Invisible Sun

"Invisible Sun"
Song

"Invisible Sun" is a hit single by rock group The Police, released in 1981. The song is about the tensions in Northern Ireland.

It was the first single to be released in the United Kingdom from the album Ghost in the Machine and it reached number 2 in the charts. In all other territories, "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" was chosen as the lead single from the LP.

Due to the subject of the song, Bono from rock group U2 performed duets of it with Sting when U2 and The Police appeared at the same concerts: the first such instance was in 1982 at a festival in Gateshead, England, and two subsequent instances occurred at the last two shows of Amnesty International's A Conspiracy of Hope Tour in 1986. [1]

The song is a departure from Police songs before it; "Invisible Sun" contains a dark, looping synthesizer beat, and powerful, haunting lyrics. Among other things, the lyrics refer to the ArmaLite rifle used by paramilitary organizations, but mainly by the Provisional Irish Republican Army. The music video for "Invisible Sun" features a collection of video clips taken from the conflict in Northern Ireland. Due to its subject matter, it was banned by the BBC.

Irish rock band Therapy? recorded a cover of the song in 1993 while the Swedish progressive death metal act Edge of Sanity covered the song on their 1995 LP Until Eternity Ends. Champaign, IL band Hum (band) covered the song in concert on more than one occasion.

Personnel

• Sting - Fretless bass guitar, keyboards, lead and backing vocals
• Andy Summers - Guitars, backing vocals and effects
• Stewart Copeland - Drums

Track listing

7": A&M / AMS 8164

1. "Invisible Sun" - 3:35
2. "Shambelle" - 5:42

7": A&M / AMS 8164

1. "Invisible Sun" - 3:35
2. "Flexible Strategies" - 3:42