Roxanne (song)
Encyclopedia
"Roxanne" is a hit song by the rock
band The Police
, first released in 1978
as a single and on their album Outlandos d'Amour
. It was written from the point-of-view of a man who falls in love with a prostitute.
, France
in October 1977 to perform at the Nashville Club. The title of the song comes from the name of the character in the play Cyrano de Bergerac
, an old poster of which was hanging in the hotel foyer.
Sting had originally conceived the song as a bossa nova
, although he credits Police drummer Stewart Copeland
for suggesting its final rhythmic form as a tango
. During recording, Sting accidentally sat down on a piano keyboard in the studio, resulting in the atonal piano chord and laughter preserved at the beginning of the track. The Police were initially diffident about the song, but Miles Copeland III
was immediately enthusiastic after hearing it, becoming their manager and getting them their first record deal with A&M Records
. The single did not chart, but when re-released in April 1979, it reached #12 in the UK In the US, the single entered the Billboard Hot 100
chart in February 1979 and peaked at #32 in April. The song went on to become a staple of Sting's performances during his solo career.
Roxanne has appeared on all of the Police's Greatest hits albums. Rolling Stone
ranked it #388 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
This was also the first song the band performed live (at the 2007 Grammy Awards) to kick off their 30th Anniversary Reunion Tour
.
sampled "Roxanne" for his single "What Means The World to You?".
Eddie Murphy
(as convict Reggie Hammond) is found singing "Roxanne" in his prison cell in the 1982 movie 48 Hrs.
The song was one of the many remixed covers in the film Moulin Rouge!
, named "El Tango de Roxanne".
The Arctic Monkeys
song "When the Sun Goes Down", refers to Roxanne in the lyrics: and he told Roxanne to put on her red light.
The song was also featured in The A-Team
episode, "Steel", while being listened to by Hannibal (George Peppard
), B.A. (Mr. T
), and Murdock (Dwight Schultz
), while posing as window washers before B.A. throws the stereo off the platform in anger and destroys it.
The song was briefly featured in Two and a Half Men
episode, "Winky-Dink Time", sung by Alan while he's waiting for his prostitute to arrive.
In Family Guy
's "Ocean's Three and a Half
" episode, Brian lists many songs named after women. 'Roxanne' is the second mentioned.
The song plays a prominent role in the Community
third-season episode "Remedial Chaos Theory
".
In The Office
, episode 03.16 "Phyllis's Wedding", Kevin Malone
's band Scrantonicity sings this song during the wedding reception.
In Friends
, Phoebe emplores Ross to get tickets for a Sting concert by singing 'Ross can' to him.
"Roxanne" has been played during the 2009 John Galliano Haute Couture runway show.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
, first released in 1978
1978 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.-January–April:*January 14 – The Sex Pistols play their final show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom....
as a single and on their album Outlandos d'Amour
Outlandos d'Amour
The LP initially flopped, due to low exposure and an unfavourable reaction from the BBC to its first two singles, "Can't Stand Losing You" and "Roxanne" . As Sting describes:...
. It was written from the point-of-view of a man who falls in love with a prostitute.
History
Police lead singer Sting wrote the song, inspired by the prostitutes he saw near the band's seedy hotel while in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in October 1977 to perform at the Nashville Club. The title of the song comes from the name of the character in the play Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac (play)
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play bears very scant resemblance to his life....
, an old poster of which was hanging in the hotel foyer.
Sting had originally conceived the song as a bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
, although he credits Police drummer Stewart Copeland
Stewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
for suggesting its final rhythmic form as a tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
. During recording, Sting accidentally sat down on a piano keyboard in the studio, resulting in the atonal piano chord and laughter preserved at the beginning of the track. The Police were initially diffident about the song, but Miles Copeland III
Miles Copeland III
Miles Axe Copeland III is an American entertainment executive, best known for founding I.R.S. Records. His brother, Stewart Copeland, was part of the pop-rock trio The Police, which Miles managed...
was immediately enthusiastic after hearing it, becoming their manager and getting them their first record deal with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
. The single did not chart, but when re-released in April 1979, it reached #12 in the UK In the US, the single entered the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in February 1979 and peaked at #32 in April. The song went on to become a staple of Sting's performances during his solo career.
Roxanne has appeared on all of the Police's Greatest hits albums. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked it #388 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
This was also the first song the band performed live (at the 2007 Grammy Awards) to kick off their 30th Anniversary Reunion Tour
The Police Reunion Tour
The Police Reunion Tour was a 2007–2008 worldwide concert tour by The Police, marking the 30th anniversary of their beginnings. At its conclusion, the tour became the third highest grossing tour of all time, with revenues reaching over $340 million...
.
Music video
There were three different music videos released for "Roxanne". The first shows the band performing the song on a stage on what is perhaps a sound check to a show. Many slow motion shots of the group live appear here as well. The second version was shot on a soundstage and shows the band performing before a red backdrop. The third version is identical to the second except the footage was transferred from videotape to film and has a grainy quality to it.Personnel
- Sting - bass, lead vocals, backing vocals
- Andy SummersAndy SummersAndy Summers is an English guitarist born in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England. Best known as the guitarist for rock band The Police, he has also recorded twelve solo albums, collaborated with many other artists, toured extensively under his own name, published several books, and composed...
- guitar, backing vocals - Stewart CopelandStewart CopelandStewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
- drums, backing vocals
Cultural references
Rapper Cam'ronCam'ron
Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....
sampled "Roxanne" for his single "What Means The World to You?".
Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
(as convict Reggie Hammond) is found singing "Roxanne" in his prison cell in the 1982 movie 48 Hrs.
48 Hrs.
48 Hrs. is a 1982 American action comedy film directed by Walter Hill, starring Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy as a cop and convict, respectively, who team up to catch a cop-killer. The title refers to the amount of time they have to solve the crime. This was Eddie Murphy's film debut , and Joel...
The song was one of the many remixed covers in the film Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 romantic jukebox musical film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. Following the Red Curtain Cinema principles, the film is based on the Orphean myth, La Traviata, and La Bohème...
, named "El Tango de Roxanne".
The Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
song "When the Sun Goes Down", refers to Roxanne in the lyrics: and he told Roxanne to put on her red light.
The song was also featured in The A-Team
The A-Team
The A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
episode, "Steel", while being listened to by Hannibal (George Peppard
George Peppard
George Peppard, Jr. was an American film and television actor.Peppard secured a major role when he starred alongside Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's , portrayed a character based on Howard Hughes in The Carpetbaggers , and played the title role of the millionaire sleuth Thomas Banacek in...
), B.A. (Mr. T
Mr. T
Mr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
), and Murdock (Dwight Schultz
Dwight Schultz
William Dwight Schultz is an American stage, television, film actor, and voice artist. He is best known for his roles as Captain "Howling Mad" Murdock on the 1980s action show The A-Team, and as Reginald Barclay in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, and the film Star Trek: First...
), while posing as window washers before B.A. throws the stereo off the platform in anger and destroys it.
The song was briefly featured in Two and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men is an American television sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2003. Starring Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones, the show was originally about a hedonistic jingle writer, Charlie Harper; his uptight brother, Alan; and Alan's growing son, Jake...
episode, "Winky-Dink Time", sung by Alan while he's waiting for his prostitute to arrive.
In Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
's "Ocean's Three and a Half
Ocean's Three and a Half
"Ocean's Three and a Half" is the seventh episode of the seventh season of Family Guy. It first aired in the United States on the Fox television network on February 15, 2009. Peter decides to induce Joe's wife Bonnie into labor so that Joe will be able to spend more time with him. Bonnie gives...
" episode, Brian lists many songs named after women. 'Roxanne' is the second mentioned.
The song plays a prominent role in the Community
Community (TV series)
Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
third-season episode "Remedial Chaos Theory
Remedial Chaos Theory
"Remedial Chaos Theory" is the fourth episode of the third season of the U.S. television series Community. It originally aired on October 13, 2011 on NBC. The episode features a housewarming party for Troy and Abed panning out in seven alternate timelines...
".
In The Office
The Office
The Office is a popular mockumentary/situation comedy TV show that was first made in the UK and has now been re-made in many other countries, with overall viewership in the hundreds of millions worldwide. The original version of The Office was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It...
, episode 03.16 "Phyllis's Wedding", Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone
Kevin Jaye Malone is a character in the United States television series The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. Kevin's counterpart in the UK series is Keith Bishop.-Biography:...
's band Scrantonicity sings this song during the wedding reception.
In Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, Phoebe emplores Ross to get tickets for a Sting concert by singing 'Ross can' to him.
"Roxanne" has been played during the 2009 John Galliano Haute Couture runway show.
Other cover versions
- In 1997, Michael FrantiMichael FrantiMichael Franti is an American poet, musician, and composer. He is the creator and lead vocalist of Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock...
& Spearhead covered the song in the film Good BurgerGood BurgerGood Burger is a 1997 American comedy film by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Nickelodeon Movies, released by Paramount Pictures, directed by Brian Robbins, and starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell...
during the introduction of a female character with the same name. - In 1997, British reggae group Aswad covered the song on their album Big Up.
- In 1997, saxophonist Warren Hill covered the song on his album Shelter.
- In 1999, George MichaelGeorge MichaelGeorge Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
covered the song on his album Songs from the Last CenturySongs from the Last CenturySongs from the Last Century is an album of cover versions by singer George Michael and acclaimed producer Phil Ramone, released in December 1999...
. - In 2001, the song was covered as "El Tango de Roxanne" in the film Moulin Rouge!Moulin Rouge!Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 romantic jukebox musical film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. Following the Red Curtain Cinema principles, the film is based on the Orphean myth, La Traviata, and La Bohème...
- In 2003, Fall Out BoyFall Out BoyFall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
covered the song in the deluxe version of Take This To Your GraveTake This to Your GraveTake This to Your Grave is the second studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy. It is the group's first release under the Fueled by Ramen label and was released on May 6, 2003. The album title is taken from a line from the lyrics of the track "The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes", which...
. - In 2008, Idina MenzelIdina MenzelIdina Kim Menzel is an American actress, singer and songwriter. She is widely known for originating the roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked.-Early life:...
covered the song on her I Stand Summer Tour and in her current 2011 Symphony Tour with a mashup of Cole PorterCole PorterCole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
's Love For Sale.