Re: King of Pain (Police)

Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 13:44:45 -0700
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.bass
Size: 2,458 bytes

Brian Running wrote:
> > The opening notes are definitely done with the fretless -- I think the
> > entire song is. Pretty simple bassline but it fits perfectly with the
> > song. This was Sting's height, IMO -- the lyrics to that song and a few
> > others on the Synchronicity album are the best he's ever done.
>
> So, the Jack Jones-Vegas-lounge lizard-movie soundtrack dreck he's been
> doing for the past 19-1/2 years doesn't exactly light your fire either, hey,
> Dino?
It's kind of sad, really. I used to be a huge Sting fan. Love the Police
(probably my all-time favorite group), learned many Police songs when I was
first starting out on the bass, liked early Sting solo stuff. I think Blue
Turtles is a great album and Soul Cages has a lot of underrated brilliance.
Then, long about 1993, it started to come crashing down. Ten Summoners Tales
had some good songs but was quinessential pop. Same with Mercury Falling. I
don't even know what to say about Brand New Day -- I like some of it, but some
is just dreck. And his new song, on the radio now, is a combination
Arabic/electronica/dance tune that I wouldn't even know how to classify, but
it's not something I particularly enjoy.
This is not even to speak of what you mentioned -- the movie soundtrack stuff (a
song with Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams... are you f-ing kidding me?), the lounge
songs, the TV commercials, Super Bowls, awards shows, etc. The _complete_
sell-out stuff.
I know artists change as they get older and I'm totally on board with that. I
also understand that Sting at 50 is not remotely like Sting was at 25. Still, I
suppose I just wished that he had retained a bit more musical and artistic
integrity, because frankly, it seems like the guy will do anything and
everything to make a buck -- and he's got a gazillion bucks already. If the
style of his music changes, fine... but don't go taking *every* opportunity to
splash your music in my face in every possible venue and medium, which is
exactly what Sting has done. It's like he doesn't even pick his spots, he just
grabs any deal that comes up.
Oh well. I still have the Police collection and the early Sting albums to
savor. There was some really good stuff there, IMO.
Sorry for the rant, but it still depresses me sometimes, as you can see. But I
still take great joy in copping his catchy, if not often spare, basslines. He
does more with less than most other bassists I listen to.
Dino