Video Hangover: Duran Duran - "A View To A Kill"
Twice a week, we dig in the archives for videos that we find noteworthy, memorable, or just unbelievably stupid. And then, we break 'em down for you. Why Video Hangover? Because when you watch as many videos as we do, you're going to feel it afterwards.
"A View To A Kill"
Duran Duran, 1985
Some things to consider while you’re trying to figure out which Taylor is which...
OK, maybe that last part does make sense
Where most bands would have been content to incorporate promotional movie clips into a video, Duran Duran decided to incorporate themselves into the movie. An innovative approach, but the plot suffers as a result. Taylor vs. Taylor, Nick vs. Roger, LeBon vs. blimp -- anybody want to take a guess at what’s going on here? Doesn’t appear to make much sense. Then again, neither does the actual film, which features microchips, a plot to flood silicon valley, and Grace Jones as a stick-wielding bodyguard.
A-ha is tied with Louis Armstrong at #4
Purists might disagree, but a case could be made for “A View to A Kill” as the best Bond song ever. It’s definitely in our top three, along with “Goldfinger” and “Live and Let Die.” Top three Bond songs? Hey, we’re just as surprised as you are.
“Taylor -- Andy, John, or Roger Taylor” didn’t have the same ring
We’d like to take a moment to praise Simon LeBon, one of the most compelling figures of the MTV video era. Whether it was running through the jungle, bathing with elephants, or blowing up a helicopter with a walkman, he always made things interesting. And he absolutely nails the last line of this video, which might be one of the best forgotten moments of the '80s.
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Posted at 1:26 PM in Video, Video Hangover
Tags: Duran Duran
hell yeah, top three bond songs!!
i believe thats one thing we can all agree on.
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I love View to A Kill. Taped it off tv onto beta as a kid, the duran duran song rocks, Christopher Walken as Zorin, the exploding cave at the end, all gravy.
That being said, Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better" from The Spy Who Loved Me is a top contender for best bond song ever.
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Ummmmmm........ Nobody Does it Better???
hello?
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Forgot about that Carly Simon song, but it's a good one. Top four? Am I the only one who likes that A-ha song?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_music#Main_title_themes
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I gotta go with these in my top 3:
You Only Live Twice
We've Got All The Time In The World
Goldfinger
The original versions are all great, and several covers are good too, including Ian McCulloch doing "We've Got All The Time In The World" and Man Or Astroman's version of "Goldfinger"
Sean
Double Crown Records
www.dblcrown.com
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best forgotten momnet? who forgot it? not me. however, 'the spy who loved me' is my favorite. i seem to recall a live radiohead cover of that one floating around as well.
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Pure genius. We need more videos today that are as goofy and awesome as that. Interpol has some major label money now - I think they can make it happen.
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more importantly, who's the bangist chick from VIEW TO A KILL?
http://thighswideshut.org/2006/11/view-to-fap.html
my money is on Alison Doody!
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This video was cool as hell at the time, but it has definitely aged poorly (but not as poorly as the movie). When is Grace Jones going to be on the Surreal Life?
As for ranking Bond songs, it's like ranking children. Though if they were my children, Ah-Ha, Tom Jones, and Chris Cornell would be the red-headed, step- variety.
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Directed by Godley & Creme, no less. I never saw it back then, but this was probably innovative at the time.
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Nancy Sinatra: You Only Live Twice is my fave.
There is a great remake (and quite rare) remake of We've Got All The Time In The World by My Bloody Valentine. A must have.
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Must agree that AVTAK was one of the best Bond themes. The only one to go to #1 too.
Oh and el Bondo, you aren't the only one who likes A-Ha's take. I think it's underappreciated, but so is the movie & Dalton's Bond.
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that video is older than me...
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Hey, didn't this segment used to be called "Yo, MTV Crap?" Fucking Viacom. That usage is covered under parody protections, so STEP OFF Irrelevant "Music" Television.
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I remember the scene in which Bond takes off what little he was wearing and gets into bed with May Day. There's a "jump" in the film, as if it were a technical glitch, at just the right moment and we are spared the sight of Roger Moore's naked bum.
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duran duran rules.
AVTAK is my second fave bond song, after garbage's 'the world is not enough'.
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