59 replies to this topic

[Fixer]

I guess I'll represent the opposing opinion - I find the song one of the least interesting of the series, keeping company at the bottom with AVTAK. No doubt my feelings are colored by my general dislike of 80s music. (I was a teen in the 80s submerged in the pain of the synths and drum machines.) It's just sort of insipid, especially the chorus. I also don't care for it's use in the orchestral score. By the end of the film, I'm sick of those five notes: duh-duh-duh-duh-DAH! An inauspicious exit for Barry.

But hey, I respect that you folks like it. I kind of like DAD. As they say, there's someone for everyone.

[Damien Hunt]

I like it, though I am completely lost with the meaning of the words in the song. To me it sounds like complete nonsense:

Hey driver, where're we going
I swear my nerves are showing
Set your hopes up way too high
The living's in the way we die

Comes the morning and the headlights fade away
Hundred thousand people...I'm the one they blame
I've been waiting long for one of us to say
Save the darkness, let it never fade away
In the living daylights....

Catchy beat though.

[james st.john smythe]

I didn't like you know my name till i seen casino royale, now its my favorite bond song baby!

[Judo chop]

I appreciate the melody, but I have a hard, hard time stomaching that particular era of synth-slathered music.

[00Twelve]

I like it pretty well, but is it the best? Quoting Vizzini in The Princess Bride, "Not remotely!"

[Number 6]

I hate that song. After the cool Dalton PTS, I usually change the channel until it's over every time it airs on tv. It's just irritating to no end...ugh.

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

I love the pretenders song!! I loved in Dalton's era they had different songs at the end of the movies

[Qwerty]

I love the pretenders song!! I loved in Dalton's era they had different songs at the end of the movies

I'd love to see the return of an end-title song to the series.

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

me too

I think in LTK that was another great end song! The lyrics to that song gave us the hint that 007 might be ready to have a serious relationship again after greiving

[moorebond82]

The Living Daylights is my favorite bond song i was 5 when it came out so i was alive for the better part of the 80's.

[Panavision]

I love the A-Ha song, perfect fit for the film. John Barry's orchestrations are wonderful too. I love the end title song, gives me goosebumps

[Blisster Shoots]

LOL...I bought The Living Daylights Soundtrack 6 times.

1. Cassette
2. Cassette, I lost the first
3. The re-released special edition CD Soundtrack
4. I bought another of the same CD, just in case I lost my other one.
5. 99 cents single version of the title song on iTunes
6. Another 99 cents single version of the title song on iTunes by an orchestra

LOL...the soundtrack has always been in the CD Changer of my car and is on my iPod.

Not only is The Living Daylights, the best song, I think it's the best overall soundtrack in Bond franchise history.

[J.C.D'Arc]

The Living Daylights by a-Ha (or however they capitalized it) is a low point for me in the pantheon of Bond theme songs. It sounds anemic, wan and fey. One woman (Gladys Knight) sounded like she had more testicles than that whole band. a-Ha was a band of excellent musicians, but it's like accordion music: I'll acknowledge that someone may be a great accordionist, but I'm not going to voluntarily listen to them.

[Blisster Shoots]

The Living Daylights by a-Ha (or however they capitalized it) is a low point for me in the pantheon of Bond theme songs. It sounds anemic, wan and fey. One woman (Gladys Knight) sounded like she had more testicles than that whole band. a-Ha was a band of excellent musicians, but it's like accordion music: I'll acknowledge that someone may be a great accordionist, but I'm not going to voluntarily listen to them.

Gladys Knight had nothing to do with The Living Daylights Soundtrack.

You don't like the Soundtrack? You are soooo in the minority. It has been widely viewed as the best Soundtrack of all Bond Soundtracks.

Edited by Blisster Shoots, 22 December 2006 - 07:08 PM.

[J.C.D'Arc]

Gladys Knight had nothing to do with The Living Daylights Soundtrack.

You don't like the Soundtrack? You are soooo in the minority. It has been widely viewed as the best Soundtrack of all Bond Soundtracks.

I never said Gladys Knight had anything to do with The Living Daylights' soundtrack. I would say that I was comparing a-Ha's performance of a title song to Gladys Knight's, but that would be inaccurate since there is no comparison (for reasons I pointed out in my previous post).

Also, I never said I didn't like the soundtrack. I just don't like the title song and/or the way it was performed. Synth-pop just isn't my thing.

[Double-0-Seven]

I love the song. It's one of my top favorite Bond theme songs.

[moorebond82]

It's defintley my favorite bond song plus i like A-Ha so of course i have the video on my myspace page :->

[Blisster Shoots]

Gladys Knight had nothing to do with The Living Daylights Soundtrack.

You don't like the Soundtrack? You are soooo in the minority. It has been widely viewed as the best Soundtrack of all Bond Soundtracks.

I never said Gladys Knight had anything to do with The Living Daylights' soundtrack. I would say that I was comparing a-Ha's performance of a title song to Gladys Knight's, but that would be inaccurate since there is no comparison (for reasons I pointed out in my previous post).

Also, I never said I didn't like the soundtrack. I just don't like the title song and/or the way it was performed. Synth-pop just isn't my thing.

So, you don't like the title song, but you like the rest of the soundtrack?

As for me, I am not looking for a certain criteria in a musician's voice that will determine my favor for a particular song. Rather, I make my judgments based on the whole song. Every time I hear the song, I visualize Dalton running around in Tangiers and the pretitle sequence.

As for the Gladys Knight reference...if we had a verbal conversation I think I would have understood you better. Btw, what made you think about Male Genitalia in referring to A-Ha?

[J.C.D'Arc]

So, you don't like the title song, but you like the rest of the soundtrack?

As for me, I am not looking for a certain criteria in a musician's voice that will determine my favor for a particular song. Rather, I make my judgments based on the whole song. Every time I hear the song, I visualize Dalton running around in Tangiers and the pretitle sequence.

Yes, I'm funny like that. For instance, I prefer to hear almost anyone else than the Beatles perform Beatles' songs--not because I have anything against the Beatles; I consider them geniuses who wrote great music, but because their recordings were often made on equipment that couldn't keep up with their ambitious ideas or couldn't accurately record their instruments. Whereas other artists covering Beatles' tunes were made on better mixing boards and mastered on better mastering equipment, so they have a richer, fuller sound to them. Also, I don't like the style in which The Living Daylights was performed and recorded. That 1980's 'New Wave' style sounds extremely dated these days. Much the way A View To A Kill sounds dated. Much the way I expect Die Another Day to sound dated before long, if it doesn't already.

Btw, what made you think about Male Genitalia in referring to A-Ha?

Don't bother trying to troll me.

[sharpshooter]

The song is a strong entry. I rank it third in my order. The upbeat nature is what wins it out, and the chorus is catchy also. The song captures the film's tone and atmosphere perfectly, harder edged yet still holding onto tradition.

[Blisster Shoots]

Don't bother trying to troll me.

I wouldn't dream of it.

[Keir]

Absolutely loathe the song! Definitely a prisoner of its time. The OTHER Dalton tune, on the other hand, L to K, is one that gives me my second wind when jogging!

[JADSTERSDAD]

I prefer their un-orchestrated version (as heard on their own album), but the one in the movie is definitely in my Bond Top 20.

What??! That's like having martini without the gin! ;-)

The song is one of the best (and DAD worse than one of the worst!)

[Blisster Shoots]

My best friend's mother is having a ballroom dance gala & exhbition and asked me to participate in it. I said, "Yes."

Because of my renewed interest in all things Bond (Thanks to Casino Royale), I have decided to perform the Viennese Waltz to "If There Was a Man." I can't decided whether I should use the instrumental or the one sung by Chrissy Hyde.

I've have been dancing and competing ballroom & latin for years, participating in many competitions and performing many exhibitions. I have been looking for an excuse to dance ballroom to "If There Was A Man." It's such a beautiful and romantic song with a Viennese Waltz beat. Beautiful song! Beautiful song!

[Athena007]

I heart a-ha and Morten Harket a lot! I listen to their new music as well, they're one of my favorite bands. So of course "The Living Daylights" is up there in top songs for me! I'm really not sure if I can pick a fave song... but my tops are...

The World Is Not Enough -- Garbage
The Living Daylights -- A-Ha
A View To A Kill -- Duran Duran
For Your Eyes Only -- Sheena Easton
Nobody Does It Better -- Carly Simon
From Russia With Love -- Matt Munroe

[Hitokiri]

I think it's a good song, it's memorable. I personally like Licence to Kill much better, but this isn't bad. I didn't quite understand the video though.

[Qwerty]

I think it's a good song, it's memorable. I personally like Licence to Kill much better, but this isn't bad. I didn't quite understand the video though.

There didn't seem to be too much of a storyline in this video, but I thought it was one of the better ones in the Bond series. Cool to see them make use of the 007 stage.

[Athena007]

I think it's a good song, it's memorable. I personally like Licence to Kill much better, but this isn't bad. I didn't quite understand the video though.

You know, Licence to Kill is the one song I can't stand. When it comes on during my music shuffle I'm like... AH! And I can't get to the computer to change the song quick enough.

[Agent 0015]

It is one the songs I listen everyday.

[The Driver]

The Living Daylights is my favorite Bond song!!! I love a-ha! I think that the song has a lot of energy and was a great follow-up to A View to a Kill.