Under the Covers with James Bond - "The Living Daylights"
1987 brought us a new James Bond and an attempt to replicate the MTV/radio-driven success of the previous Bond movie's title song. This time, composer John Barry worked with Norwegian synthpoppers, a-ha. The song failed to enter the Hot 100 charts the way their peers Duran Duran had done two years previously, but it did reach #5 in the UK. Chart success isn't necessarily indicative of popularity within a fandom, but it could explain why there is only a single cover of "The Living Daylights" to be found.
This track may sound more rooted in the era from which it comes, but it still has the characteristics of a James Bond theme song. Whatever the reason for its lack of popular impact outside of the a-ha fan base, this song is still easily recognizable as a part of the canon of James Bond themes.
"The Living Daylights" has only recently been covered by a name act; South African rockers The Narrow, from their 2010 release Definitively Recycled. The song stays somewhat close to the original in terms of arrangement, but its the addition of post-aughties guitar crunch that gives this track its unique identity.
I've always enjoyed the original a-ha song and the more I listen to this variation the more I enjoy it. It could be interesting to hear an EDM or even a Dubstep act take on me when I suggest this song would be fun to hear given a modern electronica spin.
The music of James Bond will return in License to Kill.
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