Pages

Saturday, June 02, 2018

Yeah, yeah I know . . . this is a single that I am not sure whether to be embarrassed about now given Sting's standing but heck he is touring and recording with Shaggy at the moment so some folk have no shame clearly! 
I bought this at a time in my studies of stuff when the notion of giving away what you wish to receive and paying back and love as a construct was in my mind at this time and in some odd synchronicity Sting sang this that summarised my thoughts around possessive behaviours in men, jealousy, love and belonging. I 'got' that Sting's 'Every Breath You Take' is extremely creepy and summarises what is wrong with many many men's attitude to women and the stalker principle of ownership. "I'll be Watching you!" There is a still self serving element to the notion that you get back a thousandfold what you choose to give away but later I would come to practice and extoll the Rogerian principle if Unconditional Positive Regard as a central pivot of what this all means . . . . . . . and it's a nice song

On this day in music history: June 1, 1985 - “The Dream Of The Blue Turtles”, the debut solo album by Sting is released. Produced by Sting and Pete Smith, it is recorded at Blue Wave Studios in St. Philip, Barbados and Le Studio in Morin Heights, Montreal, Quebec, Canada from Late 1984 - Early 1985. Without making an official announcement, The Police part company in the Spring of 1984 after the highly successful “Synchronicity” album and world tour. Looking to stretch musically beyond the confines of his former band, Sting puts together a band featuring jazz musicians. The band features Branford Marsalis (saxophones), Darryl Jones (bass), Kenny Kirkland (keyboards), Omar Hakim (drums), Dolette McDonald and Janice Pendarvis (background vocals). Recording mostly at musician Eddy Grant’s recording studio in Barbados, the title of the album is inspired by a dream that Sting has about “giant blue turtles” invading the garden of his Hampstead home. When word about the project becomes public knowledge, many critics and fans are skeptical about the album prior its release, especially Sting’s record label, A&M Records feeling that he is taking a big risk by moving away from his tried and true musical formula. That skepticism disappears once the public hears it. A seamless blend of jazz and pop, the songs are inspired by a number of subjects including concerns over the looming threat of nuclear war (“Russians” #16 Pop), workers rights, (“We Work The Black Seam”), the welfare of young children (“Children’s Crusade”), to healing relationships after they end acrimoniously (“Fortress Around Your Heart” #8 Pop). The album is a major critical and commercial success, spinning off four singles (five in the UK). The first single “If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free” (#3 Pop), is written a thematic sequel to The Police classic “Every Breath You Take”. Many people misconstrue “Every Breath” as a love song, when it actually is the complete opposite, being about obsession, jealousy and control. “If You Love Somebody” is written as “an antidote” to the previous song. “Blue Turtles” also receives four Grammy nominations including Album Of The Year" in 1986. Out of print on vinyl since the late 80’s, it is reissued by Simply Vinyl in 1999, as part of Universal’s “Back To Black” series in 2008. A new vinyl remastering pressed on 180 gram vinyl is reissued in 2016. “The Dream Of The Blue Turtles” peaks at number three on the UK album chart, spending six weeks at number two (behind Dire Straits’ “Brothers In Arms”) on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 3x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

No comments:

Post a Comment