# First Light (song)
**First Light** is a song by the American singer-songwriter [Lana Del Rey](https://www.edgepedia.org/lana-del-rey), written and composed with the British composer [David Arnold](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-arnold) as the official theme song for the 2026 video game *007 First Light*, an original, reimagined origin story of [James Bond](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-bond) developed by IO Interactive with Amazon MGM Studios.[1](https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2026/007-first-light-unveils-title-song-by-lana-del-rey-and-david-arnold) It was released as a single on April 16, 2026, one day before the game's cinematic opening title sequence was revealed.[1](https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2026/007-first-light-unveils-title-song-by-lana-del-rey-and-david-arnold)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Artist | Lana Del Rey, vocals; her first released Bond theme, after an earlier Spectre submission was rejected[1](https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2026/007-first-light-unveils-title-song-by-lana-del-rey-and-david-arnold) • [2](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/lana-del-rey-might-have-written-a-bond-theme-for-007-first-light/) |
| Writers | Lana Del Rey and David Arnold[1](https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2026/007-first-light-unveils-title-song-by-lana-del-rey-and-david-arnold) |
| Release | April 16, 2026, one song, 3 minutes, a Polydor Records release with an Interscope Records release in the USA[3](https://music.apple.com/us/album/first-light-single/1893438114) |
| Purpose | Official title song of the video game *007 First Light*, launched May 27, 2026[1](https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2026/007-first-light-unveils-title-song-by-lana-del-rey-and-david-arnold) • [4](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/007-first-light-has-its-own-bond-theme-by-award-winning-singer-lana-del-rey) |
| Co-writer's Bond history | David Arnold scored five James Bond films, from *Tomorrow Never Dies* to *Quantum of Solace*[4](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/007-first-light-has-its-own-bond-theme-by-award-winning-singer-lana-del-rey) |
| Recording | Air Studios, London; orchestrated and conducted by Nicholas Dodd; mixed by Dean Reid[5](https://www.mobygames.com/game/246066/007-first-light/credits/windows/) |
| Audience reception | User score of 82 on Album of the Year from 678 ratings; press reviews were divided[6](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/1777610-lana-del-rey-first-light.php) |
## Background
The song exists because [IO Interactive](https://www.edgepedia.org/io-interactive) and [Amazon MGM Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/amazon-mgm-studios) chose to give their Bond video game the full treatment of a Bond film release, including an opening title sequence and a theme song performed by a major artist. The game is a third-person action-adventure telling a fully original, reimagined origin story of a 26-year-old James Bond, a [Royal Navy](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-navy) air crewman recruited into MI6.[1](https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2026/007-first-light-unveils-title-song-by-lana-del-rey-and-david-arnold) Its opening credits sequence, with silhouetted dancers, abstract shapes, and the minimalist sans-serif font used through the Daniel Craig era of Bond films, was designed to look like a movie's, and some viewers initially asked when the film would reach cinemas.[7](https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-game-design/cinematic-007-first-light-opening-sequence-is-movie-perfect)
**A long-delayed Bond theme.** Del Rey had sought a Bond song a decade earlier: she wrote a track intended for the 2015 film *Spectre*, but the producers rejected it in favor of [Sam Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-smith)'s "Writing's On the Wall", and Del Rey's song was eventually released under the title "24", Spectre being the 24th Bond movie.[2](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/lana-del-rey-might-have-written-a-bond-theme-for-007-first-light/) Before the official announcement, she had registered a song with ASCAP, the [American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-society-of-composers-authors-and-publishers), under the same name as IO Interactive's new Bond game, which fueled speculation about the connection.[2](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/lana-del-rey-might-have-written-a-bond-theme-for-007-first-light/) Arnold, whose first Bond film experience was watching *You Only Live Twice* at age eight, described a title song as central to Bond's identity: "A title song has to tell us about the world we are about to enter into. It has to intrigue, excite, and beckon us in."[8](https://www.nme.com/features/gaming-features/lana-del-rey-first-light-james-bond-david-arnold-3943573)
## Production and recording
The song was written and composed by Del Rey and Arnold, marking Arnold's return to the Bond franchise after roughly two decades away from its films.[1](https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2026/007-first-light-unveils-title-song-by-lana-del-rey-and-david-arnold) • [9](https://as.com/meristation/noticias/007-first-light-recupera-a-un-veterano-de-la-saga-james-bond-y-desvela-el-tema-cantado-por-lana-del-rey-f202604-n/) Production credits are shared by Arnold, Del Rey, and Dean Reid, who also handled mixing and programming.[5](https://www.mobygames.com/game/246066/007-first-light/credits/windows/)
The recording uses a full orchestra, recorded and mixed by Gianluca Massimo at Air Studios in London and orchestrated and conducted by Nicholas Dodd.[5](https://www.mobygames.com/game/246066/007-first-light/credits/windows/) The session players listed include Sean Hurley on double bass, Florian Gouello on drums, David Levita on guitar, and Melodye Perry on background vocals; Ruairí O'Flaherty mastered the track.[10](https://music.apple.com/us/song/1893438278) Arnold was not involved in the game's in-game score, which was composed by The Flight, Joe Henson and [Alexis Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexis-smith); his contribution was the theme song.[11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13495854/fullcredits/)
Because Del Rey was headlining stadiums and festivals following her 2023 album *Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd*, the collaboration relied on remote work to reach completion.[8](https://www.nme.com/features/gaming-features/lana-del-rey-first-light-james-bond-david-arnold-3943573)
## Release and title sequence
The single and its lyric video appeared on streaming platforms on April 16, 2026.[4](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/007-first-light-has-its-own-bond-theme-by-award-winning-singer-lana-del-rey) The full title sequence, with visuals developed by Territory Studio, was revealed the next day, April 17, at 8 pm BST on the game's official channels on Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Steam, and X.[1](https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2026/007-first-light-unveils-title-song-by-lana-del-rey-and-david-arnold) Territory built the visual narrative around the game's thematic quote, "to light a candle is to cast a shadow", playing on the duality of light and dark.[12](https://territorystudio.com/project/ioi/) The official reveal video on the James Bond 007 YouTube channel drew about 1.3 million views in its first months.[13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFPy8rDmPLM)
The song's lyrics tie it to the game's premise; a line quoted in coverage is "Dying just to know whether you'll play your life like a game".[14](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/lana-del-rey-surprise-drops-the-007-first-light-theme-song-and-i-regret-to-inform-you-that-it-is-not-great/) The opening lyrics published by Apple Music run "Run into the sun like / It's the first light of day when you wake / Is it real or is it fake?".[10](https://music.apple.com/us/song/1893438278) The game launched on May 27, 2026, for [PlayStation 5](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-5), Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with a [Nintendo Switch 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch-2) version delayed.[4](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/007-first-light-has-its-own-bond-theme-by-award-winning-singer-lana-del-rey)
## Reception
Press reaction was divided. Positive reviews emphasized the song's fidelity to the Bond tradition: What Hi-Fi noted the John Barry and David Arnold-inspired horns and swooning strings over a rocky drum beat,[15](https://www.whathifi.com/streaming-entertainment/music-streaming/now-playing-check-out-the-blockbuster-test-tracks-were-using-this-may) and MusicRadar described "an eerie melody, widescreen production and big orchestral stabs" with a whiff of the classic Bond chord as the song closes.[16](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-mean-how-has-that-not-happened-a-decade-after-her-first-effort-was-rejected-lana-del-rey-finally-has-her-bond-theme-but-is-it-the-one-she-deserved) GamesRadar's reviewer called the accompanying opening cinematic his favorite Bond title sequence, ahead of *Skyfall*.[17](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/007-first-lights-opening-cinematic-is-here-and-it-just-surpassed-skyfall-as-my-favorite-james-bond-opening-sequence-ever/)
Other reviewers were cooler. [PC Gamer](https://www.edgepedia.org/pc-gamer) judged the track "not very good", calling it "Bond karaoke" that hits the expected notes but lacks depth, with Del Rey's voice lost in the arrangement.[14](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/lana-del-rey-surprise-drops-the-007-first-light-theme-song-and-i-regret-to-inform-you-that-it-is-not-great/) On the fan-score aggregator Album of the Year the single holds a user score of 82 from 678 ratings, tagged as symphonic rock, spy music, and cinematic classical.[6](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/1777610-lana-del-rey-first-light.php)
## Other songs titled "First Light"
The title has been used by several other recordings, which are unrelated to the Bond theme. [Brian Eno](https://www.edgepedia.org/brian-eno) and [Harold Budd](https://www.edgepedia.org/harold-budd) composed an ambient piece called "First Light" on the 1980 album *Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror*, with Eno on electronics and Budd on piano.[18](https://music.apple.com/us/song/724653244) Hozier recorded a track of the same name, one whose lyrics the singer frames as a reflection on leaving darkness behind and seeing light as if for the first time.[19](https://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=176554) [Freddie Hubbard](https://www.edgepedia.org/freddie-hubbard) led a 1971 jazz album titled *First Light* on Creed Taylor's CTI label, with arrangements by Don Sebesky, and the title track leads off the album.[20](https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/album/freddie-hubbard/first-light) A separate indie game called *First Light* by Ephphatha Games also carries a soundtrack album of that name, planned for release on Steam in November 2026.[21](https://store.steampowered.com/app/4999850/First_Light_Soundtrack/?l=english)
## References
1. [007 First Light unveils title song by Lana Del Rey and David Arnold, IO Interactive](https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2026/007-first-light-unveils-title-song-by-lana-del-rey-and-david-arnold)
2. [Lana Del Rey might have written a Bond theme for 007 First Light, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/lana-del-rey-might-have-written-a-bond-theme-for-007-first-light/)
3. [First Light - Single, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/first-light-single/1893438114)
4. [007 First Light has its own Bond theme by award-winning singer Lana Del Rey, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/007-first-light-has-its-own-bond-theme-by-award-winning-singer-lana-del-rey)
5. [007: First Light credits (Windows, 2026), MobyGames](https://www.mobygames.com/game/246066/007-first-light/credits/windows/)
6. [Lana Del Rey - First Light (Single), Album of The Year](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/1777610-lana-del-rey-first-light.php)
7. [007 First Light opening credits make James Bond fans do a double take, Creative Bloq](https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-game-design/cinematic-007-first-light-opening-sequence-is-movie-perfect)
8. [Inside Lana Del Rey's James Bond theme song 'First Light', NME](https://www.nme.com/features/gaming-features/lana-del-rey-first-light-james-bond-david-arnold-3943573)
9. [007 First Light recupera a un veterano de la saga James Bond, AS MeriStation](https://as.com/meristation/noticias/007-first-light-recupera-a-un-veterano-de-la-saga-james-bond-y-desvela-el-tema-cantado-por-lana-del-rey-f202604-n/)
10. [First Light - Song by Lana Del Rey, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/song/1893438278)
11. [007 First Light (Video Game 2026) - Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13495854/fullcredits/)
12. [007 First Light, Territory Studio](https://territorystudio.com/project/ioi/)
13. [007 First Light Title Sequence - Lana Del Rey, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFPy8rDmPLM)
14. [Lana Del Rey surprise-drops the 007 First Light theme song, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/lana-del-rey-surprise-drops-the-007-first-light-theme-song-and-i-regret-to-inform-you-that-it-is-not-great/)
15. [Now Playing: the 5 blockbuster test tracks we're using this May, What Hi-Fi](https://www.whathifi.com/streaming-entertainment/music-streaming/now-playing-check-out-the-blockbuster-test-tracks-were-using-this-may)
16. [A decade after her first effort was rejected, Lana Del Rey finally has her Bond theme, MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-mean-how-has-that-not-happened-a-decade-after-her-first-effort-was-rejected-lana-del-rey-finally-has-her-bond-theme-but-is-it-the-one-she-deserved)
17. [007: First Light's opening cinematic surpassed Skyfall as my favorite Bond opening, GamesRadar](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/007-first-lights-opening-cinematic-is-here-and-it-just-surpassed-skyfall-as-my-favorite-james-bond-opening-sequence-ever/)
18. [First Light - Song by Brian Eno, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/song/724653244)
19. [Thesis on Hozier's Unreal Unearth and the song First Light, Tilburg University repository](https://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=176554)
20. [Freddie Hubbard First Light reviews, Jazz Music Archives](https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/album/freddie-hubbard/first-light)
21. [First Light Soundtrack on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/4999850/First_Light_Soundtrack/?l=english)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Compositions and songs › Musical-theater, film, television, and game songs*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license