Sting, who is headlining BBC Radio 2's In The Park event in Preston, Lancashire this evening, has revealed he and Snoop Dogg have been busy in the studio together.
The 72-year-old revealed that his career aim had always been to write "a standard" and he wanted to get into the position where "people just keep performing your songs forever".
Sting was speaking to BBC Radio 2 before his headline set at the station's In The Park event in Preston's Moor Park on Saturday night. When asked if he ever thought he would have the "prolonged career" he has had when he started with The Police, the singer replied: "Somehow we had the confidence that we would, but I've no idea where that came from. It wasn't based on any logic or any research. It just was a feeling."
He added: "My ambition always is to write a song that could become a standard, you know. Standards really were written in the 40s and 50s, so we as songwriters, modern songwriters, try and get into that position where people just keep performing your songs forever, like My Way. Isn't that a great song? I want to write songs like that."
Sting went on to reveal that a collaboration between him and Snoop Dogg, which has seen the rapper rework The Police's Message In A Bottle, would be coming out in November. He said: "Me and Snoop made a recording of Message In A Bottle, which he's called something else. I played the guitar and I sang on it, but Snoop also sings on this, which is quite a revelation to me. He's a very nice man."
The musician also revealed that he had never "got bored" of touring, and added that he "likes playing hits". The Wallsend-born singer added: "I like playing hits, I really do, but you know, it's my job to sing a song I might have written 40 years ago with the same passion, the same curiosity, the same energy as if I'd written it this afternoon, that's my job."
"I always manage to find some little incremental change that I haven't explored before, discovered before that keeps me interested. That's my quest, so you might hear something tonight, might be a mistake."
Sting and Snoop Dogg Collaboration
Sting, who is headlining BBC Radio 2's In The Park event in Preston, Lancashire this evening, has revealed he and Snoop Dogg have been busy in the studio together. Sting revealed this news to BBC Radio 2 before his headline set at the station's In The Park event in Preston's Moor Park on Saturday night. He said: "Me and Snoop made a recording of Message In A Bottle, which he's called something else. I played the guitar and I sang on it, but Snoop also sings on this, which is quite a revelation to me. He's a very nice man." The collaboration will be released in November.
A Prolonged Career
Sting told BBC Radio 2 that he had a “feeling” he would have a “prolonged career” when starting out with The Police. He explained that his career aim had always been to write “a standard” and he wanted to get into the position where “people just keep performing your songs forever”.
Sting said: "Somehow we had the confidence that we would, but I've no idea where that came from. It wasn't based on any logic or any research. It just was a feeling." This feeling has certainly proven to be accurate as Sting has enjoyed a successful career spanning decades. He has achieved global success with The Police and as a solo artist, earning numerous awards and accolades.
The Quest for a Standard
Sting continued, revealing his ambition: “My ambition always is to write a song that could become a standard, you know. Standards really were written in the 40s and 50s, so we as songwriters, modern songwriters, try and get into that position where people just keep performing your songs forever, like My Way. Isn't that a great song? I want to write songs like that." He believes that creating music that endures is a challenge for modern songwriters and that he strives to achieve this timeless quality with his work.
The Never-Ending Tour
Sting also shared that he has never “got bored” of touring, and that he “likes playing hits”. He believes it is important to maintain a sense of passion and energy when performing songs that have been around for decades. He said: "I like playing hits, I really do, but you know, it's my job to sing a song I might have written 40 years ago with the same passion, the same curiosity, the same energy as if I'd written it this afternoon, that's my job." To keep things fresh, he always seeks to find some little incremental change in his performance that he has not explored before. Sting’s commitment to his craft is evident in his dedication to performing with the same vigor as when he first started, regardless of the age of the song.
Sting's In The Park Performance
Sting is set to headline BBC Radio 2's In The Park event in Preston's Moor Park this evening. The event features performances from Manic Street Preachers, Snow Patrol, Sting and the Pet Shop Boys, and is expected to attract more than 60,000 music fans. It will be interesting to see how Sting brings his unique blend of rock, pop, and jazz to the stage at this eagerly anticipated event.
Sting's Legacy: A Standard for Future Generations
Through his work with The Police and as a solo artist, Sting has earned a place among music’s most influential figures. He has not only entertained generations with his music but has also inspired aspiring artists to pursue their musical dreams. Perhaps Sting’s most valuable legacy is not just the music he has created but the impact it has had on the music industry as a whole. He has shown the world that a career in music can be both challenging and rewarding, and that with passion, dedication, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible.
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