The Police – Moving Forward In 1980

A&M was keen for a new set of material and a return to live gigs. After a relatively short recording schedule, Zenyatta Mondatta was released late in 1980. It became the Police's North American breakthrough album, reaching the Top Ten in the U.S. and Canada. In the UK, the album spent a month at number one.
Zenyatta Mondatta was originally going to be called Trimondo Blondomina, meaning "three blond guys (dominating the world)," but the band did not want another title referring to "blond" so that title was dropped. They reached a consensus with Zenyatta Mondatta. Zenyatta Mondatta is supposedly a composite of several things. "Zen" comes from the eastern religion. "Yatta" is rumored to have ties to Kenyatta (the leader of the Mau Mau's of Congo-Zaire-Kenya). "Mond" comes from "Monde" - the French word for world. The whole thing was then articulated in such a way to sound like "Reggatta." Another possibility is that the title came from "Zenith" and "Monde," which means "Top of the World." A third theory: In Japanese, Zenyatta Mondatta has a somewhat rude meaning: "gave money, gave a massage."

The first single from the album was "Don't Stand So Close to Me," and became the group's second number one single in the U.K. and in America, the single became their second Top Ten hit in the spring of 1981. Earlier that year "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" made it to number ten. By the beginning of 1981, the Police were able to sell out Madison Square Garden, and were rising in the ranks of the worlds most celebrated artists.

In subsequent interviews Sting stated that he regretted the rushed recording for the album. However, many critics would later cite it as one of their most creative efforts evidenced by the album winning two Grammy awards. The instrumental "Behind My Camel," written by Andy Summers won the band a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. The song "Don't Stand So Close to Me" won the Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance For Duo Or Group.

By: ML PAUL

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M Paul is a mad music fan. For details on Police concerts in a city near you come visit this site www.concert-ticket-deals.net

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