THE POLICE, Belgrade, Serbia 24. jun 2008

So… THE POLICE were here in Serbia!

This was very special to me because it’s another band that marked my happy childhood (“stop with that childhood thing,” I hear in the background?), and this was their ONLY concert in the southeastern part of Europe. The setlist was excellent – they covered the most significant songs from their career, and all I can say is THANK YOU.

Sting’s voice was great, even though he slightly changed some vocal performances (age? Hitting the highest notes isn’t as easy as when he was young, so we can understand that). Overall, it was an excellent show! Mr. Andy Summers, a great guitarist who wrote and played some of the most beautiful melodies in rock guitar history, was also brilliant. However, I must admit that Copeland was definitely my favorite of the night – he was the best musician on stage.

And I can’t forget Oysterhead with him and Les Claypool a few years ago 😉 That collaboration was so unexpected to me! The sound was great, and most people said they couldn’t believe that just three men could sound like that.

The audience wasn’t too loud or wild – maybe the only negative point mentioned by people at the show. I suppose it’s due to the average age of the audience and the intense heat, as it was a particularly hot day in Belgrade. The Police themselves were drenched in sweat on stage! I can’t remember the last time I sang so loudly at a concert. I wasn’t that close to the stage, but I still managed to get some nice pictures and videos.

Here’s the setlist (maybe I forgot something – they mixed a few songs):

Main Set

• Message in a Bottle
• Walking on the Moon
• Demolition Man
• Voices Inside My Head
• Don’t Stand So Close to Me
• Driven to Tears
• Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
• Wrapped Around Your Finger
• De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
• Invisible Sun
• Can’t Stand Losing You / Regatta De Blanc

Encore I

• Roxanne
• So Lonely
• Every Breath You Take

Encore II

• Next to You

There was a crazy bunch out there…

“Hey, it’s The Police on the mobile network!”

Counting Crows had everything I hate in rock music… soooo boring.

And then BOOM! “The Bottle” exploded, and a hundred billion lunatics washed up in front of the stage! 🙂 I don’t think I’ve ever had stronger goosebumps in my life – I almost peed myself from happiness! Just listen to this intro at the very start of the concert.

Message in a Bottle:

And then one of my top 5 songs of all time, life, and the universe…and everything. As an Apollo Space program freak, I am always near tears when I hear this song.

Walking on the Moon + a little more…

When I saw the Synchronicity symbols, I thought they would play that song, but… noooo.

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

And another wrist-cutter … Wrapped Around Your Finger

Can’t Stand Losing You:

Roxanne, and then goes into “So Lonely” with Andy’s solo part…

Every Breath You Take:

And then… The End 🙁