Summer: 2015

And Sting resurrected the Police...

The bassist delivered a recital that blended classics from his solo career with anthems from the era when he led one of the most iconic bands in rock history.

Raimundo Amador's flamenco rhythms warmed up the atmosphere as the audience slowly filled the Plaza de Toros for their most anticipated performance. Until 10:30 p.m., punctually, clutching his old and blessedly worn-out bass, a '53 Fender Jazz Bass, Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, sorry, Sting, appeared to put the finishing touch to the 35th edition of the Córdoba Guitar Festival in a Coso de los Califas, immersed in the nostalgia aroused by his repertoire. The Newcastle native took on the devotion of thousands of fans across generations and left behind the musical artifice of his penultimate albums—in the form of symphonic reworkings of his hits or overly modern productions—to give his songs a more rock-like feel with a succession of tracks featuring classic anthems by The Police. How much would many of those present in Córdoba have given to see that band back then, when they were one of the philosopher's stones of rock? A miracle.

That miracle happened yesterday at Los Califas, because Sting resurrected the group with which he triumphed in the late 70s and early 80s with a new way of making rock seasoned with elements of new wave, post-punk and reggae. So much so that almost half of the repertoire at the Cordoba concert belonged to those five classic albums, then vinyl, that he recorded with his fellow travelers in The Police, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. From Outlandos d'amour (1978), an extensive version of Roxanne stood out, followed by So lonely; from Reggatta de blanc (1979), that desperate cry of someone in the most terrible loneliness entitled Message in a bottle; from Zenyattà Mondatta (1980), the album by De Do Do Do De Da Da Da, Driven to tears was also included; From Ghost in the Machine (1981), Every little thing she does is magic, the second in the repertoire, and from Synchronicity (1983), the classic among classics, Every breath you take.

FIt was a night of memories and humming hits, like "Englishman in New York," which the bassist has turned into a world heritage site, an evening in which it wasn't even noticeable that Summers and Copeland weren't on stage. They weren't missed, because his usual musicians, those who have been accompanying him for decades, the brilliant Dominic Miller (guitar), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), and David Sancious (keyboard), perfectly performed those greatest hits that seem to stand still, and never will. No less perfect in their accompaniment duties were the rest of the band, the young violinist Peter Tickell and Jo Lawry, on vocals.

Nor does time seem to pass by the rest of the repertoire he performed during his solo career, even though his debut album, titled "The Dream of the Blue Turtles" (1985), which sold three million copies worldwide, is now somewhat far behind him. "That Dream of the Blue Turtles" opened the door to infusing his music with jazz, a style he has maintained ever since and which is more evident in his live performances, as was evident in yesterday's recital. In order to maintain his usual style on his latest tour, Sting opened with "If I Lost My Faith in You," the first track from one of his most successful albums, "Ten Summoner's Tales," an LP which, like his first solo album, sold three million copies and is one of the most exploited in his repertoire on this international tour. Other songs from those "Ten Summoner's Tales" include "Fields of Gold," "Seven Days," "Shape of My Heart," and "Heavy Cloud, No Rain."

How many times has Sting sung them throughout his career? It didn't matter, they always sound as fresh as if he had performed them for the first time, with a more than devoted audience as if, to paraphrase the first song the other way around, they would never lose faith in him, in his music, no matter how much they lose faith in many other things in life, including politicians, as the song also says. Because yesterday proved once again that it's impossible to lose faith in someone who, even if played a thousand times, still gives you goosebumps, not only with Every Breath You Take, but also with Fields of Gold itself or Fragile, that acoustic track from Nothing Like the Sun (1987) with which he usually closes his recitals; yes, the album from They Dance Alone, a song dedicated to the mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, to those women who could only overcome the rage and helplessness caused by having lost their loved ones in Videla's Argentine dictatorship, by dancing to resurrect their memories.

Just as yesterday, their memories were resurrected, especially those who lived through the era of The Police and those who also danced to the rhythm of the '53 Fender Jazz Bass, that musical crutch with which Sting played most of the twenty songs that, since yesterday, have formed part of a historic setlist for many of those present at the Coso de los Califas. From now on, there's no need for those who were young during the Police era to tell their children that they enjoyed the British trio in Córdoba. Their children also saw it yesterday.

Also performing at the 15th edition of Cap Roig will be Ben Harper (today, Saturday), Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, and Rosario. Tickets for these concerts are sold out.

(c) El Dia by F J Cantador