Sting 3.0

An Englishman in Peru: Sting dazzles in emotional concert....

In the late 1970s, specifically in 1977, three brilliant young Britons created a unique, distinctive sound that greatly influenced the emerging 1980s, leaving a lasting mark on music history. The Police became not only a cult band but also one of the most representative of that era’s musical creativity.

Gordon Sumner, better known as Sting, was the band's notable frontman. After the group's official dissolution in 1984, with later reunions until 2008, Sting launched a solo career as brilliant as his time with The Police.

His first visit to Lima was in 2011, and now, at age 73, the meticulous artist returned to the Peruvian capital, delivering a flawless concert.

A refined, attentive, and knowledgeable audience waited for the musician to take the stage at Multiespacio Costa 21 in Lima's San Miguel district.

Just past 9 p.m. (local time), the show kicked off with 'Message in a Bottle,' a classic The Police song that instantly drew the audience into the show. This would be the first of many The Police hits that Sting performed that night.

Time certainly does not pass in vain, but it is worth noting how well Sting has maintained both his physique and his voice.

He remains youthful, energetic, and always engaging with the crowd, his voice magically transporting the audience back to that wonderful decade when creativity and talent were essential to standing out.

'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,' 'Englishman in New York,' and 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' - another The Police hit - followed.

The atmosphere was perfect. In fact, the chairs in the premium section at Multiespacio Costa 21 had to be moved aside. Experiencing a concert of this level while seated was impossible.

The party continued with 'Fields of Gold,' 'Never Coming Home,' 'Synchronicity II' (one of the most passionately sung), 'Mad About You,' 'Spirits in the Material World,' 'Wrapped Around Your Finger,' and 'Driven to Tears,' creating a full-blown ‘80s celebration.

Sting performed a total of 22 songs, 12 of which were from his time with The Police. Of course, 'Roxanne' - a song written by Sting about a fictional prostitute - and 'Every Breath You Take' - the emblem of the iconic English band - could not be left out.

It was more than two hours of pure nostalgia, unforgettable memories, and a return to an era that shaped the lives of many concertgoers.

But it was also more than two hours of admiring and appreciating an artist who, like fine wine, only gets better with time, keeping alive a generation that will never stop shining.

(c) Andina

Sting in Lima: pure rock energy among plastic chairs...

The British artist took over the city of Lima in a concert redolent of nostalgia, but with an energy that stands the test of time. Here's what we saw.

Former Police vocalist Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, better known as Sting, performed at Costa 21 in Lima as part of his Sting 3.0 tour. Photos: Mario Zapata.

At what point does a rock concert go from jumping and pogoing to a recital of white chairs like a wedding? Is it just a matter of the age of the audience? How old does the average fan have to be, then? Or does it depend on other factors?

These are the questions that accumulate during the wait for Sting's show last Wednesday at Costa 21 in San Miguel. There, amidst a bit of mist and the faint smell of the sea, the English musician appeared at 9 o'clock sharp, honouring his nationality. White polo shirt with a black print, tight pants, bass guitar in hand; accompanied only by a drummer and a very good guitarist (Argentine Dominic Miller).

“Message in a Bottle” plays as the first song of the night, and the entire audience—resisting early retirement by using plastic chairs—stands up to dance to the new wave and reggae rhythms of this Police classic. “Sending out an S.O.S.” is chanted with energy rather than nostalgia.

Sting—73 years old, but with a clear voice and enviable physical condition—practices a few words in Spanish (“stronger, please,” he says) and plays a couple of songs that are also very well received: “Englishman in New York,” from his solo career, and another beloved Police song, “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.”

“We are very happy to be here with you,” he adds, as the audience stands and sits down according to each song the trio plays on stage. The mass oscillates, rising and falling like the frequencies of an equalizer, and they are a good indicator of the pace the show is taking at times. There are high points and others not so high.

In "Wrapped Around Your Finger," the out-of-tune "I love you!" is heard from a frenzied fan. "Driven to Tears" follows, much applauded; also "Can't Stand Losing You," which once again gets the audience going. "Lima! Sing with me!" shouts Sting, who connects it with the romantic "Shape of My Heart," and another infallible "So Lonely."

Certainly, the setlist presented in Lima left no room for surprise or unexpectedness. It was, song by song, exactly the same as the one he has performed on his current tour. The closing performance comes with "Every Breath You Take," probably the best moment of the night, the one that sealed the connection between the artist and his fans.

And then came the mock farewell and the return to the stage for the (now truly) final two songs: first, the extended version of "Roxanne," before which Sting crosses himself with a smile on his face. And finally, in a more intimate tone and with a guitar on his hand, "Fragile," rounding out the evening. The chairs? They might still be dispensable.

(c) El Comercio by Juan Carlos Fangacio Arakaki