A View to a Kill (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = A View to a Kill

| cover = Duran Duran A view to a kill.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Artwork for the UK single

| type = single

| artist = Duran Duran

| album = A View to a Kill (soundtrack)

| B-side = "A View to a Kill" (That Fatal Kiss)

| released = {{start date|1985|5|6|df=y}}{{cite magazine |date=4 May 1985 |title=New Singles |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1985/Music-Week-1985-05-04.pdf |magazine=Music Week |page=28 |access-date=29 August 2024}}

| recorded = Early 1985

| studio = {{flatlist|

Maison Rouge
CTS (London)

}}

| venue =

| genre =

Synth-pop{{cite web |last=Zaleski |first= Annie |date=4 November 2015 |title=Duran Duran's "A View To A Kill" propelled James Bond into the modern world|url=https://www.avclub.com/duran-duran-s-a-view-to-a-kill-propelled-james-bond-i-1798286294 |website=The A.V. Club}}
new wave{{cite magazine|last= Slant Staff|date= 4 October 2021|title= Every James Bond Theme Song Ranked|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/every-james-bond-theme-song-ranked/|access-date= 27 January 2024|magazine=Slant Magazine|quote= ...elevating an otherwise nonsensical collage of fire and ice and fatal kisses to a new wave banger.}}

| length = 3:37 (single version)

| label =

EMI
Capitol

| writer =

Duran Duran
John Barry

| producer =

Bernard Edwards
Jason Corsaro
Duran Duran

| prev_title = The Wild Boys

| prev_year = 1984

| next_title = Notorious

| next_year = 1986

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = James Bond theme

| type = single

| prev_title = All Time High

| prev_year = 1983

| title = A View to a Kill

| year = 1985

| next_title = The Living Daylights

| next_year = 1987

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|Fp4CR2HcHLQ|"A View to a Kill"}}}}

{{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = Duran_Duran_-_A_View_to_a_Kill.ogg

}}

"A View to a Kill" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 6 May 1985. Written and recorded as the theme for the James Bond film of the same name and included on its accompanying soundtrack album, 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".Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records LimitedWhitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books 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 in 1985, 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 at the 43rd Golden Globe Awards 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,{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2101997/the-number-ones-duran-durans-a-view-to-a-kill/columns/the-number-ones |last=Breihan |first=Tom |title=The Number Ones: Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill" |website=Stereogum |publisher=Stereogum Media |date=14 October 2020 |access-date=19 September 2021}} before launching into the familiar full-band hit version.{{cite web|url=

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApTBf1kDh_I&ab_channel=Jcc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ApTBf1kDh_I |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Duran Duran - Bond Medley & A View To A Kill ( Coachella Festival 2011) |website=YouTube |date=12 April 2021 |publisher=Jcc |language=en |access-date=19 September 2021}}{{cbignore}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNawLEpsKZs&t=30s&ab_channel=RocioDD |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/HNawLEpsKZs |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Duran Duran -Bond medley View to a kill live Coachella 2011 |website=YouTube |date=23 April 2011 |publisher=RocioDD |language=en |time=0m 30s |access-date=19 September 2021}}{{cbignore}}

Background

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."Malins, Steve. (2005) Notorious: The Unauthorized Biography, André Deutsch/Carlton Publishing, UK ({{ISBN|0-233-00137-9}}). pp 161–162Paul Gambaccini Interview with John Taylor, 1985, Greatest DVD extras. 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.Pattenden, Sian. "Blame It on Rio." Deluxe Magazine, December 1998 (pp 125–129)

Composition

Singer Simon Le Bon said of Barry: "He didn't really come up with any of the basic musical ideas. He heard what we came up with and he put them into an order. And that's why it happened so quickly because he was able to separate the good ideas from the bad ones, and he arranged them. He has a great way of working brilliant chord arrangements. He was working with us as virtually a sixth member of the group, but not really getting on our backs at all."{{cite web|url=http://www.ianfleming.org/mkkbb/magazine/barry2.shtml |title=BOND BY BARRY |access-date=26 November 2006 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991128095955/http://www.ianfleming.org/mkkbb/magazine/barry2.shtml |archive-date=28 November 1999 }}

Due to a clear separation of areas of responsibility, the cooperation between band and composer turned out to be largely harmonious. The band was in charge of the actual songwriting while Barry created the final arrangement, including the orchestral parts. The song was finally completed in April 1985 and released that May. In the UK, it entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 7 before peaking at No. 2 the following week, and remained at that position for three weeks. In the US, it entered the charts at No. 45, and on 13 July it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1985-07-12 |title=The Hot 100 - Week of July 13, 1985 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Billboard Media, LLC |language=en |access-date=19 September 2021}} It remains the only Bond theme to achieve this chart placing.{{cite web|url=https://portal.uni-freiburg.de/songlexikon/songs/aviewtoakill|title=A View to a Kill|last=Jost|first=PD Dr. Christofer|date=March 2014|website=University of Freiburg|language=de|access-date=25 November 2016}}

The B-side of the single was an instrumental piece orchestrated by Barry with a flute solo by Susan Milan that incorporates the melody of the Duran Duran song, titled "A View to a Kill (That Fatal Kiss)", which appeared on the A View to a Kill soundtrack album as "Bond Meets Stacey (A View to a Kill)".Jon Burlingame. The Music of James Bond. Oxford University Press, 2012. [https://books.google.com/books?id=yv_yExgGOccC&pg=PA177 pp. 178-179n.] {{ISBN|9780199863303}}

Reception

Cash Box described the single as "a memorable and dynamic cut and easily one of Duran Duran's very best efforts" that is "melodically strong" and employs "highly sophisticated state of the art production".{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-05-18.pdf|date=18 May 1985|accessdate=26 July 2022|page=13}} Reviewing singles for Smash Hits, Stephen Duffy wrote: "Quite stunning production. Producer Bernard Edwards seems to have superseded Nile Rodgers in every direction. Takes a long time to get to the hook, but very interesting."{{Cite magazine|title=Singles reviewed by Stehen "Tin Tin" Duffy|magazine=Smash Hits 8–21 May 1985 |page=19 }} As of October 2021 "A View to a Kill" was the seventh most streamed Duran Duran song in the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/duran-durans-official-top-20-most-streamed-songs-revealed__34312/ |title=Duran Duran's Official Top 20 most-streamed songs revealed |publisher=Official Charts |date=26 October 2021|access-date=12 June 2022 }}

Music video

The song's music video was filmed in the Eiffel Tower and was directed by the duo of Godley & Creme. The video opens with the iconic gun barrel sequence and is centered around the scene from the film where Max Zorin (Christopher Walken)'s henchwoman May Day (Grace Jones) kills private detective Achille Aubergine (Jean Rougerie) in front of James Bond (Roger Moore) at the Tower. It then cuts to the band walking by the Tower on a secret mission: Simon Le Bon, disguised as a tourist, wearing a gray trench coat and carrying a Walkman; John Taylor, a long-haired tourist dressed in black; Nick Rhodes, a photographer working with a top model (Gail Elliott); Andy Taylor, a blind accordionist who plays the Bond theme on the accordion; and Roger Taylor, a supervisor inside a van. The band's actions coincide with events shown from the movie, while Bond pursues May Day through the Tower, culminating in her escape via parachute. The video ends with a beautiful young girl approaching Le Bon to question him, "Excuse me... aren't you?", where he breaks the fourth wall to say, "Bon. Simon Le Bon." However, her moving Le Bon's arm to talk to him causes him to accidentally activate a detonator concealed inside his Walkman, blowing up a postcard of the Eiffel Tower on a stand in front of the actual Tower.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3pQDMi4W-g |title=A View to a Kill |website=YouTube |date=29 October 2014 |language=en |access-date=2 January 2021}}

Track listing

=UK 7-inch (EMI, Duran 007)=

: A: "A View to a Kill" – 3:37

: B: "A View to a Kill (That Fatal Kiss)" – 2:31

Also released in a gatefold sleeve (DURANG 007). Released by Capitol in US as B-5475. Reissued on CD in Singles Box Set 1981–1985 (2003).

Note:

An unreleased 12-inch remix of the song was made by producers Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero. According to Thompson, "The mystery [is] solved. I did this mix with Mike Barbiero and the band was there except John. We did that mix in a studio in Paris. All [the] sounds of the mix were done with the band. [...] I could never understand why the mix didn't come out. And yes I brought it to [alternative New York radio station] WLIR because we were all friends of the station and I would always give them exclusives."{{cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Paul |date=22 November 2014 |url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/exclusive-steve-thompson-solves-mystery-of-a-view-to-a-kill-remix/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: Steve Thompson solves mystery of "A View to A Kill" remix |website=SuperDeluxeEdition |access-date=22 November 2023}}

Personnel

Duran Duran

Simon Le Bon – vocals
Andy Taylor – guitars
John Taylor – bass
Roger Taylor – drums
Nick Rhodes – keyboards

Technical

Bernard Edwards – co-producer
Jason Corsaro – co-producer, engineer, mixing
Duran Duran – co-producer
John Barry – orchestral arranger, conductor
John Elias – digital sampling

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web\|url=http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages= \|title=Forum - ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts - CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 \|author=bulion \|work=ARIA \|publisher=Australian-charts.com \|access-date=19 November 2016 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020025459/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages= \|archive-date=20 October 2013 }} \|6
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+Weekly chart performance for "A View to a Kill" !Chart (1985–1986) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Austria\|6\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
{{single chart\|Flanders\|2\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
scope="row"\|Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders){{cite web\|url=http://www.radio2.be/top-30/1985/07/13\|title=Radio 2 Top 30\|publisher=Top 30\|language=nl\|access-date=19 November 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331175238/http://www.radio2.be/top-30/1985/07/13\|archive-date=31 March 2016\|url-status=dead}} \|1
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|1\|chartid=0542\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016\|refname=CA_WEEK}}
scope="row"\|Denmark (Hitlisten){{Cite web\|url=https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/65507-danish-charts-archive\|title=Danish Charts Archive?\|website=UKMIX Forums\|date=11 November 2009 \|access-date=2 April 2020}} \|1
{{single chart\|France\|11\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|2\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
scope="row"\| Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite web \|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php \|title=Classifiche \|work=Musica e dischi \|language=it \|access-date=6 April 2024}} Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Duran Duran" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca". \| 1
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|3\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|year=1985\|week=26\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|3\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|13\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
{{single chart\|Norway\|2\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
scope="row"\|South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web\|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(D).html\|title=South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts D\|website=The South African Rock Encyclopedia\|access-date=19 November 2016}} \|4
scope="row"\|Spain (AFYVE){{cite book \|last=Salaverri\|first=Fernando\|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002\|edition=1st \|date=September 2005\|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE\|location=Spain\|isbn=84-8048-639-2}} \|1
{{single chart\|Sweden\|1\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|7\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
{{single chart\|UK\|2\|date=1985-05-25\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}
scope="row"\| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1985-07-20/\|title=Billboard Hot 100 – Week of July 20, 1985\|access-date=2 March 2024\|publisher=Billboard}} \| 1
scope="row"\|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web\|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19850713.html \|title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JULY 13, 1985 \|access-date=19 November 2016 \|url-status=bot: unknown \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001104643/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19850713.html \|archive-date=1 October 2012 }}. Cash Box magazine. \|1
{{single chart\|West Germany\|9\|artist=Duran Duran\|song=A View to a Kill\|songid=1271\|rowheader=true\|access-date=19 November 2016}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+Year-end chart performance for "A View to a Kill" !Chart (1985) !Position
scope="row"\|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web\|url=https://i.imgur.com/SN2evHp.jpg\|title=Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985\|publisher=Kent Music Report\|via=Imgur\|access-date=23 January 2023}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275&pages= \|title=Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s \|website=Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien \|access-date=19 November 2016 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828222607/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275&pages= \|archive-date=28 August 2014 }} \|64
scope="row"\|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web\|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1985\|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1985\|website=Ö3 Austria Top 40\|language=de\|access-date=19 November 2016}} \|27
scope="row"\|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web\|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1985\|title=Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1985\|website=Ultratop 50\|language=nl\|access-date=19 November 2016}} \|16
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|24\|chartid=0619\|rowheader=true\|access-date=5 November 2016\|refname=CA_YE}}
scope="row"\|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web\|url=http://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1985\|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985\|website=Dutch Top 40\|language=nl\|access-date=19 November 2016}} \|9
scope="row"\|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web\|url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1985&cat=s\|title=Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten Single 1985\|website=Single Top 100\|language=nl\|access-date=19 November 2016}} \|15
scope="row"\|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web\|url=http://www.hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1985\|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985\|website=Swiss Singles Chart\|language=de\|access-date=5 November 2016}} \|16
scope="row"\|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine\|title=Top 100 Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|page=10\|date=18 January 1985}} \|34
scope="row"\|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine\|date=28 December 1985\|title=Top Pop Singles\|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1985/BB-1985-12-28.pdf\|magazine=Billboard\|location=New York, NY, USA\|volume=97\|issue=52\|page=T-21\|access-date=19 November 2016}} \|35
scope="row"\|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web\|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html \|title=The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1985 \|access-date=23 April 2017 \|url-status=bot: unknown \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930234839/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html \|archive-date=30 September 2012 }}. Cash Box magazine. \|19
scope="row"\|West Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web\|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1985\|title=Single-Jahrescharts 1985\|website=GfK Entertainment Charts\|language=de\|access-date=19 November 2016}} \|34

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Year-end chart performance for "A View to a Kill"

!Chart (1985)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/SN2evHp.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985|publisher=Kent Music Report|via=Imgur|access-date=23 January 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275&pages= |title=Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s |website=Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien |access-date=19 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828222607/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275&pages= |archive-date=28 August 2014 }}

|64

scope="row"|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1985|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1985|website=Ö3 Austria Top 40|language=de|access-date=19 November 2016}}

|27

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1985|title=Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1985|website=Ultratop 50|language=nl|access-date=19 November 2016}}

|16

{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|24|chartid=0619|rowheader=true|access-date=5 November 2016|refname=CA_YE}}

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1985|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985|website=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=19 November 2016}}

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1985&cat=s|title=Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten Single 1985|website=Single Top 100|language=nl|access-date=19 November 2016}}

|15

scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=http://www.hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1985|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985|website=Swiss Singles Chart|language=de|access-date=5 November 2016}}

|16

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=10|date=18 January 1985}}

|34

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|date=28 December 1985|title=Top Pop Singles|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1985/BB-1985-12-28.pdf|magazine=Billboard|location=New York, NY, USA|volume=97|issue=52|page=T-21|access-date=19 November 2016}}

|35

scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html |title=The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1985 |access-date=23 April 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930234839/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html |archive-date=30 September 2012 }}. Cash Box magazine.

|19

scope="row"|West Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1985|title=Single-Jahrescharts 1985|website=GfK Entertainment Charts|language=de|access-date=19 November 2016}}

|34

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|title=A View to a Kill|artist=Duran Duran|award=Gold|certyear=1985}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=A View to a Kill|artist=Duran Duran|award=Silver|relyear=1984|certyear=1985|id=260-812-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|nocert=true|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2013/007-by-the-numbers/|title=007 by the Numbers|date=February 2013|access-date=3 September 2022|publisher=Nielsen Media Research}}|salesamount=149,000}}

In popular culture

DJ's Factory, a Eurodance project of German producer Bülent Aris and British keyboarder Adrian Askew, released a dancefloor-oriented version of the song in summer 1985, reaching No. 22 on the German single charts.{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-158937|title=Official German Charts|website=Offizielle Deutsche Charts|access-date=21 September 2018}}

In 1987, Shirley Bassey covered the song for her album The Bond Collection, which contained her renditions of Bond theme songs. However, she wasn't satisfied with the quality, so the album was withdrawn from sale.

In 2008, the song was covered in a bossa nova style by former Morcheeba singer Skye on the various artists compilation album Hollywood, Mon Amour, containing cover versions of songs from 1980s films.

Måns Zelmerlöw performed a live version of the song at the beginning of the Andra Chansen (Second Chance) round of Melodifestivalen 2010 in Örebro, Sweden.{{cite web|url=http://www.hd.se/2010-03-06/veteranernas-kvall-i-orebro|title=Veteranernas kväll i Örebro|date=6 March 2010|website=Helsingborgs Dagblad|language=sv|access-date=22 November 2016}}

Further cover versions of the song have been recorded by the Welsh alternative metal band Lostprophets as a b-side of their 2002 single "The Fake Sound of Progress", Canadian punk rock band Gob on The Duran Duran Tribute Album in 1997, Australian band Custard, on the tribute album The Songs of Duran Duran: UnDone (1999),{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/a-view-to-a-kill-custard-mt0004944883|title=A View to a Kill-Custard|website=AllMusic|access-date=22 November 2016}} and the Chilean heavy metal band Los Mox, on their album ...Con Cover (2006). Finnish melodic death metal band Diablo has covered the song as a b-side of their 2005 single "Mimic47", as well as Finnish symphonic metal cover supergroup Northern Kings on their 2008 album Rethroned. Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers covered the song in a bossa nova style on the various artists compilation album Songs, Bond Songs: The Music of 007 (2017).{{Cite web|url=https://currycuts.bandcamp.com/track/a-view-to-a-kill-2|title=A View To A Kill, by Jay Gonzalez|website=Curry Cuts|access-date=2 April 2020}}

In 2016, Duran Duran performed the song live at the unveiling of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 (ND).{{cite web |title=Watch the 2016 Mazda Miata MX-5 Debut with Duran Duran in TFL4K |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3AfCRJAmk8&t=173s&ab_channel=TheFastLaneCar |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/s3AfCRJAmk8 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |publisher=The Fast Lane Car |time=2m 52s |date=4 September 2014 |access-date=19 September 2021}}{{cbignore}}