57th & 9th: World Tour

Sting and a nostalgic genius in a farewell to Cabedelo...

We already miss Cabedelo. It's small for such big names, certainly, but it's a natural theatre that's not easy to replicate elsewhere, and Sting showed it.

What a beautiful concert this Sunday night was on the third and final day of Meo Marés Vivas. It was some of the best the London band has ever produced. There were tributes to Bowie, father and son on stage, two encores, hit after hit: Gentlemen who record everything on their cell phones, do you still have space on that card?

In this ode to nostalgia, Sting, or Gordon Sumner, performed in a tight t-shirt and never let go of his yellow 1957 Fender bass. The old traveling companion is often shown in close-up on the Marés Vivas screens and displays the scars of what have been hundreds of great moments around the world. The instrument's body has lost its yellow tones and appears worn, but inside it's as good as new and exudes a sound that transforms crowds. Like its owner. 

"Spirits in the Material World" is released for the third time, followed by "English Man in New York" without asking permission, in a rock version that fits perfectly with Reggae. "I'm very happy to be here with you," said Sting, in near-perfect Portuguese, before introducing the band. Joe Sumner, his son, remains in the choir. He'll be appearing soon.

"Fields of Gold" is performed under a blanket of golden lights and the Douro River singing. That's when it wasn't silent, listening to the 65-year-old vocalist's deliberately shy voice. Next comes "Shape of My Heart," which ends with Joe Sumner leading the way with tambourine. Father and son in one of their biggest hits, the first of the family union that also helped the show become magnificent.

"Message in a Bottle" was an unavoidable theme and appeared soon after. The Police, in fact, dominated much of the program. As it should be. At the end, Gordon tells Joe that "Dad's tired," also in plain Portuguese. Joe takes over the show with a tribute to David Bowie with "Ashes to Ashes," and from there until the end, it was hit after hit: "Walking On the Moon," "So Lonely" and its powerful chorus that gets half the world jumping, and "Desert Rose" are examples. 

Then comes a long song that begins with "Roxanne" and suddenly switches to "Ain't No Sunshine." An incredible silence falls over the venue. What a genius to silence 25,000 people with amazement. As if that weren't already brilliant, "Roxanne" re-enters and sends the Douro into a frenzy. We dance again, this time with huge smiles. This mix of emotions leads Sting and the accompanying sextet to leave the stage to nearly five minutes of applause.

After the first encore, there's "Next to You" and "Every Breath You Take." Nostalgia in its purest form, then. Sting and the band leave again, and dew begins to fall in Cabedelo. It's the Douro begging for a return. Or for them not to leave now. That space you've seen so much of doesn't want to be silent. And Sting obliges. He returns to "Fragile" in a collective sing-along that satisfies the soul of those who love music. music.

Sting's concert is more than just a show for aficionados or mainstream audiences. It's a nostalgic rock journey led by a man who looks like a diamond in the making. He surprises at every turn and leaves everyone happy in the end.

(c) Jornal de Notícias