Roxanne (song)
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| "Roxanne" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Police | ||
| from the album Outlandos d'Amour | ||
| Released | April 1978 April 1979 (re-release) |
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| Format | vinyl record (7") | |
| Recorded | 1978 | |
| Genre | New Wave | |
| Length | 3:14 | |
| Label | A&M Records | |
| Writer(s) | Sting | |
| Producer(s) | Stewart Copeland, Sting, Andy Summers |
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| Chart positions | ||
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| The Police singles chronology | ||
| "Fall Out" (1977) |
"Roxanne" (1979) |
"Can't Stand Losing You" (1979) |
- For the song "Roxanne, Roxanne" by U.T.F.O. and the rejoinders including "Roxanne's Revenge" by Roxanne Shanté, see Roxanne Wars
"Roxanne" is a hit song by the rock band The Police, first released in 1978 as a single and on their album Outlandos d'Amour.
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[edit] History
Police lead singer Sting wrote the song, inspired by the prostitutes he saw near the band's seedy hotel while in Paris, France in October 1977 to perform at the Nashville Club. The title of the song comes from the name of the character in the play Cyrano de Bergerac, an old poster of which was hanging in the hotel foyer.
Sting had originally conceived the song as a bossa nova, although he credits Police drummer Stewart Copeland for suggesting its final rhythmic form as a tango. During recording, Sting accidentally sat down on a piano keyboard in the studio, resulting in the atonal piano chord and laughter preserved at the beginning of the track. The Police were initially diffident about the song, but Miles Copeland III was immediately enthusiastic after hearing it, becoming their manager and getting them their first record deal with A&M Records. The single did not chart at first, but it was re-released in April 1979 and reached #12 in the UK and #32 in the U.S., and went on to become one of the classic Police songs as well as a staple of Sting's performances during his solo career.
Rolling Stone ranked it #388 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
This was also the appropriately first song the band performed live (at the 2007 Grammy Awards) to kick off their 30th Anniversary Reunion Tour.
[edit] Music Video
There were three different music videos released for "Roxanne". The first shows the band performing the song onstage in what looks like a soundcheck for a concert. The second version was shot on a soundstage and shows the band performing behind a red backdrop. The third version is identical to the second except the footage was transferred from videotape to film and has a grainy quality to it.
[edit] Cover versions
Variations of this song were performed by George Michael on his 1999 covers album Songs from the Last Century, and by Ewan McGregor, Jose Feliciano, Jacek Koman & Richard Roxburgh in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! In 2005, the song was also recorded by the Chicago rock band Fall Out Boy for a limited edition release of their CD, Take This To Your Grave. On November 28th, 2006, it was featured on the reality show Rock Star: Supernova, performed by Chris Pierson and later Dilana.
This song was also sampled by the rapper Cam'ron for his 2000 single "What Means the World to You", taken from his second album S.D.E. (Sports, Drugs and Entertainment).
In 2006, using Spanglish lyrics, Angela Via sampled the song in "She Used To Be A Friend".
During their 2006 shows whilst promoting their album Game Theory, hip hop group The Roots used Roxanne in their song list with drummer ?uestlove singing.
[edit] Cultural references
"Roxanne" is famously featured for comedic effect in the movie 48 Hrs. In the scene when Eddie Murphy's character is introduced to the audience, he is loudly singing along to the song which is playing on his Walkman (terribly mimicking Sting's voice). This moment was later imitated in the sequel Another 48 Hrs.
The song is heard in the Phyllis' Wedding episode of The Office as played by Scrantonicity, the Police cover band featuring Dunder Mifflin accountant Kevin Malone. Additionally, on their album covering Scrantonicity songs, La Iglesia No Amplificada recorded a version of this song, including the "Uncle Al is Missing" segue featured in Scrantonicity's live performances.
A&M Records, the bands record company, are promoting the current 2007 reunion tour as the 30th anniversary of the release of their first single and not indeed that of the bands creation. ABC reported "This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of "Roxanne," the single that broke the Police in the United States." The single itself was released in April 1978. [1]
There is a popular drinking game amongst youth called "Roxanne," in which the Police's song is played, and for every time they sing 'Roxanne,' all the men in the room take a sip of beer, and on 'red light,' all the women in the room take a sip of beer.
| The Police |
|---|
| Sting | Andy Summers | Stewart Copeland |
| Henry Padovani |
| Discography |
| Studio Albums: Outlandos d'Amour (1978) | Reggatta de Blanc (1979) | Zenyatta Mondatta (1980) | Ghost in the Machine (1981) | Synchronicity (1983) |
| Live Albums: Live! (1995) |
| Compilation Albums: Every Breath You Take: The Singles (1986) | Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings (1993) | Every Breath You Take: The Classics (1995) | The Very Best of Sting & The Police (1997, 2002) |
| Tours |
| Early Years (1977-80) | The Police Around the World Tour (Zenyatta Mondatta Tour) (1980-81) | Ghost in the Machine Tour (1981-82) | Synchronicity Tour (1983-84) | A Conspiracy of Hope Tour (1986) | The Police Reunion Tour (2007-08) |
