What do you get when you cross the pretentious son of a milkman (an incorrigible jazzer nicknamed "Sting") with a great drummer adept at Carribean rhythms (a self-described "population statistic" named Stewart Copeland) and a journeyman 1960's guitarist who (for better or worse) never quite fit the mold of a Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck or Eric Clapton (a.k.a. Andy Summers)?? Well, you get a group of veteran musicians with a well-developed songcraft, a high-level of musicianship, an eclectic repertoire that fuses jazz/funk/reggae/punk rock and a very strong desire to succeed (they even went blonde-the ultimate sacrifice!).
This film is perhaps the lone historical document that captures this great 80's band in their prime and in front of an audience for a full length concert. As such it is essential viewing for any fan. It does, however, suffer from the fact that, unlike the classic "power trio" format(i.e. "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" or "Cream) which attempts to fill the sonic void using a high level of virtuosity, this trio takes a minimalistic approach to their music. In the studio, this creates a subtle, simple elegance. On stage, it results in some dead air. This group would have been better served if they had been filmed in a smaller, more intimate venue. But, we'll just have to make do with what's available here!
Sidenote: Sting's multi-colored post-apocalyptic outfit, probably inspired by the Mad Max movie series, is vaguely reminiscent of a pinata the day after a particularly raucous birthday party. It's good for a chuckle.
Clarification: Yes, my commentary on Sting's outfit was pointing to the fact that he appears to have been wrapped in paper mache' and then flogged. But much to his credit, Sting still managed to carry on and play a great show.
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The Police - Synchronicity Concert
Sting
(Actor),
Andy Summers
(Actor),
Kevin Godley
(Director),
Lol Creme
(Director)
&
1
more Rated: Format: DVD
G
IMDb8.3/10.0
$21.98$21.98
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| Genre | Rock, Music Video & Concerts |
| Format | Multiple Formats, AC-3, Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC See more |
| Contributor | Lol Creme, Stewart Copeland, Sting, Andy Summers, Kevin Godley |
| Language | English |
| Number Of Discs | 1 |
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Product Description
Live concert performance from the band, recorded in Atlanta during their world tour of 1983. Tracks include such classic hits as 'Message In a Bottle', 'King of Pain', 'Every Breath You Take' and 'So Lonely'.
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : G (General Audience)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 3.2 Ounces
- Item model number : 1921738
- Director : Kevin Godley, Lol Creme
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, AC-3, Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC
- Run time : 1 hour and 16 minutes
- Release date : November 8, 2005
- Actors : Sting, Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland
- Language : Unqualified (DTS ES 6.1)
- Studio : A&M
- ASIN : B000AANBG0
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #56,731 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #504 in New Wave
- #620 in Performing Arts (Movies & TV)
- #1,296 in Music Videos & Concerts (Movies & TV)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
225 global ratings
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 7, 2007
10 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 9, 2005
This concert catches the Police at height of their stardom, when Synchronicity ruled and they were one of biggest bands around (if not THE biggest). The songs performed during this show include virtually all of their hit singles, from "Roxanne" to "Message in a Bottle" to "Every Breath You Take", plus several album tracks from Synchronicity like "Tea in the Sahara" and "Oh My God".
The performances are all solid, but to this Police fan's ears, they lack some of the special energetic frenzy of earlier Police live shows and tours, where it was just Stewart, Sting, and Andy on-stage, no back-up singers, no one else. Stand-outs to my eyes and ears include the reggae-rock "One World" and the always enjoyable "So Lonely".
Where this video consistently drives me crazy, however, is in Godley & Creme's direction and editing. Annoying visual effects are excessively overused, particularly during "Spirits in the Material World" (where a strobe-light effect is used that makes the entire song basically unwatchable). Slow-motion blurring is applied to "Tea in the Sahara", again to no great benefit. "Every Breath You Take" is stripped of color to mimic the look of the music video. All in all it comes across as very pretentious and makes the video look quite dated today, in a way that their earlier, more simply-filmed "Around the World" concert tape doesn't. There are also a lot of annoying shots of audience members added in. While I don't mind the occasional shots of the audience, the fact of the matter is I buy a concert video to watch the BAND, not some girl licking her lips over Sting. This video would have benefitted tremendously by keeping the focus on the band itself, instead of giving in to MTV-like video gimmickry.
Still, one day I would like to see this video released in DVD format, especially if the DVD could include footage of the rest of the songs performed during this concert that were left off the video (such as "Synchronicity II".)
The performances are all solid, but to this Police fan's ears, they lack some of the special energetic frenzy of earlier Police live shows and tours, where it was just Stewart, Sting, and Andy on-stage, no back-up singers, no one else. Stand-outs to my eyes and ears include the reggae-rock "One World" and the always enjoyable "So Lonely".
Where this video consistently drives me crazy, however, is in Godley & Creme's direction and editing. Annoying visual effects are excessively overused, particularly during "Spirits in the Material World" (where a strobe-light effect is used that makes the entire song basically unwatchable). Slow-motion blurring is applied to "Tea in the Sahara", again to no great benefit. "Every Breath You Take" is stripped of color to mimic the look of the music video. All in all it comes across as very pretentious and makes the video look quite dated today, in a way that their earlier, more simply-filmed "Around the World" concert tape doesn't. There are also a lot of annoying shots of audience members added in. While I don't mind the occasional shots of the audience, the fact of the matter is I buy a concert video to watch the BAND, not some girl licking her lips over Sting. This video would have benefitted tremendously by keeping the focus on the band itself, instead of giving in to MTV-like video gimmickry.
Still, one day I would like to see this video released in DVD format, especially if the DVD could include footage of the rest of the songs performed during this concert that were left off the video (such as "Synchronicity II".)
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 27, 2022
item was s described delivered in a timely manner and in good condition. A good image of the band and their audience in 1983 attire
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 12, 2020
I owned this concert on laser disc. so I know it is good. Picture and sound on DVD is great. Have Purchased Older concerts and Music video before and found them unwatchable. Certifiable was missing the back ground singers, found it Lacking. The strobe like effect on Spirits to the material world is very distracting, and may be a problem for people with epilepsy, ETC. Love the extras(or More Police).
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 28, 2007
From the biggest Police nut in the world, I had this back when it first came out on VIDEO! And watched it about 1000 times.
If you own one live DVD, this is the one to get. Great mix, great songs, old stuff, new stuff, some killer, killer arrangements of songs old and new. Stewart is just on fire on this stage. Plus, the DVD has songs that weren't on that original video.
The only drawbacks are the backup singers (unnecessary but hey at least it's not a HORN section like on Ghost tour) and a really limp version of "Every Breath You Take," which Sting was probably sick of singing already at this point since it was literally everywhere in 1983.
If you're looking for older police concert material to see them before Synchronicity, wait for "Police Around the World" to come out on DVD. Own that and this and you've got old Police/new Police covered.
This absolutely rocks, though. Yes, Sting's wearing his "rag" outfit from the "Synchronicity 2" video...
If you own one live DVD, this is the one to get. Great mix, great songs, old stuff, new stuff, some killer, killer arrangements of songs old and new. Stewart is just on fire on this stage. Plus, the DVD has songs that weren't on that original video.
The only drawbacks are the backup singers (unnecessary but hey at least it's not a HORN section like on Ghost tour) and a really limp version of "Every Breath You Take," which Sting was probably sick of singing already at this point since it was literally everywhere in 1983.
If you're looking for older police concert material to see them before Synchronicity, wait for "Police Around the World" to come out on DVD. Own that and this and you've got old Police/new Police covered.
This absolutely rocks, though. Yes, Sting's wearing his "rag" outfit from the "Synchronicity 2" video...
7 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 2, 2017
Great concert. I wish we had the whole show as performed, but alas I guess they figure we're not mature enough to sit through a whole show.
Yes godley and creme got a little carried away with themselves so far as production goes, but it isn't unwatchable. It leaves this as a good concert video that reflects the eighties and the whole video era.
Yes godley and creme got a little carried away with themselves so far as production goes, but it isn't unwatchable. It leaves this as a good concert video that reflects the eighties and the whole video era.
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 30, 2014
Actually one of the better produced concert videos of the 80s, may be the first thing i ever owned on VHS cassette..... Granted some cheesy effects but it doesn't take much away from the performance itself. It's a great classic Police concert. Also has 4 extra multi angle tracks that were not included in the original VHS concert plus a interview segment from the last show in 1984. I went to this show about a week later in Houston. Brings back good memories.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries
Trevor Hopkins
3.0 out of 5 stars
A moment in history
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 19, 2017
I do remember from personal experience that The Police were not a great live band. The live mix for this concert is often awful, with the bass drowning out the delicious guitar riffs that were often the main element of their songs. Having said that, it is still a worthwhile memento of a major band just prior to their break up and, as such it's interesting to see them going through the motions, especially Sting, who was probably planning his solo career at this point.
Don't get me wrong....I loved The Police..... but I always thought that they were much better on record than they were live....and this sort of proves the point really
Don't get me wrong....I loved The Police..... but I always thought that they were much better on record than they were live....and this sort of proves the point really
4 people found this helpful
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Honest me Duck
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Concert
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 23, 2012
Great dvd of a classic concert. The sound is excellent for its time. A band at the top of their powers. Slim, young and fit as butchers dogs. Enjoyed the first viewing and many more to come. I saw them around that time and won two tickets in the Evening Standard competition to see them at Wembley.Nice to have it !
Ann Gough
5.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas Gift
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 7, 2014
This was a gift for my son, who is a musician and it was to replace an album from
his childhood, The Police were an early inspiration to him. it arrived as promised and would recommend
this seller.
his childhood, The Police were an early inspiration to him. it arrived as promised and would recommend
this seller.
R. Kapila
5.0 out of 5 stars
Synchronicity Concert DVD
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 11, 2013
A Must for the die hard fan. If you bought the VHS in the 80s this has got extra tracks with multi-angles of roxanne, don't stand, invisible sun and synchronicity II.
Great piece of history
Great piece of history
One person found this helpful
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dave Grimsby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great buy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 31, 2018
If you like the police this is great


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