Police tracks stingified not policified

[sun]

[quote="hollo"]... and it seems that tracks like voices inside my head that they performed are similar to arrangments sting does on his solo tour circa 2005/2006.[/quote]

Did Sting really play 'Voices' recently? At least I can't remember hearing this song at the shows I attended.

I'm not afraid that the songs could be 'stingified'. My impression is that The Police 2007 are a quite a balanced band.
It's natural that Sting seemed to dominate a bit at the Whisky gig because he's used to play some of the material live whereas the other two guys had to 'remember' how some parts were played (you could see this when Sting told Andy the chords for example). But I'm sure this kind of dominance will disappear after they've rehearsed enough.

[BEFAN]

[quote="PhilippeC"]So, Police 2007 will probably be the addition of all these experiences and of all of three. I think it is their force: they're not trying to sound like 1983, but just like today. They matured and they won't play for nostalgy, but for pleasure. That's a very good point.[/quote]

My thoughts exactly.

[GinaSuperCat]

Some things have changed, definitely...but several things, fortunately, have not...

From the Stewart interview DirtyMartini linked, this is one of my favorite parts..."We did have a huge argument. In fact, last week we were still having a huge argument. (laughs) Everything is different now - but nothing has changed. We spent all day with myself wanting the music going faster and Sting wanting it slower, I want the music louder, Sting wants it more quiet… all day we were arguing but at the dinner we all laughed about it. We love each other. I guess he woke up one morning and thought “I bet Stewart will slow down.” He was wrong!"

and furthermore, things aren't quite what they may have seemed <grin>

"I have to see how this Police thing works out because The Police consumes everything. I only found out about this last year when I was making this movie. It ate my life! Everything I planned for that year I had to put aside because The Police is bigger than anything in my life. Well, Sting found that out a couple of weeks ago, too. I really enjoy watching him right now. He thought he could open the door a little bit and see what it’s like. But it’s not that easy!"

http://pingmag.jp/2007/04/05/stewart-co ... ne-stares/

The Police is bigger than any one of them, always has been...Nostalgia may have been the initiating point of the reunion, but oncethat force got the Police back together and the three of them collide, something strange and wonderful happens...and that's beyond the design of any one of them...they all are surprised at the response...and Sting is surprised at the forces unleashed in *the power of the three*...it's like Charmed, I tell ya <grin>

I think it would be partialy silly for them to pretend like they are 24 (or 34 in Andy's case, giggle) again...I think it's far classier and a more attractive nod to being a bit older precisely to roll as you are rather than trying to look/sound/act as you were at 24...nothing makes you look more elegant and young than being comfortable in your skin at your age, especially when you look as hawt as they do...nothing makes you look older than trying to look/act half your age...that only reinforces the notion that you were once great, and are merely trying to recapture that moment, rather than being great, keeping the past with you, but in the present with an openess towards the future...

I don't think Stewart would kill you DMotD about your connection with jazz...besides the point that Andy and Sting have been so heavily invested (Andy's training) in it and Stewart's training was pure jazz, how can rocked out jazz overtones not be the case <grin>...As Stewart said in the infamous jazz interview, he likes to poke at the jazz 'snobs' with a stick but I think that's less about the music and more about the avant-garde ethos/pretension that sometimes acompanies...he has mentioned Jack Dejohnette, Tony Williams, Budy Rich, Gene Krupa, etc. as jazz drummers he really dug...he's critiquing it as only one could do from within it...even though in his own playing he went 'beyond' jazz...

[yobculture]

You also have to watch part 2 of this song ("When The World..."). I don't think it's the same at all. Lyle Workman and Josh Freese are completely different than Andy and Stewart! Compare Lyle's blistering guitar solo to Andy's guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TES83W-f ... ed&search=


I think the Police version will evolve over time.

[BongoBoy]

I may be the only one...

...I couldn't be LESS worried about it. After watching the clips I feel they will be better than ever. If loud is all you are worring about then I am not sure what you expect. They are so much better now...Stewarts sharp as a razor and Andy is always good...always surprising me, and Sting seems in fine form to me.

I don't understand all this... "Sting is gonna jazz up the Police". They ARE just a little bit older...little wiser...bit better.

Wait for the show, don't pre-judge it. They are the same guys...have some faith in them!!!

I can wait to hear some new tunes...it'll Rock!
Cheers.

[Wait and See]

>>>We did have a huge argument. In fact, last week we were still having a huge argument. (laughs) Everything is different now - but nothing has changed. We spent all day with myself wanting the music going faster and Sting wanting it slower, I want the music louder, Sting wants it more quiet… all day we were arguing but at the dinner we all laughed about it. We love each other. I guess he woke up one morning and thought “I bet Stewart will slow down. He was wrong!"<<<

I think that says it all. Hopefully they can navigate their disagreements better these days, and there won't be a problem. Stewart is basically what makes the Police the Police (and not just Sting with musicians), and it's good to hear he's having input without it getting negative. So far, it seems everything is going much better than anyone could have imagined, on many levels.


>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TES83W-f50E&mode=related&search=<<<

That arrangement was definitely lifted for the Whisky. However, neither of those guitar solos is comparable to Andy's. Those guys were primarily playing blues riffs. Andy's was far more "outside". Far more original.

Also, this was the only one that was imported. The other three songs they played were all done like the Police originals.

[Laz]

I just saw that clip of Sting w/Dominic Miller and Josh Freese and it does sound like The Police are basically doing that arrangement, which is cool, because 1. I rather enjoyed Andy's solo on it @ the Whisky and 2. as much as I respect Josh Freese as a drummer, that song just ain't happening w/o Stewart. Heck, there was another link on that page @ YouTube to another clip of Sting from the 90's doing the 1st verse of "Bring On The Night" going into "When The World..." w/no less than Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, and it STILL felt not quite right w/o Stewart.
So, definitely looking forward to what the guys are doing this year regardless.
Laz

[howardhughes]

I think the Stingification of the songs just makes em sound lame...fair enough they are his songs and he can play em how he wants.
Nevertheless, the arrangements and delivery so far havent impressed me.
Sound like a lounge band to me not a groundbreaking innovative 80's pop band.

Heres the positive reply for those of you who dont like any criticism whatsoever...............It's amazing ...I cant wait...its soooooo cool.

[Philip]

I was thinking, there was a way to be sure it will not be Stingified:

For me, Police started with a very minimal sound, just 3 instruments. When you listen to the TV appearance Georgygirl just sent the link to, you can here a very simple and clear sound. And a lot of ‘spaces’, ‘silences’.
Stingified = getting more and more complex, I think.

Regarding also the recent lute interlude, perhaps, they must go back to the essential. It’s the only way to measure the real influence of each of A, S and S (like in a typical jazz trio).

No more BIG arrangements,
more simplicity
and improvisation.

Take care

[Wait and See]

I've been similarly skeptical about Sting's approach since I heard about the reunion. That's where my screen name comes from. All we have to go on at this point are a few short videos of the first rehearsals 3-4 months ago, the Grammy performance, and the Whisky performance. If you ignore the rehearsals and look only at the actual public performances, the indications are actually pretty positive. Of the four songs they've played, only one bore the marks of Sting's solo arrangements. The rest were played very close to the originals.

I think ultimately they have to know that having sold the tickets they have to the kind of venues they're playing in, they have to generally "give the people what they want". They obviously will change some things around to "keep it interesting" for themselves, but that doesn't have to mean watering down the intensity.

[PhilippeC]

[quote="Wait and See"]I think ultimately they have to know that having sold the tickets they have to the kind of venues they're playing in, they have to generally "give the people what they want". They obviously will change some things around to "keep it interesting" for themselves, but that doesn't have to mean watering down the intensity.[/quote]

You're probably right... But those guys are complicated and honnest enough to first play what they want the way they want, no matter how many people bought the tickets. I would'nt be that much surprised if they act first the way they feel, not the way they should (regarding the market, I mean). They're not a common band, they are The Police. I'm sure they'll surprise us!

[ghostinthepolice]

[quote="PhilippeC"]But those guys are complicated and honnest enough to first play what they want the way they want, no matter how many people bought the tickets. I would'nt be that much surprised if they act first the way they feel, not the way they should (regarding the market, I mean). They're not a common band, they are The Police. I'm sure they'll surprise us! [/quote]

This is SURE!!!!!!

[DirtyMartini]

I still vote the All-Zither Funk Band route.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Well, one thing I think is sure: No way the guys are going to go out there and give less than 110% to the fans. Whatever they do will have a lot of heart and soul in it, I suspect.

I'm hoping it's got some reflections of Stewart's newer appreciation for traditional Italian music, and some of Andy's classical guitar, and hey - I'd even be up for some lute.

[GinaSuperCat]

HH: I think its less that people don't want to hear any criticism, I mean being unreflectively & uncritically sycophantic really has its limits...but I think people are responding to the fact that criticism is predominantly what's been flying about...I mean when the reunion first started (sidestepping the whole depressing Fan Club, Presales, Best Buy debacles and accompanying tirades)...all these people were saying it was just about the money, they'll just get together, play old songs and collect their checks...now that they are actually making new music--something that should prove-wrong the initial charges that they were just phoning it in for the cash--instead of people predominantly being ecstatic (I mean the Police have reformed, are touring, are making new music, and are considering an album, FFS) about the new music, there's just something else to complain about: is it going to be any good? Is Sting going to take over again? Is Stewart going to be Sting giving a hard time? Are they fighting already? Is there new music just glorified jazz (LOL...I'll take 'jazz' any day from these three, are you f'in kidding me? <grin>) Are the new songs being rejected by record execs (LAFF, seriously)? Are they in good enought shape to hit the road (ummm...they an kick anyone's ass, I'm sure)? Are they going to be like they were in 1978, still burning down the world? Is this going to happen? Is that going to happen? Are they going to drop dead, am I going to drop dead?...I mean for every one post stating "yay, new music...I'm in heaven" there are four posts deflating the hapiness with the above questions, charges, suspicions...

There should always be space for criticism...and disagreement...stagnation and complete agreement is just about as frightful of a prospect as imaginable...but I think the frustration people have (just in my observation) is with the *proportion*...it really, truly seems that nothing will make a lot of people happy...I try to read this positively: people are just excited, nervous, and all wound up (we all know how the "what ifs" come flooding in under those circumstances)...but I really don't envy the Police...or any artist of their fame and stature...trying to create something new when all this doubt...from their "fans" FFS...just seems to take over as the predonimant preoccupation...

It just goes to show...to distort Bob Marley...you can please some people some time...but you cant please all the people all the time...I really don't envy the Police who seem to care enough about their fans that they take their opinions into consideration...***At this point*** I think that they deserve complete positivity, support, and good vibes from their fans...***in the stages of preparation, creation, and composition***...when the final product is released (the shows, the songs, the album)...then THAT IS THE TIME TO JUDGE/ ASSESS/ EVALUATE...some people will like, some people won't like, and that's fine...just like thier older works, there will be differing opinions...***but this is not the time,*** in my opinion for all this judgement about the quality of what they have yet to even produce, FFS <grin> Give them some benefit of the doubt...until there is somethng to actually either praise or criticise is all I'm saying <grin>

All we are saying, is give the Police a chance!