Andy Summers: How The Police wrote "Message in a Bottle"

Summary

In this engaging conversation, Sting reflects on the unique musical elements that made the iconic song "Message in a Bottle" a hit. He delves into the open fifths voicings, a distinct technique he employed to outline the chords, leaving out the third and creating a dark, mysterious sound. Sting also discusses his musical education, mentioning his love for Bach violin duets, which influenced his approach to songwriting. He fondly recalls the studio session where the label executives recognized the song's potential, and shares his continued joy in performing it live, where it remains a crowd-pleaser. The discussion also touches on Sting's musical collaboration with his son, highlighting the power of music to inspire and connect across generations.

Takeaways

• 🎸 The unique use of open fifths voicings in the song provides a distinctive hook, making the song stand out with its construction.
• 🤖 The approach of playing chords by omitting certain notes, like the third in a C minor chord, creates a specific sound that defined the artist's style.
• 🎹 The artist draws inspiration from classical music, particularly Bach violin duets, influencing their musical approach and ideas.
• 📝 Discussing the potential for a new guitar project based on classical music shows the artist's continuous pursuit of musical exploration and innovation.
• 📢 Emphasizes the importance of subscribing to the channel to support the content and future projects, highlighting community engagement.
• 🎵 The songwriting process and the creation of riffs and harmonies are collaborative, evolving through experimentation and mutual discovery among band members.
• 🎧 The reception of the song by industry professionals was overwhelmingly positive, indicating its potential success even before its release.
• 📺 Reflecting on the enduring quality of the song, the artist believes it will remain relevant and appreciated for decades to come.
• 💯 The artist expresses a deep connection to the song, continuing to perform it with enthusiasm and considering it a highlight of their career.
• 🙌 The power of music to connect, inspire, and elevate performances is a recurring theme, illustrated through personal anecdotes involving family and live performances.

Q & A

What unique aspect of the music composition did the speaker highlight?

The speaker mentioned the use of open fifths voicings, which was a unique and unusual approach to composing the song.

How did the speaker describe the song's structure?

The speaker described the song as having "hook after hook after hook," indicating that it had multiple catchy and memorable sections.

What guitar voicing technique did the speaker use to outline the chords?

The speaker used a technique of leaving out the third note in each chord, playing only the root, fifth, and seventh notes (e.g., C, G#, and D# for a C minor chord).

What musical influence did the speaker mention?

The speaker mentioned being influenced by Bach violin duets, which he found musically interesting and educational.

What was the reaction when the speaker played the song for the first time in the studio?

Two representatives from the A&M record company were thrilled and grinning ear to ear when they heard the song, indicating that the speaker knew it would be a hit.

How did the speaker describe the songwriting?

The speaker called it "the best song he [Sting] ever wrote" and a "great piece of songwriting," highlighting the song's imagery and the chord progression.

Why does the speaker continue to play the song in his current shows?

The speaker still loves playing the song and considers it a great way to end his shows, with the audience getting up and singing along.

How did the songwriting process work for the band?

The songwriting process was not straightforward, starting from an empty tape and gradually coming together through the band members' moody and dark contributions.

What did the speaker say about the drummer's performance on the track?

The speaker complimented the drummer (Stuart Copeland) and said it was the greatest drum track he ever recorded, driven by the song itself and its structure.

What recent musical collaboration did the speaker mention?

The speaker mentioned playing drums with his son Anton during the pandemic, noting that his son's drumming improved as the speaker pushed himself to play better, illustrating the power of music.