There are a few entertainers in the world today who are living legends. One such entertainer is a man named Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, who you probably know as Sting, the former lead singer of The Police and a solo artist who has received acclaim and accolades in his own right. Born the son of a milkman in 1951, Sting left his British shipyard legacy to become one of the greatest entertainers who has ever lived. Sting has won 17 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and ever four Oscar nominations for Best Original Song. He has also been honored with the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire recognition, presented to him by Queen Elizabeth.
Besides Sting’s sheer excellence as an entertainer, he is also famous in the entertainment world for something else and something even rarer: a long and successful marriage. In 1992, Sting married film producer and actress Trudie Styler. They have four children together and have built an enormous philanthropic presence together. They have famously said that they won’t be leaving their immense fortune to their children. The couple says they’re going to spend all of their money, and a lot of the money goes to support the many causes that are near to their hearts. When Sting and Trudie celebrated 27 years of marriage, they had an annual party at their company’s farm shop. At the party, Sting picks up his guitar, sits down on a stool, and starts giving an impromptu mini-concert, to the delight of his guests.
He starts his impromptu performance with The Police’s mega-hit “Roxanne,” but he sings it in a slow ballad style. At one point, the group of friends at the party starts singing “Roxanne” with him, and it’s incredible. While he’s singing, the camera zooms over to the bar to show a zillion bottles of wine and champagne. After “Roxanne,” Sting transitions to a more upbeat song, “Englishman in New York.” When Sting is finished with “Englishman in New York,” a friend with a gold flute joins him, saying he’s going to play Mozart’s “Flight of the Bumblebee” in one breath and it seems that he does it! What a surprising and unexpected performance of something totally unique and fun. Sting appears positively astonished at his friend’s ability to hit these high notes and never take a breath. Once this incredible flute performance is over, Stink starts strumming his guitar again and begins to croon “Every Breath You Take,” another hit by The Police. As he did with “Roxanne,” he turned the edgy song into a ballad. The song takes on the tone of an anthem as Sting’s guests sing the chorus with him.
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It’s amazing to see this living legend sing as beautifully in an impromptu backyard concert just as perfectly as he does in a recording studio with lots of advanced equipment. Enjoy this rare informal performance.
