Song of the Day: 'Walking on the Moon' by the Police

Although I think Sirius/XM Radio gives the Police an outsize presence, its doing so has reminded me that I do like a lot of songs by Sting and the boys, of whom I generally think of myself as being a rather casual fan. When I saw them live in 1983 -- a spur-of-the-moment invite from a junior high friend I had grown apart from -- at the height of their popularity, I really only went because the Thompson Twins (and Madness) were opening! 

Interesting to note that the song hit No. 1 in the U.K. while not charting in the U.S. Its predecessor, "Message in a Bottle," also hit No. 1 in the U.K. but stalled at No. 74 here. Perhaps this disparity -- five No. 1 and 15 Top 20 singles across the pond versus just one No. 1 and eight Top 20 in the U.S. -- explains why Richard Blade puts more of an emphasis on the band than I ever did.

Song of the Day: 'Don't Stand So Close to Me' (live) by The Police

Andy Cohen just did what every gay boy in the early '80s wanted to do.

The US Festival Revisited

I remember wanting the US Festival(s) to be my generation's version of Woodstock, yet feeling kinda underwhelmed by it all. despite many of my favorite groups being involved. Although I only saw it on television, something about the hot Inland Empire setting with all of that dust blowing around seemed like the antithesis of a good time, confirming my suspicions that concert festivals, like cruises, just weren't for me. (A live version of "Money" by the Pretenders was the best thing I got out of it.) Still, I wasn't actually there, so I'm open to learning more. But if a documentary is to be made to set the record straight, can't multibillionaire festival founder Steve Wozniak pick up the tab instead of begging "us" for cash?

From the Kickstarter pitch:

Remember the US FESTIVAL!

When Music, Technology, People Were UNITED... IN SONG

New documentary film on the innovative and influential 1982 US FESTIVAL - remastered music; never-before-told stories; never-before-seen footage; featured interviews from then and now; campaign now live on Kickstarter!

 

This campaign is to complete a feature-length documentary on the 1982 US Festival ("US" as in "you and me"), a magnificent, innovative, influential, and sometimes forgotten West Coast mega-concert. The film is mostly done, some of the music is licensed and cleared, this campaign allows us to license additional music and finish post production. If you've not heard about The US Festival, that's either a function of your age, or probably because the story has never been told. It's a really good story though - and we're very proud to tell it.

1982 lineup. It was 110 degrees that weekend and 100 arrests, plus 35 drug overdoses. The festival lost a reported $12 million.

1983 lineup. The reprise festival lost another $12 million and two people reportedly lost their lives.

Song of the Day: 'Don't Stand So Close to Me' by The Police

Great song by a band I'm surprised I never got into more.

Zenyatta Mondatta (Remastered) - The Police