About The Song
“A View to a Kill” is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 7 May 1985. Written and recorded as the theme for the James Bond film of the same name, it became one of the band’s biggest hits. It is the only James Bond theme song to have reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100; it also made it to number two for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart while stuck behind Paul Hardcastle’s “19”. The song was the last track recorded by the most famous five-member lineup of Duran Duran until their reunion in 2001 and was also performed by the band at Live Aid in Philadelphia, their final performance together before their first split.
The following year, composer John Barry and Duran Duran were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for “A View to a Kill”. Following Barry’s death in 2011, the band paid tribute to him for their encore at the Coachella Festival later that year, with Simon Le Bon reappearing in a tuxedo for a pared-down version backed by an orchestra, before launching into the familiar full-band hit version. Bassist John Taylor introduced the song by saying, “We lost a dear friend of ours this year. A great English composer familiar to Hollywood, his name was John Barry. We’re gonna play this for him.”
The song was written by Duran Duran and John Barry, and recorded at Maison Rouge Studio and CTS Studio in London with a 60-piece orchestra.
Duran Duran were chosen to do the song after bassist John Taylor (a lifelong Bond fan) approached producer Cubby Broccoli at a party and somewhat drunkenly asked, “If I give you a fiver, can I write a theme tune please.” The band was then introduced to Bond composer John Barry, and also composer/producer Jonathan Elias (with whom Duran Duran members would later work many times). An early writing meeting at Taylor’s flat in Knightsbridge led to everyone getting drunk instead of composing.
Video
Lyrics
Meeting you with a view to a kill
Face to face in secret places feel the chill
Nightfall covers me but you know the plans I’m making
Still over sea could it be the whole earth opening wide
A sacred why a mystery gaping inside
The weekends why until weDance into the fire
That fatal kiss is all we need
Dance in the fire
To fatal sounds of broken dreams
Dance in to the fire
That fatal kiss is all we need
Dance into the fireChoice for you is the view to a kill
Between the shades assassination standing still
First crystal tears fall of snowflakes on your body
First time in years to drench your skin with lovers rosy stain
A chance to find the phoenix for the flame
A chance to die but can weDance into the fire
That fatal kiss is all we need
Dance into the fire
To fatal sounds of broken dreams
Dance into the fire
That fatal kiss is all we need
Dance into the fire
When all we see is the view to a kill