Paul Simon and Sting: On Stage Together: 2014/2015

Sting and Paul Simon deliver a powerful concert in Cologne...

Since the 1980s, Sting and Paul Simon have lived in the same New York apartment building and become friends. However, they have never performed together in public – which would have been an obvious possibility. That only changed two years ago at a benefit. Afterward, the two realized that the collaboration sounded quite promising: the initial spark for a joint world tour, including a stop in Cologne.

An audience of 15,000 came to the Lanxess Arena, and the house was sold out. The silence in the hall before the concert began was all the more striking. People were whispering as if there was an aura in the air that demanded their respect.

There's no question: the audience sensed that this evening would be an important show. And they were rewarded. When Sting and Paul Simon enter the stage, thunderous applause breaks out, as if it were a true liberation.

Sting and Paul Simon are each heavyweights in music history in their own right. The output of this unlikely pair has grown into a veritable mountain of material over the years. And that's why, almost without exception, the two weave one hit after the other into a large, colourful patchwork.

As a duo, they appear at the beginning and end of the stage. In between, they alternate between two large blocks of solo performances. They gracefully bridge the gap with pieces performed together.

They both have their bands behind them, so the spectacle on stage reaches almost orchestral proportions. A dozen musicians are practically on stage at all times. There's a constant coming and going.

In his first solo part, Sting, now 63 years old but the epitome of youth with his shaggy beard and muscular body, goes all out. The Brit starts off with "So Lonely," which he released with "The Police" in 1978 and which is still a regular in every 80's disco today.

And the "Police" songs continue. "Englishman in New York," which, like "So Lonely," features relaxed reggae sounds, follows shortly after, followed later by "Massage in a Bottle" and "Roxanne" in dim red lighting. During both songs, the audience is on their feet. One can't help but get the impression that most of the listeners came for Sting.

The Brit himself sets things straight by emphasizing the musical significance of Paul Simon: "When you fall in love for the first time, there's a Paul Simon song. When a love story falls apart, there's another Paul Simon song. The next song also played a big role in my life when I embarked on a great adventure," he says, covering "America" on acoustic guitar.

The highlights of the show are the songs they perform together, especially "Bridge Over Troubled Water," which gives you goosebumps near the end and proves that Sting is a good Garfunkel, even though his voice is considerably rougher, but still sounds breath-taking, especially in the high register.

The duo performs "The Boxer," one of Simon & Garfunkel's biggest hits, as well as "Mrs. Robinson." The songs differ significantly from the original versions at the end, but exude a charm of their own.

Paul Simon also comes across as charming as a solo artist. He hardly speaks, but always has a smile on his face and occasionally does an awkward little dance. The American is 73 years old, but it doesn't show.

The diminutive singer's song list includes the stripped-down "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," which occasionally picks up momentum with wild organ playing and powerful brass sections. The lively "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" has well-known earworm qualities.

"That Was Your Mother" features a washboard solo, while "Hearts and Bones" is a beautiful folk ballad, and "You Can Call Me Al" is a humorous party hit.

Sting and Paul Simon set aside around three hours for their concert. If it were up to the audience, who occasionally throw all the organizer's organizational efforts out the window and rush to the front of the barrier to open a standing area themselves, the evening could last much longer.

(c) Westfälischer Anzeiger by Tim Griese