1 Topic by Shady Tree

  • Shady Tree
  • MI6 Agent
  • Offline
  • From: London, UK
  • Registered: 12th May 2004
  • Posts: 2,110

Topic: Hey driver, where we're going... stay on these roads!

I know that John Barry found his collaboration with a-ha on 'The Living Daylights' a frustrating experience, but the end result is pretty good. Barry pulled rank on a final arrangement for the title track. I have to say, though, that a-ha's own preferred arrangement at the time, which they included on their 1988 album 'Stay On These Roads', grows on me more and more: it's highly Bondian but, to my ear, synthesises that Bondian quality with 80s clubland appeal more smoothly/danceably: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bqITfmVdUI

Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 49 years.

2 Reply by Barbel

  • Barbel
  • Chief of Staff
  • Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 29th Jan 2005
  • Posts: 31,184

Re: Hey driver, where we're going... stay on these roads!

I've always preferred the version with Barry's orchestra, but the a-ha arrangement has its own appeal.

3 Reply by Higgins

  • Higgins
  • MI6 Agent
  • Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 17th May 2005
  • Posts: 16,524

Re: Hey driver, where we're going... stay on these roads!

I too prefer the A-ha version of the song much more, but what do I know?  ajb007/biggrin

For all A-ha fans out there, I have been waiting for the slow unplugged version of „Take on me“ ( heard it from a private radio gig ) for 30 years and I‘ve had tears in my eyes when I‘ve seen this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xKM3mGt2pE

And that one is even better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Vrp2YujOQ

Last edited by Higgins (23rd Jul 2020 14:23)

President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

-------Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!------

Higgins's Website

4 Reply by Shady Tree

  • Shady Tree
  • MI6 Agent
  • Offline
  • From: London, UK
  • Registered: 12th May 2004
  • Posts: 2,110

Re: Hey driver, where we're going... stay on these roads!

Great slow versions of the big hits. Enough to bring tears to the misty eyes of fans, for sure! ajb007/bond


On the alternative versions of TLD, Barry's arrangement with orchestra and strings was certainly stronger and better for the film and the official Bond album - but a-ha's version worked more smoothly as contemporary pop and the boys seemed somehow to relish their vocal performance on that one a tad more.

Last edited by Shady Tree (23rd Jul 2020 20:50)

Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 49 years.