Driven to Tears explained

Driven to Tears
Type:Song
Artist:The Police
Album:Zenyatta Mondatta
Released:October 2, 1980
Genre:New wave
Length:3:20
Label:A&M
Producer:The Police, Nigel Gray

"Driven to Tears" is a song written by Sting and first released by The Police on their 1980 album Zenyatta Mondatta. Although not released as a single, the song reached #35 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[1] The political overtones of the song represent the beginning of the political activism that would recur throughout much of Sting's and the Police's subsequent music.[2] On classic rock radio stations, the song is usually followed immediately by “When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around”.

Theme

The theme of the song is the divide between rich and poor.[3] It was one of the first politically themed songs the Police released, and the first that Sting wrote.[4] [5] Sting was inspired to write the song while on tour in the United States in 1979 after seeing the plight of starving children in Biafra on television.[6] [7] Sting has stated that the title and song came to him because he was literally driven to tears by the show.[6] The song asks questions but finds no answers.[5] One line of the song refers to the fact that people can afford the technology to watch television, but not food for the starving children.[7]

Composition

The song is in the key of A minor.[8] It incorporates a powerful eight bar guitar solo by Police guitarist Andy Summers, one of his few solos on Zenyatta Mondatta.[2] [9] Author Erica Starr has described Stewart Copeland's drum playing on the song as "jerky" and "syncopated" but that the beats "float around with great ease," noting that the song has "tremendous energy and forward momentum."[10] Rolling Stone critic David Fricke points to "Driven to Tears" as an example of The Police indulging "their love for reggae," describing the song as "brooding."[11] Allmusic critic Chris True describes the song as a "midtempo reggae workout."[2]

Author Chris Welch states that "Driven to Tears" "surges with an unstoppable anger."[7] The Washington Post music critic Robert Hull claimed that the song "has the driving force of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac."[12] Allmusic critic Chris True considers Summers' short guitar solo to be one of his best.[2] Summers himself considered "Driven to Tears" one of the better songs Sting wrote that formed "the meat" of Zenyatta Mondatta.[13]

Live history

A live performance (circa 1980) of "Driven to Tears" is the opening number of the film Urgh! A Music War.

Sting played "Driven to Tears" at the Live Aid concert in 1985.[12] He also released a live version on his solo album Bring on the Night in 1986.[7] That version included a solo by saxophone player Branford Marsalis.[7] A live version performed by the Police was released on the 1993 box set Message in a Box.[7]

The song was included in the setlist for Sting's 2014 "On Stage Together" concert tour with legendary artist Paul Simon.[14] This rendition featured a guitar and a violin solo performed by Sting's accompanying musicians.

Covers

Personnel

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zenyatta Mondatta awards. Allmusic. 2012-09-22.
  2. Web site: Driven to Tears. True, C.. Allmusic. 2012-09-23.
  3. Book: Gable, C.. The Words and Music of Sting. 15. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 9780275993603.
  4. Web site: Zenyatta Mondatta. Allmusic . 2012-09-22.
  5. Book: Campion, C.. Walking on the Moon: The Untold Story of the Police and the Rise of New Wave Rock. limited. 139–140. 2009. John Wiley & Sons . 9780470282403.
  6. Century Award. Billboard. 23–27. Newman, M.. December 13, 2003.
  7. Book: Welch, C.. The Complete Guide to the Music of The Police and Sting. 16, 44, 69. 1996. Omnibus Press. 0711953023.
  8. Book: Riffs: How to Create and Play Great Guitar Riffs. Rooksby, R.. 94. 2002. Hal Leonard . 9780879307103.
  9. Book: Secrets from the Masters: Conversations With Forty Great Guitar Players. Menin, D.. 246. Andy Summers. Obrecht, J.. 1992. Hal Leonard. 9780879302603.
  10. Book: The Everything Rock Drums Book. Starr, E.. 219. 2009. Everything Books. 9781598696271.
  11. Zenyatta Mondatta. Fricke. David. Rolling Stone. December 25, 1980. 2012-09-22.
  12. Web site: Zenyatta Mondatta. thepolice.com. 2012-09-22.
  13. Book: One Train Later: A Memoir. Summers, A.. Andy Summers. 259. 2007. Macmillan. 9780312374815.
  14. Web site: Paul Simon and Sting Merge Voices, Styles in Tour Opener: Live Review. Gary. Graff . February 9, 2014. Billboard.com.
  15. Web site: Cover 2 Cover. Allmusic. 2012-09-23.
  16. Web site: Play the Police. Allmusic . 2012-09-23.
  17. Web site: Home . watchitgotofire.wordpress.com.
  18. Web site: Sting and Robert Downey Jr – Driven to Tears (HQ). YouTube.