ADELE. AP FILE PHOTO
LONDON—British Grammy-winning singer Adele said Monday she will perform the theme song for the upcoming James Bond movie “Skyfall”, following in the footsteps of artists including Shirley Bassey and Madonna.
Adele’s official website announced that it would premiere the song at 12:07 am London time on Friday (2307 GMT Thursday) and gave fans the opportunity to pre-order it first.
Friday is the 50th anniversary of the first Bond film, Dr No, and is being celebrated as Global Bond Day.
Adele had earlier posted a picture of herself on Twitter in a recording studio with the song credits, which are also attributed to Paul Epworth, who co-wrote and produced her hit single “Rolling in the Deep.”
A month ago, a leading bookmaker paid out on bets that the 24-year-old singer-songwriter would sing the theme song in the new 007 adventure.
Adele herself hinted at her latest gig in an interview with British chat show host Jonathan Ross on his ITV1 show in September 2011, when she told him she planned to be back in the studio in November.
“Well this is actually a theme, what I’ve got to do for, um… Wow. That’s really giving something away isn’t it?” she said at the time.
Adele revealed in June that she is pregnant with her first child, adding that she and boyfriend Simon Konecki were “over the moon”.
It capped an incredible year for Adele which saw her bounce back from throat surgery and sweep this year’s Grammys after the success of her second album “21”.
“Skyfall”, the 23rd James Bond film, will premiere in Britain on October 23, with Daniel Craig again starring as the secret agent.
The film, directed by British Oscar-winner Sam Mendes, opens in the United States in November.
Adele is the latest in a string of big names who have performed Bond themes, including Jack White and Alicia Keys, who provided the theme to 2008’s “A Quantum Of Solace”.
British rockers Duran Duran sound tracked “A View to Kill” in 1985 while Welsh diva Shirley Bassey famously belted out the theme tunes to “Goldfinger” (1964), “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971) and “Moonraker” (1979).
Other legends to have performed Bond themes include former Beatle Paul McCartney, who sang “Live and Let Die” in 1973, and Madonna, responsible for “Die Another Day” in 2002.