Roxanne (song)

From PoliceWiki
Revision as of 05:59, 10 March 2010 by Dietmar (talk | contribs) (Alternative and cover versions)
"Roxanne"
1978 A&M single art for Roxanne.
Recorded by The Police
Released: 1978-04-07

re-issue in April 1979

Recorded: January - March 1978
Length: 3:12
Album(s): Outlandos d'Amour
Label(s): A&M
Writer(s): Sting
Producer(s): The Police
Studio(s): Surrey Sound Studios
Released as single? YES

"Roxanne" is a song written by Sting and recorded by The Police in 1978.

About the song

Sting had the idea for the song while being in Paris' red light district with The Police on 1977-10-20.

He presented the song to the band at their rehearsal room in Finchley and they changed the Bossa Nova style to the rhythm we all know.

When recording Outlandos d'Amour (initially for Illegal Records) at Surrey Sound Studios they presented the songs they had to Miles Copeland. He was indifferent until he heard Roxanne.

Miles talked to people from A&M and got a record deal.

At the beginning of the song, during the intro, you can hear a strange piano chord, then Sting laughing. In fact, during the voice recording, Sting accidently sat on the piano just behind him. They decided to keep this on the final mix. Note that you won't hear it on the instrumental track.

Personnel

This section needs more information.

Release History

Albums

Roxanne appears on the following album releases:

Cover art Album title Release date Release country
Police-album-outlandosdamour.jpg Outlandos d'Amour 1978-11-17 UK

Singles

CD Singles

Cover art Catalog no. Songs Release date Release country
Police-compacthits.jpg AMCD 905 "Roxanne" / "Canary In A Coalmine" / "The Bed's Too Big Without You" / "Can't Stand Losing You" 1988-06-01 United Kingdom

7" Singles

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song/B-side song Release date Release country
1978roxanne.jpg AMS 7348 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1978-04-07 UK
1979roxanne.jpg AMS 7348 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1979-01-DD UK
1986roxanne.jpg AM 363 "Roxanne"/"Synchronicity" 1986-MM-DD UK

12" Singles

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song(s)/B-side song(s) Release date Release country
1978roxanne.jpg AMS 7348 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1978-MM-DD UK
1979roxanne.jpg AMS 7348 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1979-MM-DD UK
Radiosample.jpg SAMP 5 "The Bed's Too Big Without You"/"So Lonely"/"Can't Stand Losing You"/"Roxanne"/"Message In A Bottle"/"Walking On The Moon" 1980-MM-DD UK

Video

"SONG TITLE" appears on the following video and dvd releases:

Cover art Video title Release date Release country
Stub.gif Video or dvd title YYYY-MM-DD Country


Awards, nominations, and certifications

Awards

This section needs more information.

Year Winner Award Category
YYYY WINNER (album, song, producer, etc.) AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.) CATEGORY

Nominations

This section needs more information.

Year Nominee Award Category
YYYY NOMINEE (album, song, producer, etc.) AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.) CATEGORY

Certifications

This section needs more information.

Country Certifier Classification Certification
COUNTRY CERTIFIER (RIAA, IFPI...) CLASSIFICATION (Album, singles, foreign artist...) CERTIFICATION (Gold, Platinum, Diamond...)

Lyrics

Lyrics are property and copyright of their owners, and provided here for educational purposes only.

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Put on the red light, oh

I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
Told you once I won't tell you again it's a bad way

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
You don't have to put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light

Quotations and trivia

The 7" single version of Roxanne sold over a half-million copies in the U.S. and would have qualified for Gold record certification under current rules set by the Recording Industry Association of America. However, at the time of the song's release, singles were awarded with a Gold certification for sales of 1,000,000 units and a Platinum certification for sales of 2,000,000 units. The change to certification of Gold status for sales of 500,000 7" units did not occur until January 1, 1989.

Alternative and cover versions

Alternative versions

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song/B-side song Release date Release country
Japanese Backing Track single.jpg AMP-782 "Every Breath You Take (backing track)"/"Roxanne (backing track)" 1983-MM-DD Japan

Cover versions

Cover versions of Roxanne appear on the following album releases:

Cover art Artist Album title Release date Release country
Reggatta Mondatta.jpg Aswad Reggatta Mondatta 1997-MM-DD The Netherlands
Policia cover.jpg Fall Out Boy Policia! A Tribute To The Police 2005-MM-DD USA
  • George Michael did a cover version.

See also

External links

http://www.followtheleaders.fr/rox2006.htm

References