Sting & Shaggy: The 44/876 Tour

Sting and Shaggy cast a spell with the flavour of Bogotá - The artists made the Movistar Arena resonate with their "experiment" in reggae, pop, and nostalgia.

A breath of freshness and good vibes surrounded every inch of the stage at Bogotá's Movistar Arena, which welcomed the only Englishman, Sting, and the Jamaican Shaggy. In a concert that took advantage of that vibe, they captured the applause and the smiles of the nearly 10,000 attendees for their experiment in reggae, pop, and a touch of rock and nostalgia, which these musical friends decided to venture into after the release of their album "44/876."

The intense applause died down with the first notes of "Englishman in New York," one of Sting's hits. He pulled out this classic from his sleeve to begin his seductive tactic to draw his guests into the fusion everyone was waiting for.

The party ignited with the rhythmic dance moves of fans who, with their eyes closed and a shy, focused smile, let themselves be carried away by the voice of the former lead singer of the legendary band The Police.

Shaggy was nearby, fulfilling his mission of adding spice to the gathering. Excited, he looked at the audience, waved, and prepared for the musical journey Sting had proposed to him through the capital of the world. The same metropolis where they both recorded part of their recent album.

Their chemistry began to erupt, and the two then decided to blend their voices with the eponymous song from their musical collaboration: a cool reminiscence of the tropical music they both adore. Then came "Morning is Coming," a smooth reggae hit that filled the entire Movistar stage with its positive message.

Then there was time for a high-quality classic: "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic," in which Sting made one of his nods during the concert to his time in The Police. Shaggy did his thing, reminiscing about "Oh Carolina" along with "Well Be Together," and then returning to "44/876" with the song "If You Can't Find Love."

The party ignited with rhythmic dance moves from fans who, with their eyes closed and a shy smile, let themselves be carried away by the voice of the former vocalist of the legendary band The Police.

Continuing the romantic tone, Shaggy and Sting performed "Love is the Seven Wave," one of Sting's career-long approaches to reggae. The rhythm remained prominent as the Movistar Arena vibrated to the tune of "To Love and Be Lover."

However, one of the most exciting and hysterical moments occurred when Sting began singing "Message in the Bottle." A massive choir and a happy Shaggy accompanied him.

The tranquil "Fields of Gold" didn't break the connection. The handclapping helped codify a more relaxed tone, which was acknowledged with resounding applause. The harmonious clapping gave way to another round of classics like "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Sting), "Angel" by Shaggy, along with "Don't Make Me Wait" and "Dreaming in the U.S.A.", both from "44/876".

But the duo didn't want to lose the magic and gave way to "Walking on the Moon", "Shape of my Heart", "So Lonely", along with "Hey Sexy Lady" by Shaggy, and a "Roxanne" that later mutated into "Bombastic", causing an explosion of mass hysteria. Then came the onslaught of "Desert Rose" with an ecstatic Sting; Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me" never wavered in his quest to enliven the crowd, closing with a powerful "Every Breath You Take" and "Fragile." The two-S recipe worked like clockwork, and the climate of Jamaica and England was welcoming.

(c) El Tiempo by Andrés Hoyos Vargas