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{{T}}
[[Category:English]]
[[Category:The Police - Roxanne - 1978]]

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= Introduction =

'''Roxanne''' is a 1978 song by the English rock trio [[The Police]]. Written by [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], it became one of the band's defining recordings and an important early example of the group's mixture of [[new wave music|new wave]], rock, reggae-derived ideas, and dramatic pop songwriting. This aiMOOC helps you study the song as music, narrative, historical document, performance, and media text.

The topic includes references to prostitution and unequal social conditions. Discuss these issues respectfully, distinguish the fictional narrator from the songwriter, and avoid judging people whose lives are represented in the song.

[[File:The Police "Reggatta de Blanc" (1979 A&M publicity photo).jpg|500px|frameless|center]]

Listen first for an overall impression. Then return to the recording with specific questions about rhythm, instrumentation, vocal delivery, narrative perspective, and historical context.

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1c7GkzRQQ|500|center}}

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= Learning Goals =

After working through this aiMOOC, you should be able to explain the historical place of '''Roxanne''', identify the roles of the three musicians, describe how the arrangement creates tension, analyse the narrator's perspective, discuss the ethical challenges of the song's subject, compare studio and live versions, and create your own evidence-based interpretation.

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= The Song at a Glance =

{| class="wikitable"
! Aspect
! Information
|-
| Artist
| [[The Police]]
|-
| Songwriter
| [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]
|-
| Original single release
| 1978
|-
| Album
| [[Outlandos d'Amour]]
|-
| Label
| [[A&M Records]]
|-
| Core line-up
| Sting, [[Andy Summers]], and [[Stewart Copeland]]
|-
| Common genre descriptions
| [[Reggae rock]] and [[new wave music|new wave]]
|-
| Narrative situation
| A first-person speaker pleads with a woman named Roxanne to leave sex work
|}

The single appeared before the band's debut album, '''Outlandos d'Amour'''. Its first release did not make the song a major British hit, but a 1979 reissue reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. That delayed success shows how promotion, radio play, touring, and audience timing can change the reception of a recording.

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= Historical Context =

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== The Police and the Late 1970s ==

The Police formed in London in 1977. Their best-known early line-up combined Sting on voice and bass, Andy Summers on guitar, and Stewart Copeland on drums. The group emerged during the punk and new-wave period, but their musicianship and influences reached beyond a single scene. They used the economy and energy associated with punk while drawing on reggae rhythm, jazz experience, pop melody, and studio experimentation.

[[File:The PoliceLogo.svg|450px|frameless|center]]

'''Outlandos d'Amour''' was recorded at Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead. The album was made with limited funds and without the security of an established hit-making operation. In this setting, a compact trio had to make every instrumental part count. Sparse textures, rhythmic contrast, and sharply defined individual roles became strengths rather than limitations.

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== Release and Breakthrough ==

'''Roxanne''' was the band's second released single and its first single for A&M Records. The original 1978 issue did not chart in the United Kingdom. After attention in North America, the song was reissued in Britain in 1979 and became a top-twenty hit. Its later success helped establish The Police internationally and demonstrated that an unsuccessful first release does not necessarily indicate weak artistic potential.

The song also generated controversy because of its subject. It was not placed on the BBC playlist at first, and the record company later benefited from publicity suggesting that it had been banned. This episode offers a useful media-literacy question: how can the language of censorship become part of marketing?

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= Origin and Narrative =

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== Paris, Theatre, and a Fictional Character ==

Sting wrote the song after the band stayed in Paris in 1977. He connected women working near the hotel with the name Roxanne, a character from [[Cyrano de Bergerac (play)|Cyrano de Bergerac]], whose image appeared on a poster in the hotel. The result was not documentary reporting about one identifiable person. It was a fictional dramatic situation built from observation, literary association, and imagination.

This background matters because the title carries two contrasting worlds: the courtly love associated with a famous play and the economic vulnerability of street-based sex work. The contrast gives the song emotional and symbolic tension before you analyse a single chord.

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== Voice, Audience, and Reliability ==

The song uses a first-person speaker addressing Roxanne directly. This creates urgency because the listener seems to overhear an intimate appeal. However, the narrator controls the words. Roxanne does not answer, explain her circumstances, or state what she wants. You should therefore separate three levels:

# [[Narrator]]: The fictional person speaking inside the song
# [[Songwriter]]: The artist who created the situation and language
# [[Listener]]: The person interpreting the recording from a particular historical and cultural position

The narrator presents his feelings as protective and loving, yet his repeated instructions may also sound controlling. A strong interpretation can hold both possibilities at once. Rather than choosing a simple label, examine the language, vocal tone, repetition, and absence of Roxanne's own voice.

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= Musical Design =

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== From Bossa Nova Idea to Tango-Like Drive ==

Sting originally imagined the song with a bossa nova feeling. Stewart Copeland helped transform the rhythmic character into the more forceful, tango-like form heard on the recording. This change is a clear example of arrangement as collaborative composition: the identity of a song can depend not only on melody and words, but also on pulse, accent, articulation, and instrumental interaction.

The verses use clipped, separated guitar chords and a tense rhythmic pattern. The chorus opens the texture and increases intensity. This contrast makes the repeated appeal feel larger each time it returns. Listen for how expectation is created through short attacks, spaces between chords, and the movement from restraint to release.

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8ZYRLMKBrw|500|center}}

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== The Accidental Piano Chord ==

Near the beginning, you can hear an unexpected piano sound followed by laughter. The sound came from Sting accidentally sitting on the piano keys during the recording. The band kept the moment. This small event is educationally valuable because it challenges the idea that a successful recording must remove every accident. A so-called mistake can become an identifying feature when it supports the energy and humanity of a performance.

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== Texture and Dynamics ==

The arrangement is built around a three-person ensemble, yet it rarely feels empty. The bass anchors the harmony while also interacting rhythmically with the drums. The guitar often avoids dense strumming and instead uses concise chord attacks, space, and colour. The drums provide forward motion and detailed accents. The voice moves between controlled storytelling and high, urgent intensity.

Create a listening map with these stages:

# [[Opening gesture]]: Drum pulse, guitar entry, unexpected piano sound, and laughter
# [[Verse texture]]: Tense, clipped accompaniment under the narrative
# [[Refrain expansion]]: Stronger repetition and a wider emotional range
# [[Instrumental interaction]]: Bass, guitar, and drums sharing rather than duplicating roles
# [[Ending process]]: Repetition sustaining the central conflict instead of resolving it clearly

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4B-TmQhCjk|500|center}}

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= The Three Musicians =

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== Sting: Voice, Bass, and Songwriting ==

Sting wrote the song, sang the lead vocal, and played bass. His performance is central to the narrator's emotional intensity. Notice how pitch, attack, breath, and volume communicate more than the literal meaning of the words. The bass part also prevents the vocal from floating freely; it ties the dramatic plea to a firm rhythmic foundation.

[[File:Sting Atlanta 9.jpg|400px|frameless|center]]

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== Andy Summers: Guitar, Space, and Harmonic Colour ==

Andy Summers uses economical guitar parts rather than filling every beat. His short chord attacks sharpen the rhythm, while sustained sounds in more expansive passages help the arrangement change scale. This approach illustrates the principle that effective accompaniment is not measured by the number of notes played.

[[File:Andy Summers Atlanta 3.jpg|400px|frameless|center]]

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== Stewart Copeland: Drums and Rhythmic Identity ==

Stewart Copeland's drumming gives the song much of its restless character. His contribution also demonstrates the creative importance of arrangement: changing the rhythmic conception helped turn Sting's original idea into the version associated with The Police. Listen especially to the hi-hat, accents, and shifts in intensity.

[[File:Stewart Copeland Atlanta 1.jpg|400px|frameless|center]]

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= Language and Literary Analysis =

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== Repetition and Direct Address ==

The name Roxanne functions as direct address. Repeating it turns a private name into the song's main musical hook. Repetition has several effects: it creates memorability, intensifies the speaker's insistence, and reduces the distance between narrator and addressee. At the same time, repeated commands can make the relationship sound unequal.

The red-light image works as a symbol connected with prostitution, night-time urban space, visibility, and social judgement. You can analyse the image without assuming that one symbol has only one meaning. It can suggest danger, commerce, exposure, warning, desire, or the narrator's wish for change.

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== Characterisation Through Absence ==

Roxanne is central but silent. Everything the listener learns is filtered through the narrator. This is a useful example of [[focalization]]: information is presented through a limited perspective. Ask what the song reveals, what it leaves uncertain, and what alternative story Roxanne might tell.

A responsible interpretation should not romanticise poverty, coercion, or exploitation. It should also avoid treating every person in sex work as having the same experience. The song creates one fictional situation, not a complete social study.

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== Pronouns, Modality, and Power ==

Pay attention to personal pronouns and modal expressions. The speaker repeatedly frames what Roxanne should or should not do. In language analysis, modality reveals attitudes about obligation, possibility, permission, and certainty. When you examine these choices, you can discuss both affection and control with textual evidence.

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= Performance and Media =

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== Official Video and Visual Language ==

The official music video presents the band performing rather than constructing a detailed fictional story about Roxanne. This choice directs attention toward the musicians, their appearance, and the energy of the song. Compare the visual rhythm of cuts and slow motion with the musical pulse. Ask whether the video deepens the narrative or mainly strengthens the band's identity.

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1c7GkzRQQ|500|center}}

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== Live Performance in 1978 ==

A live performance can reveal tempo flexibility, stage communication, and differences in vocal delivery. Watch the Pinkpop recording and compare it with the studio version. Focus on the opening, the length of repeated sections, and the relationship between the three musicians.

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY8ZmCpEK68|500|center}}

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== Television Performance in 1979 ==

The 1979 Countdown performance belongs to the period when the song was gaining wider recognition. Observe the staging, camera work, clothing, and audience-facing gestures. These visual details help you study how new-wave identity was communicated on television.

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-OjL6BG-Bg|500|center}}

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== Later Performance History ==

The Police continued to perform the song during their reunion era, and Sting has repeatedly reinterpreted it in solo concerts. A durable song can function as a flexible template rather than a fixed museum object. Changes in tempo, instrumentation, vocal phrasing, or audience participation can produce new meanings.

[[File:Roxanne Police.jpg|500px|frameless|center]]

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= Reception and Legacy =

The 1979 reissue reached number 12 in the United Kingdom and number 32 on the United States Billboard Hot 100. In 2008, the recording entered the Grammy Hall of Fame. These achievements indicate long-term recognition, but chart position and awards are only two forms of evidence. Continued performance, cover versions, sampling, classroom study, and listener memory also contribute to cultural legacy.

The song is often described as a breakthrough for The Police because it brought together several qualities that would remain important in their work: a memorable vocal line, economical trio playing, rhythmic hybridity, dramatic storytelling, and a distinctive recorded sound.

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= Critical Perspectives =

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== Genre and Cultural Exchange ==

The Police drew on reggae at a time when Jamaican music had a strong influence on British popular culture. You should recognise the creative value of cross-genre exchange while also asking who receives commercial attention, how influences are credited, and how musical features change when moved between social contexts. A useful comparison includes recordings by Jamaican artists rather than discussing reggae only through British rock.

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== Gender, Agency, and the Rescue Narrative ==

The narrator imagines that love can rescue Roxanne from her situation. This is a familiar narrative pattern in popular culture. Analyse whose agency drives the story, whose voice is absent, and whether the speaker understands the structural conditions behind the work he opposes. You can appreciate the song's emotional power while questioning its assumptions.

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== Censorship and Promotion ==

The early lack of BBC playlist support was later turned into publicity. This invites a broader question about media systems: when does controversy restrict circulation, and when does it increase curiosity? Compare the wording of contemporary promotional claims with documented broadcasting decisions.

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= Interactive Tasks =

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== Quiz: Test Your Knowledge ==

{{MC}}

'''In which year was Roxanne first released as a single?'''
(1978)
(!1975)
(!1981)
(!1984)

{{E}}
<br>

{{MC}}

'''Who wrote Roxanne?'''
(Sting)
(!Andy Summers)
(!Stewart Copeland)
(!Miles Copeland)

{{E}}
<br>

{{MC}}

'''On which album did Roxanne appear?'''
(Outlandos d'Amour)
(!Reggatta de Blanc)
(!Ghost in the Machine)
(!Synchronicity)

{{E}}
<br>

{{MC}}

'''Which city inspired the setting behind the song?'''
(Paris)
(!London)
(!New York)
(!Kingston)

{{E}}
<br>

{{MC}}

'''Which literary work supplied the name Roxanne?'''
(Cyrano de Bergerac)
(!Hamlet)
(!The Tempest)
(!Pygmalion)

{{E}}
<br>

{{MC}}

'''Which style did Sting first imagine for the song?'''
(Bossa nova)
(!Heavy metal)
(!Disco)
(!Bluegrass)

{{E}}
<br>

{{MC}}

'''Which musician played drums in The Police?'''
(Stewart Copeland)
(!Sting)
(!Andy Summers)
(!Nigel Gray)

{{E}}
<br>

{{MC}}

'''Which description best fits the song's musical identity?'''
(New wave with reggae rock elements)
(!Solo acoustic folk)
(!Orchestral classical music)
(!Electronic dance music)

{{E}}
<br>

{{MC}}

'''Where did the British reissue peak on the UK Singles Chart?'''
(Number 12)
(!Number 1)
(!Number 40)
(!Number 75)

{{E}}
<br>

{{MC}}

'''Which honour did the recording receive in 2008?'''
(Grammy Hall of Fame induction)
(!Mercury Prize)
(!Academy Award)
(!Booker Prize)

{{E}}
<br>

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== Memory Game ==

<div class="memo-quiz">
{|
|-
| Songwriter || Sting
|-
| Debut album || Outlandos d'Amour
|-
| Guitarist || Andy Summers
|-
| Drummer || Stewart Copeland
|-
| Inspiration city || Paris
|-
| Rhythmic transformation || Bossa nova idea shaped into tango-like drive
|}
{{E}}
<br>

{{BR}}
== Drag and Drop ==

<div class="lueckentext-quiz">

{| class="wikitable"
! Match the correct terms.
! Topic
|-
| '''First-person address'''
| The narrator speaks directly to Roxanne
|-
| '''Staccato guitar'''
| Short separated chord attacks
|-
| '''Silent addressee'''
| Roxanne is central but does not answer
|-
| '''Arrangement'''
| Musicians shape rhythm texture and form
|-
| '''Media controversy'''
| Limited playlist support becomes publicity
|}
{{E}}

<br>
...
<br />

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== Crossword Puzzle ==

<div class="kreuzwort-quiz">
{|
|-
| Paris || Which city helped inspire the song's setting?
|-
| Tango || Which dance-like rhythmic character shaped the final arrangement?
|-
| Sting || Who wrote and sang the song?
|-
| Summers || What is the surname of the guitarist?
|-
| Copeland || What is the surname of the drummer?
|-
| Outlandos || Which first word begins the title of the debut album?
|}
{{E}}
<br>

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== LearningApps ==

<iframe> https://learningapps.org/index.php?s=The+Police+Roxanne+1978 </iframe>

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== Cloze Text ==

<quiz display=simple>
{'''Complete the text.'''<br>
|type="{}"}
The Police released Roxanne as a single in { 1978 }. The song was written by { Sting }. Its title was connected with the play { Cyrano de Bergerac }. The Paris setting helped inspire the fictional { narrative }. Sting first imagined a { bossa nova } feeling. Stewart Copeland helped shape a more { tango-like } rhythmic form. Andy Summers supplied the distinctive { guitar } part. The recording entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in { 2008 }.
</quiz>

<br>

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= Open-Ended Tasks =

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=== Easy ===
# [[Listening map]]: Mark the main sections of the recording and describe one change in texture at each transition.
# [[Visual timeline]]: Create a one-page timeline covering the 1977 inspiration, the 1978 release, the 1979 reissue, and the later Hall of Fame recognition.
# [[Vocabulary journal]]: Define narrator, direct address, staccato, arrangement, motif, and focalization in your own words.
# [[Cover design]]: Produce an original single cover that communicates tension without copying any existing artwork or using stereotypes.

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=== Standard ===
# [[Rhythm comparison]]: Compare the studio recording with the bossa-nova demonstration and explain how the changed rhythm alters the emotional effect.
# [[Narrator perspective]]: Rewrite the situation as a short monologue from Roxanne's point of view without reproducing the original lyrics.
# [[Band interview]]: Record a fictional interview in which Sting, Summers, and Copeland explain their different musical contributions using researched evidence.
# [[Music video storyboard]]: Design six to eight shots for an alternative video that gives Roxanne greater agency while preserving the song's historical setting.

{{BR}}
=== Advanced ===
# [[Genre research]]: Compare Roxanne with one Jamaican reggae recording and one British new-wave recording, discussing rhythm, production, and cultural context.
# [[Ethical interpretation]]: Write an essay evaluating the rescue narrative, the silent female character, and the difference between empathy and control.
# [[Production experiment]]: Record two short original arrangements of the same melody, one with a restrained Latin feel and one with a forceful rock feel, then analyse the change.
# [[Reception study]]: Investigate reviews, chart data, broadcasting decisions, and later honours to explain how the song's reputation developed over time.

{{:Open Task - Create a MOOC}}

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= Learning Assessment =

# [[Contextual explanation]]: Explain how Paris, Cyrano de Bergerac, and the late-1970s music scene combine to shape the song's meaning.
# [[Close listening analysis]]: Use precise time references from a legally accessed recording to show how rhythm, guitar articulation, drums, bass, and voice build tension.
# [[Perspective evaluation]]: Assess whether the narrator sounds caring, controlling, or both, and support your conclusion with paraphrased evidence.
# [[Comparative performance]]: Compare the studio version with one live version and explain how performance choices change the listener's experience.
# [[Media literacy transfer]]: Apply the song's censorship and promotion story to a different cultural work and evaluate how controversy affected circulation.
# [[Creative justification]]: Present an original visual, audio, or written response and justify each major artistic decision through course concepts.

<br>
<br>

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= Evidence of Learning =

Evidence of learning includes accurate knowledge of the song's release history, album context, authorship, and band line-up; confident use of musical vocabulary; close-listening notes that connect sound to interpretation; respectful analysis of gender, agency, and sex work; comparison of studio and live media; source evaluation; and a completed product such as an essay, podcast, storyboard, performance, timeline, or arrangement.

Strong work does more than recall facts. It distinguishes narrator from songwriter, recognises uncertainty, uses evidence without reproducing copyrighted lyrics, connects musical details with narrative meaning, and transfers the analytical method to another song or media text.

<br>
<br>

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= Sources and Further Reading =

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxanne_(The_Police_song) English Wikipedia: Roxanne]<br>
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Police English Wikipedia: The Police]<br>
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlandos_d%27Amour English Wikipedia: Outlandos d'Amour]<br>
[https://thepolice.com/video/the-police-roxanne/ The Police official video page]<br>
[https://sting.com/blogs/news/my-songs-sting-talks-about-roxanne Sting on the song's origin]<br>
[https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award/ Grammy Hall of Fame list]<br>
[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:The_Police_(musical_group) Wikimedia Commons media collection]

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= OERs on the Topic =

<iframe> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxanne_(The_Police_song) </iframe>

<br>

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= Linked Learning Areas =

{| align=center
{{:D-Tab}}
'''[[The Police - Roxanne - 1978]]'''
# [[The Police]]
# [[Roxanne (The Police song)]]
# [[Outlandos d'Amour]]
# [[New wave music]]
# [[Reggae rock]]
# [[Song analysis]]
# [[Narrative perspective]]
# [[Popular music studies]]
|}

[[Category:English]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Popular music]]
[[Category:Song analysis]]
[[Category:Grades 9-12]]
[[Category:University]]

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= aiMOOC Projects =
[[Category:English]]
[[Category:The Police - Roxanne - 1978]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Popular music]]
[[Category:Song analysis]]
[[Category:Grades 9-12]]
[[Category:University]]
[[Category:AI_MOOC]]
[[Category:GPT aiMOOC]]
{{MT}}

English:The Police - Roxanne - 1978 - Versionsgeschichte

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