Sting really was a teacher and apparently this song is based on his personal experience. The shirt he is wearing is 'The Beat' an English Ska band from the early 80s. You could check out 'Save it for Later' and 'Mirror in the Bathroom'.

@jdog6620

Жыл бұрын

facts……

@yournamehere6002

Жыл бұрын

Yes...they should listen to the (English) Beat!

@MegaTechno2000

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely the English Beat was awesome.

@kimzwolinski9919

Жыл бұрын

Sting has always maintained that the song is not about anything he experienced as a teacher. He did say that it’s a reflection of young fans when they were at the peak of their popularity.

@jackfrost295

Жыл бұрын

You stole my thunder 😁

You GOTTA give Sting credit for working a rhyme to "Nabokov" into a song that basically mirrors the plot of his book. ....slow clap.....nice.

@adam872

Жыл бұрын

Very clever wasn't it. Sting is an excellent songwriter

@JeffMartinEquinox

Жыл бұрын

"Lolita" is maybe a bit more well known for those that don't get the reference.

@punkydoodle4774

Жыл бұрын

Brilliant

@ericross441

4 ай бұрын

Sting could put "The Iliad" music. The man was a genius

@tradeladder146

20 күн бұрын

The Book being Lolita.

people today are shocked by the amount of artistic freedom we had in the 80s... today we live in a mental prison

@RockerfellerRothchild1776

11 күн бұрын

I'm glad to have been an 80s kid!!!!

@andy6334

10 күн бұрын

That’s really true

@talkingthetalk3640

7 күн бұрын

Exaggerate much 🤡

Sting actually was an English teacher before becoming famous. Some of his students had crushes on him and he had to resist temptation. It's not about him being the agressor. It's him saying 'Don't stand so close to me'...not the student telling him to back off, lol.

@ckobo84

Жыл бұрын

Kip Winger be like - "what moral dilemma"?

@jenniferfoster1692

Жыл бұрын

@@ckobo84 Haha, yep. I read he sings something like, "She's only 53..' these days, since his fans are now in that age bracket, lol. Not sure if he really acknowledges the core issue or not, but so many similar songs going back before the 80s. Sixteen and seventeen seem to be the magic ages in songs. Definitely reflected some of their personal lives, as we saw w/Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Steven Tyler and safe to say many, many more.

@im-gi2pg

11 ай бұрын

He was totally gorgeous, it would be hard NOT to have a crush on him!

@glastonbury4304

9 ай бұрын

They'd have to be under 11 if they did as he never taught teenagers...

I've taught Nabokov's novel LOLITA (1955), to which this song alludes, in university literature classes. It's very well written, and it can be used to teach a whole lot about the modern novel. The controversial subject matter brings out a lot of discussion.

@desrever1138

Ай бұрын

It's easily my favorite novel that I hated every second I was reading it

The Police and The Cars were what New Wave was all about. This song and "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" were my two favorite Police songs.

@luissalinas6938

Жыл бұрын

Even though my life was tragic…

@latongelajohnson6979

Жыл бұрын

Yes I love the Cars guys ❤️🎉🎉 they were so good ❤️

@clinthowe7629

Жыл бұрын

I never thought of the police as new wave, they were a sort of pop rock band on slightly lower order than U2, when I think of new wave, flock a seagulls or Duran Duran comes to mind

@A_real_Ha_So

11 ай бұрын

​@@clinthowe7629Human League is a perfect example of New Wave imo

@punns643

2 ай бұрын

​@@clinthowe7629nope the police were new wave and much better than u5

Couldn't pull off a song like this today, not in our present society - there would be extreme outrage

Sting was actually a school teacher for a while. Also, the t-shirt was The Beat (aka The English Beat) who were a huge Ska band at the time. Check out The Beat's "Mirror in the Bathroom" .

@denroy3

Жыл бұрын

Real name, Gordon Sumner.

Little known fact: Sting has grown up to be a great dad to his kids, requiring that each of them earn a living for themselves and not letting them assume they can glom off of him.

@stevenclarke5606

9 ай бұрын

This is the same example that Sir Paul McCartney used in raising his children, which resulted in bringing up children who were told to stand on their own feet! Compared with the Kardashian’s who brought up children who don’t even know how to cut up a cucumber

I miss the '80s. Such an amazing era.

@rnw2739

Жыл бұрын

I'd go back inba heartbeat, mate.

@GranpaMike

Жыл бұрын

@@rnw2739 Heck yeah, my bags are already packed.

@lolaortiz6918

Жыл бұрын

Yes!!!

@joycegibbs5267

10 ай бұрын

being a young Londoner at this time, nothing better. Miss this time so much. Everything was new & brilliant in entertainment.

@GranpaMike

10 ай бұрын

@@joycegibbs5267 Absolutely, my friend. The world will witness many marvelous and wondrous things, but it will never again witness a decade that equals the '80s. We were a blessed generation.

Being at school in the 80’s, so many girls fancied the younger male teachers. Brings back memories. Thank you the Police. Good reaction too.

Oddly enough, it was common knowledge at the time that Sting had written this about his own career as a teacher after whom some of his young students lusted. He'd probably get in trouble for this song, now.

@denroy3

Жыл бұрын

Real name, Gordon Sumner

@user-ft4ok5ti1j

4 ай бұрын

Well he is aloud to sign about why he quit he would get in trouble if he had a girls name in the video even if it was just a first name

Sting is very well read. This song is based on the plot of the famous book Lolita by Nabokov.

One of my favorite songs by the Police.

@thornbird6768

Жыл бұрын

Me too , really liked this band 👍🏻

A great song from these guys that doesn't get much love from the reactors is "King of Pain". Worth listening to.

@Roland_Kendrick

9 ай бұрын

That was next reaction I was going to look for 😂

Damn Sting was so good looking, and he just got better with time, he is still good looking.

The Police were punk originally but fused into Ska. The tribal rhythms by the drummer, Stewart Copeland make it unmistakable. They have a tune written by Andy Summers about a blowup doll.

I've always loved the sinister intro to this tune.

early 80s Police was the best! ♥

This reference of the book by Nabokov is titled "Lolita". Also, the title of the movie directed by Stanley Kubrick. It was very taboo back in the 60's. So much so that my cousin hosted a private showing of the movie. Kids from the entire neighborhood were bunched up in one room where total chaos ensued when my uncle came home early from work. Yeah, my cousin really caught the belt that evening.

the Police. All three of these guys were fearless. (and apparently Sting was known for taking off his shirt every chance he got) Love your reaction, kids.

The Police might have been The Band of early 80s. Had they stayed together, they surely would be considered one of the great all time bands. So much talent, and sensational song writing.

@barmalgran4154

2 ай бұрын

They became one of the biggest bands ever- their reunion tour became the 3rd highest grossing tour ever till that time. Their Synchronicity tour was the biggest tour ever till the 80s and before that.

Back in 1990, I was a senior in High School. My male math teacher had a thing for me. (I was a shy 17 year old girl). He was obvious about it and would write me long notes filling up the entire back of my graded assignment. Unfortunately, he looked nothing like Sting. 🤣😭. I just kept my boundaries with him. I did get an "A" in that class and I'm not that great at math. 😂 I never even told my parents until years later. It was different times back then. I had grit and wasn't afraid of him. I kept my boundaries. But I cannot even imagine if that happened these days. 😮

"That book by Nabikov" refers to the infamous "Lolita"

The drummer Stuart is actually American. His father was a American embassy worker or ambassador to England.

@007ndc

Жыл бұрын

Not really his father was a founding member of the CIA and was stationed in the middle east

This song is from the Zenyatta Mondatta album, but the entire Synchronicity album (1983) was an absolute banger. It was also their last album, but what a way to go out.

This played out in my high school lol. Teacher was 27, student was 16. At the end of the year we had like a senior "show" where people would do skits and they dressed as the teacher and her and played this song. Dude couldn't sink lower in his chair and I think would have unalived himself if he could.

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic is another greally great Police song. They had so much great music.

I knew this was gonna be a gooder! My eyes were fixed on T's face for the entire beginning cos I wanted to see his reaction when he realized what the song was about, lol! Hilarious! 😀

@TheAdventuresofTNT

Жыл бұрын

This was a great song! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@BlackieNuff

Жыл бұрын

@@TheAdventuresofTNT if you liked it that much, you might be interested to know they band got together long enough to re-record it in 1986. It's a different arrangement, tempo, practically a whole new song. You might also be interested in following up this original version with a reaction on the new version and draw comparisons, debate which version you & Tasha like better, etc. It was on their Greatest Hits compilation and is simply known as "Don't Stand So Close To Me `86" . Cheers!

Sting is still Fine ladies 🤣🤣🤣❤️he looks amazing ladies ❤️

There’s so much to explore with The Police. Walking on the Moon, Wrapped Around Your Finger, King of Pain, …

The look on his face was the polar opposite to her face when they realised the subject in hand. She seriously desired Sting !

Sting writes great songs. And his lyrics are incredible

@thornbird6768

Жыл бұрын

Real storytelling in a song ❤❤

The book by Nabokov referenced in the song is Lolita, which was later made into a movie.

I had the 8 track of Ghost in the Machine when i was younger. The Police have so many grrrreat tunes. And i've mainly been a metalhead most my life.

Sting was actually a teacher!!!

@generoberts9151

Жыл бұрын

English I believe

@thornbird6768

Жыл бұрын

English Lit 👍🏻

Classic MTV! Great band! Sting did an interview on Rick Beato's channel. Must see! Loved your reaction!

The T-shirt Sting is wearing is actually another band of the era - The Beat aka The English Beat. Their song "Mirror in the Bathroom" is worth your time.

@tommc4916

10 ай бұрын

Also see "Two Swords."

Regarding the theme of the song... ABBA has a fun one, although much more innocent: 'When i kissed the teacher' (there is an official video) ❤️🇨🇱👍

Understand that in the 80's, 16 y/o girls were trying to look 26, and with the big hair, clothes, and makeup alot of them could just about pull it off, making it just that much more tempting. You could get into big legal trouble if you weren't careful. True story - friend of mine couple of years behind me had a classmate who dated a girl when he was 21 and she was 16. Except, she had a top notch fake ID that would even get her into bars. Dad found out and was friends with the judge who sent him to prison for 2 years, even though she had illegally portrayed herself as 21. He wasn't the first guy to get tricked into statutory back in the day.

When I was in high school in the 70’s nobody talked about student teacher stuff but it was going on. Any male teacher who was accused of being inappropriate with a student was usually quietly fired and encouraged to move on down the road. But the female teachers were often ignored. We had one teacher in my high school that would pick a favorite kid every year and that was her special helper for the year. The leadership in town knew what she was doing but they chose to ignore it under the idea “Oh, what a lucky boy to get that kind of attention.” This went on until she retired a known but ignored issue. And like I said we had a couple of examples that showed it was a complete different view if it was a guy teacher with a student.

The Police are AWESOME! Sooo many great hits. Also, the lead singer, Sting, has an INCREDIBLE solo career also. Please react to The Police "Wrapped around my finger" and Sting "DESERT ROSE" and "FRAGILE" (original videos). 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

You gota LOVE the 80's. What a great time it was being a teenager. Where you goal everyday was to have great Hair, and PARTY, PARTY, PARTY!!!

It was funny watching your blushed faces when Sting took his shirt off 😂😂😂😂😂😂

"Roxanne". Roxanne is a must do!

"Teachers shouldn't be attractive" -- laughed my ass off when you said that! Great reaction! 👍

Now that’s interesting. I’ve been listening to this song since it came out, and I always pictured it as him not giving in to temptation (trying to keep her away). But, I’d never considered what you said at the very end of this video, that he was asking her not to stand so close as to not give away what they had already been doing! Love the new twist! ✌️

@thornbird6768

Жыл бұрын

He resisted I think , but the thought crossed his mind 😮

The Police rock. I saw them live in 1982, and the show was phenomenal.

This song is based on two things, Sting's experience as a english teacher and the book "Lolita" about a school girl lusting after an older man... and vice versa.

One of my favorite songs from this legendary group

The Police had so many great tunes. Much of it with heavy reggae influence

Great band The Police .Their music is so different and unique and always has a reggae vibe to it , Message In A Bottle Every Little Thing She Does r 2 you might Check out .. Every one of their songs are brilliant .Thanks For bringing these guys to your channel THANKS jOHN

If you think this was scandalous, their very first ever release was "Roxanne", and was a love song about a prostitute.

Sting's shirt says "THE BEAT" which is the world's most awesome SKA band..In America they are "THE ENGLISH BEAT"

STING WENT ON TO MASSIVE FAME SOLO!!! BUT HE ACTED, TOO! HE'S IN FIRST "DUNE" MOVIE, "LOCK, STOCK & TWO SMOKING BARRELS" HE AND WIFE, TRUDY STYLER ARE HUGE IN CHARITY EVENTS, PRODUCE OTHER ACTS, ETC. "POWER COUPLE" DRFINED👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤

I know it is not one of their hit songs but check out The Police- Sally, Be My Girl. It is worth it just for the inevitable comical reaction when the reveal of what the song is about happens. It is on their 1st album

I always loved the Bob Marley influence

You really should check out The Police's "Everything Little Thing She Does Is Magic." It IS magic. 👍

Walking On The Moon and Message In A Bottle are two 🔥 Songs by The Police

The shirt was for The English Beat (named changed) & their Mirror in the Bathroom is amazing. I miss the 80s. Sting was a teacher, can’t imagine having a young Sting as my teacher, major crush time. He did resist & quit teaching.

I love seeing couples that "Look Alike" (and are on the same vibe) when they are attracted to each other and actually marry. I Love You Guys! Keep up the great work!💖

Never seen this channel. Positive vibes from you all. Love it! Subbed

Love this song!!!

I was in HS 78 - 82 and there was always gossip about a girl student and a teacher or student teacher….and sometimes it was true. We really didn’t think anything about it. Times have changed for sure! We also rode our bikes to the next town and roamed all over with our parents having no idea where we were. So, there’s that. 😂

@thornbird6768

Жыл бұрын

This situation was common place in UK schools , imagine Sting at your school 🥰 commence eyelash fluttering and the shortest school skirt you could get away with 😊

One of things to remember about 80s music, was that a lot was written specifically to be presented on a MTV music video. Sometimes the bands would get very artistic, since video music was a new medium. Other bands would release the song, and then if it became popular, would make a video. In the 60-70s there were tv appearances and filmed rock concerts, but there really wasn't much in the way of videos.

I'm Dutch and was 5 years in Mexico. The second year I was a teacher at an institute in the city of Puebla for 5 month. And indeed latin girls are hot and didn't have problems to cut corners if you give them the chance. If your not prepared it will surprise you!

I absolutely love it when people reacting to this song figure it out! Book reference: "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov

The very first album I ever bought was “Regatta de blanc” from the Police. Sting’s playing and tone is what spurred my interest in bass playing. I didn’t act on it for years because I know my parents wouldn’t have been supported but I’ve been playing for 25 years now 😃.

Your reactions made me laugh so loudly amazing to watch this video through your eyes

"The Beat" T-shirt is from the band The English Beat....I was Lucky enough to meet them & their opening The Specials in the Early 80's ...I had GREAT 80's met LOTS of Bands by making stage clothes & friends in bands...Biggest 80's highlight.... 83? 84?...Got to sit in a studio for a little bit with a few other friends while Friend Rob Hyman ( from Philly Pa. band The Hooters) worked on song "Time After Time" with a then unknown Cyndi Lauper.. ❤...like I said....I had a Great 80's...😁

Graduated High School in 1985! Great memories;!!

There’s a line “Like that old man in that book by Nabakov” refers to Vladimir Nabokov’s book “Lolita” which is a story of a man -Humbert, is obsessed with a 12-year-old girl, Dolores

Stewart Copeland is one of my favorite drummers!

That book by Nabokov” was the famous book Lolita, about a grown man’s obsession with a 12 year old girl. You guys may have heard of the 1992 case about a 17 year old girl, Amy Fisher, who had an affair with an older married man, 35 yr old Joey Buttafuoco, and ended up going to his house and shooting his wife. She was dubbed the “Long Island Lolita”. I say this because it may be a more memorable reference to you guys than the book by Vladimir Nabokov which was written in 1955. There’s a “Lolita” movie from 1997 starring Jeremy Irons, Melanie Griffith and Dominique Swain as Dolores Haze (Lolita). It was dubbed a “Psychological Drama”.

Sting was being stocked by a student. He’s not trying to resist he’s trying to get out of the situation.

The song is about a teacher (which Sting actually was before musical stardom beckoned) who realizes one of his female students has a crush on him and his attempts to keep a discreet distance between them lest anyone think any kind of hanky panky is going on. That rug beater probably was used on a few butts in some classroom back in the day LOL.

I think you like to see the same guys... (30 years later) The Police live in Tokio 2008... Amazing👌 Try 'Drive to tears' or 'Voices inside mi head' ❤️🇨🇱👍

Awesome!!! Great band.

Funny how this song shocks because its a male teacher, but most people had no problem with Van Halen's Hot for Teacher... double standards???

I saw The Police in concert July 31st 2007, Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut. Absolutely fantastic.

The t shirt Sting is wearing says “The Beat” an early 80’s British ska/blue beat,white reggae band. The 2-tone movement was very big in the UK at the time with the beat and The Specials leading the way.

I love your shocked faces xx

I'm 60, so long ago, GREAT TIMES IN AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺

And the line, that book by Nabokov, referring to the book Lolita, about an Obsession of a younger girl.

Great band, love everything these guys have done, punk, reggae, ska, new wave, power pop

If you like that you'll love this "CLAIR - Gilbert O'Sullivan (Lyrics on screen)" Uncle Ray is Gilberts real name and the giggle at the end of the song is Clair herself

Sting does a shot in basically a g-string, in the original movie Dune. Girls went nuts.

Perfect for the grocery check out line.

One of my favorite The Police songs! Such a fantastic band! And Sting is a legend - such a deep rabbit hole to go down. I love how the song's instruments are a bit creepy - it's unsettling.

Oh my Gosh!!! Yes! Sting and the Police, Bono, Genesis, lietrally to name few😊

Great song!! Love the band.

I thought I'd correct you on your comment on Stings t-shirt. You thought it was the Beatles however, it actually says "The Beat". They were actually better known in North America as The English Beat. They formed in the U.K. in 1978 and had a Ska sound. A couple songs that were well known are 1. A remake of the old Smokey Robinson tune, "Tears of a Clown" They then released Mirror in the Bathroom during the short lived mainstream Ska revival in the 90's. Hope this helps. Cheers

great reaction - the song was played a lot on the top 40 channels and Armed Forces Radio - Enjoy the Journey - Cheers

One of best band in 70 and 80s i still losting to their music today i been a, fan since 1980❤😊

Wow. I was 12 when this came out and not one of us clutched our pearls like you guys! LOL! It was about the music. Yeah, we heard the lyrics, but if this song was new now and done by other people, the video would probably show the "scandalous" stuff whereas this just talks about it. You see absolutely nothing shocking here. It's just good music.

I will never forget him. His name was Mr. Wilde and he taught English class, lol. He had hair like a heavy metal star and he was very good looking. Every girl had a crush on him. He was NEVER inappropriate with any of us, but we all daydreamed about him. Thank you so much for the reaction, it brought back alot of memories from the 80's.

- the evolution within the creation of this song

One of the song's best lyrics probably goes right over the head of most listeners. It's when our protagonist "starts to shake and cough, just like the old man in that book by Nabokov." It's a direct allusion to the famous novel, "Lolita," by Vladimir Nabokov, where the main character is obsessed with an underage girl and starts to cough uncontrollably when she gets near. This is the source for "Lolita" referencing an attractive underage girl that is now a part of the modern-day vernacular.

The Police is great. You should have a look at Roxanne, Spirits in a Material World, All she does is Magic.

New sub. Loving your reactions to great 80s music