A View to a Kill (soundtrack)

Infobox Album
Name = A View to a Kill
Type = soundtrack
Artist = John Barry


Released = 1985
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label =
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album =
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = James Bond soundtrack
Type = Soundtrack
Last album = "Octopussy"
(1983)
This album = "A View to a Kill"
(1985)
Next album = "The Living Daylights"
(1987)

"A View to a Kill" is the soundtrack for the film of the same name, the 14th installment in the James Bond film series.

Theme song

The theme song "A View to a Kill", was written by John Barry and Duran Duran, and was recorded in London with a 60-piece orchestra. "A View to a Kill" is the most successful Bond theme to date. In 1986 Barry and Duran Duran were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Duran Duran was chosen to do the song after bassist John Taylor (a lifelong Bond fan) approached producer Cubby Broccoli at a party, and somewhat drunkenly asked "When are you going to get someone "decent" to do one of your theme songs?" Malins, Steve. (2005) "Notorious: The Unauthorized Biography", André Deutsch/Carlton Publishing, UK (ISBN 0-233-00137-9). pp 161-162] [Paul Gambaccini Interview with John Taylor, 1985, "Greatest" DVD extras.]

The single was released in May 1985, and on July 13 it hit number one on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 chart, and as of 2007 remains the only Bond theme to do so. On May 25, it made it to number two in the UK Singles Chart, also a record for Bond themes. The b-side was an instrumental piece orchestrated by John Barry, titled "A View To A Kill (That Fatal Kiss)". The song was the last track that the original five members of Duran Duran recorded together until 2001.

The video for the single was directed by the duo Godley & Creme, with shots of the band at the Eiffel Tower intercut with scenes from the movie, so that it appears that Roger Moore and Grace Jones are participating in the same storyline. The singer ends the video with a parody of James Bond, smarmily introducing himself as "Bon. Simon Le Bon."

Other music

During the opening teaser, a cover version of the 1965 Beach Boys song "California Girls", performed by Gidea Park (a tribute band), is used during a chase in which Bond snowboards; it has been suggested that this teaser sequence helped initiate interest in snowboarding. [ [http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/FAQ-id_cat-33.html Snowboard Club UK FAQs] ]

The film features Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons", which is performed during the reception that 007 attends undercover at Zorin's stud in France.

Track listing

#"A View to a Kill (Main Title)" – Duran Duran
#"Snow Job"
#"May Day Jumps"
#"Bond Meets Stacey (A View to a Kill)"
#"Pegasus' Stable"
#"Tibbett Gets Washed Out"
#"Airship to Silicon Valley"
#"He's Dangerous"
#"Bond Underwater"
#"Wine with Stacey (A View to a Kill)"
#"Bond Escapes Roller"
#"Destroy Silicon Valley"
#"May Day Bombs Out"
#"Golden Gate Fight"
#"A View to a Kill (End Title)" – Duran Duran

References