Sting in old form...
Sting revelled in hits from his entire career when he began his European tour in Bergen.
Sting chose to serve up a lot of old from his song catalogue, including many of the old classics from his time in The Police.
The 63-year-old from Tyneside in northern England broke through with the group The Police in the late 1970s. At the time, Gordon Sumner had been making a living as a teacher and playing double bass in his spare time in jazz bands.
On the lawn at Bergenhus, in front of just over 6,000 people, he showed that he had neither forgotten old Police songs nor playing bass with a jazz feeling.
After opening with "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You", the Police hits came like hail: "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", "So Lonely", "When The World Is Running Down", "Driven To Tears", "Walking On The Moon" and "Message In A Bottle".
The only thing missing were Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland. Otherwise this would have been a Police concert.
But it also sounded tough with Dominic Miller's guitar, David Sancious behind the keyboards, Peter Tickell on violin and Vinnie Colaiuta behind the drums.
In between the Police cavalcade in the first hour, he found space for the beautiful "Fields Of Gold", which Paul McCartney has named his favourite song. From his solo career also came "Englishman in New York", "Why Should I Cry For You", "Shape Of My Heart", "Seven Days", "Heavy Cloud No Rain", as well as the Paul Simon tribute "America".
The two have toured together for the past year, where they have also interpreted each other's songs.
Although the concert in Bergen was largely a "walk down memory lane" for Sting, it sounded fresh and great throughout.
He has said in interviews that he had writer's block for many years before he finally got around to writing the songs for his latest album, "The Last Ship", which has also become a theatre play that has been performed in Chicago and New York.
But with a song catalogue like what Sting can show, it's enough to take off. Something he was able to fully demonstrate in Bergen.
With his broad commitment and opinions on many things, he has prepared himself for a blow from those who believe that a musician should stick to what he can do. And not profile himself in any other way. Them about it.
As a songwriter, bassist, guitarist and vocalist, he stands for quality. He has been doing so for almost 40 years. The song catalogue of The Police alone, where he made most and the best, is enough to secure him a place in rock history.
In addition to the aforementioned old goodies, he knocked with a sucking "Roxanne", with Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" as a bonus, and a heartfelt version of "Wrapped Around Your Finger".
Of course, he was clapped back for an exotic desert version of "Desert Rose", followed by the Police songs "King Of Pain" and "Every Breath You Take".
Sting chose to drop the personal songs from his latest album, "The Last Ship", which are said to have largely been based on his upbringing in the shipyards and ports of northern England. With their often quiet arrangements, they didn't fit into the cavalcade of classics.
To really emphasize it, he ended with the hard-hitting opening song "Next To You" from the Police debut "Outlandos Amour" in 1978. In an even wilder version.
But the audience wanted more and were sent home satisfied with the calm "Fragile", where Sting allowed himself to mess around a bit in the opening.
He is forgiven, both for the small mistake and for choosing to follow old paths this time.
(c) Bergensavisen by Per Randers Haukass
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