The Living Daylights
John Barry · 1987
65 min · 21 tracks · film score
A dynamic blend of orchestral grandeur and suspenseful motifs, capturing the essence of a Cold War thriller.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Living Daylights — The title track embodies the film's themes of adventure and intrigue, featuring A-ha's memorable vocals that blend seamlessly with Barry's orchestral arrangements.
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Ice Chase — This piece captures the tension of a high-stakes chase scene, showcasing Barry's ability to build suspense through intricate instrumentation and rhythmic drive.
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If There Was a Man — Performed by Chrissie Hynde, this haunting ballad adds emotional depth to the score, contrasting the action sequences with poignant lyrics about love and loss.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe score effectively captures the film's tension and drama through dynamic orchestration and thematic development.
What we noticed
- Several tracks utilize recurring motifs that build tension, particularly in action sequences like 'Ice Chase' and 'Airbase Jailbreak'.
- The album includes both suspenseful and romantic themes, with contrasting dynamics that shift from quiet introspection to grand climaxes.
- The final track, 'Alternate End Titles', revisits key themes from earlier in the score, creating a sense of closure.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey through varied pacing
- suspenseful motifs with romantic undertones
- for cinematic moments
- ideal for immersive listening experiences
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer standalone track variety
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'The Living Daylights' was released in 1987, John Barry was an established composer known for his innovative scores for the James Bond franchise. This album marked his return to Bond after a hiatus, following the 1985 film 'A View to a Kill'. The soundtrack reflects his mastery in creating atmospheric soundscapes that enhance cinematic storytelling.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Ennio Morricone· Henry Mancini· Bernard Herrmann
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Living Daylights 4:16
- 2 Necros Attacks 2:04
- 3 The Sniper Was a Woman 2:30
- 4 Ice Chase 4:05
- 5 Kara Meets Bond 2:47
- 6 Koskov Escapes 2:23
- 7 Where Has Everybody Gone 3:37
- 8 Into Vienna 2:50
- 9 Hercules Takes Off 2:17
- 10 Mujahadin and Opium 3:13
- 11 Inflight Fight 3:12
- 12 If There Was a Man 2:54
- 13 Excercise at Gibraltar 6:22
- 14 Approaching Kara 2:21
- 15 Murder at the Fair 2:22
- 16 "Assassin" and Drugged 2:43
- 17 Airbase Jailbreak 4:37
- 18 Afghanistan Plan 3:34
- 19 Air Bond 1:46
- 20 Final Confrontation 1:58
- 21 Alternate End Titles 3:20
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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