Sting is Magic

Every little thing Sting does is magic. I say this after watching the Police reunion tour concert on Wednesday night at GM place. I am not a die hard Police fan, but at age 11, I listened to their tape cassettes in my brother's bedroom just before going to bed. Back then, I didn't understand what the lyrics meant, though I bopped my head to the rock ballad of "Every Breath you Take" as well as the reggae sound in "Roxsanne." At Wednesday's concert, I revisted the memory bank of all my first times and happy endeavours, all the while waiting for them to play "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and of course "De do do do, de da da da"

But what I realized from this concert was that the Police are still very talented musicians and take themselves quite seriously. I was blown away by their attempt to bring even more life to the old classics such as "So lonely" and "King of Pain." With the personality of Stewart Copeland's percussion interludes as well as adding soul and funk to Andy Summer's guitar rifts, and playing up the chorus to the point where the audience was singing along, it seemed as though the infamous band and I were sitting alone in the same room.

Thankfully, there was a huge movie screen hanging from the top of the stage - meaning that every nook and cranny of Sting's face fell under scrutiny. His eyes twinkled, his smile communicated a calm, self-respecting manner and he had by no means any problem belting out those long high notes. It was a very personal concert for many and I wasn't surprised when I heard someone behind me crying alongside other members in the crowd to the song "Wrapped Around your Finger." (For me it had to have been the best song of the entire concert.) I don't know if it was the lights, the smoke from the smog machine or the way Sting looked out at the audience swaying in sync, but I probably could have cried too. For me, it was not simply a night of musical appreciation but one of nostalgia and sheer celebration of a good old-fashioned rock band. At the risk of sounding like my parents I must say: "They sure don't make them like they used to!"