Message in a Bottle (The Police song)

Last updated

"Message in a Bottle"
Messageinabottle.jpg
Standard European artwork
Single by the Police
from the album Reggatta de Blanc
B-side "Landlord"
Released7 September 1979 [1]
RecordedFebruary 1979
Genre
Length3:50 (Single Version)
4:51 (Album Version)
Label A&M
Songwriter(s) Sting
Producer(s)
The Police singles chronology
"So Lonely"
(1978)		"Message in a Bottle"
(1979)		"Walking on the Moon"
(1979)
Music video
"Message in a Bottle" on YouTube

"Message in a Bottle" is a song by British rock band the Police. It was released as the lead single from their second studio album, Reggatta de Blanc (1979). Written by the band's lead singer and bassist Sting, the song is ostensibly about a story of a castaway on an island who sends out a message in a bottle to seek love. Having received no response for a year, he despairs, believing that he is destined to be alone. The next day, however, he sees "a hundred billion bottles" on the shore and realizes that there are more lonely people like him.

Contents

The song was the first of the five UK number one singles released by the Police. [7] Rolling Stone ranked it number 65 on its list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time".

Composition

The song exemplifies the reggae rock/new wave style of early Police. It starts in the key of C♯ minor with a chord progression of C#m9–Amaj9–B7–F#m, but modulates to the key of A major for the chorus.

According to the band's guitarist, Andy Summers, Sting had initially intended the guitar riff that "Message in a Bottle" is centred around for a different song. [8] Summers said to L'Historia Bandidio in 1981: "Sting had that riff for a while, but there was another tune with it originally. He'd been fiddling about with it during our first American tour. Finally, he rearranged the riff slightly and came up with the song." Summers came up with, as Sting described, "lovely arpeggiated shiver" during the break prior to the third verse. [8] Sting praised this addition saying, "He'd [Summers] do that – the song would be quite raw and he'd just add these lovely colours." [8] The riff in its final form is built of multiple overdubbed guitar parts, played by Summers. Following the main progression of the song, one part features Summers playing a three note figure featuring the root, fifth, and ninth of each chord in succession. A second guitar part plays the identical rhythm with different harmony notes, adding minor or major thirds to each chord, as well as additional extensions such as eleventh and thirteenth notes. [9]

The song was recorded at Surrey Sound Studios as part of the sessions for the Reggatta de Blanc album. Stewart Copeland's drumming, praised as his "finest drum track" by Summers, was "overdubbed [from] about six different parts." [8]

Cash Box described the song's hook as "a mesmerizing guitar figure" that is similar to that of Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper." [10] Record World said that "Sharp tempo contrasts are bridged by Andy Summers' hard-edged lead guitar while singer-songwriter Sting pleads an affecting lead vocal." [11]

The theme of the song is "universality of desired connection." [12] The lyrics depict a castaway longing for someone to listen to him who then discovers many messages from others washing up on his shore. [12]

The song's B-side, "Landlord", was written by Sting (lyrics) and Copeland (music). Sting said of its inspiration, "I wrote that after Frances and I were thrown out of the house we were renting in London. I hated the idea of somebody fucking my life up like that. Stewart [Copeland] wrote the music." [8] The song originally featured lyrics by Copeland, but they were replaced by Sting's. [8]

Live performances

The Police debuted the song on live television on the BBC's Rock Goes to College , filmed at Hatfield Polytechnic College in Hertfordshire, England. [13] The Police donated all money earned from the show to the college.

The Police performed at Live Earth, a 2007 charity concert to raise awareness of global warming and other environmental hazards, and performed "Message in a Bottle" as the US finale, with John Mayer playing guitar with Andy Summers and Kanye West performing a rap verse over the chorus of the song.

Reception

The song was released as the first single from Reggatta de Blanc in September 1979. The song was a massive success in Britain, becoming the Police's first No. 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart. [14] The song also topped the charts in Ireland and reached No. 5 in Australia. Despite its popularity in the UK, the single only reached No. 74 in the United States. An alternative "classic rock" mix is available on Every Breath You Take: The Classics .

"Message in a Bottle" is also a personal favourite of the members of the band. In addition to saying it was his favourite song in an interview with Jools Holland of the BBC, Sting described it as a "good song", and also said that he was "very proud" of it. [8] [15] Copeland said it was "one of our best moments in the studio and always great on stage." [8] Summers described the track as a personal favourite in his book One Train Later, and said, "For me, it's still the best song Sting ever came up with and the best Police track." [8]

'Message in a Bottle' is a good song. That can move me. I like the idea that while it's about loneliness and alienation it's also about finding solace and other people going through the same thing. The guy's on a desert island and throws a bottle out to sea saying he's alone and all these millions of bottles come back saying, So what So am I! I like the fact that the whole deal is clinched by the third verse. It makes a journey.

— Sting, Q, November 1993 [8]

According to Billboard , "Message in a Bottle" has an "irresistible" hook. [16] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Mike Duquette rated it as the Police's best song, praising the "foolishly simple guitar riff devised by Sting but played to perfection by Summers" the "cacophony of percussive brilliance by Copeland" and "Sting’s most plainspoken and razor-sharp lyric." [12]

Personnel

The album credits simply state: "All noises by the Police. All arrangements by the Police." [17] On Tidal, the credits are given as the following: [18]

Track listing

A&M / AMS 7474
  1. "Message in a Bottle" (edit) – 3:50 (This edit has yet to appear on CD anywhere)
  2. "Landlord" – 3:09

Chart performance

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP) [38] Gold500,000*
Italy (FIMI) [39]
sales since 2009 		Platinum100,000‡
Spain—25,000 [40]
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [41]
Digital release 		Platinum60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [42] Platinum1,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Police</span> English rock band

The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. Within a few months of their first gig, the line-up settled as Sting, Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland, and this remained unchanged for the rest of the band's history. The Police became globally popular from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Emerging in the British new wave scene, they played a style of rock influenced by punk, reggae, and jazz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Breath You Take</span> 1983 single by the Police

"Every Breath You Take" is a song by the English rock band the Police from their album Synchronicity (1983). Written by Sting, the single was the biggest US and Canadian hit of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks, and the Canadian RPM chart for four weeks. Their fifth UK No. 1, it topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. The song also reached the top 10 in numerous other countries.

<i>Outlandos dAmour</i> 1978 studio album by the Police

Outlandos d'Amour is the debut studio album by British rock band the Police, released on 17 November 1978 by A&M Records. Elevated by the success of its lead single, "Roxanne", Outlandos d'Amour peaked at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart and at No. 23 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned two additional hit singles: "Can't Stand Losing You" and "So Lonely".

<i>Reggatta de Blanc</i> 1979 studio album by the Police

Reggatta de Blanc is the second studio album by British rock band the Police, released on 5 October 1979 by A&M Records. It was the band's first release to top the UK Albums Chart and features their first two UK number-one singles: "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon". In early 1980, the album was reissued in the United States on two 10-inch discs, one album side per disc, and as a collector's edition with a poster of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxanne (The Police song)</span> 1978 single by the Police

"Roxanne" is a song by British rock band the Police. The song was written by lead singer and bassist Sting and was released as a single on 7 April 1978, in advance of their debut album Outlandos d'Amour, released on 3 November. It was written from the point of view of a man who falls in love with a prostitute. When re-released on 12 April 1979, the song peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Stand So Close to Me</span> 1980 single by the Police

"Don't Stand So Close to Me" is a hit song by the British rock band the Police, released in September 1980 as the lead single from their third studio album Zenyatta Mondatta. It concerns a teacher who has a sexual relationship with a student, which in turn is discovered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walking on the Moon</span> 1979 single by the Police

"Walking on the Moon" is a reggae song by British rock band the Police, released as the second single from their second studio album, Reggatta de Blanc (1979). The song was written by the band's lead vocalist and bassist Sting. It went on to become the band's second No. 1 hit in the UK.

<i>The Very Best of Sting & The Police</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Sting and the Police

The Very Best of... Sting & The Police is a compilation album issued by A&M Records on 3 November 1997, containing a mix of Police songs and Sting's solo works. It originally featured one new track, a remix of the 1978 song "Roxanne" by rap artist Sean "Puffy" Combs. The album was reissued in 1998 by PolyGram International with "Russians" removed and three added tracks: "Seven Days", "Fragile", and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da". The original European version issued by A&M Records of this compilation instead included these tracks without removing "Russians".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic</span> 1981 single by the Police

"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" is a song by the British rock band the Police from their fourth studio album, Ghost in the Machine (1981). It was a hit single that reached the top of the charts in the United Kingdom in November 1981 and hit No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year. The song, unusual for including Jean Alain Roussel, a guest keyboardist, dates back to a demo recorded by bassist and lead singer Sting in the house of Mike Howlett in the autumn of 1976. The song has been described as new wave blended with reggae elements—the signature Police style. The popularity of "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" helped to make Ghost in the Machine one of the Police's most successful albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bed's Too Big Without You</span> 1980 single by the Police

"The Bed's Too Big Without You" is a song by British rock band the Police, released as the final single from their second studio album Reggatta de Blanc (1979). It was written by lead vocalist and bassist Sting. An alternate version was released as a single in the UK in 1980 in the set Six Pack in conjunction with the re-release of the Police's earlier singles "Roxanne", "Can't Stand Losing You", "So Lonely", "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spirits in the Material World</span> 1981 single by The Police

"Spirits in the Material World" is a song by the British rock trio The Police, written by Sting. The opening track for their 1981 album Ghost in the Machine, it was released as a single in 1981 and reached No. 12 in the United Kingdom and No. 11 in the US in early 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Stand Losing You</span> 1978 single by the Police

"Can't Stand Losing You" is a song by British rock band the Police, released from their debut album Outlandos d'Amour, both in 1978. The song also was released as the follow-up single to "Roxanne", reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart on a re-release in 1979. It was written by the band's lead singer and bassist Sting as a song about suicide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Lonely</span> 1978 single by the Police

"So Lonely" is a song by British rock band the Police, released as the third and final single on 24 November 1978 from their debut studio album Outlandos d'Amour (1978). The single was re-released in the UK in February 1980, and reached No. 6 on the charts. The song uses a reggae style, and featured Sting on lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrapped Around Your Finger</span> 1983 single by the Police

"Wrapped Around Your Finger" is the second single in the UK from the Police's 1983 album Synchronicity. Written by Sting, it was released worldwide by A&M Records and featured the non-album track "Someone to Talk To" as the B-side in the UK, while a live version of "Tea in the Sahara" was the B-side in the US.

<i>The Police</i> (album) 2007 compilation album by the Police

The Police is a self-titled compilation album released by the Police on 5 June 2007, to both celebrate the 30th anniversary of their recording debut and accompany their reunion tour. It contains 28 tracks over two discs, a mixture of hit singles and fan favourites. All the singles are included, with the exception of "Secret Journey" and '"Don't Stand So Close to Me '86". International editions contain two bonus tracks, "The Bed's Too Big Without You" from Reggatta de Blanc and "Rehumanize Yourself" from Ghost in the Machine. The band's non-studio album debut single, "Fall Out", originally recorded in 1977, is also included; other than Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings (1993) the song has never been included on any other Police album.

"Reggatta de Blanc" is a 1979 musical composition by The Police, and the title track on their second album. The instrumental evolved from improvisational stage jams during early Police performances of the song "Can't Stand Losing You". The track won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1980.

<i>Certifiable: Live in Buenos Aires</i> 2008 live album by the Police

Certifiable: Live in Buenos Aires is a live album and concert video album by the Police. It was recorded in December 2007 during the band's reunion tour and was released in November 2008. The album was released in the US exclusively through Best Buy. The album has a number of releases including a four disc version containing two CDs and two DVDs. The two CDs contain the live album from River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The first DVD contains the 109-minute wide-screen concert presented in Dolby Surround and Stereo. The concert film was directed and produced by Jim Gable and Ann Kim, of Graying & Balding, Inc. The second DVD contains the 50-minute bonus feature, "Better Than Therapy," directed by Stewart Copeland's son Jordan Copeland, detailing The Police's reunion with behind-the-scenes interviews from the band and road crew, plus two photo galleries of The Police on tour: one shot by guitarist and photographer Andy Summers, and one by photographer Danny Clinch. The DVDs were also released on Blu-ray format. A triple vinyl format was also released that contained a digital download of the concert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Police discography</span>

The English rock band the Police has released five studio albums, three live albums, seven compilation albums, fourteen video albums, four soundtrack albums and twenty-six singles. The Police sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around</span> 1980 song by the Police

"When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around" is a song written by Sting that was first released by English rock band the Police on their 1980 album Zenyatta Mondatta. Along with another song from Zenyatta Mondatta, "Voices Inside My Head", the song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart in 1981. In 2000, a remix version credited to Different Gear versus the Police reached No. 28 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 7 on the Billboard Dance chart, and No. 94 in the Netherlands. On radio stations, the song is often played directly after "Driven to Tears".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring On the Night (song)</span> 1979 single by the Police

"Bring on the Night" is a song by British rock band the Police. Written by the band's bassist and vocalist Sting, the song appeared as the fourth track on the band's second studio album, Reggatta de Blanc (1979).

References

  1. ↑ "Music Week Fact Sheets. Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 8 September 1979. p. 22. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  2. ↑ Kitchener, Heather (17 February 2015). "Paul Simon and Sting review – well-worn classics from two songwriting giants". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  3. ↑ True, Chris. "Message in a Bottle - The Police | Song Info". AllMusic . Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  4. ↑ DiVita, Joe (29 April 2019). "The 55 Best Metal Covers of Classic Rock Hits". Loudwire . Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  5. ↑ Tobler, John (2016). "Police - Reggatta De Blanc". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 428.
  6. 1 2 Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (17 July 2000). "Conclusion". Night Moves - Pop Music in the Late 70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 163. ISBN   978-0-312-19821-3.
  7. ↑ "The Police UK chart history". Official Charts.com. 20 October 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "'Message in a Bottle' / 'Landlord'". sting.com.
  9. ↑ Davids, Paul (3 May 2022). "Why this riff is actually GENIUS! (THE POLICE)". YouTube . Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 13 October 1979. p. 22. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. 13 October 1979. p. 14. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Duquette, Mike (6 May 2022). "All 70 Police Songs Ranked Worst to Best". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  13. ↑ Shaun Keaveny (2010). R2D2 Lives in Preston: The Best of BBC 6 Music's Toast the Nation!. p. 125. Pan Macmillan,
  14. ↑ "POLICE | Artist". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  15. ↑ Robinson, Joe (2 June 2013). "Top 10 Police Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  16. ↑ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 27 October 1979. p. 88. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  17. ↑ Reggatta de Blanc (liner notes). The Police. A&M Records. 1979. AMLH 64792.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ↑ "Try the TIDAL Web Player".
  19. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 235. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  20. 1 2 "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. 5 January 1981. Retrieved 17 January 2022– via Imgur.
  21. ↑ "The Police – Message in a Bottle" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  22. ↑ "The Police – Message in a Bottle" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  23. ↑ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  24. ↑ "The Police – Message in a Bottle" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  25. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Message in a Bottle". Irish Singles Chart.
  26. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 4 June 2022.Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Police" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
  27. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Police" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  28. ↑ "The Police – Message in a Bottle" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  29. ↑ "The Police – Message in a Bottle". Top 40 Singles.
  30. ↑ "The Police – Message in a Bottle". Singles Top 100.
  31. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  32. ↑ "The Police Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  33. ↑ "Top 100 1979-12-29". Cashbox Magazine . Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  34. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of 1979" (PDF). Record Mirror . London: Spotlight Publications. 5 January 1980. p. 30. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  35. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. ↑ "Top - 1980". Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of the Decade" (PDF). Record Mirror . 5 January 1980. p. 2. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  38. ↑ "French single certifications – The Police – Message In A Bottle" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 28 September 2021.Select THE POLICE and click OK. 
  39. ↑ "Italian single certifications – The Police – Message In A Bottle" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  40. ↑ "International Briefs - Madrid". Billboard . 27 September 1980. p. 56. Retrieved 9 March 2022– via Google Books.
  41. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – The Police – Message In A Bottle". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  42. ↑ "British single certifications – Police – Message In A Bottle". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  43. ↑ Sting & all saints message in the bottle on www.billboard.com
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.