Is Sting the Paul McCartney of his generation?

[JL]

1. Both fronted hugely successful, but short lived bands.

2. Both were principal songwriters in those bands.

3. Both had very successful solo careers producing very mediocre music. Their primary success came from concerts in which they continue to play the hits from their original bands, with whom they never reunite.

4. Judging from their solo music, it is clear that their songwriting prowess came as the result of collaborations and arrangements forged in the context of their original bands.

5. Both continue to receive awards and good reviews, more as the result of being media darlings, as opposed to the quality of work. See U2 after 1987. Ask yourself, what songs have either one written solo that will be remembered in 20+ years.

Just a few ideas I had. Any others? Discuss.

[georgygirl]

Clap, clap, clap.

Those are absoulte trues.

I like your proposal as Paul and Gordon like darling medias.

Great statement.

Congratxxx to your reflections JC. Excuse JL.

[Mrs. Gradenko]

3. Both had very successful solo careers producing very mediocre music. Their primary success came from concerts in which they continue to play the hits from their original bands, with whom they never reunite.

One word. WRONG

His music is anything but mediocre. He won sucess in the band, aswell as for his solo carer. And he didn't just bumb off the bands work, most of it was his own. The reason he preforms Police songs, is because we want to hear it!

I think the only reasons you all don't like Sting (which means you won't even give his music a chance) is because Stew and Sting fought, and because you all think Sting is the only reason they are not reuniting.

[georgygirl]

Sorry Mrs. G, but I am not interesting in those fights. I don't even know until you said here about it, but I really don't care those facts. I am just interesting about quality music.

JL is right when said that Paul and Gordon are media dolls, I mean darlings, and I have an example about this:

Last weekend I saw the sister of Gaby, my death cousin, and she is not a rock & roll woman. I start to tell about Police and Stewart Copeland, and she didn't hear about it, until I said Sting, and she said,
-ahhhhhh, yes, he is a hot man.
Then I asked, -well you like his music,
but she said,
-his music, I don't remember it, I just know that Sting is hot.
For me, Sting converted into a media doll.

I gave a chance to Gordon music, when Police split, and I liked his first 2 records, and also his record in Spanish, but after that, for me, his music is so commercial and mediocre as JL said.

I think Sting played Police songs, because is a support for his concerts, and he also didn't forget about his real success with Police at that time.

I feel very different being a fan from Stewart Copeland music. Is not because he is cute, his fans really like his music and try to get his work no matter how difficult it is. And I also love that he is so versatile. (Rock & Roll, opera, score musician, score video plays, Orchestra music and I said WOW ) That is the kind of musician I love it, because his music went inside my soul.

Stewart maybe your fans are less than Sting's, but you know that we really love your music in a deep way, and from the botton of our heart.

[Al]

There's no need to discount anyone.Sting and Stewart are both great musicians and that's all.No doubt about it.

[Mrs. Gradenko]

I see so if music is popular, then it's not worth listening to, and it's no good. AND if someone's hott, then don't bother listening ot their music because it's not going to be any good anyways.

Wow I'm learning even BEFORE I get to school!

[JL]

Mrs. Gradenko,
Sting's success has come primarily as a function of the fame he gained from being in the Police, like several other lead singers who have left their original bands for solo careers.

Not that his music is bad, but there is nothing he has put out that would have gotten him noticed from obscurity. Jeez, he got a Grammy for that crappy Desert Rose, for goodness sakes.

By all accounts I've read/heard, Sting is the reason the Police are no more. (Even confirmed by a neutral '3rd' party Andy Summers in the liner notes to Message in a Box). He's contented being the media darling. He has a band that he can boss around. He doesn't have to work very hard in concert anymore. (Do you think he could belt out Next to You night after night at 180 beats/min?) (Do you think Andy and Stewart want to play All This Time?)

Sting has stated that he's not a nostalgic person as a reason for not getting back with the Police. If that were true, he would not play the songs the Police made famous. But then, of course, his concert attendance would plumet. He even saves those songs for last 30-45 min of his concerts to keep people from leaving early. I say, if he's going to play those songs, why not with the original band?

Besides, I never said I didn't like Sting. You ASSumed that. My point is that he doesn't deserve the credit he has received for his solo career. My other points being that his contentment, arrogance, laziness and Napoleon-complex have prevented/will prevent any chance of a reunion.

[georgygirl]

Well Al, maybe you don't have the need to discount Sting, good for you, but is different from me.

I liked Sting when he was with Police, even in his first solo works, but after that, I disappointed to much about his music.

What can I do?

I see Sting is very good playing bass, but I don't like his music anymore, for me it turned into mediocre, very commercial, no new musical proposals and also saw he turned into a media darling like JL said.

Well being honest, I never saw him like that until JL made its reflection, and yes, is a very good statement for me to identify and establish Sting's new personality.

I think Sting really remembers when he was with Police with good memories and emotions, no matter what he said about he doesn't wants to live in past and things like those.

He also loves to play Police songs in his concerts, which are real and prove facts.

I think the reason he doesn't want to play old songs with his Police pals is that maybe he has fears. In a possible future joint, maybe he has the fear to face that Stewart is now better musician than him.

But I don't think he is worry about fans opinion; he maybe has fears about specialize music critics. I think that is why he doesn't wants to play Police songs with his expals.

He really loves to live in past, to remember when the trio are equal in the musical reaches of its members. Do you understand what I mean?

Anyway, I really liked Sting work with Police, not in the same intensity in which I like the work of Stewart with Police, but close.

[zorges]

You cannot compare Sting to Mc. They don't have the same hair colour... Seriously. Sting did write some preatty good songs after The Police. Of course there were a lot of commercial stuff and that's where it hurts 'cause money means a lot to Sting. But you cannot say that his concerts would not survive without police songs. I've been to several of his concerts and the police songs were never my favorites. They sounded like copies of the real thing, and I never enjoyed it. His own songs were much better and I can assure you that a lot of Sting fans on Sting.com doesn't care anymore for "the old band" and the "old songs". On the other hand, he made a lot of non commercial songs that moved me very deeply, so even if we all agree here that he's responsable for the silence of the police there's no need to destroy his work. I like Sting, but I love The Police, the difference will always be there.

[georgygirl]

You are right zorges.
Sting and Paul Mc don't have the same hair color, cause Wrigley's gum spot.
But for me as JL said, they are very similar

[Guest]

"Is Sting the Paul McCartney of his generation?"

I think Sting is a great songwriter and musician but...gimme a break!

Plus, I don't even think Paul McCartney is all that great of a musican/songwriter so the question is entirely irrelevant to me, I guess. In fact, I think Sting is a MUCH BETTER songwriter than McCartney. But, I honestly don't think Sting has as wide of an audience as any of the Beatles ever had.

For instance, I remember I was with a group of guys and gals and someone asked the question..."What singer would you like to have sing you to sleep?" and I answered Sting and all the gals were like, "Oh yeah, ooooh." While all the guys were like, "Oh, brother!" and rolled their eyes with disdain.

So, I tend to think that Sting is more well-liked by women than men.
Whereas, I don't think that men aren't as threatened by Paul McCartney. Plus, McCartney has been singing for a lot longer than Sting has so he's got that huge older audience in addition to the younger one.

[tigress]

Dang it! I logged in and it put me as a guest! This is what I wrote:

"Is Sting the Paul McCartney of his generation?"

I think Sting is a great songwriter and musician but...gimme a break!

Plus, I don't even think Paul McCartney is all that great of a musican/songwriter so the question is entirely irrelevant to me, I guess. In fact, I think Sting is a MUCH BETTER songwriter than McCartney. But, I honestly don't think Sting has as wide of an audience as any of the Beatles ever had.

For instance, I remember I was with a group of guys and gals and someone asked the question..."What singer would you like to have sing you to sleep?" and I answered Sting and all the gals were like, "Oh yeah, ooooh." While all the guys were like, "Oh, brother!" and rolled their eyes with disdain.

So, I tend to think that Sting is more well-liked by women than men.
Whereas, I don't think that men are as threatened by Paul McCartney. Plus, McCartney has been singing for a lot longer than Sting has so he's got that huge older audience in addition to the younger one.

[ChrisD]

regardless of what anyone thinks of Sting.....I agree that he is the Paul McCartney of our generation.....maybe even the John Lennon!!

He's wrote so many hit songs and catchy tunes and he's progressed in many styles of music.One of the only artists that an match his lyrical prowess nowadays would be Noel Gallagher.

[Mrs. Gradenko]

Sting's success has come primarily as a function of the fame he gained from being in the Police, like several other lead singers who have left their original bands for solo careers.

And the same can't be said for Sting and Andy? Oh no that's completly different.

How dare Sting be popular in The Police, AND popular as a solo artist! What a horrible person!

Not that his music is bad, but there is nothing he has put out that would have gotten him noticed from obscurity. Jeez, he got a Grammy for that crappy Desert Rose, for goodness sakes.

You just proved my point! You think they only god music is music, no one's heard of! Your just want to be different, to listen to something no one else knows of, no matter if something else is good aswell.
(Desert Rose is a great song, it's what got me started on Sting...which led me to The Police, and on to Stewart)

By all accounts I've read/heard, Sting is the reason the Police are no more.

Another point proven (thank you). You don't like him, because you think if it wasan't for him The Police would still be together.

Sting has stated that he's not a nostalgic person as a reason for not getting back with the Police. If that were true, he would not play the songs the Police made famous.

He dosen't have to miss The Police days to play the songs, he does it because people want to here them. They are great songs, and deserve to be played!

I say, if he's going to play those songs, why not with the original band?

Get over it! I never got to see them at all...at least you prob got to see them in concert.

Besides, I never said I didn't like Sting. You ASSumed that.

Wow I wonder where I got that idea....how silly of me.

Now Georgy quotes...

In a possible future joint, maybe he has the fear to face that Stewart is now better musician than him.

I think he knows, and we all know ....Stewart is a much better musician that Sting. Like Sting says "that's why I surround my self with much better musicians then myself!"

He really loves to live in past, to remember when the trio are equal in the musical reaches of its members. Do you understand what I mean?

No.

Ok now Zorges quotes...

You cannot compare Sting to Mc. They don't have the same hair colour... Seriously.

That was an adorable answer! But Stew, Sting, and Andy bleached their hair for a Double ment gum comercial (Hey Giovani any chance you could ever put that in the media section?), they all naturally have brown hair.

I've been to several of his concerts and the police songs were never my favorites. They sounded like copies of the real thing, and I never enjoyed it.

I know what you mean. Apart of me was like "yes I finally get to see these songs performed!" then the other part was like....."fuck he jazzed them up!"

His own songs were much better

You mean his solo ones? I wouldn't go that far. I love his solo work, but I could never put it over any Police songs ....well maybe "Canary in a Coal Mine".

Tigress/Guest

So, I tend to think that Sting is more well-liked by women than men.

Well he is very attractive.

Whereas, I don't think that men aren't as threatened by Paul McCartney.

He was never as pretty.


I'm right, JL and Georgygirl are wrong, "So there you go."

[Al]

What a hot discussion...