Author: Jernej Vene
Artist: Sting
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Released: 2010
Length: 55:39
Rating: 4/5
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner of Britain, better known as Sting, is without a doubt a living icon of pop culture, both as the leader and main songwriter of The Police and as a successful solo artist. Over his career he’s piled up a heap of immortal songs that follow the average person around whether they like it or not. Symphonicities is a record where he performs selected songs with the London Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. The trip through it is an interesting one, because some of the songs have gotten completely new, fascinating makeovers. Some Sting listeners are already a bit sick of waiting for new songs. Naturally, they want new songs in his home musical turf, meaning pop rock, which has really been shoved onto a side track in recent years. His last record of pop material, Sacred Songs, came out all the way back in 2003. It’s perfectly clear that Sting can afford any twist in his career. His artistic freedom comes mostly from the credibility he’s earned with his past work and a fair knack for feeling his way toward new and exciting musical pursuits. In 2006, for example, he recorded Songs From The Labyrinth with the Bosnian lutenist Edin Karamazov, a record where he already hinted at his enthusiasm for classical music. 2009 brought the Christmas-winter record If On A Winter’s Night, on which he arranged folk tunes with a mid-sized orchestra. The record did pretty well, so he decided to keep going with the formula. The title Symphonicities draws a parallel with the famous last studio album by The Police, Synchronicity. Backing Sting this time is the renowned London Royal Concert Orchestra, which academic circles consider Britain’s national orchestra.
Technically, we can’t pin anything on Sting here. True, some of the songs are fairly close in spirit to the originals, but almost two thirds of them come alive in a new spirit. The symphony orchestra naturally gives Sting’s melodies a new breadth. The familiar hits breathe with fresh air, freshness and cheek. Many people see Sting as a serious guy, maybe even a bit lofty. Judging by his body of work, there’s a good chance he really is. But he tackles new projects with focus, concentration and his whole being, which is also why he allowed himself to team up with such an eminent orchestra. Sting’s repertoire is huge, and picking the songs to rework, or rather rebuild, was a tough job. Still, he cunningly reached for the big hits and some lesser-known, not to say obscure, stuff. He approached the songs freely, changing them here and there and stretching them out. Sting reveals that he’s been listening to classical music since he was a kid, though of course he never believed anyone would pay for his experiments in that field. The contribution of the classical musicians, who spiced up the songs and made them their own, is certainly important too.
Sonically, the music is of course inspiring, and with such a renowned ensemble there’s simply nothing to complain about in the performance. Here Sting shows off his ability to once again add quality material to his body of work. Another step away from pop has won him new listeners in his later years. It’s hard to say whether Symphonicities does more for Sting or for the orchestra. In the modern digital world it goes without saying that promotion is an integral part of presenting new projects. There’s a whole science to it, but sometimes it’s a big question whether it’s needed at all. In the case of Sting and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, it certainly isn’t. The loyal fans of both have surely grasped the point of the Symphonicities idea and made it their own. If we take the record as a mild revitalization of Sting’s career, we’ll definitely miss the mark, since the man is everywhere already and loves exploring new musical paths. So there’s no need to count the project as another career peak either, but maybe more as a wish that something new would come from his pen soon. Considering the seven-year break from pop songwriting, maybe the time has already come. Or maybe not, and Sting himself will decide that. His reputation is such that he dictates what he releases and when. Symphonicities is musically balanced and sonically unobtrusive. The music is fresh and light, which shows a real drive for honest creating. A grown-up, mature outlook on the world is more than expected at Sting’s age, and the liveliness and joy of life he pours into the songs will win over even the pessimists.
Lineup
Sting – vocals
Dominic Miller – guitar
Ira Coleman – bass
Steven Mercurio – conductor
London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Production
Rob Mathes
Tracklist
1. Next to You – 2:30
2. Englishman in New York – 4:23
3. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – 4:56
4. I Hung My Head – 5:31
5. You Will Be My Ain True Love – 3:44
6. Roxanne – 3:37
7. When We Dance – 5:26
8. The End of the Game – 6:07
9. I Burn for You – 4:03
10. We Work the Black Seam – 7:17
11. She’s Too Good for Me – 3:03
12. The Pirate’s Bride – 5:02
