Message in a Bottle (The Police song)

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This article is about the song. For other meanings, see the disambiguation page at Message in a bottle (disambiguation)
"Message in a Bottle"
Song
B-side"Landlord"

"Message in a Bottle" is a 1979 song by The Police, from their second album, Reggatta de Blanc.

The song is ostensibly about a castaway on an island, who sends out a message in a bottle to seek help. A year later, he feels that there is no need for love. Later on, he sees "a hundred billion bottles" on the shore, finding out that there are more people like him out there.

"Message in a Bottle" may also be read as a lament of isolation and loneliness caused by the loss of a loved one ("love can break your heart"): he seeks help but gets no reply, then realizes that there are many more people out there like him, suggesting that everyone has to deal with loss and loneliness as part of the human experience. The island and the bottle are metaphors; by reaching out, the protagonist discovers he is not alone, and that other people share his feelings of alienation.[citation needed]

The single was The Police's first number one hit in the United Kingdom, but only reached #74 in the United States. An alternate "Classic Rock" mix is available on Every Breath You Take: The Classics.

Cover versions

Sting performed "Message in a Bottle" with No Doubt during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVII. No Doubt and Incubus regularly play the song live on tour.

Jack's Mannequin performed this song during their West Coast Winter Tour in 2007.

The song is featured as a playable cover track in the video game Guitar Hero II for the PS2 and Xbox 360. It is also a downloadable track for Rock Band for the Xbox 360 and PS3 as a master track.

30 Seconds to Mars has made a cover of the song on AOL Sessions Under Cover, where musicians cover classic songs. It can be seen on AOL Music.

Pennsylvania-based hard rock quartet Recoil has frequently covered the song at live shows.

Message in a Bottle is the closing song of the documentary film "Bring on the Night", which documents the forming of Sting's first band after going solo. Sting performs the song as the encore of the Paris concert that is featured throughout of the film. The song is performed as a solo number with Sting accompanying himself on a six-string, white, electric, Fender Stratocaster.

Charlotte Church and Nerina Pallot performed the song live on The Charlotte Church Show.

The Police reformed at Live Earth, a 2007 charity concert to raise awareness of global warming and other environmental hazards and performed "Message in a Bottle" as the US finale, with John Mayer playing guitar with Andy Summers (who described the track as a personal favourite in his book One Train Later) and Kanye West performing a rap verse over the chorus of the song.

Legacy

The popular Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is known for naming each episode after an '80s hit song, named an episode after this song. The episode faced the issue of teenage drinking.

Track listing

7": A&M / AMS 7474

  1. "Message in a Bottle" (Edit) - 3:50
  2. "Landlord" - 3:09

Personnel

References

  • ""Message in a Bottle" entry at Songfacts".
  • Message in a Bottle on YouTube
Preceded by UK number one single
September 29 1979 		Succeeded by
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