Cool to see Invisible Sun place so high. Surely the single of theirs I've heard the least in the wild (maybe a US/UK thing?). And its sound is so weird and alien... The way the chorus arrives is just like sinking into this dark solarized electronic fuzz, really unlike any other pop chorus I can think of. Together with Spirits and the cover art, it always makes me want a whole album of these icy, unsettling, synth-heavy Police album (though as of today I'm really digging all the jumped-up, horn-heavy ska exercises.)
A touch unfortunate that it's saddled with the staggeringly bad line "looking like something that the cat brought in."
― Doctor Casino, Friday, 9 December 2022 23:52 (one year ago) link
The video is consistent with that vibe as well.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 9 December 2022 23:53 (one year ago) link
And, as I confirmed a couple days ago, "Message in a Bottle" peaked at #74 in America.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 10 December 2022 00:00 (one year ago) link
"like something the cat dragged in" is a pretty common phrase in the uk, so it doesn't really stick out here as particularly bad or awkward, and lord knows sting has written far worse lines. is it used at all in the US?
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Saturday, 10 December 2022 00:09 (one year ago) link
LOL I was the only person not to vote for “Synchronicity II” and it almost won the damn thing. Thanks, Bee OK!Part I1. Darkness2. Secret Journey3. Synchronicity I 4. Message in a Bottle5. Walking on the Moon6. Canary in a Coalmine7. Spirits in the Material World8. Bring On the Night9. Don’t Stand So Close to Me10. Invisible Sun11. Omegaman12. Miss Grandenko13. Contact14. Bombs Away15. When the World Is Running Down16. Driven to Tears17. Man in a Suitcase18. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic19. The Bed’s Too Big Without You20. Can’t Stand Losing YouPart 21. Ghost in the Machine2. Regatta de Blanc3. Zenyartta Mondata4. Synchronicity5. Outlandos D’AmourPart 31. I Advance Masked (I Advance Masked)2. Bring On the Night/When the World Is Running Down (Bring On the Night)3. Fortress Around Your Heart4. We Work the Black Seam5. Be Still My Beating Heart 6. If I Ever Lose My Faith in You7. Hardy Country (I Advance Masked)8. Mad About You9. China Yellow Leader (I Advance Masked)10. Red Rain (Peter Gabriel)
― Naive Teen Idol, Saturday, 10 December 2022 00:16 (one year ago) link
is it used at all in the US?
Mostly by Poison.
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 10 December 2022 00:18 (one year ago) link
I could see that might deter other adopters
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Saturday, 10 December 2022 00:20 (one year ago) link
I didn't vote for Synchronicity II because of "kick in the crotch."
― billstevejim, Saturday, 10 December 2022 00:37 (one year ago) link
Honestly shocked Miss Gradenko didn’t place and Mother did.
― assert (matttkkkk), Saturday, 10 December 2022 01:05 (one year ago) link
The cat-dragged idiom absolutely exists in the US - I should have clarified that what's jarring is specifically the encounter with this bland cliche that seems not at all appropriate to the situation. Could be that's Sting's intent, for this song about everyday life in seemingly unbearable circumstances...
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 10 December 2022 01:23 (one year ago) link
This poll actually happened by accident. In October I figured out that ILM was about 115 polls deep and we hadn't run the Police poll. I immediately added my name to the queue and thought I would run it within about three years. Our last poll Wilco finished in end of October, then there was the abandoned Punk poll. No-one else seemed ready to run a poll and there was plenty of time left in this year. It seemed like such a simple poll to run so I rushed it to the front of my queue and then opened it up. Makes me wonder how many big gaps we have in the queue. For instance Black Sabbath is up next, who knows if it will happen this year or next because now the EOY shift is staring to happen.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 10 December 2022 01:33 (one year ago) link
Bottom line, fun poll and I had a blast running this one. Wish it happened when I wasn't so busy at work. Glad ILM was able to share this experience.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 10 December 2022 01:35 (one year ago) link
Thanks for your work and enthusiasm! Really enjoyed revisiting a major stage of my musical development.
― assert (matttkkkk), Saturday, 10 December 2022 01:43 (one year ago) link
Great poll! A lot of my faves showed up in the middle of the list but I'm hivemindy in seeing "Every Little Thing" and "Message in a Bottle" as the best two big hits. (OK I don't rate Sync II as high.)
Message in a Bottle, like King of Pain, has the virtue that there's no way it should be able to be this corny and this good.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Saturday, 10 December 2022 03:07 (one year ago) link
Yeah, thanks again for running it. I haven't joined in on one of these in a while, it was fun.
Songs
When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still AroundSo LonelyEvery Little Thing She Does Is MagicBring on the NightCan’t Stand Losing YouI Burn for YouMessage in a BottleVoices Inside My HeadDemolition ManSynchronicity IIEvery Breath You TakeWalking on the MoonDriven to TearsRehumanize YourselfNext to YouSynchronicity IThe Bed’s Too Big Without YouToo Much InformationIt’s Alright for YouSecret Journey
Albums
Regatta de BlancGhost in the MachineZenyatta MondattaOutlandos d’AmourSynchronicity
Solo tracks
“Red Rain” — Peter Gabriel w/Stewart Copeland on hi-hat“Only You” — Sting“Don’t Care” — Klark Kent“I Advance Masked” — Andy Summers and Robert Fripp“All This Time” — Sting“Consider Me Gone” — Sting“Fields of Gold” — Sting“Don’t Box Me In” — Stan Ridgway w/Stewart Copeland“Brimstone and Treacle (Theme)” — Sting“Mr. Oysterhead” — Oysterhead
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Saturday, 10 December 2022 03:30 (one year ago) link
My Ballot
I Burn For YouOmega ManSynchronicity IWhen the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still AroundVoices Inside My HeadSecret JourneyDriven to TearsIt's Alright for YouInvisible SunCan't Stand Losing YouSynchronicity IICanary in a CoalmineWrapped Around Your FingerDemolition ManRehumanize YourselfKing of PainEvery Little Thing She Does Is MagicTruth Hits EverybodyDarknessThe Bed's Too Big Without You
Sting - FragileStewart Copeland & Stan Ridgway - Don't Box Me InSting - Fortress Around Your HeartAndy Summers & Robert Fripp - I Advance MaskedSting - Fields of GoldSting - Desert RoseAndy Summers - How Can I ForgetSting - The Soul CagesSting - Seven DaysAndy Summers & Robert Fripp - Guide
― Hideous Lump, Saturday, 10 December 2022 03:31 (one year ago) link
Thanks again Bee OK! I mentioned upthread that the poll was great, and it doesn't get said enough that these polls --- and keeping up the rolling poll organization/communication project! --- take time and energy. It's like you're throwing the rest of us a multi-day musical picnic, or a big band-themed bar night where we can all nerd out. The magic of ILX in general, but with one person stepping up to make it extra fun. So thank you!
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 10 December 2022 04:17 (one year ago) link
Also, man, I've listened to Demolition Man like seven times today. Definitely the day I first "really heard" it. In addition to whatever else I said about it earlier, it's this really tight, loopy high-speed post-punk number, almost No Wavey,
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 10 December 2022 04:22 (one year ago) link
nicely done; thanks bee!
― mookieproof, Saturday, 10 December 2022 05:29 (one year ago) link
Adding to the chorus of praise for Bee in running this down (npi).
I have two minor regrets about my ballot. One is that I accidentally triple-listed "Don't Stand." I meant to do one vote for the original and one for the '86 remake. Absent-mindedly omitted "The Bed's too Big" and "Red Rain." But otherwise I stand by my votes.
1. It's Alright for You2. On Any Other Day3. So Lonely4. Don't Stand So Close to Me5. Walking on the Moon6. Contact7. Can't Stand Losing You8. Don't Stand So Close to Me9. Next to You 10. Message in a Bottle11. Does Everyone Stare12. No Time This Time13. Don't Stand So Close to Me 8614. Synchronicity II15. Murder by Numbers16. De Do Do Do17. Roxanne18. Wrapped Around Your Finger
1. Regatta de Blanc2. Outlandos d'Amour3. Ghost in the Machine4. Dream of the Blue Turtles
Sting Solo and collab
1. Why Should I Cry for You2. Shape of My Heart3. Fortress Around Your Heart4. If You Love Somebody5. Love is the Seventh Wave6. Long Long Way to Go
― Cirque de Soleil Moon Frye (Ye Mad Puffin), Saturday, 10 December 2022 15:26 (one year ago) link
TracksDriven To TearsSynchronicity IICan’t Stand Losing YouThe Bed’s Too Big Without YouSpirits In The Material WorldWalking On The MoonInvisible SunKing Of PainRoxanneSo LonelyCanary In A CoalmineBring On The NightWrapped Around Your FingerEvery Little Thing She Does Is MagicMessage In A BottleSynchronicity INo Time This TimeDarknessDoes Everyone StareWhen the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around
AlbumsRegatta De BlancGhost In The MachineZenyatta MondattaSynchronicityOutlandos D’Amour
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Saturday, 10 December 2022 16:42 (one year ago) link
I was disappointed to see "Mother" at #40, for two reasons:1. I voted for it.2. If it hadn't charted at all, it would have been a frighteningly plausible joke #1.
Not as plausible for #1, but "Friends" would work as a good joke top 10 placement.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 10 December 2022 16:50 (one year ago) link
Full Results
Solo:
Place, Points, Votes, Number Ones, Song-Artist
1 445 10 2 Fortress Around Your Heart - Sting2 210 5 1 Fragile - Sting3 204 5 1 All This Time - Sting4 198 5 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free - Sting5 189 4 2 Don’t Care - Klark Kent6 168 4 1 I Advance Masked - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp7 150 4 Fields of Gold - Sting8 149 4 We'll Be Together - Sting9 132 3 2 Red Rain - Peter Gabriel w/Stewart Copeland on hi-hat10 126 3 1 If I Ever Lose My Faith In You - Sting11 112 3 Englishman In New York - Sting12 109 3 Money for Nothing - Dire Straits w/Sting13 96 2 1 Away From Home - Klark Kent14 92 2 Children's Crusade - Sting15 90 2 1 Why Should I Cry for You? - Sting16 83 2 We Work the Black Seam - Sting17 82 2 Consider Me Gone - Sting18 79 2 Don’t Box Me In - Stan Ridgway w/Stewart Copeland19 78 2 Love Is the Seventh Wave - Sting20 74 2 Desert Rose - Sting21 50 1 1 Across the River - Peter Gabriel/Stewart Copeland/Shankar/David Rhodes22 50 1 1 I Burn For You - Sting23 46 1 Bring On the Night/When the World Is Running Down (Bring On the Night) - Sting24 46 1 Only You - Sting25 46 1 Shape of My Heart - Sting26 43 1 I Hung My Head – Sting27 43 1 Excesses - Stewart Copeland28 40 1 There's A Spy (In The House Of Love) - Animal Logic w/Stewart Copeland29 38 1 Be Still My Beating Heart - Sting30 38 1 The Equalizer Busy Equalizing - Stewart Copeland31 36 1 Long Long Way to Go - Phil Collins and Sting32 35 1 Big Time - Peter Gabriel w/Stewart Copeland33 35 1 Hardy Country - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp34 35 1 How Can I Forget - Andy Summers35 34 1 Mad About You - Sting36 34 1 The Soul Cages - Sting37 33 1 Brimstone and Treacle (Theme) - Sting38 33 1 China Yellow Leader - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp39 33 1 Seven Days - Sting40 32 1 Brand New Day - Sting41 32 1 Guide - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp42 32 1 Mr. Oysterhead - Oysterhead w/Stewart Copeland43 32 1 The Ballad of Mack The Knife - "Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill"
Albums:
Points, Votes, Number Ones, Albums
1 190 22 7 Reggatta de Blanc2 174 20 7 Ghost in the Machine3 164 20 4 Zenyattà Mondatta4 147 19 2 Synchronicity5 126 18 1 Outlandos d'Amour6 10 1 1 The Soul Cages - Sting7 8 1 ...Nothing Like The Sun - Sting8 8 1 Klark Kent9 7 1 Dream of the Blue Turtles - Sting10 6 1 Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings
Songs:
Place, Points, Votes, Number Ones, Tracks, *Notes
1 875 22 5 Message in a Bottle 2 802 21 2 Synchronicity II 3 753 22 3 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic 4 748 21 1 Walking on the Moon 5 672 19 4 When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around 6 653 20 1 Don’t Stand So Close to Me 1986 Version 2 Votes7 652 20 1 Bring on the Night 8 628 19 1 Driven To Tears [live in Fréjus 1980, from "Urgh! A Music War" 1 Vote9 603 19 Invisible Sun 10 601 16 Can’t Stand Losing You 11 600 19 Spirits in the Material World 12 599 17 So Lonely 13 589 17 1 Synchronicity I 14 529 17 King of Pain 15 508 15 1 Roxanne 16 492 16 The Bed’s Too Big Without You 17 486 14 2 Ωmegaman18 473 17 Wrapped Around Your Finger19 436 13 1 Secret Journey20 374 11 Every Breath You Take21 366 11 1 It’s Alright for You22 354 11 Next to You23 322 10 1 Darkness24 312 10 Canary in a Coal Mine25 276 9 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da26 271 8 Voices in My Head27 266 8 Truth Hits Everybody28 245 8 1 No Time This Time29 209 6 Demolition Man30 200 7 Man in a Suitcase31 183 5 1 I Burn for You32 176 6 Tea in the Sahara33 174 6 Bombs Away34 170 6 Does Everyone Stare35 165 6 Contact36 149 5 Murder by Numbers37 148 5 Shadows in the Rain38 143 5 Too Much Information39 119 4 Rehumanize Yourself40 110 4 Mother41 101 3 Regatta De Blanc42 100 3 Walking in Your Footsteps43 92 3 Miss Gradenko44 74 2 On Any Other Day45 65 2 O My God46 57 2 Hungry For You (J'Aurais Toujours Faim De Toi)47 51 2 Deathwish48 49 2 Behind My Camel49 47 2 Hole in My Life50 32 1 Low Life51 28 1 Masoko Tanga52 26 1 Be My Girl - Sally53 25 1 Born in the ‘50s54 24 1 Shambelle55 24 1 The Other Way of Stopping
― Bee OK, Saturday, 10 December 2022 18:32 (one year ago) link
love the raga rock thing that 'deathwish' does, surprised that it came so low down. has a good dose of andy's psych-rock heritage in that one
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Saturday, 10 December 2022 18:40 (one year ago) link
You guys are gonna be mad but listening to Ghost in the Machine again I still think there's too many horns on it
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Saturday, 10 December 2022 21:22 (one year ago) link
too many notes?
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 10 December 2022 21:27 (one year ago) link
Any guesses as to which album tracks will receive zero votes? ― Halfway there but for you, Friday, November 25, 2022 5:19 PM (two weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink"Peanuts"― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, November 25, 2022 9:46 PM (two weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, November 25, 2022 5:19 PM (two weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink
"Peanuts"
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, November 25, 2022 9:46 PM (two weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink
Correct! The other album track no-one voted for was "One World".
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 10 December 2022 22:29 (one year ago) link
It's fine!
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 10 December 2022 22:49 (one year ago) link
"Zero Votes (Not One)"
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 10 December 2022 22:53 (one year ago) link
Peanuts was a late cut from my ballot.
― Hideous Lump, Sunday, 11 December 2022 00:13 (one year ago) link
I wonder how much the voting thread title affected the result for When the World is Running Down? It sure focused me on how much I love that track.
― assert (matttkkkk), Sunday, 11 December 2022 00:25 (one year ago) link
I really dislike that Sting rhymed "rain" with "reign". feels like you're not supposed to do that
― frogbs, Tuesday, 13 December 2022 03:27 (one year ago) link
have you spoken to Bernard Sumner about rules
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 03:44 (one year ago) link
Wow, I had no idea “Fortress Around Your Heart” was held in such high regard. More than twice the number of 2nd place votes! I need to listen to solo Sting again.
― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 13 December 2022 10:22 (one year ago) link
I lost my ballot and didn't email myself.
Thanks for all the kind words. ❤️
― Bee OK, Thursday, 15 December 2022 02:32 (one year ago) link
My wife gave me Questlove's book Music Is History and it has a pleasant vignette on RDB and "Does Everyone Stare."
― Ye Mad Puffin, Sunday, 25 December 2022 14:16 (one year ago) link
This poll got me to listen to Synchronicity for the first time since 1984 and I'm still traumatized by "Mother", which I'd completely buried.
― bendy, Tuesday, 3 January 2023 20:32 (one year ago) link
I'm trying to recall which version of "Roxanne" has a mastering error in the first 5 seconds. The tape starts just slightly slower than it should and increases a half-tone (or maybe more) throughout Andy's first 8 strums. This is immediately before the thing where Sting sits on the piano and laughs, which is all that's coming up for me when I search for any evidence of this error. It's a cool sounding error and I just wanna hear it again lol.
It's possible this is on the original Message In A Box CD box set -- this is not the version on any streaming service.
― billstevejim, Wednesday, 25 January 2023 17:24 (one year ago) link
maybe you could download it from Soulseek? I find things like that fascinating for some reason too. one I remember is that on the Police Live CDs, the first track ("Next To You") starts off very quiet until suddenly cranking up to normal volume about a minute in. so if you adjusted the volume up you have to suddenly adjust it back down again. it's pretty annoying and I'm surprised such an error made it to the CD of a high profile band like that.
― frogbs, Wednesday, 25 January 2023 18:42 (one year ago) link
I'd have to check, but IIRC the best place to get "Roxanne" mastered correctly is the old Every Breath You Take: The Singles CD (at least in the U.S. - I'm guessing pressings overseas have the same mastering).
I can't remember if it's an issue on the original CD's, but on the '90s remasters (which were originally done for Message in a Box), they all have that tape drag in the beginning. It was corrected again in the '00s, but if you want the full dynamic range without the extra compression, get that old Every Breath You Take: The Singles CD.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 25 January 2023 22:13 (one year ago) link
Whoops, misread that post. Yeah, look for that box set or any remaster from the '90s including Every Breath You Take: The Classics, they will have the tape drag.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 25 January 2023 22:14 (one year ago) link
in case any of y'all haven't heard it, I highly recommend that first live Sting album, Bring on the Night. IMO it's a must-have because 1) nearly everything is drastically rearranged (minus some of the Blue Turtles stuff), 2) the setlist has no real hits at all on it (so it's not just stuff you're burned out on) and 3) that jazz band he had was really sick. I mean god, that jam session on the first track is crazy. and Kenny Kirkland raps on it! you won't hear that on another Sting album that's for sure.
― frogbs, Tuesday, 7 March 2023 20:15 (one year ago) link
also wanna point out the line in Low Life that goes "you pay for love/but the hate comes free" is really funny to me for some reason
― frogbs, Tuesday, 7 March 2023 20:16 (one year ago) link
The thought of Sting nodding along while doing bass face with these superior players horrifies me.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 7 March 2023 20:18 (one year ago) link
he does let them style all over his catalogue though, it's really neat
― frogbs, Tuesday, 7 March 2023 20:22 (one year ago) link
Fortunately (or not?) he's largely playing guitar on the live album.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 7 March 2023 20:27 (one year ago) link
yea just listen to Demolition Man, I don't think Sting can play that fast
― frogbs, Tuesday, 7 March 2023 20:37 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTaoWAbFoYo
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 7 March 2023 20:45 (one year ago) link
That is, of course, future Stone Darryl Jones on bass. When you're that good, "hard" for you is keeping it simple for Sting and the Stones.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 7 March 2023 20:48 (one year ago) link
Yeah Josh OTM. Darryl is a muthflippin GOD and he effortlessly plays stuff that der stinglemeister could never even aspire to play.
― Minivan Morrison (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 7 March 2023 20:57 (one year ago) link