Under the Covers with James Bond - "A View to a Kill"
To quote the enigmatic M from an earlier James Bond adventure: "This is the big one, 007." In the summer of 1985, Roger Moore's last James Bond movie, A View to a Kill was released and just a month later, it's theme song recorded by Duran Duran, hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts; the only James Bond theme song to ever achieve this feat. It follows that if someone were to cover this particular James Bond title song, they would have to bring something very special to the sound. There are in fact, three interesting takes on this classic pop culture crossover.
Despite the now dated special effects, the Godley & Creme directed music video for Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill" is still a good bit of fun to watch. The name is Bon. Simon Le Bon.
Now let's listen to a trio of covers, all of which feature daring plays on the original. First is a version recorded in '02 by Lostprophets.
The key to this cover, even though vocalist Ian Watkins slightly emulates Simon Le Bon, is the change up of the iconic chorus. Where the rest of the song is fairly close to the original arrangement, with appropriate modernizing touches, the group reworks the chorus considerably. It might throw fans off at first, but it holds it's own quite well. Another very enjoyable spin on this theme was recorded in 2008 by Finnish Symphonic Metal supergroup, Northern Kings.
Vocalist Tony Kakko (also of Sonata Artctica) nails it. The metalized arrangement changes things up considerably, and it also dares to add hints of Monty Norman's "James Bond Theme" into this metaldramatic and extended variation on the Duran Duran hit. Northern Kings formed to record Symphonic Metal covers of popular songs, with Depeche Mode's "Strangelove," Tina Turner's "We Don't Need Another Hero" and Lionel Richie's "Hello" among the songs they have recorded. This song hails from their sophomore release, Rethroned. For a complete 180, check out this acoustic-cum-bossa nova variation by Morcheeba singer, Skye.
Of the three, this is the most daring and my personal favourite cover of "A View to a Kill." It makes perfect sense, stripped down to its most basic melodic elements while never losing the intent or identity of the original. The cocktail lounge you might hear this played at would certainly only serve vodka martinis, shaken, not stirred.
The music of James Bond will return in The Living Daylights.
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