Bring On the POLL - ILM Artist Poll #116 - THE POLICE - (Results Thread)

I remember putting on So fresh out the plastic wrap, hadn't heard anything off it except "Sledgehammer," and those hihats immediately made me go to the liner notes to verify the obvious culprit.

I one day need to do a deep dive into Peter Gabriel as I know I'm missing out. I only know the hits.

Sting - We'll Be Together - Live In Verona 1988

8. We'll Be Together - Sting
149 Points, 4 Votes

UGH

I hate the squeaky keyboard preset, his panderer's approach to songwriting and singing, the way the song stinks of I NEED A TOP TEN.

lmao come on

Sting - Love Is The Seventh Wave

19. Love Is the Seventh Wave - Sting
78 Points, 2 Votes

Never noticed this before, but when I watched the video the entry was linked to, it actually has a different version of the song.

At 1:35, there's a whole section that does not appear in the album version (the only version I was familiar with). Looked into it and found out there's a single mix that's different than the album version - I couldn't find it on YouTube but it's possible that's what's used in the video. I don't think it's an improvement though - much prefer the album version.

(Also, very amused when Sting flashes that look at the camera when he sings "every breath you take.")

ok to be fair I thought the whole origin of this song was just that? Nothing Like the Sun didn't have anything commercial on it and the label asked for a single. Sting himself said he didn't really like it.

xxxp I thought he wrote that to order for a Japanese beer company?

There was that overlap era in the early '90s when all these boomer pop stars were still pop stars, before they were put out to pasture.

Any votes for "All for One, All for Love"? #1 on the charts the week Kurt Cobain died!

(so not so much "I NEED A TOP TEN" as "THE BEER COMPANY GAVE ME A SHITLOAD OF MONEY!")

I'm not selling out, I'm buying in.

Per Wikipedia:

Sting wrote the song for a beer commercial for Kirin Brewery Company. He said that they asked him for the word "together" to be included in the song. He wrote the song in a few minutes and said both the Japanese and the producers both liked the song, despite the short amount of time it took to come up with the song. The original recording included Eric Clapton on guitar, while other takes feature Bryan Loren instead.

ok to be fair I thought the whole origin of this song was just that? Nothing Like the Sun didn't have anything commercial on it and the label asked for a single. Sting himself said he didn't really like it.

Other thoughts ...

I'll have to check that video for "Love Is the Seventh Wave." I would have expected the jokey world music stuff to have aged really badly ("Every cake you bake ...") but it's actually not bad. The bgd vocals and Marsalis's sax interludes are all pretty solid.

"Why Should I Cry For You" was pretty turgid IIRC, like a lot of Soul Cages.

"Children's Crusade" was on my ballot, I think. It holds up and feels like one of Sting's more sincere and successful political statements.

"Englishman in New York" always seemed like Sting's version of twee to me, with all of the bouncy pizzicato strings. Not entirely unpleasant but kind of annoying.

I was a huge fan of "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" at the time, tho I remember a percussionist in college who was obsessed with Vinnie Colaiuta told me he thought that Ten Summoners Tales was disappointing because despite great playing and memorable tunes Sting had stopped writing incredible bridges and middle-8s. Re-listening last night, I was struck by how in this one, instead of a middle-8 proper, he does a little key change on the chorus and builds the shit out of it before another transposition up that returns the song to its proper key and allows him to end with a bang. It's super powerful still.

Yeah, I like "Love Is the Seventh Wave." Nothing earth-shaking, but it's frothy and pleasant and sounds like it could've been a track on a new Police album.

^^ yeah I know what you're talking about. Sting was so good at writing big powerful choruses like that. I also like the one in "Seven Days" though the lyrics are so snotty and dumb that it practically ruins the tune.

"They Dance Alone" was a good 'un.

I was struck by how in this one, instead of a middle-8 proper, he does a little key change on the chorus and builds the shit out of it before another transposition up that returns the song to its proper key and allows him to end with a bang. I

otm. And it didn't get as much airplay (though it did earn lots!) as "Fields of Gold," which hung around well into the late '90s.

...Nothing Like the Sun has worthwhile songs -- I voted for a couple! -- but not its hit. We should poll Worst Songs Written to Be Hits.

speaking of

xpost

Sting - Fields Of Gold (HD) Ten Summoner's Tales

7. Fields of Gold - Sting
150 Points, 4 Votes

song is pretty...almost too pretty

I had a soft spot for this when I was a kid (back when I knew maybe three albums). Hearing it now, it's a complete snooze, but I do remember liking it a lot when I was really young.

Now for something completely different.

Andy Summers and Robert Fripp - I Advance Masked

6. I Advance Masked - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp
168 Points, 4 Votes, 1 Number One

Whoa

"Ten Summoner's Tales" is pretty MOR, iirc, but I saw him and the band touring behind it in a Spanish bullfighting arena and it was awesome.

yess I did not vote for this part but I love love love I Advance Masked

Song is great, thanks everybody.

I'm a big I Advance Masked stan -- there are a ton of great tracks on it, it's basically Fripp's Crimson riffs combined with Andy textures. What's not to love?

Don't Care - Klark Kent (TOTP) (RM)

5. Don’t Care - Klark Kent
189 Points, 4 Votes, 2 Number Ones

lol nice

all the songs on that Klark Kent record are so catchy. feel like the best stuff probably didn't make it though.

Sting and Branford Marsalis - If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Sting's 60th Birthday Show)

4. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free - Sting
198 Points, 5 Votes

you can do you can do

Another one that could've been a Police track, though had that happened, I wonder if it would still have Marsalis's sax solo or if Summers would have stepped in? Guess we'll never know.

Yay for "I Advance Masked," that's a really nice album. Maybe the most artistically respectable solo Police work period.

Sting || Live @885 KCSN || All This Time (The SoCal Sound)

3. All This Time - Sting
204 Points, 5 Votes, 1 Number One

My favorite solo Sting song: for once the Simon-indebted talk-singing finds a correlative in well-chosen words and a killer chorus. His last solo top ten.

yup fantastic tune

Totally blanked on this one or I'd have given it a sixth vote.

I also voted for it. I'd be down for a Greatest Hits EP from Sting - this would be one of the tracks I'd want on it.

beginning to think "take me home" may not place... guess I should have voted win this side-poll but I trusted y'all to do the right thing!

Not one vote for "Take Me Home" FWIW.

Sting - Fragile Live

2. Fragile - Sting
210 Points, 5 Votes, 1 Number One

Didn't vote as I'm only casually familiar with their discography but am happy to follow along with the rollout. Thanks Bee OK!

One of Neil Tennant's favorite songs by anybody.

I forgot “Fragile”, most likely would have voted for it. Guessing “IBFY” as number 1 then!

Sting - Fortress Around Your Heart - 1985 (from the movie Bring On The Night)

1. Fortress Around Your Heart - Sting
445 Points, 10 Votes, 2 Number Ones

"Fragile" might be the closest Stinghas ever come to writing a song that sounds like a standard he is covering.

Fortress Around Your Heart - Sting	445	Points	10	Votes	2	Number Ones
Fragile - Sting	210	Points	5	Votes	1	Number Ones
All This Time - Sting	204	Points	5	Votes	1	Number Ones
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free - Sting	198	Points	5	Votes		
Don’t Care - Klark Kent	189	Points	4	Votes	2	Number Ones
I Advance Masked - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp	168	Points	4	Votes	1	Number Ones
Fields of Gold - Sting	150	Points	4	Votes		
We'll Be Together - Sting	149	Points	4	Votes		
Red Rain -  Peter Gabriel w/Stewart Copeland on hi-hat	132	Points	3	Votes	2	Number Ones
If I Ever Lose My Faith In You - Sting	126	Points	3	Votes	1	Number Ones
Englishman In New York - Sting	112	Points	3	Votes		
Money for Nothing - Dire Straits w/Sting	109	Points	3	Votes		
Away From Home - Klark Kent	96	Points	2	Votes	1	Number Ones
Children's Crusade - Sting	92	Points	2	Votes		
Why Should I Cry for You? - Sting	90	Points	2	Votes	1	Number Ones
We Work the Black Seam - Sting	83	Points	2	Votes		
Consider Me Gone - Sting	82	Points	2	Votes		
Don’t Box Me In - Stan Ridgway w/Stewart Copeland	79	Points	2	Votes		
Love Is the Seventh Wave - Sting	78	Points	2	Votes		
Desert Rose - Sting	74	Points	2	Votes		
Across the River - Peter Gabriel/Stewart Copeland/Shankar/David Rhodes	50	Points	1	Votes	1	Number Ones
I Burn For You - Sting	50	Points	1	Votes	1	Number Ones
Bring On the Night/When the World Is Running Down (Bring On the Night) - Sting	46	Points	1	Votes		
Only You - Sting	46	Points	1	Votes		
Shape of My Heart - Sting	46	Points	1	Votes		
I Hung My Head – Sting	43	Points	1	Votes		
Excesses - Stewart Copeland	43	Points	1	Votes		
There's A Spy (In The House Of Love) - Animal Logic w/Stewart Copeland	40	Points	1	Votes		
Be Still My Beating Heart - Sting	38	Points	1	Votes		
The Equalizer Busy Equalizing - Stewart Copeland	38	Points	1	Votes		
Long Long Way to Go - Phil Collins and Sting	36	Points	1	Votes		
Big Time - Peter Gabriel w/Stewart Copeland	35	Points	1	Votes		
Hardy Country - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp	35	Points		Votes		
How Can I Forget - Andy Summers	35	Points	1	Votes		
Mad About You - Sting	34	Points	1	Votes		
The Soul Cages - Sting	34	Points	1	Votes		
Brimstone and Treacle (Theme) - Sting	33	Points	1	Votes		
China Yellow Leader - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp	33	Points	1	Votes		
Seven Days - Sting	33	Points	1	Votes		
Brand New Day - Sting	32	Points	1	Votes		
Guide - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp	32	Points	1	Votes		
Mr. Oysterhead - Oysterhead w/Stewart Copeland	32	Points	1	Votes		
The Ballad of Mack The Knife - "Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill"	32	Points	1	Votes

1	Fortress Around Your Heart - Sting	445	10	2
2	Fragile - Sting	210	5	1
3	All This Time - Sting	204	5	1
4	If You Love Somebody Set Them Free - Sting	198	5	
5	Don’t Care - Klark Kent	189	4	2
6	I Advance Masked - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp	168	4	1
7	Fields of Gold - Sting	150	4	
8	We'll Be Together - Sting	149	4	
9	Red Rain -  Peter Gabriel w/Stewart Copeland on hi-hat	132	3	2
10	If I Ever Lose My Faith In You - Sting	126	3	1
11	Englishman In New York - Sting	112	3	
12	Money for Nothing - Dire Straits w/Sting	109	3	
13	Away From Home - Klark Kent	96	2	1
14	Children's Crusade - Sting	92	2	
15	Why Should I Cry for You? - Sting	90	2	1
16	We Work the Black Seam - Sting	83	2	
17	Consider Me Gone - Sting	82	2	
18	Don’t Box Me In - Stan Ridgway w/Stewart Copeland	79	2	
19	Love Is the Seventh Wave - Sting	78	2	
20	Desert Rose - Sting	74	2	
21	Across the River - Peter Gabriel/Stewart Copeland/Shankar/David Rhodes	50	1	1
22	I Burn For You - Sting	50	1	1
23	Bring On the Night/When the World Is Running Down (Bring On the Night) - Sting	46	1	
24	Only You - Sting	46	1	
25	Shape of My Heart - Sting	46	1	
26	I Hung My Head – Sting	43	1	
27	Excesses - Stewart Copeland	43	1	
28	There's A Spy (In The House Of Love) - Animal Logic w/Stewart Copeland	40	1	
29	Be Still My Beating Heart - Sting	38	1	
30	The Equalizer Busy Equalizing - Stewart Copeland	38	1	
31	Long Long Way to Go - Phil Collins and Sting	36	1	
32	Big Time - Peter Gabriel w/Stewart Copeland	35	1	
33	Hardy Country - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp	35	
34	How Can I Forget - Andy Summers	35	1
35	Mad About You - Sting	34	1
36	The Soul Cages - Sting	34	1
37	Brimstone and Treacle (Theme) - Sting	33	1
38	China Yellow Leader - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp	33	1
39	Seven Days - Sting	33	1
40	Brand New Day - Sting	32	1
41	Guide - Andy Summers and Robert Fripp	32	1
42	Mr. Oysterhead - Oysterhead w/Stewart Copeland	32	1
43	The Ballad of Mack The Knife - "Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill"	32	1