57th & 9th: World Tour

A varied musical journey with Sting...

The British singer only sang five new songs in his concert, giving way to many of his hits both solo and with The Police.

From the outset, Sting let the audience know that tonight he would be performing some of the songs that have made him an icon of British pop/rock over the past three decades.

At 9:10 p.m., the strings of his bass rang out before he appeared on the stage of the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Puerto Rico.

One of his most famous falsettos resonated throughout the venue as he began the concert with "Synchronicity II," a hit from his era with The Police.

The audience, which filled the theatre version of the venue, appreciated the return to that era, judging by their lively reception of the second song, "Spirits in the Material World," which the singer also performed with The Police.

He gave one of his first solo hits, "Englishman in New York," a new lease on life with a more jazzy guitar and livelier reggae feel. The audience sang along.

It was during the fourth song that Sting performed the first track from his new album, "57th & 9th," which is also the name of the tour. It was "I Can't Stop Thinking About You."

"Good evening, my dear Puerto Rican people. I'm very happy to be here," said the singer, struggling to speak Spanish, before introducing his band, which includes his sons, Rufus Miller, and Joe Sumner, who opened the concert with The Last Bandoleros from San Antonio, Texas, who are also members of the band.

"I dedicate this song to the EPA," he said before launching into another of his new songs, "One Fine Day," an urgent call to protect the environment.

The artist revived nostalgia with "She's Too Good" and "Hung My Head." However, the best-received of that segment was "Fields of Gold," which got the audience reacting from its first chords.

Sting once again turned up the mood with two new songs: "Petrol Head" and "Down, Down, Down," which served as a segue into "Shape of My Heart," on which he was joined by his son, Joe, demonstrating that he has a melodious, metallic voice similar to his father's.

Sting performed on a simple stage, which featured only two side screens and a lighting system.
 However, the artist filled it with his skills as a musician, varying between bass and guitar, and singing live with his voice almost intact at 65 years of age.

"Message in a Bottle" rekindled nostalgia, especially considering that it was performed in its original version without any arrangements.

Sting again joined his son, Joe, to pay tribute to David Bowie, performing a cover of his song, "Ashes to Ashes."

This tribute to his British colleague, who died last year, was followed by "50,000," which Sting wrote the week Prince died and which he also dedicated to Bowie, Glenn Frey, and Lemmy, who also died last year.

This song was the last new piece the artist performed at the concert, as the rest of the set was dedicated to classics.

This was followed by a raw version of "Walking on the Moon," which featured her signature singing style and drumming.

His reggae influences, mixed with funk, which revolutionized the 1980s, were evident in "So Lonely."

This song paved the way for one of his most successful solo songs, "Desert Rose," in which he showcased his ethnic side by integrating Arabic rhythms with touches of electronic music.

His megahit, "Roxanne," was one of the songs that generated the most interaction between the audience and the singer, who rarely addressed his audience, but whenever he did, he made an effort to do so in Spanish.

Sting initially sang the original version of the song, until he completely changed it, turning it into a jazz jam. This atmosphere served as a perfect transition into "Ain't no Sunshine," before returning to "Roxanne."

This medley marked the false exit, but in less than half a minute, Sting returned with the power of "Next to You."

But that energy transformed into euphoria with the performance of "Every Breath You Take," another of his biggest hits.

Sting introduced his band members again before finishing the song and exiting the stage once more.

The performer returned to the stage to say goodbye with "Fragile," accompanied by his guitar.

"Good night, we'll see you again," he said before leaving the stage for good.

(c) Primera Hora by María Ivette Vega Calles