (akin to "Goldfinger"), and an up-tempo disco version for the ending credits.
Phyllis heard this song one time while having breakfast in her managers office and came and performed it a couple of weeks later on one take. She was so incredibly talentesd. I miss her so much.
They coulda used it for the end credits, like how KD Lang's Tomorrow Never Dies (Surrender) was used in that movies end credits while Sheryl Crow's Tomorrow Never Dies was used for the opening, but again there were stupid legal woes tying up the situation
@@MrRobjs83 much like they could redo the intro as an EON-type opening as EON holds the rights to NSNA. EON could then bill NSNA as an "alternate timeline" Bond film.
@bigdaddytrip The songwriter was quoted as saying... 'The legendary Phyllis Hyman was my first choice to sing the song and working with her is one of the highlights of my musical career. I personally auditioned and sang the song to her while she was having breakfast in her managers office. After agreeing to sing the song, she arrived at the studio and, without any rehearsal and only having heard the song sung once at the breakfast audition, sang the song in one perfect take.'
I just read something about this. It's almost like someone threw a wrench into this scenario. It involves another woman who probably never heard this version, and took a legal loophole to stop it. I can tell Phyllis put her heart and soul into it, it's beautiful and iconic. This is the real theme song from the Bond film. Phyllis was devastated.
Blame Michel Legrand. He threatened to sue if they used this song instead of what he and Lani Hall came up with. Orion caved and gave into Legrand being a pissy bitch.
In my opinion I think Michel Legrand was envious of Phyllis's talent, and if her version of this song would have been picked for the movie, she would have been even bigger than the lady he chose to sing the song.
I don't think so. I think that Lani, being in the business before Phyllis and being married to a big industry name at the time, carried more clout. But Phyllis' version is truly beautiful.
@leonbrain68 I am Latin and of age, I remember her being popular in the 80's. She was indeed popular but moreso in the U.S. Latino community, not so much internationally. Too bad she retired on her own accord from all music in the late 80's, she could have been even bigger. I just mean that she was definitely known in the U.S. If anything I am sure the Bond theme was a ploy with A&M records to promote her internationally. But Phyllis is still the best version
Just learned about the existence of this song the other day. Oddly enough this and ‘All Time High’ are on a parallel track, same sort of ballad-y production and lush Tim Rice type lyrics
Staggered that this wonderful piece of work wasn’t used in the film. Imagine this set against a Bond title sequence. But that might’ve been a bit too much for EON’s lawyers at the time!
Shortly before its release, Warner Bros. informed Stephen Forsythe, this track's co-writer, that the song could not be used because Michel Legrand, who wrote the score, threatened to sue them, claiming that, contractually, he had the right to the title song. Forsythe's song was not released until 2008.
@moonlite37 I was so excited stumbling across her in a small shop. She had just had a concert I missed with Freddie Jackson and I asked her how it was and told her I always saw her when she was in DC (I lived there at the time) and she said I missed a great show. I was so awestruck. Couldn't believe I met her. Still dream about her at times. She's on stage and singing.
I just found out that this beautiful melody was going to be the theme song of the James Bond movie and it is a pity that they did not decid this beauty
IMO, this version is almost too good for that wretched movie "Never Say Never Again". The song is very reminiscent of Roger Moore Bond era films. The beat, style, etc.
+emerybayblues Yeah, it sounds quite similar to "All Time High" from Octopussy, and considering NSNA was originally going to compete directly with it, I can see why they didn't go for it.
Cuthbert Snoddington Agree. Call me crazy but I like it more than Thunderball. Connery's performance was way better than in his last 3 films. This song should've been in the film- so much better
It was vetoed 'coz they they got a new composer to do the music and he wanted his song not this one in the movie, simples. Which is the 'better' song is open to debate. This woman could make rocks cry.
@leonbrain68 Lani Hall was already popular in the States in the 70's. And everyone knew who she was because of her involvement with Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66. She was far from "virtually unknown".
Es ist immer wieder sehr interessant, aber auch jegliche Kleinigkeit zu recherchieren um dann wieder ganz große Geschichten zu entdecken. Phyllis Hyman & 007.
I agree it's a good song. Very atmospheric. If the NSNA composer wasn't romantically linked with Lani Hall (who sang the dreadful theatrical version), Hyman's version would have been used. It really is a good Bond song. I'm glad we have a chance to hear it now. It's also available for purchase on iTunes under Stephen Forsyth.
@OasisEnLaLunna Read it again, I said "virtually unknown", I didn't say "completely unknown". Yes, she was kind of "known" as singing lead for Sergio Mendes, and she did have some albums hit the chart but she had no solo top 40 singles. By contrast, in Latin America, she became a house hold name in the early to mid 80s and even won a Grammy in 1986 (I forgot for which category).
phyllis was a great artist with a great talent.......she could have gone much further but she had a very strong personallity and once cocain was allegedly introduced to her and she allegedly became addicted......her bahavior at times allegedly became erratic & tempermental and this caused arista to release her....the music industry is very small as it pertains to R&B....as rumors began to spread of her alleged drug use, erratic behavior, showing up late for recording sessions or not at all....less & less producers wanted to work with her as time is money & in the 80's r&b was fading as rap music was rising and everyone was scrambling for dollars...drugs will also impact your abilty to rationalize the events going on around you.....the summation of life boils down to ones abilty to rationalize what is going around them at any given second..
