Blue Turtles: 1985/86

Higher powers save Sting...

He only had to turn his jacket up to full volume, only had to make a dance move or stammer a 'thank you'; the Arnhem Rijnhal swooned. For him, the greatest Sting of all.

Indeed, higher powers were at play on Saturday night.

It was *not* a concert, but a one-off Event where the effects were overwhelmingly dominant. They call that 'magical'.

And if you weren't susceptible to that, if you refused to hold up a burning lighter for half an hour for his greater glory, then only a hangover remained.

Pop events like the Sting circus are a torment for a sober person. Due to their sheer scale, the magnitude of the star, and the unique stamp imprinted upon them, they are larger than life itself.

Springsteen and the ilk have a similar questionable effect. Pop musicians of that kind have long ceased to be judged by musical standards. That sort of person has won everything in advance.

Whatever that may be.

In the Arnhem Rijnhal, however, things took an extra step because, relatively speaking, it was an intimate affair, reserved for a handful (about 7,000) of outspoken enthusiasts. The vast majority will forever and ever have to rely on word of mouth.

And so it happened that Sting was allowed to possess a divine aura for two hours on Saturday evening and emphatically underscored that status. For many, his presence was already more than enough for them.

However, such a situation stands in stark contrast to the kind of pop star Sting represents. He is not the 'demagogue' type and, by definition, emphasizes the musical aspect of his phenomenon. His album 'The Dream Of The Blue Turtles' is convincing proof of that. Quality music with the very best musicians. The latter, however, came across as mediocre last night due to the aforementioned circumstances. The star Sting and the musician Sting were at loggerheads terribly in the Rijnhal, and it was the music lovers in the audience who, true to tradition, bore the brunt of it. After all, sensationalism prevailed, whether it was the excessive lighting or the somewhat annoying presentation (three quarters of an hour of dance moves) by the hero himself.

The sound quality suffered enormously from the sports venue that the Rijnhal is. The result was better than expected, but still far below the standard that can be demanded for this music (and the admission price).

The lack of repertoire (actually only the recent LP) also forced Sting to resort to antics: new songs were stretched to ten, sometimes fifteen minutes, and the Police material was, of course, dragged in by the hair as well.

The absolute greatest, however, came at the finale; naturally, everyone was waiting for the big hit 'Russians'. The song was played live. The star considered a tape recording more than enough. Misplaced arrogance? Musical powerlessness? In every form of public deception.

For that music lover who showed *so* much appreciation for the Sting LP, it was an irritating and embarrassing event. For the rest, the vast majority, it was that absolutely unique event that no one can ever take away from them.

For me, it is the hangover; for her, the satisfaction.

(c) Gelderlander by Michiel Willems