Stewart: A Few (humble) Suggestions

[Mrs. Gradenko]

I still think it would be really cool if Stewart would have another camera on stage.... behind him (that was my favorite part).


I just realised how that sounds, I ment behind his drum set, swear!

[Wait and See]

Just to illustrate a few of my points:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duXohSAjP2w

- Andy's guitar sound
- Sting playing with a pick

Also:

- Stewart's drumming is insane.
- Listen to how much the song speeds up and slows down.
- Notice how much the band's whole sound depends on Stewart's playing.
- Andy and Stewart are singing backup live, and don't seem to have any problem.


The biggest difference may be how much more assurance they seemed to have in their playing back then. I'm sure some of that'll come back as they continue.

If they've got Stew tied down to a click, it's gotta be killing him...

[Philip]

Wait and see. can you forgive me ? If this is your argument : then “Yes, definitively”, what you see/hear on this video is 1000% better than what we get now. No matter if no one recognizes, but, I’m with you now. You are right.
I now think the best thing they should have done is:

1) do a new album
2) do a tour with 50% of standards with same sound as on the video + 50 % completely new songs.

What they do now, is bastard. Sorry.

Gina: 2 thinks I need to tell you:
- a big fat cheeseburger is something good. But you better not abuse of it;
- for me the police is “Music” not a “spectacle”.

!!!

[Wait and See]

I didn't say what they're doing now "is bastard". There is just some room for improvement. They're never going to be exactly as they were 30 years ago. To expect that would be ridiculous.

[DirtyMartini]

Goods gods how I love that clip.


[quote="Wait and See"]If they've got Stew tied down to a click, it's gotta be killing him...[/quote]

Yup.

[quote="Wait and See"]There is just some room for improvement. They're never going to be exactly as they were 30 years ago. To expect that would be ridiculous.[/quote]

Yup. (And neither are we.)

The band have done some incredible work so far, but as you said, there's always room for improvement. Things will evolve as the tour progresses -- they always do. Some of it some of us will love. Some of it some of us won't. That's the nature of the beast.

Looks like we'll just have to Wait and See.

[Philip]

It's not you who said it's bastard, it's me & I assume

To be positive: I still think the only persone who can get it right is Stewart. Polisified = Stewardified !
more energy, more simplicity, little silences betveen the phrasing, tempo changes...

It depends on Stewart.

He plays really good, now if he can lead the 2 others in the direction some musicians noticed in this board. It will be great... hope they are rady when they arrive to Europe.

Stewart (did I said ?)

[sockii]

[quote="secretjourneyranch"]I think the new Truth is better than the old Truth

It finally has a haunting melody line instead of Sting fighting to get all the words in before SC breaks into the bridge and AS holding on for dear life...[/quote]

I do have to agree on this, even though I know it's not to all folks' taste. I never actually cared for Truth Hits until I heard the incredibly haunting '83 version that just seemed to suit the lyrics so much better...actually I'd kind of like to hear THAT version on the tour, but I like the '07 version better than the original (I guess I'd rank them '83 > '07 > '78 )

[Wait and See]

>>>Yup. (And neither are we.) <<<

Yeah...I was 2.

>>>He plays really good, now if he can lead the 2 others in the direction some musicians noticed in this board.<<<

The problem is, he can only go so far. Can't push too hard. Got to keep things running smoothly.

>>>I do have to agree on this, even though I know it's not to all folks' taste.<<<

Definitely not mine. They need to ROCK. That's what's lacking right now.

If anybody wants, go back and watch what happens from about 3:08 to 3:36 in that video. Halfway through Andy's guitar solo, Stewart TAKES OFF. By the time they get to the chorus, they're going 100 mph. Then when the chorus is over he breaks it down, nice and laid back. He does that several times over the course of the song.

Apparently the only response this has ever gotten from Andy and Sting is annoyance. They used to go along with it, but now they just crap on it. It's genius. And it probably wasn't pre-planned either, it was just what sounded right. I went through some of this repeatedly when I used to be in bands, except I played guitar and the issues were volume and taking off down rabbit holes and expecting everybody else to follow. Well guess what? What I was doing usually worked, and I could outplay everybody else in the band. I probably appreciate Stew's approach for that reason. The dude is the Jimi Hendrix or Eddie Van Halen of drums. You can't tie his hands. Most bands have a lead guitar player, the Police have Stewart Copeland.

Ah well. Gotta keep everybody happy or there's no band. Maybe that's why I quit and Stew's on a world tour. He figured out you have to give in sometimes, even if you're usually right.

Can't take anything away from Sting either. You can be the greatest player ever, but if you don't have songs and somebody who can sing them, you're not going anywhere.

[Philip]

W&S: what you say makes sens. - the Police have Stewart Copeland -

[hollo]

I am saying this. The chorus of don't stand so close to me is better and more melodic than the original and better than the 86 version.I've been listening to it repeat on youtube. It's am amazing reworking of an excellent song. Breathed new life into it. Stewart keep this the same and bring back bring on the night in place of murder by numbers.

[DirtyMartini]

[quote="Wait and See"]>>>Yup. (And neither are we.) <<<

Yeah...I was 2. [/quote]

Tee hee. So was I!


[quote="Wait and See"]Apparently the only response this has ever gotten from Andy and Sting is annoyance. They used to go along with it, but now they just crap on it. It's genius. [/quote]

Can't verify the current crapping part -- never have talked to the guys -- but historically some of the SC genius has definitely been to play with the tempo. It gives it all an organic feel -- and allows SC to go with all those fast and furious instincts.


[quote="Wait and See"]The dude is the Jimi Hendrix or Eddie Van Halen of drums. You can't tie his hands. Most bands have a lead guitar player, the Police have Stewart Copeland.[/quote]

Sing it, Brother!

I can tell you this much -- the audiences in which I sat were *completely* aware of this fact.

[Wait and See]

>>>I am saying this. The chorus of don't stand so close to me is better and more melodic than the original and better than the 86 version.I've been listening to it repeat on youtube. It's am amazing reworking of an excellent song. Breathed new life into it. Stewart keep this the same and bring back bring on the night in place of murder by numbers.<<<

You are definitely in the minority on that one.

[Wait and See]

Good example of the sound of Sting's bass w/pick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJH6clqfUI

If he had the standard right hand technique playing with his fingers it wouldn't be as much of a problem, but he plays with his thumb and forefinger like he's picking an acoustic guitar. You don't get the right kind of attack or accuracy when you use your thumb. So he ought to just use a pick if that's what he's used to.

[georgygirl]

[Duke]

Definitely not mine. They need to ROCK. That's what's lacking right now. <<


I just hope they rev it up for Bonnaroo. Take of the leash and let the beast out to play so to say. That crowd ain't gonna be in the mood for a bunch of slow tempo songs. That stuff will be fine when I see'em in St Louie but for Bonnaroo - just rip it to hell and back.