Canary In A Coal Mine

Zoo Freaks, the Zoo Crew is spinning Canary In A Coal Mine by The Police from their iconic album Zenyatta Mondatta, and we’ve got some wild trivia to share! This upbeat ska-infused track, written by Sting, was recorded in a whirlwind four-week session at Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands in 1980. According to PoliceWiki, an early demo was laid down by The Police in Tokyo on February 23, 1980, and Sting later refined it in Dublin that summer. The Dublin demo was nearly identical to the final version, but it stretched past three minutes with an extra instrumental chorus and no piano. Two edited versions, each 2:11 long, show producer Nigel Gray tweaking instrument levels, proving the band’s perfectionism even under pressure. The song’s lyrics use the metaphor of a canary in a coal mine to poke fun at someone overly sensitive to their surroundings, with lines like “You live your life like a canary in a coalmine / You get so dizzy even walking in a straight line.” Stewart Copeland once described the track’s bouncy energy as a “double time boogie” in a 1980 interview, highlighting its playful yet sharp commentary.

Another juicy tidbit comes from the recording process. The band was on their second world tour and under tight deadlines, which led to some tension. Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers have all expressed mixed feelings about Zenyatta Mondatta, feeling it was rushed. Yet, this urgency gave Canary In A Coal Mine its raw, kinetic vibe. On Sting’s X account, he’s shared throwbacks about the album’s creation, noting how the band’s global travels influenced its eclectic sound, with ska and reggae roots shining through in this track. Fans on the The Police Fan Club on Facebook often rave about the song’s infectious rhythm, with one member posting in 2023 about how it “captures the band’s ability to make serious topics danceable.” The track’s cultural impact even extends to a 2021 blog post on Law School Academic Support Blog, where the author used its metaphor to reflect on being a “canary” in post-COVID teaching environments, showing its lasting resonance.

Let’s dive into how The Police got their start. Formed in London in 1977, the trio—Sting (Gordon Sumner), Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers—came together during the punk rock explosion. Stewart, an American drummer raised in the Middle East, had played in the progressive rock band Curved Air. He met Sting, a Newcastle-born bassist and singer with a jazz background, who was gigging in local bands. According to a bio on Sting’s official website, the two clicked over a shared love for blending punk’s energy with reggae’s groove. They initially recruited guitarist Henry Padovani, but Andy Summers, a seasoned musician who’d played with Soft Machine and Kevin Coyne, joined in mid-1977, replacing Padovani to form the classic lineup. Their first album, Outlandos d’Amour (1978), featuring the hit Roxanne, was financed by Stewart’s brother, Miles Copeland III, and released through A&M Records. The Police’s unique fusion of reggae, punk, and jazz caught fire, propelling them to global stardom by the time Zenyatta Mondatta dropped in 1980.

For more on The Police, check out their official website for discography and news. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates and throwback content. Sting keeps fans engaged on his personal X account, while Stewart Copeland shares drumming insights on his X profile. Andy Summers posts about his photography and music on his X account. Fans can connect on the The Police Fan Club on Facebook, a lively group with over 10,000 members sharing memorabilia and concert stories. Another great resource is PoliceWiki, a fan-run site packed with detailed song histories and band lore. Zoo Freaks, keep vibing with us at THE ZOO as we celebrate The Police’s timeless sound!