Rather like a 007 plot itself, the question of who would perform the theme tune to the next James Bond film generated a succession of false leads, fractured relationships and smoldering divas in front yesterday, it finally entered a dramatic ending featuring a statuesque brunette and an character genius obsessed with the number triplet.
In keeping with the new edgier, darker side to the British actor Daniel Craig's Bond, it was proclaimed that the opening strain to the 22nd celluloid in the series, Quantum of Solace, will be performed by the Grammy-winning soul singer Alicia Keys and Jack White, onetime upholsterer and the idiosyncratic front man of the alternative rock band, The White Stripes.
The collaboration between the deuce Americans � entitled "Another Way to Die" � will be thefirst duette in the chequered history of Bond soundtracks, which has spawned its fair share of film grievance classics and musical turkeys from Dame Shirley Bassey's "Goldfinger" to Madonna's "Die Another Day".
The announcement by the Bond film producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of the duet � described as a "unique sound" � complete months of speculation about the identity of the performers for the Quantum of Solace theme melody. Among the names joined to the job were Amy Winehouse, Beyonc� Grace Jones and two emerging British talents, Duffy and Leona Lewis.
Winehouse was an early favorite to write and do the subject tune and began work on a song in the first place this year with the producer Mark Ronson. But amid reports that the pair fell out o'er the singer's erratic behaviour, the track never made it to the recording studio. Ronson said: "We did work on it but we never finished it. I don't intend it testament happen unless by some miracle it gets recorded and mortal sings on it. I'm not sure Amy is ready to work on music yet."
Despite representing the very different genres of R'n'B and garage rock, the quislingism between Keys, 27, and White, 33, was more than fruitful. The song, written and produced by White, was recorded this month with Keys on vocals and White on drums.
In a statement, Mr Wilson and Ms Broccoli, daughter of the Bond celluloid producer Albert Broccoli, aforesaid: "We are delighted and pleased to have iI such exciting artists as Jack and Alicia, world Health Organization were inspired by our film to join unitedly their extraordinary talents in creating a unique profound for Quantum of Solace."
Named by Rolling Stone mag as 17th on a list of the C best guitarists in pop history, White has emerged from an early career as an upholsterer and a part-time musician on his aboriginal Detroit's underground music scene to become revered for the mixture of kindling, rock and folk influences in the music of The White Stripes, which he formed with his first married woman, Meg. He is famously obsessed with the numeral three and dresses only in red River, white and black when performing with The White Stripes.
Keys, the New York-born daughter of a legal secretary and a flight attendant, has made her mark as one of the most marketable stars of American pop, selling more than 30 trillion albums world-wide and collection 11 Grammy awards. She told Rolling Stone: "They're [The White Stripes] very raw, selfsame cut and dry. Drums and guitar. I opine that combine that style with mine, which already has a raw feel to it, and my voice, I just think we could do something really interesting that mixes rock and soul together, the blues and emotion, and it could be really touching."
The Quantum of Solace soundtrack will be released on 28 October, before the film's premiere in London on Halloween.
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