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Posts Tagged Sting

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June 11, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around

It’s funny how we change – almost imperceptibly. We don’t see it in ourselves, we have to at least pull over. Stop to look. And listen. And feel. 20 years ago or so I was driving to Wellington with one of my mates and one of his friends and the three of us were going […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Cassette, Poem, Poem: When the World Is Running Down, Poem: When the World Is Running Down You Make the Best of What's Still Around, Sting, Tape, The Police, You Make the Best of What's Still Around ·

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January 7, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: The Sting of Jealousy

A lot of people really hate Sting. The thing is, they say, it’s about what he has to say more than it’s about how he plays. Though a lot of them don’t like his solo records, don’t listen – never did. I reckon it’s jealousy. Plain. Simple. Whatever rainforest-saving, self-serving trip he’s been on, whatever […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Poem, Poem: The Sting of Jealousy, Sting, The Police, The Sting of Jealousy ·

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April 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The 1001 Albums Challenge # 144: Cee-Lo Green – “Cee-Lo Green…Is The Soul Machine”

Cee-Lo Green…he’s a bit like the Elton John or Sting or Eric Clapton of his day really, in that people now might struggle to believe how potent, how good he once was. Since everything happens a lot quicker now this happened a lot quicker to Cee-Lo. There he was in Goodie Mob killing it and then across his first couple of solo albums […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged ...Is The Soul Machine, "Singer", “Cee-Lo Green...Is The Soul Machine”, 00s, 1001, 1001 Albums, 1001 Albums Challenge, 1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, 2000s, 2004, Cee Lo Green, Cee-Lo, Cee-Lo Green - “Cee-Lo Green...Is The Soul Machine”, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Gnarls Barkley, Goodie Mob, Hip-Hop, R'n'B, Sting, The 1001 Albums Challenge, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 144, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 144: Cee-Lo Green - “Cee-Lo Green...Is The Soul Machine” ·

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August 14, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Stubs: #206 – Sting & Peter Gabriel, Seattle, USA, 2016

Last year we were in America – it was the best holiday, and I saw some great gigs. I turned 40 when we were over there – the trip, all of it, everything – was my present. A gift to and from all of us, really. A family vacation – an amazing one. Disneyland, a […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged 2016), America, Genesis, Gig, Holiday, Last Year, Live Music, Peter Gabriel, Rock Paper Scissors, Seattle, Sting, Stub, Stubs, Stubs # 206, Stubs: #206 – Sting & Peter Gabriel, The Police, Tour Diary, Travel, USA, WA ·

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December 8, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 600

The Police, Every Breath You Take – The Singles (1986) I have this thing where a pang of nostalgia sometimes hits when I see a key compilation from my childhood. That was the case when I walked into the record store last week and saw this offering by The Police. My bro had the CD, […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1986, Andy Summers, Can't Stand Losing You, Compilation, Don't Stand So Close To Me, Every Breath You Take, Greatest Hits, LP, Record, Stewart Copeland, Sting, The Police, The Singles, The Vinyl Countdown # 600, Vinyl ·

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December 6, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

My Date With Fergie: The Time I Was Summoned to Interview The Duchess

I got the phone call the day before the gig. Could I interview Fergie from The Black Eyed Peas? Sure. Why not? Interviews are a fascinating process. The person doesn’t really want to talk to you. You hardly ever get to talk to someone you would really like to. Why wouldn’t I go for it? […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged 2008, Backstage Pass, Fergie, Freelance Journalism, Interview, Interviewing, My Date With Fergie: The Time I Was Summoned to Interview The Duchess, pop star, Sting, The Cake Tin, The Duchess, The Police, Wellington Stadium ·

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December 6, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

To See The Really Great Gigs You Must Travel: Overseas Highlights

Earlier this year I missed seeing The Cure, I missed a band I always wanted to see. But there’ll always be a few you don’t get to. I’ve seen more than most. Also, I was on holiday in America. So I couldn’t really complain – and didn’t. Also that same night I scored one of […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged America, Live Gigs, Live Music, Paul Williams, Peter Gabriel, Prince, Robby Krieger, Sleater-Kinney, Sting, The Cure, The Doors, To See The Really Great Gigs You Must Travel: Overseas Highlights, Travel ·

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November 26, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Lyrics By Sting: The Worst

Someone once sent me a link to a story that announced the worst rock’n’roll lyricist of all time to be Sting. I thought that was quite funny, and quite possibly true. The man born Gordon Sumner has had a hard time from the music press for 30 years. Often deservedly. Sometimes not. But it’s fair […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Book, Lyrics, Lyrics By Sting, Lyrics By Sting: The Worst, Poem, Poetry, Prose, Songs, Songwriting, Sting, The Police ·

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November 16, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Sting: 57th & 9th

Sting 57th & 9th A&M Within a day or so of seeing a pretty incredible Sting (and Peter Gabriel) show I read the news that Sting was set to release a rock album; his first in over a decade. I was ready to sign up. Years of that fruit with a lute and bloody orchestral […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged 57th & 9th, Album Review, AM, Dominic Miller, Lyle Workman, Mercury Falling, Rock, Soul Cages, Sting, Sting: 57th & 9th, Ten Summoner's Tales, The Police, The Soul Cages, Vinnie Colaiuta ·

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November 8, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Drummers You Just Can’t Beat: # 14 – Vinnie Colaiuta

I first met him (in a musical sense) with the Sting album Ten Summoner’s Tales. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing – the sharp cymbal sound, the crisp snare; the fact that Colaiuta had his head around 5/4 and 7/4 time signatures – playing in 7/8 here on St Augustine In Hell. I think […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Alf, Barbra Streisand, Don Henley, Drummer, Drummers You Just Can't Beat, Drummers You Just Can't Beat # 14, Drummers You Just Can’t Beat: # 14 – Vinnie Colaiuta, Drumming, Drums, Frank Zappa, Herbie Hancock, Jeff Beck, Joe's Garage, Peter Gabriel, Steely Dan, Stewart Copeland, Sting, Ten Summoner's Tales, The Police, Vinnie, Vinnie Colaiuta ·

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November 2, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

A Bustle In Your Hedgerow: Good Songs With Terrible Lyrics

I was talking to preachy-preach about kissy-kiss. Actually I wasn’t. Because I don’t even know what that means. Good ole Frank Black/Black Francis – his Pixies work showed off several fascinations with UFOs and drugs and it’s great music. But a lot of the lyrics don’t stand up to scrutiny. Lyrics do not have to […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged "Ken Lee", A Bustle In Your Hedgerow, A Bustle In Your Hedgerow: Good Songs With Terrible Lyrics, Bad Songs, Black Francis, Captain Beefheart, Frank Black, Freshmen, Good Songs, Good Songs With Terrible Lyrics, Led Zeppelin, Little Richard, Lyrics, Pixies, Rock'n'Roll, Serenade To A Poodle, Songwriting, Stairway To Heaven, Sting, Talking Heads, Terrible Lyrics, The Police, The Verve Pipe ·

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July 25, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Tour Diary: # 4 – Fresh Prints in Bellevue, We Hardly Even Seattle But I Like It

I’m missing San Francisco already and we’re still at the airport. It’s early. Oscar is appropriately named – he really is the grouch right now. And we’ve been told we’re sitting in three separate seats. Part of me wouldn’t wish him on anyone else and feels like it’s the only right thing to do to […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged America, Bellevue, Concert, Fresh Prints in Bellevue, Oscar, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Tour Diary, Tour Diary # 4, Tour Diary: # 4 – Fresh Prints in Bellevue, Tour Diary: # 4 – Fresh Prints in Bellevue We Hardly Even Seattle But I Like It, U.S.A, We Hardly Even Seattle But I Like It ·
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