It does rather look then that A-ha were the ones being difficult.
No, I don't buy that onesided account. It's just mere speculation for something that has become an "urban legend" over the years. For example, Wikipedia cites a couple of interviews from the other side: " In an interview with Hotrod Magazine in 1987, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen said that "[the band's] fight with Barry left a rather unpleasant aftertaste. Apparently he compared us to Hitlerjugend in a newspaper interview."
We can only assume the truth lies somewhere inbetween and leave it at that. No point speculating on something apparently only those who were there knows in full detail.
At least we have two versions of the song. The one in the film (with the Barry arrangement) and the one on a-ha's studio album STAY ON THESE ROADS (which is the superior, IMO).
It does rather look then that A-ha were the ones being difficult.
No, I don't buy that onesided account. It's just mere speculation for something that has become an "urban legend" over the years. For example, Wikipedia cites a couple of interviews from the other side: " In an interview with Hotrod Magazine in 1987, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen said that "[the band's] fight with Barry left a rather unpleasant aftertaste. Apparently he compared us to Hitlerjugend in a newspaper interview."
We can only assume the truth lies somewhere inbetween and leave it at that. No point speculating on something apparently only those who were there knows in full detail.
At least we have two versions of the song. The one in the film (with the Barry arrangement) and the one on a-ha's studio album STAY ON THESE ROADS (which is the superior, IMO).
Cant say I agree with you on that, Thor. I'm not too fond of the album version, the band referred to it as a 'dance' version. However it is (or was) a perennial live favourite, and the album version is the closer one played. In fact, I have several live versions which are better that either of the two recorded ones. I certainly agree with your point however, being a JB and a-ha fan I'm of the mind the truth lies somewhere inbetween.
With a-ha (and Duran Duran) they were always going to write their own song. JB didnt really have much input into a-ha's song, other than the underlying string arrangement and the brass interjections.
Was A View To A Kill, - like Aha's Living Daylights - 95 % Duran Duran with Barry mainly involved in arranging the song? or did he co-compose?
Interesting to note that Barry gets co-writing credit on the songs but anytime there's an instrumental version ( 'Hercules Takes Off' from Living Daylights for example ) only JB gets the credit.
It does rather look then that A-ha were the ones being difficult.
No, I don't buy that onesided account. It's just mere speculation for something that has become an "urban legend" over the years. For example, Wikipedia cites a couple of interviews from the other side: " In an interview with Hotrod Magazine in 1987, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen said that "[the band's] fight with Barry left a rather unpleasant aftertaste. Apparently he compared us to Hitlerjugend in a newspaper interview."
We can only assume the truth lies somewhere inbetween and leave it at that. No point speculating on something apparently only those who were there knows in full detail.
At least we have two versions of the song. The one in the film (with the Barry arrangement) and the one on a-ha's studio album STAY ON THESE ROADS (which is the superior, IMO).
Cant say I agree with you on that, Thor. Im not too fond of the album version, even the band referred to it as a 'dance' version. However it is (or was) a perennial live favorite, and the album version is the closer one played. In fact, I have several live versions which are better that either of the two recorded ones. I certainly agree with your point however, being a JB and a-ha fan Im of the mind the truth lies somewhere inbetween.
Have to say I love it when there are fans of both sides. It sort of cuts down the middle, as if to knock two heads together and say, "don't you two realise whatever disagreements you have you have made great music?". I am so with you in this.
I just can't believe that no-one has mentioned the best version of all - the instrumental on the B-side of the single
The first post mentioned that Duran's performance of the song was at that tempo and similar orchestration for the first half of the song. I'm sure you'd have approved.
on a top 20 bond song poll pragramme on channel 4 (i think) a while back,john barry said that duran duran were great fun to work with,but in the case of a-ha,member magne furuholmen said they got on,but john barry's reply when he heard that was,what studio was he in ?
Indeed. Vocally there is no comparison. Simon le bon is an awful singer!
Couldn't disagree more. I have been a Duran Duran fan for most of my life, and I think he is a great singer. Sounds a lot better live and on record than a lot of other bands!!
Indeed. Vocally there is no comparison. Simon le bon is an awful singer!
Couldn't disagree more. I have been a Duran Duran fan for most of my life, and I think he is a great singer. Sounds a lot better live and on record than a lot of other bands!!
Yes, I remember the world was watching when he hit that 'bum note' during 'A View To A Kill' at Live Aid.
From Andy Taylor's book "Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran"
When we were creating our Bond song, A View to a Kill, we teamed up with John Barry, who worked on all the Bond themes. He was a hilarious character, a very posh old composer who played the piano with a tumbler of whiskey by his side. We all had a great time with him, apart from Nick Rhodes, our keyboard player. Barry kept challenging him musically and this was a red rag to a bull. 'I'm not f****** doing that,' Nick would say flatly. 'I've worked with with people like Shirley Bassey,' Barry would reply in his posh voice, 'and this, young man, is my gig.' As Nick had to concede, there's no answer to that.
The opening is gorgeous, starting with an orchestral medley of Barry themes, followed by the song AVTAK performed as a ballad, with the orchestral backing seeming to be from the greatest bit of unreleased scoring in the whole Bond series - when Bond carries Stacey down the ladder from the burning building in AVTAK.
I've been listening to Duran Duran's album Notorious and have been enjoying the horn section work, and a nice amount of the instrumentation sounds positively Bondian/Barryian. "A Matter of Feeling" has a "Bond with Stacy" vibe, "Hold Me" has a VTAK sound to it. Some nice stuff from the band.
John Barry didn't work on the album, did he? If not, then DD definitely took away a lot of musical influence from John and the results make for some pleasant listening.
