Licence to Kill (song) explained

Licence to Kill
Cover:Licence to Kill (Gladys Knight song).jpg
Caption:Standard international artwork featuring Timothy Dalton as James Bond (vinyl sleeve pictured)
Type:single
Artist:Gladys Knight
Album:Licence to Kill soundtrack
B-Side:Pam
Released:[1]
Studio:
Genre:R&B[2]
Length:5:15
Label:MCA
Producer:
Prev Title:Loving On Borrowed Time
Prev Year:1986
Next Title:If I Knew Then What I Know Now
Next Year:1990

"Licence to Kill" is a song by American singer Gladys Knight, written and recorded for the James Bond film Licence to Kill, taken from the soundtrack of the film's same name. The song was written by Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen and Walter Afanasieff, and produced by Walden and associate production helmed by Afanasieff.

"Licence to Kill" was released as the soundtrack's lead single on May 30, 1989, by MCA Records. The song became a top-10 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number six and becoming Knight's last charting solo single there. In Europe, the song peaked atop the Swedish Singles Chart for eight weeks (four chart periods at the time) and reached the top five in seven other European countries. It also peaked at number 79 on Canada's RPM 100 Singles chart but did not appear on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

Jerry Smith from Music Week wrote, "Gladys Knight beats all-comers for the dubious pleasure of singing the theme to the latest Bond movie, written and produced by Narada Michael Walden, and basically a pastiche of the best of the previous themes. It can't really fail."[3] Pat Sharp for Smash Hits felt "Licence to Kill" "sounds very dramatic and James Bond-y".[4]

Track listings

A. "Licence to Kill" – 4:11

B. "Pam" (performed by Michael Kamen and the National Philharmonic Orchestra)

A1. "Licence to Kill" (extended version)

B1. "Pam" (performed by Michael Kamen and the National Philharmonic Orchestra)

B2. "Licence to Kill"

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[7] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] 12

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)Position
Belgium (Ultratop)[10] 23
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 32
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 47
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[15] 87
West Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 54

Cover versions

In 2017, musician and producer Fernando Perdomo collaborated with former Pink Floyd backing vocalist and Blue Pearl lead singer Durga McBroom recording the song for the multi-artist compilation album Songs, Bond Songs: The Music of 007.[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 7" Single – Gladys Knight. 007collector.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20181218193445/http://www.007collector.com/126116-2/. December 18, 2018. July 10, 2022.
  2. Cam. Lindsay. October 8, 2021. Every James Bond Theme Song, Ranked. January 27, 2024. Spin. Instead, producers leaned more into the safe, radio-friendly R&B sound of the time, awarding Gladys Knight the theme....
  3. Jerry. Smith. Singles. Music Week. May 27, 1989. 21. March 13, 2023.
  4. Pat. Sharp. Singles. Smash Hits. May 17, 1989. 59. March 13, 2023. Pat Sharp.
  5. Licence to Kill. Gladys Knight. 1989. UK 7-inch vinyl disc. MCA Records. MCA 1339.
  6. Licence to Kill. Gladys Knight. 1989. UK 12-inch vinyl disc. MCA Records. MCAT 1339.
  7. Top 3 Singles in Europe. Music & Media. 6. 35. VII. September 2, 1989. March 27, 2018.
  8. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 6. 35. IV. September 2, 1989. July 7, 2020.
  9. Book: Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. 2021. Gladys Knight. 133. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. Helsinki. June 29, 2022. fi.
  10. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1989. Ultratop. nl. October 24, 2018.
  11. Eurochart Hot 100 of 1989. Music & Media. 6. 51. 6. 23 December 1989. 17 January 2020. World Radio History.
  12. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1989. Dutch Top 40. March 14, 2021.
  13. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1989. MegaCharts. nl. October 24, 2018.
  14. Web site: Swiss Year-End Charts 1989. de. October 24, 2018.
  15. Year End Singles. Record Mirror. 44. January 27, 1990.
  16. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1989. GfK Entertainment. de. October 24, 2018.
  17. https://currycuts.bandcamp.com/track/license-to-kill-2 "Songs, Bond Songs: The Music of 007"