Sting is a very underated Bass player, but Stewart Copeland is a beast on the skins. You absolutely have to do the song "Walking on the Moon" Copeland's high-hat work on that tune is legendary

@wendyt7958

4 ай бұрын

totally agree!

@ginapurpura1182

4 ай бұрын

Yes!!!

@haynes2799

4 ай бұрын

Stewart Copeland's dad was in the CIA so they traveled the globe in his younger years. That was a huge influence on his understanding of different rhythms and percussions. Demolition Man is a great example

@sandymiller3577

4 ай бұрын

I totally agree with that... it's on my "staylist"

@user-or1ye3iz6d

4 ай бұрын

Yesssss!!! 🙌

Stewart Copeland is one of the best drummers in music history. Sting is the lead singer/frontman and bassist. Andy is the guitarist. 🎉

@apctest8359

4 ай бұрын

When a drummer can be an influence for Neil Peart you know he kills it

Walking On The Moon is very reggae influenced..so good!

The Police started as a 'Punk/Reggae' band .. all 3 are INSANE musicians. #masterpiece

When the Police were first public, their sound was clearly reggae-influenced. But they evolved quickly into much more sophisticated sounds. Roxanne was their first hit.

@fuckamericanidiot

4 ай бұрын

They had reggaeish songs on all their albums, even though their sound did become more sophisticated. Not better, just different.

@johng.4711

Ай бұрын

Don’t ever imply that reggae is somehow not sophisticated.

@samirait-kaci-gf3bn

11 сағат бұрын

@@johng.4711absolutely I’m with you my man

Stewart Copeland may be my fav drummer ever. Brilliant

@lem01ne

4 ай бұрын

His technical precision is practically unmatched.

@user-or1ye3iz6d

4 ай бұрын

100%

Sting backing into the grand piano about 3 or 4 seconds in and then laughing about it (and the fact they kept it on the final cut) is sheer genius. Like - its only rock and roll, lighten up. Love it!!!

@docsavage8640

4 ай бұрын

It's little mistakes and imperfections like that which humanize music and which makes so much autotuned and click-tracked modern music so awful

@MrDiddyDee

4 ай бұрын

On early pressings of the sleeve notes Sting was credited with playing 'butt-piano'. Even his 'bum' note is timed so well.

The Police, such a great band. They have a ton of great songs to cover. Synchronicity, King of Pain, Spirits in the Material World, Beds Too Big Without You, Wrapped Around Your Finger, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.

Great voice! Underrated bass player. And Stewart Copeland, the drummer is huge in the drumming world!!! His hi hat work is unbelievable!!!!!

The police had a very strong reggae music influence. They loved reggae music and reggae was very popular in the UK at the time.

All three of them were insanely talented and you have to understand, reggae and ska deeply deeply inform their music and it always has. Andy Sommers is incredible on the guitar and Stewart Copeland is just insane. And then Sting's playing the bass and singing with so much personality but then the backing vocals are really strong, too, even as those guys are wailing on their instruments.

Might not be remembering correctly, but I believe "Roxanne" failed to chart upon initial release. Then Eddie Murphy's character in 48 Hours sang it in his jail cell...next thing you know....🔥 EDIT: I got that wrong. It failed to chart in the UK. After a couple singles DID chart in the UK, it was released as a single in the US a year later.

@annewoodard6803

4 ай бұрын

Once MTV played it, “Roxanne” was everywhere.

@kraig7777

4 ай бұрын

I don't remember when the movie came out but I know the song was already a hit in the US. That's why they used it in the movie to begin with.

@rlwetz4317

4 ай бұрын

@@kraig7777 Yup. I was misremembering the UK vs. US release part.

@kimberly3131

4 ай бұрын

Love that scene from 48 Hours. I picture it every time I hear the song now. Eddie Murphy is so funny.

Stewart Copland on drums, refused to play a straight 2,4 back beat no matter how much Sting begged him. Glad he stuck to his guns. Great cataloger of hits these 3 produced in just a few years.

@kraig7777

4 ай бұрын

I had a friend who was a drummer who didn't think much of the Police until he saw them in a music video and realized he hadn't been paying attention to the drums. He said Stewart Copeland does everything the hard way and makes it look easy. He loved the Police after that.

@Mikeluvdrums

4 ай бұрын

It's the truth ..@@kraig7777

Hello fellas bit of trivia you didn't need to know ! . The bum note on the piano in the intro was made when sting sat down on the piano with the lid up and made a literal bum note. The band wanted to break into the new punk scene on the street and thought nobody will ever hear this reggae track anyway so they left it in ! All my best to you and yours from Liverpool

Sting had some great lyrics with the Police and as a solo artist. Please do more of them.

Saw them in ‘82 and it was amazing how much righteous sound three guys could make. They brought the house down with an incredible cover of The Beatles song ‘A Day In The Life’.

@CuriousGeorge1111

4 ай бұрын

Wow! I never would have guessed that!

Stewert always tightened his snare so tight. I love the the snap he gets from his snare. Been chasing that snare sound for years.

@benshafer5198

4 ай бұрын

Not sure if a significant part of the drumming community consider Stew the goat, but he's def my fav of all time & completely unique...and yes, his tuning is immaculate!

@fusiliers

4 ай бұрын

Pretty sure he usually tuned his toms higher than normal too. That's what I've heard from some drummers who have reacted.

@michaelakkerman407

4 ай бұрын

@fusiliers yes, he did. Alot of Rock drummer love the boing or the ring if you will. His was more of a snap and then dead air. It's just amazing. He also used smaller Tom's than most to get that sort of Reggae crispy hits. Rock bands Zeppelin etc...always had oversized bass kick and Tom's for a huge bombastic sound.

I just went back to my freshman and sophomore years in high school. I'm telling you we were so blessed to have lived in those days. Too bad more kids don't pick up actual instruments and play, just play you never know where it might take them. Music can heal this troubled society we live in. So many common grounds we all could explore to make this a better life for all. Anyway I digress. Thank you for bringing back great memories✌️🎶🎸🎼🎵

@PogueMahone1

4 ай бұрын

Parents in the 21st C. waste their money on their kids' i-Phones (the 'i' obviously stands for 'idiot') instead of investing in musical instruments and education that would improve their youngsters' minds. Providing one's children with mindless pursuits Is a slothful way to parent and the results show the last two generations of self-absorbed adults have become, by and large, slothful, shitty parents.

@joescott8877

4 ай бұрын

Hell yeah, lol! I remember being in English class 1st period 11th grade and many of us were buzzing about having gotten and listened and raving about to "Ghost in the machine" the previous day. (Back in the days when you lined up at a record store to get yer mitts on it ASAP, haha!)

The Police came on the scene, and everyone was blown away! I remember a comment made about how there were only three musicians, three instruments... they weren't counting Sting's voice, which gives it that fourth level...he's done so much solo work, and I feel he absolutely rivals Bob Dylan as a poet songwriter. Check out "Desert Rose", for a perfect sample, and rock on, kids! Love your videos! Best luck! An Old Hippie Lady in NY 🎧

I was in 8th grade when this came out, and I sat next to a girl named Roxanne in one of my classes... Roxanne Pinson, this is for you, wherever you are: ROOOOOOOOOXANNE! 😁

PLEASE REACT TO (MURDER BY NUMBERS) by The Police… you will love the FUNKY DRUMS… have the lyrics pulled up if you do… love your reactions ✌🏻☀️♥️

Walking on the moon…nuff said

This is one of my favorite tunes from the Police, such a great hook and lyrics🎶 It was very different back in the day. Thanks so much guys!

I love this song. He has a song called A Englishman in New York. He walks the streets of Bew York while singing it. He was in the police. He got the nickname Sting when he was starting out, he showed up to a gig wearing and outfit that was black and yellow!

Does he play the bass? Check out he and Stevie Wonder together on Roxane and Higher Ground!!! And yes, have others have mentioned, check out Eddie Murphy singing this from jail in 48 Hours. Iconic song.

Yes, Sting IS a genius, as a lyricist, composer, and a phenomenal bass player and all around musician.

Ok! Just got my day going, checking in my subscriptions, and saw this! The Police are so slappy in their grooves. I’m here for the Police reactions, this is their single and ironically not even close to one of their best songs in my opinion (which is great news for reactions) Stewart Copeland on the drums is obviously a madman, but the whole band knits together these nice cohesive groove textures. They are obviously reggae influenced. I’m here for it…let’s go!

The Police ruled the world when I was in High School, and most of the music then was very busy and musicians tried to fill every nook and cranny, but the Police were the opposite. They played with space and time, and it's what they didn't do that made them really special. Got to see them on the Ghost In The Machine tour, and man what a show, Nassau Coliseum NY.

Airplay Beats never fail to deliver , thanx for this one guys, it's been a while since I spun some Police at home, I'm gonna revisit today

The tension between Sting & the drummer is what made The Police so good. Copeland did his own thing & said F you. Then you look at the murderer's row of drummers Sting used in his solo career. He paid top top dollar for these cats....IMO Sting fans remember Copeland the most though. He had that Bonzo type freedom in his playing, that even now, gets you every time.

With a few very notable exceptions (the Cars being one), so-called New Wave music just wasn't my thing back in the day. But The Police were the genuine article. Three very talented musicians who melded varying influences and made timeless magic.

Saw them at Shea Stadium in '83! Great band, great catalog "Everthing She Does is Magic" has some amazing drumming.

Great bass. Thanks for bringing my spirit up on this cold and snowy day n Michigan. Excellent reaction fellas 👌 👏

@primeminister66

4 ай бұрын

Saginaw here!!

@ML-un1oi

4 ай бұрын

Metro D

@kathrinepearson7528

4 ай бұрын

Port Huron

The Police are one of the best bands , every album worth listening front to back.

Stuart is on my favorite drummer's list. If Chester Thompson and Terry Bozio didn't exist he'd be a shoo-in for number one.

The real star of the band is Stewart Copeland, the drummer.

I remember walking into the record store and this was the first Police song ever I heard. Yeah, I loved it.

When this came out , it was so different and fun … stings voice is so unique and the drums are everything! As always you guys are the best …

Reggae and ska were big influences in late 70s UK bands- was a wonderful multicultural mix

In the beginning of the song you hear a piano and then Sting laughing. He sat on the piano by mistake as they were recording and they left it in.

@AirplayBeats

4 ай бұрын

I thought that was something in my system when I was editing the video 😂

Sting is the most well known member of The Police, but Stewart Copeland (drums) and Andy Summers (guitar) have some pretty intriguing solo work. A couple of my favorites are Andy Summers' albums with Robert Fripp of King Crimson called "Bewitched" and "I Advance Masked"... They're very much of their time, but still a good listen.

Only one guy can sing the one name…one way….and always be recognized right away! Yes, Sting! ❤

Andy Summers was a very experienced session player before he joined the Police and his contribution was massive.

Basically these guys are brilliant musicians who can play anything. And did play anything. And yeah, Stewart Copeland is is easily one of the most influential drummers of the last 50 years.

Something one doesn't hear a lot is one guitar track. No overdubs! That's awesome!

The Kings of New Wave

Great song to sing in the car, lol😂. It was in 48 hours, Eddie Murphy was singing it at the top of his lungs. I loved The Police since their first album. Delve a little deeper into their discography, you won’t be disappointed!

The Police had an album titled "regatta de blanc" which is French for "white reggae" and they have many great songs. For a time they were one of the biggest bands in the world.

I ❤ Stewart Copeland. Different style

It's VERY difficult to sing (the top of the melody) and the play bass (the bottom of the sound) simultaneously. Totally different parts of the brain working at the same time. Musically brilliant. Then, we have Stewart Copeland on drums. He is incredibly skilled. The best there is. Even Neil Peart (from Rush) looked up to his drumming skill. Neil Peart is INCREDIBLE on drums. Then, we have the awesome guitar skills of Andy Sommers. Amazing. He used to hang around and jam with Jimmy Hendrix before he even knew the other members of The Police. The Police are just so incredible. They are still my favorite band to this day. PLEASE go way down this rabbit hole!! ❤

Andy Summers the guitarist was interviewed a few months ago by Rick Beato. He mentions learning how to play "harmonics" from Lenny Breau and using that technique on the song "I Can't Stop Losing You". Summers states that Lenny Breau is "the world's greatest guitarist". Summers mentions Breau twice in the over one hour interview and said that Breau should get more recognition. Chet Atkins and Randy Bachman have high praise for Lenny Breau!

Sting was asked in an interview in the 80's what he thought of Elvis Costello, Sting dissed him saying he didn't get his American accent. No internet back then so it took a couple months to get back to Costello in another interview. Elvis retorted that it was better than been a blue eyed blonde trying to sing Jamaican.😂 Love your reactions guys, do more early Queen x Peace n Love from Ireland.

This song came out in 1979 which is 45 years ago....Saw them live at the Tower Theater in Philly 1979! 🎸🥁

I saw them in Atlanta in 1986 when they had reunited for the Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope tour. So so good.

All time hit for the police. I love this song saw them at the Roxy in late 1977 before they got real popular. Roxann was released in 78 you guys should react to I can’t Stand Losing. Stewart is a phenomenal percussionist. Love what you are doing. Like I said you guys are the best on KZread

Stewart Copeland is mad great on drums. His use of the hi-hats puts him in Buddy Rich territory. They were fabulous live.

Hey guys from Oregon..Gotta love The Police ..Roxanne...

Oh nice pick, I haven't given this a good listening to in a long time. The Police were huuuuge back in the day - and no one was cooler than Sting. So many tasty, unique songs. Of course, I am paying way more attention to the drums and bass now than I was when I was teenager. Their music was very 80s - but also still sounds so so good, it doesn't sound dated. Thanks guys!

Andy Summers, the guitarist, is a bit older than the others & was the most accomplished musician when they started. He got to know Jimi Hendrix when he was in London & jammed with him! Stewart Copeland, the drummer & only American in the group, is considered one of the best all time rock drummers, idolized by many. He went on to a very successful career composing film scores & soundtracks & is now composing operas & classical music. He even won his 7th Grammy in 2023 for Most Immersive Audio Album. Sting is Sting and has had much solo & collaborative success since the Police.

They said they hired Sting as a singer partly just because he also happened to own a bass guitar. Then he walked in with this aura like he was already a huge star and they had to hire him.

It's really clever how they evoke reggae in the verses - it's not the guitar, which is on-beats as well as off-beats; it's not the drums, which are putting the accent every other bar; nope, all in that wait-for-it bassline. Genius.

Good stuff 👍🏻

This was the groove of my high-school years.

Che, you're probably remembering Eddie Murphy singing it in jail in the movie 48 Hours

@jimmoore8951

4 ай бұрын

My favorite version

@noyfb4769

4 ай бұрын

Raw, putuppa rayalaaa, raw, putuppa rayalaaa, raw, . . .

Ya, this song was also my introduction to the Police. Little did I know what a force they would be in music. Very unique sound.

all three are monster musicians, and, frankly, fascinating people. google them individually. it's no surprise that they synergized... just glad they found each other.

I was in high school when this first hit , as a young drummer I just wanted to know who was playing the drums They drums were tuned high and the way Steward plays the ride & toms is so cool , back then nobody was really doing that Great song. Deep rabbit hole gentleman

The chorus is so good following the heavy reggae vibe! Always love your takes La & Chi!

God, I loved early police. Yes they were quasi-English-reggae. But that’s not all they were. This was one of those magical three piece ensembles that had three incredibly talented musicians. Sting was a great bass player Stuart Copeland one of the best drummers of the era for sure and incredible creative genius, but would always gets me or the harmonies and the rhythm Andy Summers is definitely no slouch. I wish you got more recognition.

There was a huge reggae scene in England. A lot of great reggae came out of the UK. UB40, Aswad, Steel Pulse, Musical Youth, et. al., just to name a few groups. There was also a huge wave of ska that sprang out of England in the 80's. Check out Madness' "One Step Beyond", you guys will love it. One Love!

@AirplayBeats

4 ай бұрын

Our dad used to listen to Steel Pulse. It was one of the first CDs we had in the house when cds first came out. We will check that Madness out. Thanks for rocking with us!!

Sting has also ventured into acting. Film, television and radio roles include: As actor Quadrophenia (1979) - The Ace Face, the King of the Mods, a.k.a. the Bell Boy in the film adaptation of the Who album. Radio On (1979) - Just Like Eddie The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980) - Leader of the Blow Waves. The footage was cut but it later reappeared in the DVD version and in the documentary The Filth and the Fury (2000). Artemis 81 (1981) - The angel Helith (BBC TV film) Brimstone and Treacle (1982) - Martin Taylor, a drifter Dune (1984) - Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen Titus Groan (1984) - Steerpike (BBC Radio 4 broadcast based on the Mervyn Peake novel) Gormenghast (1984) - Steerpike (BBC Radio 4 broadcast based on the Mervyn Peake novel) Plenty (1985) - Mick, a black-marketeer The Bride (1985) - Baron Frankenstein Walking to New Orleans (1985) - Busker, singing Moon Over Bourbon Street. Julia and Julia (1987) - Daniel, a British gentleman The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) - a "heroic officer" Stormy Monday (1988) - Finney, a nightclub owner The Grotesque (1995), a/k/a Gentlemen Don't Eat Poets and Grave Indiscretion - Fledge Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) - J.D., Eddie's father and owner of a bar. Kaamelott: The First Chapter (2021) - Horsa Wikipedia.

They've alwsys been a favorite group. I bought all the albums on cassette, nearly all again on cd, then came across the box set and got that. You can almost do like you did with Steely Dan, and just go though albums front to back.

Lucky to catch an early Police show - no tricks, they were that good.

SEEEEE YOUR TALKIN ABOUT THE DRUMS PLEASE REACT TO MURDER BY NUMBERS!! BEST FUNKY DRUMS ♥️♥️

I remember how big Synchronicity was when it was released back in the 80s. It was everywhere…heavy play on the radio and MTV which was huge part of it. Synchronicity had the most singles over any of their previous albums which were all great of course, but they were at the zenith of their success and then they were just gone. I’d be hard pressed to name another band that went out at the peak of their success like that in quite the same way. They just couldn’t keep it together for one minute more it would seem.

Videos weren't a thing in the US when this dropped in 1978. I was ten year old or thereabouts and even then the song stood out when it got played on the radio because it contained a lot more silence than most every other song.

'The bed's too big without you 'or 'Bring on the Night 'or 'So lonely' will give you some more of that early Police reggae influence. Boy were they great. I bought all of the records including 'Fall Out' when it first came out.

Stewart Copeland is a phenomenal drummer and was the Police's secret weapon.

When I hear this song, I remember a rock critic who said that Sting sounds like "a chain-smoking choirboy with the blues."

Check out Message In A Bottle, Walking On The Moon, Don't Stand So Close To Me, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Every Breath You Take, De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da, and So Lonely.

That's what happens when you get greatness at every spot in a band... you blow up! Copeland & Summers - damn. Sting's playing is nearly as good as his singing. Perfect formula.

Great review! It would be well worth it to go down the The Police rabbit hole. Like Zeppelin, start with the first album. I did see them in concert in 1983 and it was a great show!! Thank you, La and Che.

Very much looking forward to you going deeper into The Police catalogue. I'm thoroughly enjoying my ride with you cats!

The Police were not big on my list growing up, but talent is talent. I enjoy a lot of what they did, expert musicians for sure.

Sharp, poignant, and soulful. Great tune.

I still can see Eddie Murphy singing this in his cell lol

Walking on the Moon and Message in a Bottle are great ones

Sting originally wrote the Roxanne lyrics to a mellow Bossa Nova jazz beat. It was Andy Summers who convinced him to do it as a reggae/rock beat. It became their first big single...

This was my very first album I've ever bought as a child... Do you remember Eddie Murphy singing it in jail in the movie 48 HRS? That was the best!

The Beds too big without you, Bring on the night, Canary in a coalmine, man in a suitcase. Gotta do those songs.

Lots of Jamaicans in London playing Ska ,Rush tapped into The Police too

Yes, the Police studied Reggae and it's a huge part of their sound. They spent some time in Jamaica with musicians there too.

Always loved the Police during this era. Thanks for reviewing it. Didn't Sting play an upright bass during Every Breathe You Take?

very early Police put out some good tunes - I've read they were considered more "punk" but they sure had a lot of reggae influences

Well spotted.i was a teenager in mid to late 70s in the UK, I remember how massive punk was and with the police and bands like the specials and UB40 etc, Its basically because my generation were the kids of alot of the immigration to the UK in the 50s and 60s. I myself am white Irish/ Manchester, both my neighbours either side were from Jamaica, so you can imagine just like hip hop in the USA, reggae was what evolved .

Sting was Ace The Face in The Who's Quadrophenia movie.

I heard 'Walkin' on the Moon' through a pair of Klipsch La Scala's that I owned in the early 80's , coupled with other superb components on a vinyl source. It's like a nuke going off.

I saw the police in the early 80s, I was a teenager. Sting was quite the heartthrob, but Stewart Copeland was my favorite!

Their producers didn't want them to take a Reggae route, but they disregarded it, thank goodness.

everybody thinks their hearing a reggae back beat but i saw a Stewart Copland interview not long ago the bass player and said he was actually playing a middle eastern back beat, he grew up in the middle east and learned how to play middle eastern music