Experience two music icons sharing the spotlight! Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Sting’s career-spanning set was an unmitigated success. Even though his vocal range may no longer reach as far, his songs remain vibrant and vital.
Joel recently became one of the only performers ever to reach 150 Madison Square Garden performances! Together they hosted an exceptional concert experience for Long Island audiences at Madison Square Garden.
1. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Sting began his portion of the evening appropriately with an adaptation of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, an iconic 1961 hit that has earned millions in royalties through cover versions and movie licensing deals. Many may not know that its original recording was composed and performed by South African Solomon Linda – an individual whose life included slave labor, dirt-floored shacks, illness and deprivation before his tragic death in 1962.
Sting poured his heart and soul into his set, breathing life back into familiar classics such as “Message in a Bottle,” “Roxanne,” and “Fields of Gold.” He took time to build tension when necessary and added special flourishes reminiscent of Arabic melodic figures in “Desert Rose.”
2. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Billy Joel brought his classic music and showmanship to Tampa Saturday night, taking the sold-out crowd on an unforgettable journey into a “New York State of Mind,” opening with a stunning rendition of An Innocent Man’s title track before bringing up some of his finest vocalists for an acapella duet with Sting. Finally, they performed one more classic tune titled, “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.”
While these two rock & roll icons have co-headed in the past, this was their inaugural stadium tour together as co-headliners. Stops include San Diego’s Petco Park, St Louis’ Busch Stadium and Las Vegas’ Allianz Arena – in addition to solo concerts featuring Stevie Nicks at Arlington Texas Soldier Field and Chicago Soldier Field this year and Joel concluding his long-running monthly Madison Square Garden residency July 25.
Sting’s set was marked by new energy, injecting life and new sounds into fan favorites such as “Message in a Bottle”, “Fields of Gold” and “King of Pain”. He slowed “Walking on the Moon” for added dynamic tension while expanding on “Desert Rose” with an extended version and soulful flare, and recruiting an up-and-coming harmonica player who emulated bits of Stevie Wonder on “Brand New Day”.
3. Big Man on Mulberry Street
Sheet Music for Piano Chords/Lyrics Format: PDF mes When Sting returned looking like Frank Sinatra wearing his trademark suit and hat to join Joel on stage to perform their jazzy version of Big Man on Mulberry Street. Tampa got their first taste of new Joel music since River of Dreams came out in 1993, which made his set list even more anticipated and thrilling than usual.
Joel gave his home state plenty of love during “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”, while waves could be heard crashing against it during “New York State of Mind.”
His set also featured a stirring rendition of “Heavy Cloud, No Rain,” featuring lyrics that proved all too prophetic on Saturday night: “The clouds won’t leave until their work is complete/ If it doesn’t rain today, there won’t be no tomorrow.
4. Turn the Lights Back On
Billy Joel has released his first pop album since 2007 — “Turn the Lights Back On.” Produced by Freddy Wexler – who has worked with such luminaries as Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Selena Gomez and Celine Dion among many others – this mid-tempo track finds Joel revisiting some of the tried-and-tested techniques he honed during the 70s with his signature sound palette.
Joel’s beautiful love ballad “One Step Closer,” released as an official music video last summer, captures both sadness and optimism for his future. As seen in its accompanying lyric video, this message of hope resonates with old and new fans alike.