Annie Lennox/Sting...
It went so right for Annie Lennox on Saturday night that when she sat down for a piano version of "Here Comes the Rain Again," as if on cue, it started to rain (sorry, people on the hill, but it was a great special effect).
Lennox is an infrequent traveller on the rock circuit- having toured only twice in the past 13 years-making the demand to see her all the greater and her hourlong set at the Post-Gazette Pavilion all the more fresh.
Wearing a tank top and tight jeans, the Scottish siren, at 49, doesn't look any older than the woman running around in lingerie back in the Eurythmics videos and certainly sounds as if she's in her vocal prime.
She packed the set with hits from both careers, doing a sultry 'No More I Love You's', a funky 'Walking on Broken Glass' and rocked-out versions of 'Missionary Man' and 'I Need a Man'.
Lennox stripped out the reggae and replaced it with soul on Bob Marley's 'I Don't Want to Wait in Vain'. In her finest moment of the night, she managed to steal 'Sweet Dreams' back from the big scary goth.
It was a fun, sexy and stylish set from a natural performer who was clearly excited to be on stage.
Sting comes from the same inspired era as Lennox, but watching him it's hard to believe he was ever part of a new wave.
Along with the whole I'm Sting-and-you're-not vibe came a set plagued by songs that were either overly arranged or overly drawn out. For example, the wall of sound that his band applied to 'This War' defused the impact of a good song. The beloved 'Roxanne' one of the few offerings from the Police era was stretched past the 10-minute mark, sabotaged by a flabby middle section.
Sting's set was not without its pleasures. 'Synchronicity II' had great drama and intensity. 'Englishman in New York' bounced along on its rousing hook. And 'Every Breath You Take' was an expected crowd-pleaser. Throughout the set, the backdrop screens did a lot of the visual work for him with everything from exotic dancers to B-52 bombers.
Fittingly for this night, the highlight of Sting's set was the fiery cameo on 'We'll Be Together' by none other than Lennox.
(c) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Scott Mervis
Sting in Pittsburgh...
It was a great show all in all, I really love 'Shape Of My Heart', very often I find myself thinking of that song when I play solitude on the computer... that sort of is my kind of meditation.;)
It is great that Dominic was signing Cd's, personally I didn't go over there, either. Wouldn't it be nice though if we would be able to get a few seconds with Sting himself to get his autograph or a picture taken? As far as I know cameras were not allowed, so I didn't even attempt to bring one. (Not that I would've gotten a great shot of him anyway with my seat being a bit too far from the stage to get any pictures worthwhile). Way back when, in the ''old days'', I know that even if you couldn't get an autograph at a (any)concert, you had the possibility of writing in at the fanclub to request one, I have no idea where to request one here for Sting? If I wouldn't have a life of my own and if I had time and money on my hands I might have been able to go to a book signing, but unfortunately I don't have the luxury of doing things like that whatever and whenever.
I always liked Annie Lennox - her music, that is. She has a terrific voice and she really pulled off a great show, but of course also I was mainly there because Sting was performing. If Annie Lennox would've come on her own, I would have not paid to see her, because although I really like her music, I don't like it that much... or example I wouldn't be able to listen to it over and over again. Also I admit that a persons appearance and attitude has a lot to do with it, too. Annie Lennox is not ugly, and she definately is a Diva in her own way, and she really stood out with that silver sparkly outfit she had on, but... I don't feel the need to see her, since I simply enjoy listening to her music as it is... I wouldn't have to see her in concert for it. Sting's music is a bit more classical and therefor easier on the ear, even after repetitions, and his music seems a lot more vibrant when you see him live in concert... in concert his music really gets extra meaning, because his show and he himself really add to it. It just simply is a different style and ambiente to Annie Lennox's, and I prefer Sting's style.
Anyway, it should be interesting to see if he continues to make ''double shows'' like that with other artists as well in the future, and then one can only hope that the other artist is to one's liking. Annie Lennox was a good choice for him, like I said I always liked her music, but I do wonder with who else he might intend to tour with in the future, also in regards of how that might influence ticket sales and satisfied fans, if they have to ''sit through'' the first hour or so in order to finally see the star they paid for... I guess time will tell. :-)
(c) Vision of Violet for Sting.com
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