First Light (song)
| "First Light" | |
|---|---|
| Promotional single by Lana Del Rey | |
| Released | April 16, 2026 |
| Length | 3:24 |
| Label | [1] |
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Audio video | |
| "First Light" on YouTube | |
"First Light" is the theme song to the 2026 James Bond video game 007 First Light, recorded by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. Del Rey wrote and produced it with composer David Arnold, who has written music for multiple James Bond films, while Dean Reid also contributed production.
The song received mixed reviews, with praise for the composition and criticism for the lyrics as trying too hard or lacking depth.
Background and release
"First Light" serves as the theme for the video game 007 First Light. In 2015, Lana Del Rey submitted her song "24" for the film Spectre, but "Writing's on the Wall" by Sam Smith was chosen as that film's theme song instead. Composer David Arnold, who co-wrote the song, stated "I was so excited to work with Lana, an artist who brought elegance, atmosphere and her totally unique character to this piece, which I hope will open the world of Bond to a whole new audience." Arnold had also written songs for multiple James Bond films.[2]
While the song released in April 2026, speculation around the release started as early as October 2025, when it was discovered that Del Rey registered the song with ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers).[3]
Arnold described "First Light" as joining "a long line of genre defining songs, each one creating a benchmark of style that adds to the magnificent heritage that is ''The Bond Song' ".[4]
Production and music
Del Rey wrote the song with Arnold. Melodye Perry sang the background vocals, Toby Pittman and David Levita played guitar, and Sean Hurley played the bass. Nicholas Dodd conducted the song, and Florian Gouello played drums.[5]
"First Light" lasts for 3 minutes and 24 seconds.[5] It features frequent playing of brass, strong orchestral sound,[6] and strings throughout.[7] Polygon described the song as sounding similar to those her album Honeymoon (2015) and described the guitar sounds as "western tinged".[6]
Critical reception
The song received mixed reviews. Polygon described it as "three-and-a-half minutes of heaven", but criticised the lyrics as trying too hard to be poetic.[8] PC Gamer called it "definitely a James Bond theme song", describing Del Rey's voice as mushy and the lyrics as lacking depth.[7] Gizmodo called Lana Del Rey a fitting choice for the theme and noted the song's "signature Bond-theme horns and strings".[9]
Personnel
Credits are as shown on Tidal.[5]
- Lana Del Rey – vocals, producer, songwriter, lyricist
- David Arnold – producer, composer, lyricist, keyboard
- Dean Reid – producer, programmer, mixing engineer
- Aidan Thillmann – additional engineer, additional mixing engineer
- Caroline Whitaker – additional engineer
- Jack Mills – additional engineer
- Melodye Perry – background vocalist
- Sean Hurley – bass
- Nicholas Dodd – conductor
- Florian Gouello – drum
- John Christopher Fee – engineer
- David Levita – guitar
- Toby Pittman – guitar
- Ruairi O'Flaherty – mastering engineer
- Gianluca Massimo – mixing engineer, recording engineer
- Amy Stewart – orchestra contractor
- Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
- Susie Gillis – orchestra contractor
- Wil Jones – recording engineer
Charts
Weekly charts
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Monthly charts
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References
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (16 April 2026). "Lana Del Rey Releases James Bond's '007: First Light' Theme Song". Deadline. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ Pandey, Manish (17 April 2026). "Lana Del Rey to sing theme for new James Bond game". BBC. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ^ Koepp, Brent (20 October 2025). "007 First Light Theme Song Artist Reportedly Leaked". Vice. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (16 April 2026). "Lana Del Rey Surprise-Drops James Bond '007 First Light' Theme Song". Variety. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ^ a b c "First Light". Tidal. 16 April 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- ^ a b Colantonio, Giovanni (16 April 2026). "Track review: Lana Del Rey's "First Light"". Polygon. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- ^ a b Chalk, Andy (17 April 2026). "Lana Del Rey surprise-drops the 007 First Light theme song, and I regret to inform you that it is not great". PC Gamer. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- ^ Shepard, Kenneth (16 April 2026). "Lana Del Rey's 007: First Light Theme Song Is Sexy And Kinda Silly". Kotaku. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ^ Eddy, Cheryl (16 April 2026). "Lana Del Rey Just Released the First Bond Theme We'll Hear for Years". Gizmodo. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ "Top Radio Hits Latvia Weekly Chart". TopHit. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ^ "Top Radio Hits Latvia Monthly Chart: May 2026". TopHit. 5 June 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.