Sting 3.0

Sting thrills thousands of fans at an emotional concert in Mönchengladbach...

The global star proved at his show at the Sparkassenpark that his solo hits and the songs of "The Police" have a tremendous impact across generations. The evening was full of musical highlights – and memorable moments.

It didn't take long for Sting to pull it off: As soon as he delivered his first solo hit, "Englishman in New York," he completely captivated the audience with his bard's lasso. "Oh, oh," the packed Sparkassenpark Mönchengladbach crowd sang exuberantly along with the global star, dancing and clapping. A fantastic drum solo by Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons) was followed by Sting's polite request: "One more time, please," and shortly after, he began: "Be yourself," which echoed loudly back to the stage: "No matter what they say." Sting's recipe for success works. Time and again.

For more than an hour and a half on Tuesday evening, the youthful 73-year-old Brit enchanted his fans: A guitar (Dominic Miller), a drum kit (Chris Maas), and a voice and bass (Sting) formed the minimalist construct powerful enough to carry Sting through his legendary songscapes. While this brilliant trio strongly recalls the artist's first band, "The Police," they certainly forge their own path on their "3.0 Tour." The nearly two dozen solo hits, including "Fields of Gold," "Desert Rose," and Police songs—such as "Message in a Bottle" and "So Lonely"—are slowed down in many places and are celebrated by the three dedicated musicians like the indulgence of a high-quality bar of dark chocolate.

The concert was also pure joy for the approximately 13,000 guests in the Sparkassenpark. In addition to the many dancing couples and clapping groups who have practically "grown old" with Sting, there are very young fans, like five-year-old Lui, who is eating a crepe on her dad's lap and bobbing enthusiastically to the songs. There are also teens with their parents, like Roos (15), who travelled from near Breda, Holland, with her father, Benny. "We often listen to Sting and 'The Police' in the kitchen while cooking and dance to them," she explains. And because father Benny Sting had already seen him in Amsterdam, he is delighted to be on the "3.0 Tour" with his daughter. Twins Tim and Simon (28) also grew up with the British singer: "Our parents listen to a lot of music from the 80s. It doesn't leave you unscathed," says Simon with a smile. It quickly becomes clear: in many families, listening to Sting is like a musical heirloom, something that is happily shared and passed on.

While the sun has already sunk deep in the west behind the last stands of the hockey park, Sting strikes his distinctive bass rhythm during "Can't Stand Losing You" and entices the audience: "Moenschengladbach. Sing with me, please!" In the alternating waves of tones, his fans follow him into an archaic world where, in the end, nothing else prevails but the pure sound flowing from deep within Sting's chest. What's left behind is an unleashed audience, limber and happy like after a long hot yoga workout. There's probably no better time to continue with "Shape of My Heart," where hearts literally melt and even the men's hips loosen up as they dance.

Numerous concerts are planned for the singer. Before Sting's performance at the Sparkassenpark, musician Sophie Grey took the stage, supporting the global star. The US singer impressed with her "retro electro" sound.

There are many more concerts scheduled for the Sparkassenpark in the coming months. In June alone, Bryan Adams (June 25), Andreas Gabalier (June 27), Roland Kaiser (June 28), and "Thirty Seconds to Mars" (June 29) will perform there.

With "Roxanne" on a stage bathed in red lights as an encore, and with "Fragile" featuring an acoustic guitar, the global star gently gathers his fans and releases them into the silence of the night. The audience thanks him with a standing ovation. Sting's songs still resonate. His music has long since burned itself into people's minds. If one could visualize the associations that still swirl in the minds of visitors upon leaving the hockey park, it would surely be a gigantic, colourful whirlpool: a flood of images, perhaps peppered with the occasional MTV video clip, but definitely intermingled with thousands upon thousands of their own memories. And on this blissful evening in Mönchengladbach, many new impressions must have been added.

(c) Rheinische Post by Ananda Kordes