Which is the Best Song on the Police Singles Compilation "Every Breath You Take: The Singles"?

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[img]http://www.thedailyrash.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/sting_duck.jpg[/img

"well. hello there."

Poll Results

OptionVotes
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" – 4:19 21
"Message in a Bottle" – 4:50 16
"Can't Stand Losing You" – 2:47 13
"Walking on the Moon" – 5:01 13
"Invisible Sun" – 3:44 10
"Roxanne" – 3:11 8
"Every Breath You Take" – 4:13 7
"King of Pain" – 4:57 7
"Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" – 4:40 5
"Wrapped Around Your Finger" – 5:14 5
"Spirits in the Material World" – 2:58 3
"De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" – 4:06 2


strongo hulkington's ghost dad, Saturday, 27 August 2011 01:57 (fourteen years ago)

man y'all are so lucky i fucked up the html on that opening post image.

strongo hulkington's ghost dad, Saturday, 27 August 2011 01:57 (fourteen years ago)

but because i'm a sadist:

http://www.thedailyrash.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/sting_duck.jpg

strongo hulkington's ghost dad, Saturday, 27 August 2011 01:58 (fourteen years ago)

a squished joel mchale

Ford Timelord, Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:02 (fourteen years ago)

would've voted for DSSCTM if it was the original, went for roxanne instead

Ford Timelord, Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:03 (fourteen years ago)

Without listening, I'd say it's between "King of Pain" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger".

xpost to Joel McHale comment: lol

EveningStar (Sund4r), Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:03 (fourteen years ago)

as much as i like the Police and have been marinating in these songs since birth, i don't really have strong favorites. i could go for "Roxanne" or "Every Little Thing" or "Wrapped," it's all good really.

some dude, Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:03 (fourteen years ago)

Is Synchronicity good?

(And to show I'm not totally partisan about the later stuff, I might have voted for "So Lonely" if it were on the list.)

EveningStar (Sund4r), Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:05 (fourteen years ago)

yeah i'd probably vote for "So Lonely"

some dude, Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:06 (fourteen years ago)

challops time: I adore the '86 version of "Don't Stand So Close to Me"

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:17 (fourteen years ago)

TTTHHHHE TEACHER
SSSO JEALOUSSSSS

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:17 (fourteen years ago)

As Charlie Brown said: I can't, I can't, I can't stand Lucy!

dlp9001, Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:46 (fourteen years ago)

heh i woulda voted for "so lonely" too

strongo hulkington's ghost dad, Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:52 (fourteen years ago)

Any of those Synchronicity side-twos.

The Pocket Rebecca de Mornay (Eazy), Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:54 (fourteen years ago)

where's "Tonight She Comes"?

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:58 (fourteen years ago)

and "New World Man"?

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 August 2011 02:58 (fourteen years ago)

voted "Don't Stand So Close to Me" before realizing that there was a '86 there. is that version that different?

Bee OK, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:02 (fourteen years ago)

...and "Synchronicity II"?

The Pocket Rebecca de Mornay (Eazy), Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:05 (fourteen years ago)

it's the remix they recorded specifically for the compilation (with programmed drums because copeland had broken his collarbone)...pretty frightening apparition of the band they could've become if they'd continued into the late 80s imo

xpost

some dude, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:06 (fourteen years ago)

there are later CD era best-ofs that are more comprehensive, this is the first one that had to fit on 2 sides of vinyl

some dude, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:07 (fourteen years ago)

I remember reading that the band realized they hated each other after they spent weeks programming the synclavier in "Don't Stand So Close To Me '86."

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:08 (fourteen years ago)

First thought is "Can't Stand Losing You" - did the Police have any other songs that are so power pop?

timellison, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:10 (fourteen years ago)

"So Lonely" probably

some dude, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:11 (fourteen years ago)

Hm, weird, after listening to everything (except the ones I already know I dislike)), I might be leaning towards "Can't Stand Losing You". Most of the songs feel like they should end sooner for some reason, unless I'm just feeling impatient tonight.

EveningStar (Sund4r), Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:15 (fourteen years ago)

"Invisible Sun" was the only song I didn't recognize instantly from the title. I might not have ever heard it before tonight!

EveningStar (Sund4r), Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:16 (fourteen years ago)

"CAn't Stand Losing You" harmonies that come in on the end of the verses and carry into the chorus are really good.

timellison, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:17 (fourteen years ago)

every little thing

i was a notorious hater of the police among my peers back in the late 70s early 80s, finally came around a bit for synchronicity (probably because it was vaguely prog). don't really hate them at all now, but will never become a fan

buzza, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:18 (fourteen years ago)

Message in a Bottle...and it wasn't even a tough choice. LOVE that track.

Johnny Fever, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:20 (fourteen years ago)

"Message In A Bottle" for me too. Loved it so much I wrote a set of parody lyrics about the same time this compilation came out.

EZ Snappin, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:26 (fourteen years ago)

Either Don't Stand, Message or Every little thing.

your mom the burrito (ENBB), Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:29 (fourteen years ago)

the chorus of the '86 "Don't Stand So Close To Me" is kinda neat, but yeah I really do wonder what would have become of them had they stayed.

kinda weird that none of these are jumping out at me but "Wrapped Around Your Finger" is the one that really stands out to me right now

frogbs, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:51 (fourteen years ago)

in the absence of "so lonely" i went with "message"

strongo hulkington's ghost dad, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:54 (fourteen years ago)

Man, no love for the Synchronicity singles, eh?

The Pocket Rebecca de Mornay (Eazy), Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:56 (fourteen years ago)

Tough call between Roxeanne and Wrapped for me.

Copeland's hi-hat work on Roxeanne is all time.

Straight Outta Bill Compton (Spottie_Ottie_Dope), Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:59 (fourteen years ago)

I like them. "Every Breath You Take" and "King of Pain" are probably my numbers two and three here.

xp

timellison, Saturday, 27 August 2011 03:59 (fourteen years ago)

Wait so what's with the diff versions of don't stand? Can someone link youtubes or something? I'm confused.

your mom the burrito (ENBB), Saturday, 27 August 2011 04:00 (fourteen years ago)

I always wished this album included "So Lonely" and "Synchronicity II" but I guess they weren't monster hits. But "Invisible Sun" was?

frogbs, Saturday, 27 August 2011 04:01 (fourteen years ago)

the one you've probably heard a zillion times is the original, but on this album they did an "86" version which kinda languishes in 80's hell and cuts out Copeland completely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1hVOz_NwXI

frogbs, Saturday, 27 August 2011 04:02 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah wtf is that? I have never heard that. woah.

your mom the burrito (ENBB), Saturday, 27 August 2011 04:03 (fourteen years ago)

sending out an sos

*copeland does crazy shit*

mookieproof, Saturday, 27 August 2011 04:08 (fourteen years ago)

yeah, i resend my vote. that pretty much sucked all the life out of the song.

Bee OK, Saturday, 27 August 2011 04:18 (fourteen years ago)

apparently the entire album was supposed to be like that, I kinda wished they'd have finished it
I mean if you like the Police you really should just get all 5 albums, so many people got by with like just this and Synchronicity and IMO that really kinda misses how great they were, get Reggatta de Blanc at least

frogbs, Saturday, 27 August 2011 04:39 (fourteen years ago)

The half-step down in the chorus of "Invisible Sun" is my shit. So sinister. <3

Voted that.

brrr-icane aye-rene (Whiney G. Weingarten), Saturday, 27 August 2011 05:43 (fourteen years ago)

So is ANYONE gonna give "Walking on the Moon"' due props here?

Naive Teen Idol, Saturday, 27 August 2011 05:54 (fourteen years ago)

does anyone else hear this strange, kinda astral "whirrrrrr" noise in the background of that tune? b/c I do

frogbs, Saturday, 27 August 2011 05:58 (fourteen years ago)

It's a great song, almost certainly the massivest, dubbiest baseline ever on a no 1 hit. I'm considering it alongside Message in a Bottle and Roxanne.

Inevitable stupid samba mix (chap), Saturday, 27 August 2011 05:59 (fourteen years ago)

also the drumming is amazing, that's the pinnacle of white guy reggae drumming right there

frogbs, Saturday, 27 August 2011 06:02 (fourteen years ago)

decided to vote for "Roxanne" because i shudder to think of it doing poorly in the results

some dude, Saturday, 27 August 2011 11:52 (fourteen years ago)

Man, the cassette of this album was a staple in people's cars all through high school, so I got to know every song -- even DSSCTM '86 -- intimately.

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 August 2011 12:22 (fourteen years ago)

voted "Don't Stand So Close to Me" before realizing that there was a '86 there.

ditto

Darin, Saturday, 27 August 2011 14:34 (fourteen years ago)

Dan, Sting wasn't really stuck on an island when he wrote that.

Geirge Hongriot (NickB), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:00 (fourteen years ago)

ohhhhhhhhhhh

now I have to imagine your penis (DJP), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:08 (fourteen years ago)

Cod-Islander

Sonny Chevrotain (dog latin), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:09 (fourteen years ago)

Sending out a vague note taped to my living room window.

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:13 (fourteen years ago)

Here's to the good old Police
The band of the reggae that's cod.
Where Copelands speak only to Summers.
And Stings speak only to God.

Trudi Styler, the Creator (ithappens), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:27 (fourteen years ago)

also, "Walking on the Moon" matches the rhythm you can see on the film of guys walking on the moon.

incredibly middlebrow (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:28 (fourteen years ago)

"Fields of Gold" moves like the stately meandering of wind across a field of barley.

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:30 (fourteen years ago)

Walking In Your Footsteps feels like you've just trodden in dinosaur poop.

Geirge Hongriot (NickB), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:32 (fourteen years ago)

Where does the term "cod" come from, to mean inauthentic or pastiching? I only really see it appended to "reggae".

It's kind of apt though. If proper reggae is fish'n'chips, that's lovely - but sometimes you can't beat a fishfinger sandwich, even though you know it's a bit shit.

Sonny Chevrotain (dog latin), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:36 (fourteen years ago)

Codpiece, prob.

Mark G, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:37 (fourteen years ago)

cod & hake = fake

Geirge Hongriot (NickB), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:37 (fourteen years ago)

Also:

What does "cod reggae" have to do with fish, anyway?

Geirge Hongriot (NickB), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:39 (fourteen years ago)

xpost Got me on the Bartok! I know Fripp was big into the Bartok, too, but I don't know enough about him to explain how the stuff he did found its way to Fripp and Summers.

Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:45 (fourteen years ago)

Contrapuntal stuff? Anyway, maybe you can discern what he was talking about here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oob9spB25U

Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:48 (fourteen years ago)

Oh, it makes a little more sense if the Bartok connection was with Fripp/Summers rather than with "Every Breath You Take".

EveningStar (Sund4r), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:53 (fourteen years ago)

If you dig up that "Painting and Dance" track you can hear the connection between the bunch - Summers, Fripp, Bartok, "Every Breath You Take" - more clearly.

Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 15:07 (fourteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 23:01 (fourteen years ago)

I think "Message In A Bottle" is one of the most devastatingly depressing singles they ever did.

truly interested in where you get this, i take it as pretty straighforward "everybody else feels just like you, chin up bro"

Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 02:20 (fourteen years ago)

Everybody else feels just like you
(that's my soul up there, bro)

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 02:22 (fourteen years ago)

it's no use, he sees her, he starts to shake and cough, bro
just like the consumptive early 20th century Canadian lady in that book by Alice Munro

Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 03:03 (fourteen years ago)

"Does everyone feel the way you do...?
(oh yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh)
I only feel this way it's true
(woh no no no no no no)"

Mark G, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 08:14 (fourteen years ago)

the brolice

Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘I’m With You’ is a buffet of preposterous noise (crüt), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 08:38 (fourteen years ago)

truly interested in where you get this, i take it as pretty straighforward "everybody else feels just like you, chin up bro"

Dude is a metaphorical castaway, right? Desperately flinging a message out to reach/connect with someone, to end his isolation and integrate with others... and at the end of the song, he sees everyone he is trying to reach is as desperate and isolated as he is. There's nothing to actually integrate with, just a bunch of isolated, lonely people looking for someone to assuage them, with no sign or indication of anyone out there capable of actually doing the assuaging. It doesn't come across to me at all as "everybody else feels just like you, chin up bro"; it's way more "everybody else is just as fucked as you, here is my recommendation for effective razorblades" (buoyed by the middle verse where the love being sought is acknowledged as the cause of dude's torment and misery).

beemer douchebag (DJP), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:42 (fourteen years ago)

I think it could make sense both ways. On the one hand, he sends out an SOS and all he gets is a hundred million other desperate messages. On the other, the fact that he's not alone in being alone does offer a certain kind of connection/community/shared experience.

EveningStar (Sund4r), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:11 (fourteen years ago)

It's about twitter, basically.

Mark G, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:11 (fourteen years ago)

the closing "sending out an SOS" refrain that closes the song is catchy but doesn't feel very 'uplifting' to me

✇ ruehl (some dude), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:12 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah, that coda does seem to negate hope.

Mark G: Ha.

EveningStar (Sund4r), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:37 (fourteen years ago)

in honor of this poll, I listened last night to Ghost in the Machine (okay to pretty good) and Dream of the Blue Turtles (I couldn't make it past the third track).

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:39 (fourteen years ago)

id say its hopeful but not optimistic

D-40, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:49 (fourteen years ago)

the closing "sending out an SOS" refrain that closes the song is catchy but doesn't feel very 'uplifting' to me

Better:

"Kinda LOL but mostly sad..
Kinda LOL but mostly sad..
Kinda LOL but mostly sad..
Kinda LOL but mostly sad..
..."

Mark G, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:51 (fourteen years ago)

I think it starts out hopeful and becomes increasingly fatalistic as the song goes along

xp: okay ha

beemer douchebag (DJP), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:52 (fourteen years ago)

You guys do realise you're giving serious consideration to Sting lyrics here right?

Geirge Hongriot (NickB), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:53 (fourteen years ago)

Sting is not always a terrible lyricist

well okay, Sting BACK THEN was not always a terrible lyricist

beemer douchebag (DJP), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:56 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah I'm not sure he gets really embarrassing until Zenyatta -- with rising levels of cringe from there on out.

something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 15:03 (fourteen years ago)

For me, up through Ghost, there are cringey lyrics but it doesn't matter cause the music and affect just fuckin' sells them. On about half of Synchronicity it can't sell them anymore.

Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 16:31 (fourteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 23:01 (fourteen years ago)

correct

Gukbe, Thursday, 1 September 2011 03:15 (fourteen years ago)

"De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" – 4:06 2

oh come on now.

strongo hulkington's ghost dad, Thursday, 1 September 2011 04:13 (fourteen years ago)

^^^^

mookieproof, Thursday, 1 September 2011 05:05 (fourteen years ago)

pretty poor showing for "Wrapped Around Your Finger"

that's cute, but it's WRONG (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 8 September 2011 21:56 (fourteen years ago)

THERE'S A LITTLE BLACK SPOT ON THE SUN TO-DAY

Abbott, Friday, 9 September 2011 02:12 (fourteen years ago)

poor choking skeletonne ;_;

Abbott, Friday, 9 September 2011 02:12 (fourteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

holy shit Sting is releasing a 3CD+DVD $100+ box set of his "greatest hits" **head explodes**

frogbs, Monday, 3 October 2011 14:07 (fourteen years ago)

ten years pass...

Where can I get a comically large pair of glasses like what Sting wears in the “Can’t Stand Losing You” video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH0vjLwMyc4

Mr. Snrub, Sunday, 3 July 2022 17:21 (three years ago)

I wish they had put out Greatest Hits in the U.S. instead of Every Breath You Take: The Singles. Amusingly, Greatest Hits is actually the more complete and accurate representation of their singles.

birdistheword, Sunday, 3 July 2022 18:53 (three years ago)

Yeah The Singles is probably the first hits compilation I bought that was missing songs I was expecting to be there (though certainly not the last). "So Lonely", "Canary in a Coalmine", and "Synchronicity II" were all played on my local station. The latter is probably my favorite Police song, to boot

Vinnie, Sunday, 3 July 2022 23:08 (three years ago)

I'd rank it second to "Roxanne", so yes, it's a big omission.
The redone "Don't Stand So Close to Me" is better than "Fame '90" but nowhere near as good as the remixed and resung "Wuthering Heights".

Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 3 July 2022 23:59 (three years ago)

Yeah the inclusions of “so lonely” and “synchronicity ii” are crucial

brimstead, Monday, 4 July 2022 02:26 (three years ago)

conversely, I've never heard "Invisible Sun" anywhere except when listening to that album!

Vinnie, Monday, 4 July 2022 03:06 (three years ago)

nine months pass...

I love how you can hear bits and pieces of what Sting may have internalized and recombined into "Every Breath You Take":

The groove

The vocal melody (from Greil Marcus's "Ask Greil" per Robert Mitchell)

birdistheword, Monday, 17 April 2023 16:31 (two years ago)


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