So, for some random reason I was listening to a bit of Sting this morning and was just wondering what you Orgers think about Sting. Love him? Hate him? What's your thoughts on him?

Still love Mr. Sumner. One of my faves.

Always loveth Sting! From his time in The Police to his early solo work and a couple of gems of the last decade, he has a place when I think about the music that connect with my life.

Love... Very talented artist

I've liked most of what Sting has recorded; I'm an admirer and a fan.

Neither.

Genesia said:

I like the Police. I haven't enjoyed much of his solo material. So I neither love nor hate him.

I dislike him:

He takes ethnic music, waters it down, and makes it

more palatable for mass consumption and baby boomers.

Used to love the Police, and liked early Sting. I grew to hate him for his pretentious appearance.

Now I think he seems like a decent guy, very talented, and kinda boring.

Indifferent.

Actually, NDRU you kinda reminded me. Would you please elaborate on the "pretentious" remark? I've heard of him being referred to as such many times, of/on the org. I even remember an article being posted here about him addressing this tag

Maybe I'm missing something, because he comes across to me like the majority of his peers.

Love him. especially The Police... but his solo work, especially the early... is very good.

NDRU said:

Used to love the Police, and liked early Sting. I grew to hate him for his pretentious appearance.

Now I think he seems like a decent guy, very talented, and kinda boring.

I feel like this as well. I don't hate his music as of recent, but the pretentiousness has grown weary on me. But I love The Police and of course his solo period from '85-'99.

Harlepolis said:

Indifferent.

Actually, NDRU you kinda reminded me. Would you please elaborate on the "pretentious" remark? I've heard of him being referred to as such many times, of/on the org. I even remember an article being posted here about him addressing this tag

Maybe I'm missing something, because he comes across to me like the majority of his peers.

I think it's worth mentioning that I was in my early 20's when I thought this, so everyone was either great or terrible. There was no in-between.

With Sting, it was things like him playing the lute, and saying that playing with the Police would be a step back in maturity (which might have an element of truth to it, but is still very insulting to the other two), and having lyrics like:

"He looked beneath his shirt today
There was a wound in his flesh so deep and wide
From the wound a lovely flower grew
From somewhere deep inside
He turned around to face his mother
To show her the wound in his breast that burned like a brand
But the sword that cut him open
Was the sword in his mother's hand

Every day another miracle
Only death will tear us apart
To sacrifice a life for yours
I'd be the blood of the Lazarus heart
The blood of the Lazarus heart"

Now, I can see that his lyrics are actually pretty decent. But in a certain frame of mind the "sword" and "Lazarus heart" and "wound in his breast" were a little over the top.

Love him.

NDRU said:

Harlepolis said:

Indifferent.

Actually, NDRU you kinda reminded me. Would you please elaborate on the "pretentious" remark? I've heard of him being referred to as such many times, of/on the org. I even remember an article being posted here about him addressing this tag

Maybe I'm missing something, because he comes across to me like the majority of his peers.

I think it's worth mentioning that I was in my early 20's when I thought this, so everyone was either great or terrible. There was no in-between.

With Sting, it was things like him playing the lute, and saying that playing with the Police would be a step back in maturity (which might have an element of truth to it, but is still very insulting to the other two), and having lyrics like:

"He looked beneath his shirt today
There was a wound in his flesh so deep and wide
From the wound a lovely flower grew
From somewhere deep inside
He turned around to face his mother
To show her the wound in his breast that burned like a brand
But the sword that cut him open
Was the sword in his mother's hand

Every day another miracle
Only death will tear us apart
To sacrifice a life for yours
I'd be the blood of the Lazarus heart
The blood of the Lazarus heart"

Now, I can see that his lyrics are actually pretty decent. But in a certain frame of mind the "sword" and "Lazarus heart" and "wound in his breast" were a little over the top.

Oh god, thats dramatic as hell

Indifferent.

I dig some of his work with the Police though. King of Pain, Roxanne, Don't Stand So Close to Me are classics. Can't stand Every Breath You Take and of his solo material, only Set Them Free, We'll Be Together, Fields of Gold and If I Ever Lose My Faith pique my interest.

silverchild said:

NDRU said:

Used to love the Police, and liked early Sting. I grew to hate him for his pretentious appearance.

Now I think he seems like a decent guy, very talented, and kinda boring.

I feel like this as well. I don't hate his music as of recent, but the pretentiousness has grown weary on me. But I love The Police and of course his solo period from '85-'99.

About the pretentious stuff---I guess it's difficult for an artist to kind of maintain their fanbase while at the same time not having the appearance of being stuck in the past. I guess it's part of "growing up" the music without making it lose its appeal to the audience. I think some artists have done this extremely well (Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Mary J. Blige) but others I think haven't done this so well (Madonna comes to mind). What do you guys think? Is Sting being pretentious or just growing his music up?

Dude like Sting, he was always pretentious. I think it was this fact that broke the Police up initially. He just catches me as a dude who always thought his shit didn't stink least 50% of the time.

Timmy84 said:

Dude like Sting, he was always pretentious. I think it was this fact that broke the Police up initially. He just catches me as a dude who always thought his shit didn't stink least 50% of the time.

Don't they all, though?

Harlepolis said:

Timmy84 said:

Dude like Sting, he was always pretentious. I think it was this fact that broke the Police up initially. He just catches me as a dude who always thought his shit didn't stink least 50% of the time.

Don't they all, though?

That's true.

Timmy84 said:

Dude like Sting, he was always pretentious. I think it was this fact that broke the Police up initially. He just catches me as a dude who always thought his shit didn't stink least 50% of the time.

Your comment reminds me of a documentary that I saw like 10 years ago about the Police. The drummer was talking about how in the early 80s, they were catching the vibe that Sting was going to go solo but he said even before that, he felt that Sting was the "star" because of his good looks and whatnot. Perhaps they were jealous of the attention Sting was getting and perhaps Sting got caught up in the hype?

Sting is like 60 but I'd shag him in a heartbeat....I put him in the FAWM club (Fine Ass White Man) club

Sting has some fanastic solo albums imo. Some are but firs first few are

Sting is essentric & yes a bit of an ego head. But he has made some fantatsic stuff.. and he play's all kinds of cool instruments. I also really dig his bass work & lyrics

SeventeenDayze said:

silverchild said:

I feel like this as well. I don't hate his music as of recent, but the pretentiousness has grown weary on me. But I love The Police and of course his solo period from '85-'99.

About the pretentious stuff---I guess it's difficult for an artist to kind of maintain their fanbase while at the same time not having the appearance of being stuck in the past. I guess it's part of "growing up" the music without making it lose its appeal to the audience. I think some artists have done this extremely well (Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Mary J. Blige) but others I think haven't done this so well (Madonna comes to mind). What do you guys think? Is Sting being pretentious or just growing his music up?

Good question, and I don't think there is any concrete answer.

I went to the symphony recently to see Mahler's 4th. Afterward I told my friend that it was incredibly self indulgent. At the same time, I know full well an artist is supposed to be self-indulgent!

Same with the movie Tree of Life. How can you avoid being pretentious if you are addressing the most serious ideas known to man? Yes it's pretentious. Is it good?

I think the answer completely depends on whether you like Sting or not. And that's just a personal thing.

I dig his legacy with The Police, some truly amazing songs/productions during the new wave era

I enjoy some of his solo songs...like 18-20 songs...

I also think he's arrogant, but not a total prick

basically

SeventeenDayze said:

Timmy84 said:

Dude like Sting, he was always pretentious. I think it was this fact that broke the Police up initially. He just catches me as a dude who always thought his shit didn't stink least 50% of the time.

Your comment reminds me of a documentary that I saw like 10 years ago about the Police. The drummer was talking about how in the early 80s, they were catching the vibe that Sting was going to go solo but he said even before that, he felt that Sting was the "star" because of his good looks and whatnot. Perhaps they were jealous of the attention Sting was getting and perhaps Sting got caught up in the hype?

Sting is like 60 but I'd shag him in a heartbeat....I put him in the FAWM club (Fine Ass White Man) club

were they truly surprised? Sting was a hottie back then, and the main songwriter & the lead singer

The Police was Sting's band just as The Velvet Underground was Lou Reed's band...

JoeTyler said:

the main songwriter

According to Andy Summers autobiography, Sting would usually refuse to sing songs written by him.

MickyDolenz said:

JoeTyler said:

the main songwriter

According to Andy Summers autobiography, Sting would usually refuse to sing songs written by him.

?

Sting basically wrote The Police's biggest hits and many other strong album tracks

JoeTyler said:

SeventeenDayze said:

Your comment reminds me of a documentary that I saw like 10 years ago about the Police. The drummer was talking about how in the early 80s, they were catching the vibe that Sting was going to go solo but he said even before that, he felt that Sting was the "star" because of his good looks and whatnot. Perhaps they were jealous of the attention Sting was getting and perhaps Sting got caught up in the hype?

Sting is like 60 but I'd shag him in a heartbeat....I put him in the FAWM club (Fine Ass White Man) club

were they truly surprised? Sting was a hottie back then, and the main songwriter & the lead singer

The Police was Sting's band just as The Velvet Underground was Lou Reed's band...

Plus no one was studying the other two. Sting brought the girls to their shows.

JoeTyler said:

MickyDolenz said:

According to Andy Summers autobiography, Sting would usually refuse to sing songs written by him.

?

Sting basically wrote The Police's biggest hits and many other strong album tracks

Since Sting would only perform his own songs, then of course that would be the case. It's like George Harrison fighting to get songs on Beatles albums. Most were rejected because John & Paul didn't want to give up their spot.