Great idea for a series although I was thinking they need to get a teenager on the panel. Someone whose never heard the Police before and doesn't have all the baggage and expectation that older people might have about something that was so important to them. I worked in a record store during the years the Police first tasted success. Back then TV and radio exposure brought the buyers in. As well as hearing the tracks at their friends houses etc. I'm not so sure 'the kids' would get the same exposure to the Police via TV and radio today that they had back then . In today's world, I reckon something else other than simply the music would have to happen to add the necessary hype needed today to get them to CZcams or Spotify the tunes.
I actually didn't discover The Police until 1999 on some retro station. I knew of them, but I heard these really interesting songs and was fascinated and over time found it was The Police. I still wager a person who genuinely likes music would have the same reaction today.
If Sting, Stuart Copeland and Andy Summers where born 40 years after they were then they would undoubtedly be hugely succesfull today. It's just that the music they'd make wouldn't sound anything like the Police's records. The Police were heavily influenced by both punk and reggae which at the time in the late 70's were very influential underground genres, totally cool. Today they would choose modern totally cool genres as influences. I can't say what those influences would be becasue the definition of a totally cool underground genre is that old wrinklies like me have never heard of it let alone heard it.
not only this but the Record Companies don't care what Mr. Beato thinks, be it good or hooky or whatever. All they care about is if the tune will remove money from the general public's wallet's and put it into their hands.
I like that! Unfortunately, Digital killed the Rock Star. No more feel because everything "popular" is recorded to a click-track. Underground still Rocks, though!
I’m 23 now and I remember hearing Every Breath You Take around the age of 6 being absolutely stuck there needing to know where this song was taking me. Their music is too undeniable even for today. Awesome video concept, too!
I'm trying so hard to get a project finished and then I see a "Rick Beato- new video" notification- plus it's about my favorite band of all time, The Police. How am I supposed to get anything done, Rick?!
Three incredible musicians combined w one of best songwriters of this era with a unique voice. Of course they would make it. Great music transcends generations.
Message in a Bottle is still the greatest pop song ever written. The combination of the riff, Copeland's sparse and open drums, and Sting's voice are yet to be surpassed
Not only are there better pop songs, there are also better songs that The Police has done. It's a great song, but singing 'sending out an SOS' for a minute gets annoying quick
I agree....and Rick, here's an offshoot to cover when doing this series. Who would not have made it if X didn't exist to lay the groundwork? As in No Doubt wouldn't have been huge if The Police didn't exist first.
I wish I could be in that same head space when I heard Walking on the Moon for the first time as a kid in primary school. It seemed other worldly and alien, but absolutely cool at the same time.
The Police would make it. Their songs, talent and image all hold up. However, there would be incredible challenges to adapting to the new environment. You guys forgot one major reason, though- Two words: Miles Copeland. He is one of the huge factors in the success of The Police. Miles aggressively pushed the band into every corner of the world. The band support and development time they were given was essential to their growth as a tight, live unit, which translated into tighter albums later on. Before the success of 'Roxanne', The Police were sent out to tour America for an entire year, playing in very small clubs. This also allowed them to grow their fanbase in a grassroots manner, developing life-long fans, while getting tighter and working out new ideas. Labels don't sign and invest in band development or provide tour support for unknown acts like they did back then. However, I believe that the absolute tenacity, intellect and aggressive character of Miles would be able to solve today's issues, albeit in a new manner. Additionally, Ian Copeland's hard word at I.R.S. records behind the scenes was also essential. Great video! Thanks, guys!
I agree. Too many record companies nowadays don't believe in their talent except as cash cows, and don't support them as much as record companies used to do. I suspect that a lot of that comes from the fact that all you need to do is look good and move fluidly on stage, as AutoTune will correct your God-awful vocals. How much singing talent do you need to make it big when you're told to sing deliberately off-key into the mic so AutoTune can make a hard correction on it and get it to whine?
But would they get airtime? Would they even get signed with what labels are looking for. I just think it would be near impossible with all the road blocks.
The Police's reggae and ska beats along with the awesome song writing and arranging would make them a huge hit today. Reggae and ska stuff has been pretty hot in the past decade, at least, and it's still hot today. The Police took their Bob Marley influence and expanded on it and added a whole new dimension to it. The Police's music is timeless. It will never get old or outdated. :)
I agree with the Emperor Their music is undeniable, but Sting puts them over the top. he is the unicorn. Striking good looks, charm, and a unique and wonderful voice.
Those currently "making it" (more than $100k per year, the current lower middle class number) are autotuned and electronically enhanced via electro drums and bass to infinity. Reason: it's cheap for someone like Rick to do all the tracks and play all the instruments (he's a highly skilled musician). Cut him a check for 20k for a month or two worth of work. Then let the relatively skinny bodied autotuned types come in to sing the songs. then hire your self a gun like Rhett to play next to you on tour for 7K per month, and you have the corporatization of music ladies and gents. Congrats. I wonder why Radio sucks?
Před 6 lety+2
@@youKnowWho3311 - Totally agree and falls in line with my outlook. Besides, back in the day, records were still THE way to go. There was nothing like walking out of the music store carrying a couple records. Nowadays, you can just buy an album online, download to the computer's hard drive and that's it. Plus, even with music downloads, the music is too cold and digitized. No more warmth from vinyl on a turntable, or even an old record player. And who was to blame? The music industry itself. They never initially cracked down on internet music downloads like Napster. That was their death sentence. Gene Simmons was right in what I stated. He said that you can't expect to gather any eggs when you let a fox into the henhouse.
they could still be able to but they'd have to have a different skillset and different sound. rock is not at the cutting edge and there's no longer hype around it
if they did something a certain decade it doesnt mean they would have done the same a few decades later, if you're an innovator or a pioneer you are going to go where no other act has gone no matter what and if you have music training you can make it make musical sense and sound great. But I think it takes a more rounded skillset nowadays, back in the day only one writer per band could make the whole band succeed and prosper. Now people who are able to make it often produce AND write at least a fair bit
Just when you think you can't love Beato even more he drops this one on you!!! When The World is Running Down Driven To Tears Regatta De Blanc Next To You So Lonely Walking On The Moon Watch the video that Stewart Copeland made called "Everyone Stares" or something like that. It is phenomenal and shows how these guys made it big. Andy Summers is in my opinion of the masters of modern rock guitar. IN BEATO WE TRUST!!!!
I cannot believe you started a series on this! My family was just discussing this! Thank you SO MUCH! I can't wait to see who you feature in this series.Dude, you're great.
The sad thing is that these current Hiphop artists adopted the "Producer" moniker but if you'd ask them about the work of George Martin (Beatles, Jeff Beck), Allan Parsons (Pink Floyd), Daniel Lanois (Peter Gabriel, U2) or even a guy like Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers) they probably wouldn't know anything to say about them.
I was dancing in the youth clubs as a teenager in the UK when 'Can't Stand Losing', 'Message in Bottle', 'Don't Stand So Close', 'Walking on the Moon', and so many more came out. The feeling was always that these are songs you just have to get up and dance to, you have to sing along to, they made you feel good, relaxed, swaying, moving or jumping around aka punk style. They seemed to catch something of the whole teenage feeling of the time, the rebelliousness, the pointlessness and anarchy of urban life, the idea that music was something to lose yourself in, as an expression of 'rage against the machine', but with something beautiful behind it, something chilled and laid back. Very few bands have succeeded in creating such a unique sound, piano, rhythms, bass, and Sting's vocals. His vocals just hang there, like a voice in a cathedral, piercing, arching upwards, and sucking you in.
Not on the Top 40. But they would dominate the College Radio charts. No, they wouldn't have the same success as the 1980s.They rode the momentum of Punk, Ska, & New Wave movements.
I remember hearing Roxanne the first time on the radio. I had a radio playing on the front porch....it came on.... And a car going by heard it, stopped to listen. They heard part of it before and wanted to hear the whole song. Once I gave them the station they blasted it in their car as they pulled away. It was amazing. I remember thinking how Funkey they sounded and thinking bands like them, Blondie and the Pretenders sounded so different to us. I was 15 yrs old when it came out. I was singing "Roxanne" all the time and my Dad would give me a look. Slept out 5 days for Sycronicity tickets....love them....would people find them appealing now? Yeah, I think people are starved for original, interesting, fresh music. The Police were not a band with a great front man but three great musicians who each contributed their creativity to the band's sound.
Great topic for discussion! I would love to hear your thoughts on this exact question applied to some of the great classical musicians/performers of the last century. Also...respect to Dan for learning lyrics in Spanish like that, I loved that little anecdote :) Gotta love how musicians work...
Interstingly, they nearly didn't make it then - "Roxanne" was out out nearly a year before it was re-released a year later and picked up by the public...Great idea for a show keep 'em coming.
Totally true. I was the only person in my peer group that liked them (and we didn't hear them until the re-release you mentioned.) Their style sounded very unusual at the time, and most folks don't accept unusual new styles immediately. That was a time when every concert had a guy in the crowd screaming "FREEBIRD! FREEBIRD!" (no matter who the band were.) I bet they heard that a lot on their first tour.
Ha ! gliddofglood you pinched my next revelation...But it does show that success is a bit of a lottery no matter the era...I still believe that The Police would still be a hit...Dire Straits less likely...
The explanation behind why The Police are so great is so much simpler than you guys explain. The Police unlike many bands have groove, rhythm, moveable-music. Aside from every member of The Police being some of the greatest jazz/rock/blues/reggae etc. musicians of their time, they know how to write songs with dynamic, creative rhythms thanks to their jazz background.
ike6252 - Tikaal Covers yes you're right, but The Police, already masters of groove, combine that with great musicianship and a pretty boy front man doesn't hurt either. I'd say to be successful artists you need a balance of musical substance technique and easy marketing (aka pretty boys). In essence groove is not the only thing The Police had but it's a giant part of their sound and when you mix it with other parts of their identity you get huge success.
definatley im 53 and grew up with the police , but my 16 yr old son has been listining to 80s music i found him lisiting to the police and has been listing to them ever since, i dug out my old records as i have all there albums he was impressed xx
I love The Police, but if they started today, I would probably hate them. They were young and bratty and snotty back in the late 70's, and so was I. I wanted to be just like them. Now, I'm old and crotchety and I look upon any young and bratty and snotty bands with disdain. And they had better not step on my lawn. *shakes rake handle*
You and I and other crotchety auld phartz are NOT the arbiters of who will make it today. It's the young bratty snotty kids who will decide, so I think The Police might indeed make it today if they could still present themselves as their 1970s young snotty bratty selves.
The Police? Young and bratty and snotty? If you think that about the Police (they weren't even that young - Summers must have been mid 30s in 1979) then God knows how the Sex Pistols must have appeared to you.
Stewart Copeland was born in 1952 and he was the youngest. Andy Summers was born in 1942 while WWII was just getting going around the world. To me, these guys were old farts when The Police was young. But that didn't stop us from liking the music.
I know this video is old but I would like to point out one of the most important things the Police had that helped them stay creatively free: Miles Copeland. He was Stewart's brother and, yes, he was one of the most evil, pernicious things to ever exist...a businessman in the music industry. But He protected the band from the record label. He wasn't afraid to throw his weight around at the label, he knew exactly who had the power between the label and the band. All in all, the man was vicious in a business setting and fully in the corner of the band.
Great episode about a great band and one of my personal favorites. Saw their last tour in 1984 (at the Omni, now Phillips Arena) and then again at their reunion tour 23 years later. I am in agreement that based upon their talent and creativity they would make it all over again today. More specifically, Sting's prowess as a song writer, his incredible voice, charisma, and bass grooves, Stewart Copeland's melodic, poly-rhythmic drumming, and Andy Summers' guitar playing that filled out the palette. Uniqueness stands out and man these guys were all that blending rock, reggae, and jazz. Long live the power trio! I think the industry has "settled" in recent years and the bar is REALLY LOW for great musicianship and songwriting to reclaim its crown. So these guys might be bigger today than they were then. P.S. Curiosity question: How did Dan Hannon get tagged "The Emperor?"
Maybe Part II of this video is to go out into the public and have 14-17-year-olds listen to the Police, and ask what they think. Of course, there is the chance that they'll say, "Oh, yeah, I love 'em, my parents play them all the time." But rather than theorize, test your hypothesis.
Assuming we're talking young Police: They have the chops (real talent), they have a great look, THEY are marketable. Reggae is still not mainstream....nor jazz influences. Their music is different and its killer groovin' never gets old. These cats were shoestring recording and producing (with smack down lyrics) before ever being signed...the music is solid and timeless...and we knew it the first time we heard them. That value never changes....if audiences had never heard them until now....I don't think it would make any diff
The trouble is, if The Police came out today, it wouldn't sound the same. One of the biggest problems with today's music is the production methods. Take "Roxanne", quantize, pitch correct and autotune it... then compress it until it's flat. Then see how it sounds. It would sound like every other soulless song on the radio. Great series, Rick!
You guys are nailing it right on the head!!! It would never be the same today. They would find a singer who couldn’t sing without auto tune, forget about playing real instruments it would be replaced with a sample. Modern top 40 is garbage. It allllll sounds the same. No content. Kids just want a hot beat, forget about everything else.!! Content music is out! No great band from the 70’s-80’s would stand a chance today.
I think a young Sting with anyone or noone would make it at anytime, anywhere. He has an overabundance of ambition, work ethic, looks, talent, charm, charisma, intellect... hang on, I need to be by myself for a moment.
When message in a bottle came out,I remember it as a breath of fresh air,punk had done with most thoughtful rock in UK,,these guys could still play but music was to the point,think they'd make it today,but back then there was bit mystery,got news about bands bit by bit,word of mouth,now it's all there all over straight off,great idea for series!
I absolutely love The Police! I agree with everyone. They would make it, but the establishment as it is now may make it much, much harder and it may sound very off from what we know.
Dan makes a really great point around the 10.30 mark. There are 17 yr olds I know who have incredible knowledge AND feel . There is hope for musics future !This series is a great idea.
I don't care about looks or the year or the "pulse" of the people...I just care about the music and The Police simply blew me away personally. I wish somebody would do the same today. Thanks for sharing and bringing back a lot of great memories!
The music business used to be about music. Now it's about money. Yeah, I know money has always been involved, but artists like Bob Dylan could never make it today. Not the right look, not the right sound, etc, etc. For every Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood there are thousands of girls who don't look like Barbie who can absolutely sing circles around them. I know...I live in Nashville and have played bass behind some of them. Amazing singers, amazing people, but they just don't have "the look". As a middle aged man, getting gigs is difficult because I am too old (at 46). The best music, in my humble opinion, is the stuff you hear being played in the little dives and coffee shops around town. One particular place near where I live is in an old service station. They open the garage door and let the music fill the street. The owner tends bar and between pours he grabs his harmonica and plays along with the band. It's just awesome. And it's REAL music. No studio trickery, no theoretical nonsense. Just a love for music that shows in every note.
I remember hearing Roxanne when it was first released and witnessed fairly aggressive airplay rotation to make it a hit. Somehow it didn't quite catch the public mood at the time, needing a rerelease a year or two later to make it properly after videos of the band playing had made it onto our screens creating the visual inroads the band needed. So almost didn't happen first time around and they could have failed despite the obvious talent. It wasn't that long before record companies routinely started ditching new signings that didn't have a hit right off the bat. Definitely thanks to aggressive management that they pulled through!
If they had not come in the sixties, modern pop music would not be where it is now. The second coming probably would flop but imagine the how the scene would sound like had they not done what they did.
So much great music being made today, so little of it making its way into the mainstream. I wonder whether "mainstream" really even matters anymore. I keep an ear on it but can't say I enjoy any of it. Well, every now and then there's a breakout artist; one that counters the flow. I can actually listen to Bruno Mars. The Police (a band near and dear to my heart) were one of the best live acts I've ever seen. Sting's songwriting (especially in the context of The Police) was astonishingly good. My opinion is that radio would have spurned them today but the real music lovers, those of us who actually were able to find them, would totally embrace them. Rick, you've got the best value vs. time invested channel on CZcams. Keep 'em coming. (Yes, I'm one of the 505K subscribers!)
Stings voice and stage presence alone is amazing. By the way I like the work he did on "Dream of the Blue Turtles" . Did Ed Sheeran come to mind for anyone when they were discussion what makes Sting original?
I started from the premise where you guys conluded. I don't think any record company in today's market would take a chance on The Police. But they were an undeniable Force and without a doubt they would self-publish, crowdsource or something to where their art would be gifted to the universe.
The internet has diluted music to the point where if The Police came about these days, they would have been niche and been totally underground for years before they went viral. I'm glad they came out when they did because I don't believe they would have been as appreciated.
Really if my brain was to rendered musically tabula rasa - I would probably like the Police on account of their guitar playing and the fact that the lyrics aren't cheap, they're thought through, and they deal with mental health issues, and science fiction, so they would float to the surface - certainly with festivals now. The Industry has always been strong in pushing their product onto radio at strategic times. Back in the era of the Police, you didn't have to have a record label, if 'New Musical Express (N.M.E.)', 'Melody Maker' or 'Sounds' would give you positive live reviews, A&R people would go to the gigs. The music press back in the 80's was almost as powerful, as the music industry, in influencing the public of the UK - US & Canadian bands like sonic Youth, Pixies, Throwing Muses, Dinosaur Jr, and Slint sold more records than US and Europe in the UK per ratio of target audience, we the UK audience were a financial support structure for indie music, and US indie record labels in many ways in the 80's. John Peel was to blame of course, as soon as he played something obscure and full of guitar - it was like a magnet - so strong - you'd go to your local shop and order it if they didn't have it in stock :) bypassing music press and music industry. Or like me you'd fill out 45 minutes x 2 recording a show, and at the end you'd transfer the song to a playlist on another tape of similar songs you liked, - sound quality being lost in tape transfer wasn't priority of course.
I’m so glad you guys are talking about this. Bands use to have the opportunity to grow to a success through the process of 3 albums, now bands have 3 minutes. If bands today don’t get a hit on their first single, the labels seem to move on to the next “big thing”. Not to mention the inability of emerging/mid-level artists to actually make a living from music sales. At least touring can sustain a career, but it’s a long and hard road. Thank you for digging into this topic. Love your channel! Cheers from Texas.
Sting and Police stand the test to time. Just like early Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, Beattles, Sly and the Family Stone. The list goes on. Other bands will cover them both accidentally and on purpose.
They would absolutely make it today. Reggae influenced music has crossed over to all genres now. Bands like Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid & Magic are selling out huge venues. The Police would be a front runner in today’s music scene no doubt!
I took debate class in hs. I won the best of the hs debate only because of “I can’t stand losing you” lyrics. I graduated in 84’ . Thank god for my one friend who loved the police and rush and prince!
I know they'd make it. Think of a recent hit like, I dunno, Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know. It's not quite Sting-like but it's in that direction. And it wasn't a manufactured hit, the guy's not a pretty boy, I think it just had good melody and lyrics people identified with. It was quirky. If people still respond to that, they'd still respond to "walking on the moon" or "king of pain". We're kind of in between any sort of big dominant phase or theme, past the original definition of alternative, past grunge, people like things that feel different and refreshing. They'd struggle coming out during Nirvana's peak, but today...Yyou can put a psuedo-reggae sounding band out there and they can make it. And it's ok if they sound a little dated or old-fashioned... Adele is a bit old-fashioned, doesn't slow her down. Some styles are timeless.
Totally agree ! The Gotye album Making Mirrors was like an out of time experiment. It felt like it was actually made in the late 80’s and had just been released some 25 years later. And though you can’t help but think about Sting listening to it (Dream of the blue Turtles), it’s not a rip-off or a voluntary mimick of the pop-rock MTV era. Its commercial success (though smaller than what the Police had at the time I guess), proves that this style of songwriting and arrangements is not yet out of place in the charts. I think the Police would still make it now, but not as mainstream like then and the music production would be a little different... One thing to consider though, is that bands like the Police evolved a lot from album to album. So would Regatta de blanc be more likely to succeed today than Ghost in the machine or Synchronicity ? Hard to tell... Next band (one of the most problematic in terms of era-bounded sound, I think) that should definitely be on this series : Supertramp
Their music is timeless with the implementation of third world elements with regards to Sting's voice, Copeland's style and beats (Ginger Baker) on steroids as with Andy's melodic use and the placement of unusual chords/notes. The world is so lucky these guys found each other.
I would like to pose the discussion of the top 40 as a measurement for success. Rhett touched on it a little bit at the end of the video. Because the modern music industry scene and machine is indeed somewhat lackluster on the classic rock type vibes however, there are tons of great bands and artists that are successful without needing to be on the 'top 40'. There are plenty of great bands to find you just need to have a better look than the top 40/radio or something like that. Black Stone Cherry, Reignwolf, Black Pistol Fire, Dorothy, The Blue Stones, Greta van Fleet, The Stone Foxes, Wolfmother, Foo Fighters are still kicking. Not even trying to to list them all or get into the metal genre for example.
This is a fun evaluation, kind of like asking who the greatest hockey player of all time would be if Gretsky was playing now, instead of the 80’s. The answer of course is Gretsky; even though the game is different, he had the work ethic, drive, and talent to be the greatest ever.
Hi Rick! Love this new concept! It’s something I think about a lot. Personally I think the Police would be somewhat successful. I think they would be at a much smaller indie level of popularity. The most popular bands now have huge synth sounds (imagine dragons, maroon 5, walk the moon etc) and I think a 3 piece band with just 3 instruments wouldn’t stick out today. But then again, the Police used synths a lot in their later albums so maybe they would work. If you do another video like this- I think Nirvana would be interesting. I’ve had countless arguments with my friends saying that Niravana would be nowhere if they existed today. Would love to hear your guys’ take!
I mean... the top song on charts right now is Stay with Laroi and Bieber. The intro is literally jacked from “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.” I think that says half of what we need to.
The music industry is completely different today. The Police developed over their relatively short career together but they happened to make timeless songs when they worked together. I think this is because they just made the music they would want to listen to. Today bands follow, they don’t lead. Marketing defines success now, back then the combination of Sting, Stewart and Andy with Miles defined success.
I even wonder how a band like The Police could make it 40 years ago. I mean, even back then, they were something unique; too complex for punk, too calm for hard rock and it's sub genres, too simple for fusion/free jazz (assuming those were the top edge genres of that time). I strongly disagree thou that they would make it today: as Rhett Shull said, i as well believe that mainstream labels wouldn't dare taking bands like The Police under contract. In times of declining revenues, labels nowadays go safe. That's the reason why everything in the top40 sounds alike, because it proved to produce cash. Maybe a band like The Police today could publish via some Indy label, but under one of those, I doubt they would be as successful as they have been in their days.
@LupinoArts I agree. Although The Police is one of my all time fave bands and Sting still is a fave, I recall not immediately loving them. I was 15 in 1979 - I didn't take to the music immediately and I didn't love their "brand" immediately - I initially felt they were really pompous and too in your face - that turned me off to the whole package for a few years before they honestly grew on me. I really wonder whether today's scene would give them the airtime to grow on teens and college students.
While there are pockets of music lovers enjoying real music today, we will never see a time where mainstream music is the predominant force in shaping young taste and asthetic as was once the norm for 45-50 years. 1) music listerners are spread by 10,000 + directions so the experience of " hey did you see that band on TOTPs last nite ? " "yeah " is now answered with " No, i was playing Fortnight or i was watching Stranger things or i was listening to a podcast". With so many avenues of entertainment distraction now, you wouldn't find enough of a consistent audience to create that great unified experience of everyone watching the same thing due to lack of options which is a foundational catalyst for any of the mythologies of popular music of the 20th century. Everyone loves the story of rock n roll and its children of genres. That mythos no longer is present as a whole. Its just 1 click free electronic entertainment now. 2) and the entertainment industry make more money selling clothes, merchandise Etc than CD / Albums. Which explains where their business models are at and will remain.
It's tough to judge when you already know their career arc. I think Synchronicity is still one of the top 10 albums of all time, and so I have to believe that they would rise to the top again. Otherwise, I'm an idiot and I refuse to believe that. :)
"Synchronicity" is pretty darn good...there is a remarkable cluster of LPs from back then..."Thriller" by MJ, "Make It Big" by Wham! UK, "Purple Rain" by Prince and the Revolution, "Like a Virgin" by Madonna, "Speaking In Tongues" by the Talking Heads and "Born In the USA" were all taking turns at the top of the album charts (and, oh yeah, "Pyromania" by Def Leppard...which actually managed to knock "Synchronicity" off the top of the charts. In the words of Lou Reed, those were different times.
I think the last point about social media is probably one of the biggest factors on whether or not bands would make it today. it's much easier to share your favorite music today. There is a sizable minority of us that likes pretty much nothing on the top hits charts. unfortunately and also fortunately, labels are pushing the status quo on for far too long. It's only a matter of time before the next paradigm shift imo.
So much great music from way before I was born. Sometimes I feel cheated not being around to discover it along with my friends. I'm 16 now and love the reaction from old and young alike when I breakout a classic. I surprise the older crowds and get to introduce young people to the awsome sounds of the past. I must admit Rockband the game has had a hand in it too.
What sent the band over the top, was the use of Roxanne in trading places, with Eddie Murphy signing it. By the way, I named my first cat Roxanne. I loved the group back than and still do.
Rick, love all your stuff you do on The Police. Talking music with people, it’s amazing how many are dumbstruck when I tell them The Police are in my Top 5 bands of all time. My opinion, I fully realize, and everybody has one, I know. They would no doubt make it today. Their music is quintessentially essential.Thanks for recognizing.
Good to see great minds recognizing quality and artwork in music. And the comment about todays music being somewhat anemic is spot on :) Some golden moments in time are just right. I would hate to hear the best beatles songs coming out today, overproduced, on clicktrack and autotuned The organic feel of Stewart Copeland is imperative to any Police song. Like Ringo once yelled at producer Jeff Lynne " I AM the f**** click"
I think you're right. If they were actually picked up by a major label for "mainstream target market" they'd end up sounding something like Maroon 5. ugh.
My 2 cents: I don't think any of the major bands/artists of the 70s/80s/even 90s would really make it big today, at least not commercially. Their musical talents WOULD still be recognized, for sure, by music afficionados, journalists etc. but I don't think most of 'em would even be signed to a major label. If The Police came out today, they would get support from some parts of the indie music world, they would get signed to a small or medium-sized indie label, get some favorable press in publications such as Pitchfork or something, but they wouldn't light up the charts, certainly not the Top 20. I think the same pretty much goes for most if not all other bands/artists of that era.
Hey Rick, I don't know of this is interesting for you or not, but ai guess I would like you to analyze some current bands (some that are no more than 15 years old). What's their sound like. Stuff like Portugal. The Man or twenty one pilots. I mean, why are they popular, they don't really have any particular genre... Idk
Putting "image" to one side for a moment and just purely focusing on music alone, The test is if you listen to a record today and your ears still prick up, and it still moves you (even a fraction) as much as the first time you heard it then, for me, that music is timeless, And you'll in all likelihood continue to enjoy it for the next 10, 15, 20+ years... in other words, Good Music never ever gets 'Old' !!! examples: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Parliament-Funkadelic(George Clinton), The Beatles(George Martin), Donna Summer(Giorgio Moroder), Bob Marley(Chris Blackwell), Boston(Tom Scholz), Marvin Gaye, The Temptations(Norman Whitfield), etc., etc.,
Various factors: What exactly does "making it" mean these days? The business that created and enriched the police does not really exist anymore. Not sure the upbeat punk thing would resonate. Too fast and raw sounding for today's audiences imo. Sting's best songs are hooky but I feel like some of them are too harmonically and rhythmically sophisticated to work for a generation that is more into EDM and hiphop, slick autotune, beat mapped and gridded and looped, etc. Maybe some of the tunes would be hits if they were produced differently? Cool idea for a series...keep it up!
I mean, my generation (the millennials) like pretty much all kinds of music. Yes, we do like EDM and stuff like that, but we like pretty much all genres. I listen to all genres outside of heavy metal and gospel music on an everyday basis. All the millennials around me are very much the same. The Police would probably be an even bigger hit today. We're starving for an act like this, but labels aren't really pushing for that at the moment.
Of course they would make it today. 1. Each hugely talented with Sting’s songwriting leading the way 2. Great work ethic, each mastering their instrument 3. All good looking 4. Totally unique but still catchy sound Some of their B-sides would be megahits while other hits would be forgettable: Peanuts, The Truth Hits Everybody, On Any Other Day (controversial), Does Everyone Stare, Bombs Away, the entire Ghost in the Machine album, Miss Gradenko, Murder by Numbers - these would all get more notice. Would they be AS big? Hard to say, but their combo of huge talent and hard work would have eventually broke through. But, let’s face it, their music would also be different. To simply transplant them, their fashion, and their music, unaltered, is so hypothetical it’s almost silly to ask. But I think their music would still get plenty of AirPlay. Less talented artists like Huey Lewis, new kids on the block, George Michael, bon jovi, etc. would be unheard of. That’s not to say they didn’t have some great songs, but I can think of no songs that were not derivative of their era. They were not innovators. Hall and Oates might even get some attention today or Duran Duran. Definitely U2 and David Bowie. But the Police are undeniably timeless. They still get used on all kinds of soundtracks and commercials and sampled into hip hop. Sting was a genius of sorts. That band is an all time great.
That makes no sense, there are many great songs which ARE rap songs. The voice is a dynamic instrument of infinite variation. While typical vocals follow the melodic instrumental elements of music, arranged in rhyming expression to both legato and staccato cadences. Rap does the same but following the percussive instrumental elements of beat, rhythm, tempo, and groove through mostly staccato cadence. In that way they become an adjunct to the rhythm section, while traditional vocals are an adjunct to the melodic front line section of a band. If a particular song calls for a slice of percussive rhyming vocal expression, then why not? The world would be a better place if we celebrated musical diversity instead of waving a shotgun like an old curmudgeon yelling "Get off my lawn!"
Yes. Sting had... The look. The voice. The charisma. And most importantly, a MONSTER SONGWRITER.
Great idea for a series although I was thinking they need to get a teenager on the panel.
Someone whose never heard the Police before and doesn't have all the baggage and expectation that older people might have about something that was so important to them.
I worked in a record store during the years the Police first tasted success. Back then TV and radio exposure brought the buyers in. As well as hearing the tracks at their friends houses etc. I'm not so sure 'the kids' would get the same exposure to the Police via TV and radio today that they had back then . In today's world, I reckon something else other than simply the music would have to happen to add the necessary hype needed today to get them to CZcams or Spotify the tunes.
This is actually a fantastic idea.
I actually didn't discover The Police until 1999 on some retro station. I knew of them, but I heard these really interesting songs and was fascinated and over time found it was The Police. I still wager a person who genuinely likes music would have the same reaction today.
Graham, a thousand times YES to what you said.
Graham, reminds me of that series Kids React
True
If Sting, Stuart Copeland and Andy Summers where born 40 years after they were then they would undoubtedly be hugely succesfull today. It's just that the music they'd make wouldn't sound anything like the Police's records. The Police were heavily influenced by both punk and reggae which at the time in the late 70's were very influential underground genres, totally cool. Today they would choose modern totally cool genres as influences. I can't say what those influences would be becasue the definition of a totally cool underground genre is that old wrinklies like me have never heard of it let alone heard it.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
This.
not only this but the Record Companies don't care what Mr. Beato thinks, be it good or hooky or whatever. All they care about is if the tune will remove money from the general public's wallet's and put it into their hands.
I like that!
Unfortunately, Digital killed the Rock Star. No more feel because everything "popular" is recorded to a click-track. Underground still Rocks, though!
Stewart, not Stuart
I’m 23 now and I remember hearing Every Breath You Take around the age of 6 being absolutely stuck there needing to know where this song was taking me. Their music is too undeniable even for today. Awesome video concept, too!
2:33 - "What about 'Roxanne' would make it stand out today?"
"It's so hooky"
Pun intended, methinks
I dont think they intended that... it is funny tho!
I shrunk back from liking this comment because it's now at 69 likes
@@PaulvanEgmond Nice, I'd completely forgotten. Let's see how long the magic lasts
6 days. That's gotta be at least a month in CZcams time
Saw them live, first tour in gainesville, fl. Everybody in the audience freaked. Most powerful show I've ever seen.
I'm trying so hard to get a project finished and then I see a "Rick Beato- new video" notification- plus it's about my favorite band of all time, The Police. How am I supposed to get anything done, Rick?!
Three incredible musicians combined w one of best songwriters of this era with a unique voice. Of course they would make it. Great music transcends generations.
Message in a Bottle is still the greatest pop song ever written. The combination of the riff, Copeland's sparse and open drums, and Sting's voice are yet to be surpassed
Not only are there better pop songs, there are also better songs that The Police has done. It's a great song, but singing 'sending out an SOS' for a minute gets annoying quick
@@dylanphelan3010 That's why music is so great, we all find different things in each song
I wish I could hear all that music for the first time again, so amazing! Looks like another great series Rick!
I agree....and Rick, here's an offshoot to cover when doing this series.
Who would not have made it if X didn't exist to lay the groundwork?
As in No Doubt wouldn't have been huge if The Police didn't exist first.
I wish I could be in that same head space when I heard Walking on the Moon for the first time as a kid in primary school. It seemed other worldly and alien, but absolutely cool at the same time.
one of the reasons i find my self watching reaction videos - seeing people experience my music for the first time helps give me some of that
The Police would make it. Their songs, talent and image all hold up. However, there would be incredible challenges to adapting to the new environment. You guys forgot one major reason, though- Two words: Miles Copeland. He is one of the huge factors in the success of The Police. Miles aggressively pushed the band into every corner of the world. The band support and development time they were given was essential to their growth as a tight, live unit, which translated into tighter albums later on. Before the success of 'Roxanne', The Police were sent out to tour America for an entire year, playing in very small clubs. This also allowed them to grow their fanbase in a grassroots manner, developing life-long fans, while getting tighter and working out new ideas. Labels don't sign and invest in band development or provide tour support for unknown acts like they did back then. However, I believe that the absolute tenacity, intellect and aggressive character of Miles would be able to solve today's issues, albeit in a new manner. Additionally, Ian Copeland's hard word at I.R.S. records behind the scenes was also essential. Great video! Thanks, guys!
I agree. Too many record companies nowadays don't believe in their talent except as cash cows, and don't support them as much as record companies used to do. I suspect that a lot of that comes from the fact that all you need to do is look good and move fluidly on stage, as AutoTune will correct your God-awful vocals. How much singing talent do you need to make it big when you're told to sing deliberately off-key into the mic so AutoTune can make a hard correction on it and get it to whine?
But would they get airtime? Would they even get signed with what labels are looking for. I just think it would be near impossible with all the road blocks.
So right...
Stuart Copeland?
Miles Copeland rode those guys like little kids ride zoo trains. Great point. That guy was large and in charge.
The Police's reggae and ska beats along with the awesome song writing and arranging would make them a huge hit today. Reggae and ska stuff has been pretty hot in the past decade, at least, and it's still hot today. The Police took their Bob Marley influence and expanded on it and added a whole new dimension to it. The Police's music is timeless. It will never get old or outdated. :)
I agree with the Emperor
Their music is undeniable, but Sting puts them over the top.
he is the unicorn.
Striking good looks, charm, and a unique and wonderful voice.
No one would make it today lol.
Those currently "making it" (more than $100k per year, the current lower middle class number) are autotuned and electronically enhanced via electro drums and bass to infinity. Reason: it's cheap for someone like Rick to do all the tracks and play all the instruments (he's a highly skilled musician). Cut him a check for 20k for a month or two worth of work. Then let the relatively skinny bodied autotuned types come in to sing the songs. then hire your self a gun like Rhett to play next to you on tour for 7K per month, and you have the corporatization of music ladies and gents. Congrats. I wonder why Radio sucks?
@@youKnowWho3311 - Totally agree and falls in line with my outlook. Besides, back in the day, records were still THE way to go. There was nothing like walking out of the music store carrying a couple records. Nowadays, you can just buy an album online, download to the computer's hard drive and that's it. Plus, even with music downloads, the music is too cold and digitized. No more warmth from vinyl on a turntable, or even an old record player. And who was to blame? The music industry itself. They never initially cracked down on internet music downloads like Napster. That was their death sentence. Gene Simmons was right in what I stated. He said that you can't expect to gather any eggs when you let a fox into the henhouse.
Correct.
they could still be able to but they'd have to have a different skillset and different sound.
rock is not at the cutting edge and there's no longer hype around it
if they did something a certain decade it doesnt mean they would have done the same a few decades later, if you're an innovator or a pioneer you are going to go where no other act has gone no matter what and if you have music training you can make it make musical sense and sound great. But I think it takes a more rounded skillset nowadays, back in the day only one writer per band could make the whole band succeed and prosper. Now people who are able to make it often produce AND write at least a fair bit
Just when you think you can't love Beato even more he drops this one on you!!!
When The World is Running Down
Driven To Tears
Regatta De Blanc
Next To You
So Lonely
Walking On The Moon
Watch the video that Stewart Copeland made called "Everyone Stares" or something like that. It is phenomenal and shows how these guys made it big. Andy Summers is in my opinion of the masters of modern rock guitar.
IN BEATO WE TRUST!!!!
I watched it . Very good! Thanks for the tip.
I cannot believe you started a series on this! My family was just discussing this! Thank you SO MUCH! I can't wait to see who you feature in this series.Dude, you're great.
The sad thing is that these current Hiphop artists adopted the "Producer" moniker but if you'd ask them about the work of George Martin (Beatles, Jeff Beck), Allan Parsons (Pink Floyd), Daniel Lanois (Peter Gabriel, U2) or even a guy like Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers) they probably wouldn't know anything to say about them.
I was dancing in the youth clubs as a teenager in the UK when 'Can't Stand Losing', 'Message in Bottle', 'Don't Stand So Close', 'Walking on the Moon', and so many more came out. The feeling was always that these are songs you just have to get up and dance to, you have to sing along to, they made you feel good, relaxed, swaying, moving or jumping around aka punk style. They seemed to catch something of the whole teenage feeling of the time, the rebelliousness, the pointlessness and anarchy of urban life, the idea that music was something to lose yourself in, as an expression of 'rage against the machine', but with something beautiful behind it, something chilled and laid back.
Very few bands have succeeded in creating such a unique sound, piano, rhythms, bass, and Sting's vocals. His vocals just hang there, like a voice in a cathedral, piercing, arching upwards, and sucking you in.
Not on the Top 40. But they would dominate the College Radio charts.
No, they wouldn't have the same success as the 1980s.They rode the momentum of Punk, Ska, & New Wave movements.
I remember hearing Roxanne the first time on the radio. I had a radio playing on the front porch....it came on.... And a car going by heard it, stopped to listen. They heard part of it before and wanted to hear the whole song. Once I gave them the station they blasted it in their car as they pulled away. It was amazing. I remember thinking how Funkey they sounded and thinking bands like them, Blondie and the Pretenders sounded so different to us. I was 15 yrs old when it came out. I was singing "Roxanne" all the time and my Dad would give me a look. Slept out 5 days for Sycronicity tickets....love them....would people find them appealing now? Yeah, I think people are starved for original, interesting, fresh music. The Police were not a band with a great front man but three great musicians who each contributed their creativity to the band's sound.
Great topic for discussion! I would love to hear your thoughts on this exact question applied to some of the great classical musicians/performers of the last century. Also...respect to Dan for learning lyrics in Spanish like that, I loved that little anecdote :) Gotta love how musicians work...
I love Ricks' content. He's so well informed and explains how music works perfectly.
WOW Very cool! Every little thing Rick does is magic!
I believe that 'Every Breath You Take' would be massive hit today. This sound just don't get old, and still sounds modern.
Interstingly, they nearly didn't make it then - "Roxanne" was out out nearly a year before it was re-released a year later and picked up by the public...Great idea for a show keep 'em coming.
Totally true. I was the only person in my peer group that liked them (and we didn't hear them until the re-release you mentioned.) Their style sounded very unusual at the time, and most folks don't accept unusual new styles immediately. That was a time when every concert had a guy in the crowd screaming "FREEBIRD! FREEBIRD!" (no matter who the band were.) I bet they heard that a lot on their first tour.
Ha ! gliddofglood you pinched my next revelation...But it does show that success is a bit of a lottery no matter the era...I still believe that The Police would still be a hit...Dire Straits less likely...
Driven To Tears always has been and always will be a banger, no matter the year or decade.
The explanation behind why The Police are so great is so much simpler than you guys explain. The Police unlike many bands have groove, rhythm, moveable-music. Aside from every member of The Police being some of the greatest jazz/rock/blues/reggae etc. musicians of their time, they know how to write songs with dynamic, creative rhythms thanks to their jazz background.
That's not a good argument, there are a lot of unknown band withs groove, rhythm etc
ike6252 - Tikaal Covers yes you're right, but The Police, already masters of groove, combine that with great musicianship and a pretty boy front man doesn't hurt either. I'd say to be successful artists you need a balance of musical substance technique and easy marketing (aka pretty boys). In essence groove is not the only thing The Police had but it's a giant part of their sound and when you mix it with other parts of their identity you get huge success.
No one played like Andy Summers, still to this day, he brought out the best in all of them.
David Przybylo Andy sure was the greatest
laser325 also true
definatley im 53 and grew up with the police , but my 16 yr old son has been listining to 80s music i found him lisiting to the police and has been listing to them ever since, i dug out my old records as i have all there albums he was impressed xx
I love The Police, but if they started today, I would probably hate them. They were young and bratty and snotty back in the late 70's, and so was I. I wanted to be just like them. Now, I'm old and crotchety and I look upon any young and bratty and snotty bands with disdain. And they had better not step on my lawn. *shakes rake handle*
You and I and other crotchety auld phartz are NOT the arbiters of who will make it today. It's the young bratty snotty kids who will decide, so I think The Police might indeed make it today if they could still present themselves as their 1970s young snotty bratty selves.
you’re a honest man i like that
The Police? Young and bratty and snotty? If you think that about the Police (they weren't even that young - Summers must have been mid 30s in 1979) then God knows how the Sex Pistols must have appeared to you.
Blasty 👟👟👞👞👢👢 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Stewart Copeland was born in 1952 and he was the youngest. Andy Summers was born in 1942 while WWII was just getting going around the world. To me, these guys were old farts when The Police was young. But that didn't stop us from liking the music.
I know this video is old but I would like to point out one of the most important things the Police had that helped them stay creatively free: Miles Copeland. He was Stewart's brother and, yes, he was one of the most evil, pernicious things to ever exist...a businessman in the music industry. But He protected the band from the record label. He wasn't afraid to throw his weight around at the label, he knew exactly who had the power between the label and the band. All in all, the man was vicious in a business setting and fully in the corner of the band.
Very interesting video idea. Definitely would like to see more of these!!
Great episode about a great band and one of my personal favorites. Saw their last tour in 1984 (at the Omni, now Phillips Arena) and then again at their reunion tour 23 years later. I am in agreement that based upon their talent and creativity they would make it all over again today. More specifically, Sting's prowess as a song writer, his incredible voice, charisma, and bass grooves, Stewart Copeland's melodic, poly-rhythmic drumming, and Andy Summers' guitar playing that filled out the palette. Uniqueness stands out and man these guys were all that blending rock, reggae, and jazz. Long live the power trio!
I think the industry has "settled" in recent years and the bar is REALLY LOW for great musicianship and songwriting to reclaim its crown. So these guys might be bigger today than they were then.
P.S. Curiosity question: How did Dan Hannon get tagged "The Emperor?"
Literally no legend would make it today. But I want this series anyway!
Maybe Part II of this video is to go out into the public and have 14-17-year-olds listen to the Police, and ask what they think. Of course, there is the chance that they'll say, "Oh, yeah, I love 'em, my parents play them all the time." But rather than theorize, test your hypothesis.
It wouldn't work because kids nowadays don't know how to be critical and instead just like everything without knowing why.
@@jonnuanez2843 Couldn't be more wrong. Kids are surprisingly articulate about what they like and don't like.
Assuming we're talking young Police: They have the chops (real talent), they have a great look, THEY are marketable.
Reggae is still not mainstream....nor jazz influences. Their music is different and its killer groovin' never gets old.
These cats were shoestring recording and producing (with smack down lyrics) before ever being signed...the music is solid and timeless...and we knew it the first time we heard them.
That value never changes....if audiences had never heard them until now....I don't think it would make any diff
Absolutely they'd make it. You can't keep talent and originality like this locked up like a message in a bottle.
Man in a suitcase one of my favorites.
The trouble is, if The Police came out today, it wouldn't sound the same. One of the biggest problems with today's music is the production methods. Take "Roxanne", quantize, pitch correct and autotune it... then compress it until it's flat. Then see how it sounds. It would sound like every other soulless song on the radio.
Great series, Rick!
Great idea for a new series! You are on point Rick!
You guys are nailing it right on the head!!! It would never be the same today. They would find a singer who couldn’t sing without auto tune, forget about playing real instruments it would be replaced with a sample. Modern top 40 is garbage. It allllll sounds the same. No content. Kids just want a hot beat, forget about everything else.!! Content music is out! No great band from the 70’s-80’s would stand a chance today.
I think a young Sting with anyone or noone would make it at anytime, anywhere. He has an overabundance of ambition, work ethic, looks, talent, charm, charisma, intellect... hang on, I need to be by myself for a moment.
When message in a bottle came out,I remember it as a breath of fresh air,punk had done with most thoughtful rock in UK,,these guys could still play but music was to the point,think they'd make it today,but back then there was bit mystery,got news about bands bit by bit,word of mouth,now it's all there all over straight off,great idea for series!
I absolutely love The Police! I agree with everyone. They would make it, but the establishment as it is now may make it much, much harder and it may sound very off from what we know.
Dan makes a really great point around the 10.30 mark. There are 17 yr olds I know who have incredible knowledge AND feel . There is hope for musics future !This series is a great idea.
I think it would also be cool if you talked about how you think these bands sounds would change if they were new now.
That's interesting, but it could really be anything...
They did touch on that a bit in their discussion, saying that there would probably be a featured guest artist, possibly some rap beats, etc.
Wrapped around my finger is my favourite Police song (awesome).
Great idea Rick, you're the man!
Nice idea Rick... I was thinking about Joe Jackson... totally amazing songs in the late 1970s.. underrated!
He was such a great, witty songwriter. Hard to make it today if you're not some pretty boy though.
Agree... I'd have XTC and Elvis Costello in there too...
I still listen to Jumpin Jive sometimes, great album
I don't care about looks or the year or the "pulse" of the people...I just care about the music and The Police simply blew me away personally. I wish somebody would do the same today. Thanks for sharing and bringing back a lot of great memories!
The music business used to be about music. Now it's about money. Yeah, I know money has always been involved, but artists like Bob Dylan could never make it today. Not the right look, not the right sound, etc, etc. For every Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood there are thousands of girls who don't look like Barbie who can absolutely sing circles around them. I know...I live in Nashville and have played bass behind some of them. Amazing singers, amazing people, but they just don't have "the look". As a middle aged man, getting gigs is difficult because I am too old (at 46).
The best music, in my humble opinion, is the stuff you hear being played in the little dives and coffee shops around town. One particular place near where I live is in an old service station. They open the garage door and let the music fill the street. The owner tends bar and between pours he grabs his harmonica and plays along with the band. It's just awesome. And it's REAL music. No studio trickery, no theoretical nonsense. Just a love for music that shows in every note.
I remember hearing Roxanne when it was first released and witnessed fairly aggressive airplay rotation to make it a hit. Somehow it didn't quite catch the public mood at the time, needing a rerelease a year or two later to make it properly after videos of the band playing had made it onto our screens creating the visual inroads the band needed. So almost didn't happen first time around and they could have failed despite the obvious talent. It wasn't that long before record companies routinely started ditching new signings that didn't have a hit right off the bat. Definitely thanks to aggressive management that they pulled through!
Would The Beatles make it today? Great video my man! And best of hope to this new series!
@laser325 unfortunately
Would Mozart make it? Signs o' the times.
Nah. If Sgt Pepper came out today it would be Indie and obscure
If they had not come in the sixties, modern pop music would not be where it is now.
The second coming probably would flop but imagine the how the scene would sound like had they not done what they did.
You have an opinion. Good.
This! I've been waiting for a series like this, and I request you to make a LOT of these videos Rick!
Ghost in the Machine - The Police's best album, so much reward in their combined musical vision
So much great music being made today, so little of it making its way into the mainstream. I wonder whether "mainstream" really even matters anymore. I keep an ear on it but can't say I enjoy any of it. Well, every now and then there's a breakout artist; one that counters the flow. I can actually listen to Bruno Mars.
The Police (a band near and dear to my heart) were one of the best live acts I've ever seen. Sting's songwriting (especially in the context of The Police) was astonishingly good. My opinion is that radio would have spurned them today but the real music lovers, those of us who actually were able to find them, would totally embrace them.
Rick, you've got the best value vs. time invested channel on CZcams. Keep 'em coming. (Yes, I'm one of the 505K subscribers!)
Stings voice and stage presence alone is amazing. By the way I like the work he did on "Dream of the Blue Turtles" . Did Ed Sheeran come to mind for anyone when they were discussion what makes Sting original?
I started from the premise where you guys conluded. I don't think any record company in today's market would take a chance on The Police. But they were an undeniable Force and without a doubt they would self-publish, crowdsource or something to where their art would be gifted to the universe.
The internet has diluted music to the point where if The Police came about these days, they would have been niche and been totally underground for years before they went viral. I'm glad they came out when they did because I don't believe they would have been as appreciated.
The Police struggled to make it even back in the 70s! They had to release their first album twice, because no one took any notice the first time.
Really if my brain was to rendered musically tabula rasa - I would probably like the Police on account of their guitar playing and the fact that the lyrics aren't cheap, they're thought through, and they deal with mental health issues, and science fiction, so they would float to the surface - certainly with festivals now. The Industry has always been strong in pushing their product onto radio at strategic times.
Back in the era of the Police, you didn't have to have a record label, if 'New Musical Express (N.M.E.)', 'Melody Maker' or 'Sounds' would give you positive live reviews, A&R people would go to the gigs. The music press back in the 80's was almost as powerful, as the music industry, in influencing the public of the UK - US & Canadian bands like sonic Youth, Pixies, Throwing Muses, Dinosaur Jr, and Slint sold more records than US and Europe in the UK per ratio of target audience, we the UK audience were a financial support structure for indie music, and US indie record labels in many ways in the 80's.
John Peel was to blame of course, as soon as he played something obscure and full of guitar - it was like a magnet - so strong - you'd go to your local shop and order it if they didn't have it in stock :) bypassing music press and music industry. Or like me you'd fill out 45 minutes x 2 recording a show, and at the end you'd transfer the song to a playlist on another tape of similar songs you liked, - sound quality being lost in tape transfer wasn't priority of course.
I’m so glad you guys are talking about this. Bands use to have the opportunity to grow to a success through the process of 3 albums, now bands have 3 minutes. If bands today don’t get a hit on their first single, the labels seem to move on to the next “big thing”. Not to mention the inability of emerging/mid-level artists to actually make a living from music sales. At least touring can sustain a career, but it’s a long and hard road. Thank you for digging into this topic. Love your channel! Cheers from Texas.
Sting and Police stand the test to time. Just like early Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, Beattles, Sly and the Family Stone. The list goes on. Other bands will cover them both accidentally and on purpose.
They would absolutely make it today. Reggae influenced music has crossed over to all genres now. Bands like Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid & Magic are selling out huge venues. The Police would be a front runner in today’s music scene no doubt!
Yes - more Deep Cuts - Great work, Rick
I took debate class in hs. I won the best of the hs debate only because of “I can’t stand losing you” lyrics. I graduated in 84’ . Thank god for my one friend who loved the police and rush and prince!
I know they'd make it. Think of a recent hit like, I dunno, Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know. It's not quite Sting-like but it's in that direction. And it wasn't a manufactured hit, the guy's not a pretty boy, I think it just had good melody and lyrics people identified with. It was quirky. If people still respond to that, they'd still respond to "walking on the moon" or "king of pain".
We're kind of in between any sort of big dominant phase or theme, past the original definition of alternative, past grunge, people like things that feel different and refreshing. They'd struggle coming out during Nirvana's peak, but today...Yyou can put a psuedo-reggae sounding band out there and they can make it. And it's ok if they sound a little dated or old-fashioned... Adele is a bit old-fashioned, doesn't slow her down. Some styles are timeless.
CreeDo Lala Yes, Goyte is a good example, that song was very Sting-like and got a surprising amount of radio play.
CreeDo Lala very accurate i couldn’t agree more
Totally agree ! The Gotye album Making Mirrors was like an out of time experiment. It felt like it was actually made in the late 80’s and had just been released some 25 years later. And though you can’t help but think about Sting listening to it (Dream of the blue Turtles), it’s not a rip-off or a voluntary mimick of the pop-rock MTV era. Its commercial success (though smaller than what the Police had at the time I guess), proves that this style of songwriting and arrangements is not yet out of place in the charts.
I think the Police would still make it now, but not as mainstream like then and the music production would be a little different...
One thing to consider though, is that bands like the Police evolved a lot from album to album. So would Regatta de blanc be more likely to succeed today than Ghost in the machine or Synchronicity ? Hard to tell...
Next band (one of the most problematic in terms of era-bounded sound, I think) that should definitely be on this series : Supertramp
Their music is timeless with the implementation of third world elements with regards to Sting's voice, Copeland's style and beats (Ginger Baker) on steroids as with Andy's melodic use and the placement of unusual chords/notes. The world is so lucky these guys found each other.
I would like to pose the discussion of the top 40 as a measurement for success. Rhett touched on it a little bit at the end of the video. Because the modern music industry scene and machine is indeed somewhat lackluster on the classic rock type vibes however, there are tons of great bands and artists that are successful without needing to be on the 'top 40'. There are plenty of great bands to find you just need to have a better look than the top 40/radio or something like that. Black Stone Cherry, Reignwolf, Black Pistol Fire, Dorothy, The Blue Stones, Greta van Fleet, The Stone Foxes, Wolfmother, Foo Fighters are still kicking. Not even trying to to list them all or get into the metal genre for example.
This is a fun evaluation, kind of like asking who the greatest hockey player of all time would be if Gretsky was playing now, instead of the 80’s. The answer of course is Gretsky; even though the game is different, he had the work ethic, drive, and talent to be the greatest ever.
Hi Rick! Love this new concept! It’s something I think about a lot. Personally I think the Police would be somewhat successful. I think they would be at a much smaller indie level of popularity. The most popular bands now have huge synth sounds (imagine dragons, maroon 5, walk the moon etc) and I think a 3 piece band with just 3 instruments wouldn’t stick out today. But then again, the Police used synths a lot in their later albums so maybe they would work.
If you do another video like this- I think Nirvana would be interesting. I’ve had countless arguments with my friends saying that Niravana would be nowhere if they existed today.
Would love to hear your guys’ take!
There's a video on youtube about this! Search "would nirvana suck in 2018?"
I mean... the top song on charts right now is Stay with Laroi and Bieber. The intro is literally jacked from “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.” I think that says half of what we need to.
I think they would achieve moderate success, but to be the monsters they were in the late 70s and early 80s, today? Hell no
Never
Totally agreed! If they were lucky they would scrape an average living touring their arses off in my opinion.
Great idea for a series!!
Led Zeppelin would make it today, they sound a lot like that band Greta Van Fleet.
you mean Greta Van Fleet sound just like Led Zeppelin
@@junojaxxon6122 Look up! That's the point going right over your head.
@@junojaxxon6122
Exactly
@@junojaxxon6122 If I played guitar, and someone told me I sounded just like Jimmy Paige, well, I would simply take that as compliment!
The music industry is completely different today. The Police developed over their relatively short career together but they happened to make timeless songs when they worked together. I think this is because they just made the music they would want to listen to. Today bands follow, they don’t lead. Marketing defines success now, back then the combination of Sting, Stewart and Andy with Miles defined success.
I even wonder how a band like The Police could make it 40 years ago. I mean, even back then, they were something unique; too complex for punk, too calm for hard rock and it's sub genres, too simple for fusion/free jazz (assuming those were the top edge genres of that time).
I strongly disagree thou that they would make it today: as Rhett Shull said, i as well believe that mainstream labels wouldn't dare taking bands like The Police under contract. In times of declining revenues, labels nowadays go safe. That's the reason why everything in the top40 sounds alike, because it proved to produce cash. Maybe a band like The Police today could publish via some Indy label, but under one of those, I doubt they would be as successful as they have been in their days.
@LupinoArts I agree. Although The Police is one of my all time fave bands and Sting still is a fave, I recall not immediately loving them. I was 15 in 1979 - I didn't take to the music immediately and I didn't love their "brand" immediately - I initially felt they were really pompous and too in your face - that turned me off to the whole package for a few years before they honestly grew on me.
I really wonder whether today's scene would give them the airtime to grow on teens and college students.
While there are pockets of music lovers enjoying real music today, we will never see a time where mainstream music is the predominant force in shaping young taste and asthetic as was once the norm for 45-50 years. 1) music listerners are spread by 10,000 + directions so the experience of " hey did you see that band on TOTPs last nite ? " "yeah " is now answered with " No, i was playing Fortnight or i was watching Stranger things or i was listening to a podcast". With so many avenues of entertainment distraction now, you wouldn't find enough of a consistent audience to create that great unified experience of everyone watching the same thing due to lack of options which is a foundational catalyst for any of the mythologies of popular music of the 20th century. Everyone loves the story of rock n roll and its children of genres. That mythos no longer is present as a whole. Its just 1 click free electronic entertainment now.
2) and the entertainment industry make more money selling clothes, merchandise Etc than CD / Albums. Which explains where their business models are at and will remain.
It's tough to judge when you already know their career arc. I think Synchronicity is still one of the top 10 albums of all time, and so I have to believe that they would rise to the top again. Otherwise, I'm an idiot and I refuse to believe that. :)
"Synchronicity" is pretty darn good...there is a remarkable cluster of LPs from back then..."Thriller" by MJ, "Make It Big" by Wham! UK, "Purple Rain" by Prince and the Revolution, "Like a Virgin" by Madonna, "Speaking In Tongues" by the Talking Heads and "Born In the USA" were all taking turns at the top of the album charts (and, oh yeah, "Pyromania" by Def Leppard...which actually managed to knock "Synchronicity" off the top of the charts. In the words of Lou Reed, those were different times.
I think the last point about social media is probably one of the biggest factors on whether or not bands would make it today. it's much easier to share your favorite music today. There is a sizable minority of us that likes pretty much nothing on the top hits charts.
unfortunately and also fortunately, labels are pushing the status quo on for far too long. It's only a matter of time before the next paradigm shift imo.
Yes they would. Great song writing still shines through
I consider Sting to be one of the all-time greats at lyrical storytelling. I love so much of his work.
So much great music from way before I was born. Sometimes I feel cheated not being around to discover it along with my friends. I'm 16 now and love the reaction from old and young alike when I breakout a classic. I surprise the older crowds and get to introduce young people to the awsome sounds of the past. I must admit Rockband the game has had a hand in it too.
What sent the band over the top, was the use of Roxanne in trading places, with Eddie Murphy signing it. By the way, I named my first cat Roxanne. I loved the group back than and still do.
This is such a cool concept!
Rick, love all your stuff you do on The Police. Talking music with people, it’s amazing how many are dumbstruck when I tell them The Police are in my Top 5 bands of all time. My opinion, I fully realize, and everybody has one, I know. They would no doubt make it today. Their music is quintessentially essential.Thanks for recognizing.
Knew he made it when eddie murphy sang it from his jail cell!!!!!!
Good to see great minds recognizing quality and artwork in music. And the comment about todays music being somewhat anemic is spot on :)
Some golden moments in time are just right. I would hate to hear the best beatles songs coming out today, overproduced, on clicktrack and autotuned
The organic feel of Stewart Copeland is imperative to any Police song. Like Ringo once yelled at producer Jeff Lynne " I AM the f**** click"
08:35: Sting's voice, no autotune. SNORT. If they came out today, they'd be clicked and autotuned to sound like everyone else.
I think you're right. If they were actually picked up by a major label for "mainstream target market" they'd end up sounding something like Maroon 5. ugh.
I think the Police would definitely make it today.
There still isn’t anyone that sounds like them.
Love this idea Rick!
Keep up the good work!
Hey Rick! I like this new series. Could you do an episode of "What Makes This Song Great" with Mazzy Star please?
Fade into you? So dreamyZ
My 2 cents: I don't think any of the major bands/artists of the 70s/80s/even 90s would really make it big today, at least not commercially. Their musical talents WOULD still be recognized, for sure, by music afficionados, journalists etc. but I don't think most of 'em would even be signed to a major label. If The Police came out today, they would get support from some parts of the indie music world, they would get signed to a small or medium-sized indie label, get some favorable press in publications such as Pitchfork or something, but they wouldn't light up the charts, certainly not the Top 20. I think the same pretty much goes for most if not all other bands/artists of that era.
Hey Rick, I don't know of this is interesting for you or not, but ai guess I would like you to analyze some current bands (some that are no more than 15 years old). What's their sound like. Stuff like Portugal. The Man or twenty one pilots. I mean, why are they popular, they don't really have any particular genre... Idk
Putting "image" to one side for a moment and just purely focusing on music alone, The test is if you listen to a record today and your ears still prick up, and it still moves you (even a fraction) as much as the first time you heard it then, for me, that music is timeless, And you'll in all likelihood continue to enjoy it for the next 10, 15, 20+ years... in other words, Good Music never ever gets 'Old' !!!
examples: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Parliament-Funkadelic(George Clinton), The Beatles(George Martin), Donna Summer(Giorgio Moroder),
Bob Marley(Chris Blackwell), Boston(Tom Scholz), Marvin Gaye, The Temptations(Norman Whitfield), etc., etc.,
Various factors:
What exactly does "making it" mean these days? The business that created and enriched the police does not really exist anymore.
Not sure the upbeat punk thing would resonate. Too fast and raw sounding for today's audiences imo.
Sting's best songs are hooky but I feel like some of them are too harmonically and rhythmically sophisticated to work for a generation that is more into EDM and hiphop, slick autotune, beat mapped and gridded and looped, etc.
Maybe some of the tunes would be hits if they were produced differently?
Cool idea for a series...keep it up!
I mean, my generation (the millennials) like pretty much all kinds of music. Yes, we do like EDM and stuff like that, but we like pretty much all genres. I listen to all genres outside of heavy metal and gospel music on an everyday basis. All the millennials around me are very much the same.
The Police would probably be an even bigger hit today. We're starving for an act like this, but labels aren't really pushing for that at the moment.
Gotta love Rick Beato! His energy, enthusiasm and love for all things Police! Good on you mate!
Hmm rock is having such a hard time these days
Sounds like the start of another great series Rick. This is the best chanel on youtube.
Of course they would make it today.
1. Each hugely talented with Sting’s songwriting leading the way
2. Great work ethic, each mastering their instrument
3. All good looking
4. Totally unique but still catchy sound
Some of their B-sides would be megahits while other hits would be forgettable: Peanuts, The Truth Hits Everybody, On Any Other Day (controversial), Does Everyone Stare, Bombs Away, the entire Ghost in the Machine album, Miss Gradenko, Murder by Numbers - these would all get more notice.
Would they be AS big? Hard to say, but their combo of huge talent and hard work would have eventually broke through. But, let’s face it, their music would also be different. To simply transplant them, their fashion, and their music, unaltered, is so hypothetical it’s almost silly to ask. But I think their music would still get plenty of AirPlay. Less talented artists like Huey Lewis, new kids on the block, George Michael, bon jovi, etc. would be unheard of. That’s not to say they didn’t have some great songs, but I can think of no songs that were not derivative of their era. They were not innovators. Hall and Oates might even get some attention today or Duran Duran. Definitely U2 and David Bowie. But the Police are undeniably timeless. They still get used on all kinds of soundtracks and commercials and sampled into hip hop. Sting was a genius of sorts. That band is an all time great.
Old dudes talking about how much better music was in their day. That never gets old.
No, putting a rapper on a great song is not cool, it’s the definition of ruining a good tune.
That makes no sense, there are many great songs which ARE rap songs. The voice is a dynamic instrument of infinite variation. While typical vocals follow the melodic instrumental elements of music, arranged in rhyming expression to both legato and staccato cadences. Rap does the same but following the percussive instrumental elements of beat, rhythm, tempo, and groove through mostly staccato cadence. In that way they become an adjunct to the rhythm section, while traditional vocals are an adjunct to the melodic front line section of a band. If a particular song calls for a slice of percussive rhyming vocal expression, then why not? The world would be a better place if we celebrated musical diversity instead of waving a shotgun like an old curmudgeon yelling "Get off my lawn!"
You should listen to Feel Good Inc.
nobody tell this guy about sampling
This series NEEDS to come back!