One of my faves from The Police. Rick Beato featured this one on What Makes This Song Great. He breaks down perfectly what I like about The Police so much.
There's a trick to many of the Police's best songs that comes from Sting writing them for the bass, rather than using a chord-based instrument like a guitar or piano. The verses wander all over the place without seeming to have a chord pattern, then he turns to a chord-based structure for the choruses, making them seem twice as catchy in comparison. This song, "Roxanne", and "Message in a Bottle" all use this trick, as do many of Sting's early solo hits (the majestic "Fortress around your heart" is a perfect example).
Great song. I've just started listening to the polices discography. I knew all of their singles. I enjoy your reactions after I have listened to an album or a song. ❤
See Rick Beato's dissecting of this song on his What Makes This Song Great series. He had a copy of the original multitrack with parts that weren't included on the release, and relevant excerpts from interviews he has done (eg. Stewart Copeland talking about using a delay on the drums).
My favorite drum track on a Police song. In his conversation with Rick Beato, Copeland describes how he used an echo/delay device attached to his drums for this track.
They were brilliantly marketed because they had that pop icon image with posters on bedroom walls and of course Sting was a big heartthrob. The music though, was just brilliant and so innovative. Unlike other pop stars of the time with the same image machine behind them, The Police were different because they wrote great songs with sophisticated musicianship that was so influential. They really ushered in that whole reggae and world beat fusion with pop and rock that became so big at the time.
When this was first written, I wonder how long it took to know that it would never be an album track hidden away, listened to only by serious fans, but played so much on radio, TV, and so on, that even I (born 5 years after it was released) feel it is familiar like an old friend.
Man, I really need to listen to some full albums by these guys soon! Basically every song I've heard is great but I only know Synchronicity front to back. Thanks for reminding me.
This song is just perfect!!! Copeland is incredible!! And yeah, in Brazil we have a very popular band influenced by Police: Paralamas do Sucesso (Fenders of Sucess, don't ask me why). If you please, react songs like 'Óculos', 'Ska' or 'Perplexo'...
LOL! I'd mentioned The Police and the song 'Contact' from this same album to my Son only moments ago, and then I was notified of this video! 😅 'Walking On The Moon' had been my absolute favourite song for a veeeeery long time! Exciting to find out now what young Justin thinks of it! 😁👍
@@JustJP - Totes! 😀 And it hadn't stopped there either! 😄 Great reaction/analysis, by the way! 😉👍 It's pretty clever how Stewie hits the snare drum only in that one spot, making it really stand out and creating the song's peak 😍 'Walking On The Moon' also reminds me of my Grandmother: I was walking around our family home's front yard when I was 10 and the song a Hit and with it blasting from my cassette tape player I was carrying around with me, when I heard her yell "Turn that noise down, boy!" 😅
Great track, one of my favorites by The Police. I like to listen to it while traveling, which can often be a tense experience these days. The song kind of puts me in trance and the stress just melts away.
Happy to see you reviewing and enjoying Reggatta de Blanc. It's still my favourite album of all time since first getting a copy in 1979. Although a lot choose Synchronicity as best Police album, Reggatta will always be my favourite. Tighter than Outlandos, to me, Reggatta was the pure Police sound. By Synchronicity, it felt more like a Sting solo album with Andy and Stuart as session musicians.
The guitar really cuts through on this track. Number 1 here in the UK at the end of the 70's when The Police and Blondie were massive and had many number 1's. Played that whole album for first time in years, some great tracks.
A master piece that this one. From the three of us ! Brilliant. The atmosphere. The Police delivers a huge amount of jewels, but this one ! Ooooh. Thank you JP. When I was a kid, I didn't like or understand the reggae vibes. I think it was this song that made me change my point of view
Either this or "Invisible Sun" is my favourite Police song. That minimalist reggae groove with the single clangy guitar chord on top will never get old. There was a comedy troupe around in the early 80s who did parodies of famous bands from the period. One of them was a Police send-up called "Too Depressed To Commit Suicide", based largely around this song. I find their stuff hit and miss but I really laughed at that one. Plus Sting apparently hated it.
Very good song. It was written in minutes, and I think you can hear that, but what makes it interesting is how SPACIOUS it is. Copeland's hi-hat work here wouldn't....well, work if the arrangement was busy and cluttered, but because he's got a galaxy all to himself to fool around in, it works like a charm. Oh, Justin.......Genesis!!
Saw them live in there pomp, late seventies absolutely brilliant live,sting is a very underrated song writer in my opinion. There first 2 albums are classics.
Said this before, takes me back to working a side job doing a restaurant bar mural with my girlfriend. The place had a terrific sound system and I had permission to use it… and this 8track was brand new, we were dancing and painting on the moon. Subject matter was a jungle landscapy thing.
Definitely one of the boys' vibeiest tunes...a very deep cut classic...and wow, what Stuart Copeland did with the drums. And that is even before we talk about the use of echoes. LOL
Jamaican's did this groove for a decade but it took white lads to make serious money...Don't misunderstand me - I like it, but it's facsimile. Stewart's drumming *is* undeniably fantastic; tight band, photogenic.
Hi Justin. Dave from London, loving this Moonwalk song. Bought this single back in 79. Their second UK number one, and it has a magical feel to it. P.S. my song ref Moonwalk is an instrumental by Moon Safari, from the same album as Methuselah's Children which you reacted to.
I only recently learned that it is Andy Summers who plays the synthesiser on this song and in general keyboard parts on the album, all though I knew he practised piano in his youth. Referring to that Jiji shirt, please react to the song "If I've Been Enveloped in Tenderness" which is the theme song of Kiki's Delivery Service, of course in the original Japanese version. And "The Bed's Too Big Without You " mono version. A lot better remake of the song on the album for special single's collector box.
Tough call to say it is my favorite song on a real good album. The drummer makes this song for me. The perfect amount of percussion. The drums and guitar together then carries the light and bouncing feeling of a new love. A drummer using a large kit would have ruined this song.
Hiya, new subscriber from the Netherlands here, Oh nice to meet you, too! Thank you. 😉One of my favourite Police/Copeland vids is "Wrapped Around Your Finger" Live from the Reunion Tour .ruclips.net/video/XpxO1yqv5go/видео.html The camera is focused on Copeland, it is breathtaking, it like watching a drumsolo including Timpani drums, Copeland the percusionist, Anywhoo, love your channel, love your reviews, keep up the good work. Cheers JJP mate 🎶🎵🍻🍺🎵🎶
I don't have much to say about this song (which is otherwise beyond reproach), which I find hard to listen to again after all these years, given the media hype and the numerous radio appearances (I could say the same about "Message in a Bottle").
Stewart Copeland is definitely one of my all time favorite drummers ☮️
They create a great sense of space in this
They have created a 3d space we inhabit. First song that directly hit me that way.
One of my faves from The Police. Rick Beato featured this one on What Makes This Song Great. He breaks down perfectly what I like about The Police so much.
Came for the Police, stayed for the Jiji shirt.
Just googled Jiji shirt cool I had no idea lol
😁
There's a trick to many of the Police's best songs that comes from Sting writing them for the bass, rather than using a chord-based instrument like a guitar or piano. The verses wander all over the place without seeming to have a chord pattern, then he turns to a chord-based structure for the choruses, making them seem twice as catchy in comparison. This song, "Roxanne", and "Message in a Bottle" all use this trick, as do many of Sting's early solo hits (the majestic "Fortress around your heart" is a perfect example).
The beds too big without you was another brilliant song by the police.
"Giant steps" were what the Police were taking when they were musically "walking the moon" way back then
I remember recommending this song about 6 years ago. I'm glad to finally see the joy it brought to you.
One of my favourite Police songs.The band's mastery shows in the subtle touches. Agreed on Copeland. I am surprised Justin hadn't heard this before.
Yes, I thought it’d be a review but, no. Kinda jealous of an initial listen.
Great song. I've just started listening to the polices discography. I knew all of their singles. I enjoy your reactions after I have listened to an album or a song. ❤
See Rick Beato's dissecting of this song on his What Makes This Song Great series. He had a copy of the original multitrack with parts that weren't included on the release, and relevant excerpts from interviews he has done (eg. Stewart Copeland talking about using a delay on the drums).
I was sitting in the original raw bar, Key West, Florida, November 1979 when the bartender played this on his mixtape and the world changed.
My favorite drum track on a Police song. In his conversation with Rick Beato, Copeland describes how he used an echo/delay device attached to his drums for this track.
love the Kikki's Delivery Service image of JiJi on your singlet - studio ghibli rules
One of my top 5 fave Police songs. Also a good example of how a great bridge/chorus can elevate an entire song. The whole album is awesome.
They were brilliantly marketed because they had that pop icon image with posters on bedroom walls and of course Sting was a big heartthrob. The music though, was just brilliant and so innovative. Unlike other pop stars of the time with the same image machine behind them, The Police were different because they wrote great songs with sophisticated musicianship that was so influential. They really ushered in that whole reggae and world beat fusion with pop and rock that became so big at the time.
One of my favorites by The Police.
Fantastic song! Love the space. Love the melody. Love the guitars. Love the snare rim sound. 😎
Always fun to watch you react to Stewart's playing.
When this was first written, I wonder how long it took to know that it would never be an album track hidden away, listened to only by serious fans, but played so much on radio, TV, and so on, that even I (born 5 years after it was released) feel it is familiar like an old friend.
Man, I really need to listen to some full albums by these guys soon! Basically every song I've heard is great but I only know Synchronicity front to back. Thanks for reminding me.
This song is just perfect!!! Copeland is incredible!!
And yeah, in Brazil we have a very popular band influenced by Police: Paralamas do Sucesso (Fenders of Sucess, don't ask me why). If you please, react songs like 'Óculos', 'Ska' or 'Perplexo'...
LOL! I'd mentioned The Police and the song 'Contact' from this same album to my Son only moments ago, and then I was notified of this video! 😅
'Walking On The Moon' had been my absolute favourite song for a veeeeery long time! Exciting to find out now what young Justin thinks of it!
😁👍
Perfect timing!
@@JustJP - Totes! 😀 And it hadn't stopped there either! 😄
Great reaction/analysis, by the way!
😉👍 It's pretty clever how Stewie hits the snare drum only in that one spot, making it really stand out and creating the song's peak 😍
'Walking On The Moon' also reminds me of my Grandmother: I was walking around our family home's front yard when I was 10 and the song a Hit and with it blasting from my cassette tape player I was carrying around with me, when I heard her yell "Turn that noise down, boy!" 😅
Great track, one of my favorites by The Police. I like to listen to it while traveling, which can often be a tense experience these days. The song kind of puts me in trance and the stress just melts away.
Happy to see you reviewing and enjoying Reggatta de Blanc. It's still my favourite album of all time since first getting a copy in 1979. Although a lot choose Synchronicity as best Police album, Reggatta will always be my favourite. Tighter than Outlandos, to me, Reggatta was the pure Police sound. By Synchronicity, it felt more like a Sting solo album with Andy and Stuart as session musicians.
The guitar really cuts through on this track. Number 1 here in the UK at the end of the 70's when The Police and Blondie were
massive and had many number 1's. Played that whole album for first time in years, some great tracks.
Sting was a jazz musician before he met Stewart. It’s very possible that Giant Steps is a reference to Coltrane.
Good catch.
I have no problem with early Police, they weren't boring yet.
A master piece that this one. From the three of us ! Brilliant. The atmosphere. The Police delivers a huge amount of jewels, but this one ! Ooooh.
Thank you JP.
When I was a kid, I didn't like or understand the reggae vibes. I think it was this song that made me change my point of view
Either this or "Invisible Sun" is my favourite Police song. That minimalist reggae groove with the single clangy guitar chord on top will never get old.
There was a comedy troupe around in the early 80s who did parodies of famous bands from the period. One of them was a Police send-up called "Too Depressed To Commit Suicide", based largely around this song. I find their stuff hit and miss but I really laughed at that one. Plus Sting apparently hated it.
Very good song. It was written in minutes, and I think you can hear that, but what makes it interesting is how SPACIOUS it is.
Copeland's hi-hat work here wouldn't....well, work if the arrangement was busy and cluttered, but because he's got a galaxy
all to himself to fool around in, it works like a charm.
Oh, Justin.......Genesis!!
Saw them live in there pomp, late seventies absolutely brilliant live,sting is a very underrated song writer in my opinion. There first 2 albums are classics.
I don’t care if my leg don’t break.
One of my favorite Police songs. Thanks for the reaction JP!
Synchronicity 2 is my fav one from them :)
This song has been a favorite since the album was released. Sooo good.
Classic Album
Always loved this! Do you hear the little electronica under it all? Yes, Stewart is brilliant.
Timeless. ~ C ~
Said this before, takes me back to working a side job doing a restaurant bar mural with my girlfriend. The place had a terrific sound system and I had permission to use it… and this 8track was brand new, we were dancing and painting on the moon. Subject matter was a jungle landscapy thing.
Definitely one of the boys' vibeiest tunes...a very deep cut classic...and wow, what Stuart Copeland did with the drums. And that is even before we talk about the use of echoes. LOL
Jamaican's did this groove for a decade but it took white lads to make serious money...Don't misunderstand me - I like it, but it's facsimile.
Stewart's drumming *is* undeniably fantastic; tight band, photogenic.
Hi Justin. Dave from London, loving this Moonwalk song. Bought this single back in 79. Their second UK number one, and it has a magical feel to it.
P.S. my song ref Moonwalk is an instrumental by Moon Safari, from the same album as Methuselah's Children which you reacted to.
I only recently learned that it is Andy Summers who plays the synthesiser on this song and in general keyboard parts on the album, all though I knew he practised piano in his youth.
Referring to that Jiji shirt, please react to the song "If I've Been Enveloped in Tenderness" which is the theme song of Kiki's Delivery Service, of course in the original Japanese version.
And "The Bed's Too Big Without You " mono version. A lot better remake of the song on the album for special single's collector box.
since ever a great song
Tough call to say it is my favorite song on a real good album. The drummer makes this song for me. The perfect amount of percussion. The drums and guitar together then carries the light and bouncing feeling of a new love. A drummer using a large kit would have ruined this song.
Hiya, new subscriber from the Netherlands here, Oh nice to meet you, too! Thank you. 😉One of my favourite Police/Copeland vids is "Wrapped Around Your Finger" Live from the Reunion Tour .ruclips.net/video/XpxO1yqv5go/видео.html The camera is focused on Copeland, it is breathtaking, it like watching a drumsolo including Timpani drums, Copeland the percusionist, Anywhoo, love your channel, love your reviews, keep up the good work. Cheers JJP mate 🎶🎵🍻🍺🎵🎶
Hi there Eddie! Ty for stopping in and watching! :D Appreciate the suggestion as well
Keep it up!
Eyooo eyo yo yo yo.
Just wondering if you are ever going to listen to more Mike Oldfield
Nice T-shirt 🙂
Ty 🙂
The bass seems so simple but I never reach to respect the syncopation !
The police were hired by Nasa to write this song. It's purpose was to help convince people that the moon landings were real.
I'm not even sure that Sting is real O-o
Copeland is a white boy raised by West Indians
I don't have much to say about this song (which is otherwise beyond reproach), which I find hard to listen to again after all these years, given the media hype and the numerous radio appearances (I could say the same about "Message in a Bottle").
why have you not reacted to the cure pornography cmon i need to see you reaction lol
I did already 😉ruclips.net/video/f_XPdCIoMoI/видео.html
Amazing what you can create with such sparse choice of instruments.