Message in a Bottle (The Police song)

The song exemplifies the reggae rock/new wave style of early Police. It starts in the key of C minor with a chord progression of C#m9–Amaj9–B7–F#m, but modulates to the key of A major for the chorus. According to the band's guitarist Andy Summers, Sting wrote the central guitar riff for "Message in a Bottle" but initially wanted it for a different song. The song was recorded at Surrey Sound Studios as part of the sessions for the Reggatta de Blanc album. Stewart Copeland's drumming, praised as his "finest drum track" by Summers, was "overdubbed [from] about six different parts." The theme of the song is "universality of desired connection." The lyrics depict a castaway longing for someone to listen to him who then discovers many messages from others washing up on his shore. The song's B-side, "Landlord", was written by Sting (lyrics) and Copeland (music). Sting said of its inspiration, "I wrote that after Frances and I were thrown out of the house we were renting in London. I hated the idea of somebody fucking my life up like that. Stewart [Copeland] wrote the music." The song originally featured lyrics by Copeland, but they were replaced by Sting's. ==Live performances==

The Police debuted the song on live television on the BBC's Rock Goes to College, filmed at Hatfield Polytechnic College in Hertfordshire, England. The Police donated all money earned from the show to the college. The Police performed 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 and Kanye West performing a rap verse over the chorus of the song. Sting performed the song on January 30, 2025 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California for FireAid to help with relief efforts for the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. ==Reception==

The song was released as the first single from Reggatta de Blanc in September 1979. The song was a massive success in Britain, becoming the Police's first hit in the UK Singles Chart. The song also topped the charts in Ireland and reached in Australia. Despite its popularity in the UK, the single only reached in the United States. An alternative "classic rock" mix is available on Every Breath You Take: The Classics. "Message in a Bottle" is also a personal favourite of the members of the band. In addition to saying it was his favourite song in an interview with Jools Holland of the BBC, Sting described it as a "good song", and also said that he was "very proud" of it. Copeland said it was "one of our best moments in the studio and always great on stage." Ultimate Classic Rock critic Mike Duquette rated it as the Police's best song, praising the "foolishly simple guitar riff devised by Sting but played to perfection by Summers" the "cacophony of percussive brilliance by Copeland" and "Sting’s most plainspoken and razor-sharp lyric." Cash Box described the song's hook as "a mesmerizing guitar figure" that is similar to that of Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper." Record World said that "Sharp tempo contrasts are bridged by Andy Summers' hard-edged lead guitar while singer-songwriter Sting pleads an affecting lead vocal." ==Personnel==

The album credits simply state: "All noises by the Police. All arrangements by the Police." On Tidal, the credits are given as the following: • Sting – bass guitar, vocals, songwriting • Stewart Copeland – drums, percussion • Andy Summers – guitar ==Track listing==

;A&M / AMS 7474 • "Message in a Bottle" (edit) – 3:50 (This edit has yet to appear on CD anywhere) • "Landlord" – 3:09 ==Chart performance==

Weekly charts Year-end charts Decade-end charts ==Certifications==

• In 2003, American Hi-Fi covered the song on the soundtrack album for the film Rugrats Go Wild. • In 2020, Sting recorded a version of the song with the quartet All Saints. ==References==