Sting: My Songs Tour: International

Every song a hit: How Sting thrilled Forchheim - British musician visited Upper Franconia on Sunday...

12,000 people didn't want to miss this event: World star Sting took the stage on Sunday evening at the Jahngelände in Forchheim. With numerous hits under his belt, the Brit enchanted the audience - and delivered a best-of concert, as it should be.

Someone's in a really good mood. With a permanent grin on his face, Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, aka Sting, took to the stage in front of 12,000 people at the Opern-Air grounds in Forchheim, which had been sold out for weeks. You only get that kind of mood after spending an entire afternoon in a shady beer garden or enjoying a home-grown joint at a solstice celebration in the back of Franconian Switzerland.

Stop. Enough of such thoughts. There's a man on stage in a tight black T-shirt, who appears dynamic even in his advanced years, and occasionally asks for a cup of tea. Presumably, Sting is just particularly at peace with himself, the world, and his loyal fans this evening. The sun is shining, and the audience is in a celebratory mood despite annoying bag checks and ridiculous queues at the food and drink stands. There's also a best-of program scheduled, with almost two hours of singing along mandatory.

Sting has been in the music business for four decades. First with "The Police," then as a solo artist. That's all well and good. Nevertheless, everyone is probably amazed to be part of a concert evening where every song is a hit. To prevent the whole thing from becoming too much of a romp and raising suspicions of being out of ideas, the Englishman released the album "My Songs" a few weeks ago as a precautionary measure.

Here, many of the big hits have been subtly rearranged. It's something you can do once in a while. But between you and me: In the past, there were quite a few colleagues in the pop world who were more at home with Sting's songs in their cover versions than the 67-year-old himself.

After all, as a Sting hobby fan who only danced to music at parties in the 80s and 90s, you don't have to worry about a lute player coming on stage or Brecht-Weill compositions being sung. Instead, you'll be backed by a well-rehearsed and versatile band, providing a sophisticated and catchy pop sound. The journey through Sting's musical universe begins with "Message in a Bottle." On "Brand New Day," the young harmonica player proves himself a worthy Stevie Wonder replacement, and the Rasta keyboardist ensures that this evening not only Sting's wave, but also his reggae roots are emphasized. "If you love somebody set them free," "Roxanne," "Desert Rose," "Every breath you take"... hardly a popular song is missing. Sting chats charmingly in German and organizes interactive and sing-along games. A best-of concert, as it should and must be.

(c) Nord Bayern by Steffen Radlmaier