Message in a Bottle
~ Song
Wikipedia
"Message in a Bottle" is a song by British rock band the Police. It was released as the lead single from their second studio album, Reggatta de Blanc (1979). Written by the band's lead singer and bassist Sting, the song is ostensibly about a story of a castaway on an island who sends out a message in a bottle to seek love. Having received no response for a year, he despairs, believing that he is destined to be alone. The next day, however, he sees "a hundred billion bottles" on the shore and realizes that there are more lonely people like him.
The song was the first of the five UK number one singles released by the Police. Rolling Stone ranked it number 65 on its list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time".
Relationships
| lyricist and composer: | Sting (singer, songwriter & member of The Police) |
|---|
| publisher: | EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (1989-07-24–present) Virgin Music, Inc. (The American arm of Virgin's publishing company) |
|---|
| SecondHandSongs: | https://secondhandsongs.com/work/5342 [info] |
|---|---|
| Wikidata: | Q2469156 [info] |
| later parody versions: | Message in the Bible |
|---|---|
| later translated versions: | El mensaje en la botella |
Recordings
| Date | Title | Attributes | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| recordings | ||||
| 1979-04-07 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1979-04-07: The Paradise, Boston, MA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:51 |
| 1979-05-16 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1979-05-16: The Roxy, San Diego, CA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:48 |
| 1979-05-26 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1979-05-26: The Longhorn, Minneapolis, MN, USA) | live | The Police | 4:35 |
| 1979-05 | Message in a Bottle (1979-05: Capitol Radio Session) | The Police | 4:32 | |
| 1979-10-02 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1979-10-02: My Father's Place, Long Island, NY, USA) | live | The Police | 5:01 |
| 1979-11-27 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1979-11-27: Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:43 |
| 1979-11-27 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1979-11-27: Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:28 |
| 1979 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1979: BBC Concert) | live | The Police | 4:38 |
| 1980-01-21 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1980-01-21: The Agora Ballroom, Cleveland, OH, USA) | live | The Police | 5:02 |
| 1980-04-04 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1980-04-04: Palasport, Torino, Italy) | live | The Police | 5:11 |
| 1980-04-06 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1980-04-06: Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany) | live | The Police | 4:47 |
| 1980-04-28 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1980-04-28: Crimewatch, Newcastle, UK) | live | The Police | 4:43 |
| 1980-08-22 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1980-08-22: Les Arènes, Béziers, France) | live | The Police | 4:31 |
| 1980-08-26 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1980-08-26: Plage du Mourillon, Toulon, France) | live | The Police | 4:24 |
| 1981-01-15 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1981-01-15: Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:17 |
| 1981-02-02 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1981-02-02: Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan) | live | The Police | ?:?? |
| 1981-02-02 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1981-02-02: Budohkan, Tokyo, Japan) | live | The Police | 4:21 |
| 1981-02-13 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1981-02-13: Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland, New Zealand) | live | The Police | 4:16 |
| 1981-02-16 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1981-02-16: Showgrounds, Sydney, Australia) | live | The Police | 4:35 |
| 1981-02-22 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1981-02-22: Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia) | live | The Police | 4:25 |
| 1981-08-22 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1981-08-22: Liberty Bell Horse Racetrack, Philadelphia, PA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:32 |
| 1981 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1981: Amnesty International Gala, Theatre Royal, London, UK) | live | Sting | 3:44 |
| 1982-01-03 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1982-01-03: Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden) | live | The Police | 4:15 |
| 1982-01-19 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1982-01-19: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, USA) | live | The Police | 3:58 |
| 1982-01-20 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1982-01-20: Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:00 |
| 1982-01-23 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1982-01-23: The Coliseum, New Haven, CT, USA) | live | The Police | 3:55 |
| 1982-03-09 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1982-03-09: US Festival: Glen Helen Park, San Bernardino, CA, USA) | live | The Police | 3:56 |
| 1982-04-22 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1982-04-22: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, USA) | live | The Police | 3:54 |
| 1982-07-31 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1982-07-31: Gateshead, UK) | live | The Police | 4:21 |
| 1983-07-22 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1983-07-22: Lilitz, PA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:12 |
| 1983-08-02 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1983-08-02: Spectrum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) | live | The Police | 4:18 |
| 1983-08-03 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1983-08-03: Olympic Stadium, Montréal, QC, Canada) | live | The Police | 4:04 |
| 1983-10-03 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1983-10-03: Palais des Sports, Lyon, France) | live | The Police | 4:25 |
| 1983-10-14 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1983-10-14: Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden) | live | The Police | 4:41 |
| 1983-11-14 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1983-11-14: Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX, USA) | live | The Police | 5:08 |
| 1983-11 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1983-11: Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, GA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:36 |
| 1983-12-23 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1983-12-23: Conference Centre, Brighton, UK) | live | The Police | 4:28 |
| 1983-12-27 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1983-12-27: Wembley Arena, London, UK) | live | The Police | 4:54 |
| 1984-02-08 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1984-02-08: Williamsburg, VA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:54 |
| 1984-02-19 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1984-02-19: Rosemont Horizon, Chicago, IL, USA) | live | The Police | 4:29 |
| 1984-04-03 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1984-04-03: Showgrounds, Melbourne, Australia) | live | The Police | 4:37 |
| 1985-07-13 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1985-07-13: Live Aid 1985) | live | Sting | 4:32 |
| 1985-09-07 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1985-09-07: Poplar Creek Amphitheater, Hoffman Estates, IL, USA) | live | Sting | 5:43 |
| 1985-12-20 | Message in a Bottle | live | Sting | 6:57 |
| 1986-01-20 | Message in a Bottle | live | Sting | 5:57 |
| 1986-01-26 | Message in a Bottle | live | Sting | 6:39 |
| 1986-02-14 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1986-02-14: Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands) | live | Sting | 6:46 |
| 1986-06-04 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1986-06-04: Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA, USA) | live | Sting | ?:?? |
| 1986-06-11 | Message in a Bottle | live | The Police | 5:15 |
| 1986-06-13 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1986-06-13: Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL, USA) | live | The Police | 5:10 |
| 1986-06-15 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1986-06-15: Giants Stadium, Meadowlands, NJ, USA) | live | The Police | 5:08 |
| 1986-06-15 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1986-06-15: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US) | live | The Police | 4:50 |
| 1988-05-06 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1988-05-06: Verona Theatre, Verona, Verona, Veneto, Italy) | live | Sting | 6:17 |
| 1991-03 | Rehearsal: Message in a Bottle | live | Sting | ?:?? |
| 1991-10-02 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1991-10-02: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA) | live | Sting | 5:44 |
| 1991-11-30 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1991-11-30: Wembley Arena, London, UK) | live | Sting | 6:56 |
| 1991 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1991: New York, NY, USA) | live | Sting | 5:54 |
| 1993-03-16 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1993-03-16: Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands) | live | Sting | 5:25 |
| 1996-10-07 | Medley | live and partial | Sting | 2:59 |
| 1997-09-15 | Message in a Bottle | live | Sting | 4:31 |
| 1998-05-01 | S.O.S. / Message in a Bottle (live, 1998-05-01: Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK) | cover, live and medley | Björn Again | 3:30 |
| 1999-10-29 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1999-10-29: Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA) | live | Sting | ?:?? |
| 1999-10-29 | Message in a Bottle (live, 1999-10-29: Universal Amphiteater, Los Angeles, CA, USA) | live | Sting | 2:57 |
| 2000-09-12 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2000-09-12: Central Park, New York, NY, USA) | live | Sting | 4:28 |
| 2001-12-23 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2001-12-23: Coupe, Pančevo, Serbia) | cover and live | Cactus Jack | 4:15 |
| 2002-09-12 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2002-09-12: Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Pelham, AL, USA) | cover and live | John Mayer | 5:34 |
| 2002-09-12 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2002-09-12: Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Pelham, AL, USA) | cover and live | John Mayer | 5:07 |
| 2004-02 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2004-02: Like a Version: Studio 262, ABC Ultimo, Sydney, NSW, Australia) | cover and live | John Butler | 3:49 |
| 2005-04-14 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2005-04-14: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, MO, USA) | live | Sting | 7:07 |
| 2005-05-14 | Message In A Bottle (live, 2005-05-14: Irving Plaza, New York, USA) | live | Sting | 4:51 |
| 2005-07-02 | Message in a Bottle / Driven to Tears / Every Breath You Take (live, 2005-07-02: Live 8, Hyde Park, London, England, UK) | live | Sting | 14:44 |
| 2006-06-04 | Message in a Bottle (cut) | live | Sting | 3:24 |
| 2006-08-23 | Message in a Bottle (live) (live, acoustic, 2006-08-23: AOL Sessions Undercover) | cover and live | 30 Seconds to Mars | 3:05 |
| 2007-05-27 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-05-27: Fan Club Show, GM Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada) | live | The Police | 4:56 |
| 2007-05-28 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-05-28: GM Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada) | live | The Police | 4:58 |
| 2007-06-10 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-06-10: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO, USA) | live | The Police | 5:02 |
| 2007-06-13 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-06-13: McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, CA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:44 |
| 2007-06-15 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-06-15: MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas, NV, USA) | live | The Police | 5:00 |
| 2007-06-16 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-06-16: Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN, USA) | live | The Police | 5:20 |
| 2007-06-18 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-06-18: US Airways Arena, Phoenix, AZ, USA) | live | The Police | 4:50 |
| 2007-06-20 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-06-20: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA) | live | The Police | 5:46 |
| 2007-06-21 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-06-21: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA, USA) | live | The Police | 4:59 |
| 2007-06-26 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-06-26: American Airlines Arena, Dallas, TX, USA) | live | The Police | 4:56 |
| 2007-06-29 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-06-29: Toyota Center, Houston, TX, USA) | live | The Police | 4:54 |
| 2007-07-02 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-07-02: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO, USA) | live | The Police | 5:40 |
| 2007-07-07 | Driven to Tears / Roxanne / Can’t Stand Losing You / Reggatta De Blanc / Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-07-07: Live Earth, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA) | live | The Police feat. John Mayer & Kanye West | 25:56 |
| 2007-09-14 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-09-14: Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) | live | The Police | ?:?? |
| 2007-09-16 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-09-16: Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland) | live | The Police | 4:27 |
| 2007-12-01 – 2007-12-02 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-12: River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina) | live | The Police | 5:00 |
| 2007-12-08 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-12-08: Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) | live | The Police | 4:54 |
| 2007-12 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2007-12: River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina) | live | The Police | 4:46 |
| 2008-01-24 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2008-01-24: ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia) | live | The Police | 5:25 |
| 2008-01 | Medley "Fan" (live, 2008-01: Zénith, Strasbourg) | live and medley | Les Enfoirés | 8:34 |
| 2008-02-07 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2008-02-07: Venetian Arena, Macau, China) | live | The Police | ?:?? |
| 2008-02-13 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2008-02-13: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan) | live | The Police | 4:52 |
| 2008-02 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2008-02: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan) | live | The Police | 4:55 |
| 2010-03 | Message in a Bottle | cover | Paola Arnesano | 7:09 |
| 2010-11 | Message in a Bottle (live, 2010-11: Quinta Vergara Amphitheater, Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile) | live | Sting | 4:53 |
| 2011-08-09 – 2011-08-11 | Message in a Bottle | cover | Ulf Wakenius | 6:16 |
| 2016-08-12 | Message in a Bottle | instrumental and live | Marcin Wasilewski Trio | 10:43 |
| See all 251 relationships | ||||