I feel like Sting is hugely underrated in the US as a songwriter. He and The Police have some really iconic music. Also, fun fact, Chinchilla has opened for him.
Fun fact of the day. This song was written about Quentin Crisp who was an openly gay English man when it was dangerous to be so, he was an author/actor (amongst other things) and wrote The Naked Civil Servant. He (Crisp) moved to New York when he was 80. The title of the song was later used as the title for a biographical film about Crisp's life. AFAIK Sting and Crisp were friends before Crisp's death in 1999. Edit: Just remembered that Crisp is in this music video.
The song was written by Sting about Quentin Crisp, (he appears in some of the cutaways in this video wearing a hat). Quentin was an English raconteur, whose work in the public eye included a memoir of his life and various media appearances. Before becoming well-known, he was an artist's model, hence the title of his most famous work, The Naked Civil Servant.
There was a film made of Mr Crisp's life I recall from the seventies (?). From what I recall it referred to him deciding not to cover up his homosexuality - illegal back then - and live his life as an openly gay man. Must have made some sort of impression, as i recognised him in the clips.
For all that is wrong w the interalgobotwebs... this is waht is right. I thank you for the rabbit holes and the wisdom. I sincerely am grateful. ... and now need to rummage for a few hours. Peace, Love, Joy!
Thanks for the reaction, guys! Sting is a mean lyricist. This song is about Quentin Crisp, who was, as they say on wiki -"the gay legend of his time"... He is the grey haired gentleman in the video.
Sting's "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)" has to be one of the most emotional protest songs (at least in English). Learning about Chilean women dancing the Cueca, alone with photographs of their disappeared loved ones in their hands, was eye-opening, and introduced me to the Chilean dictator Pinochet's regime who killed thousands. "It's the only form of protest they're allowed I've seen their silent faces scream so loud If they were to speak these words they'd go missing too Another woman on a torture table What else can they do? They're dancing with the missing They're dancing with the dead They dance with the invisible ones Their anguish is unsaid They're dancing with their fathers They're dancing with their sons They're dancing with their husbands They dance alone."
I can't believe you guys have not heard this song! One of my favourites of his. Sting and his group The Police were amazing; standing out in an era when the charts were fought over by the likes of Queen, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran, etc.. Every week was a plethora of fantastic music and these guys were in the thick of it. Other songs to check out from Sting are Russians (still relevant today unfortunately even though it came out at the height of the cold war), Fragile, Wrapped Around Your Finger and Fields of Gold. For The Police I suggest Message in a Bottle, Every Breath You Take and Roxanne.
He’s a “legal alien” and that sweet jazz sax is being played by Branford Marsalis 🤗 Sting is a great lyricist with an amazing voice! Thanks for doing both songs; that’s great for folks who have never heard it! ✌🏻🫶🏻
Sting is one of the greatest lyricists of a generation. His songs prompt us to take stock of our humanity. Some favorites are "Fragile", "Be Still My Beating Heart", "The Shape of My Heart", "Russians", and "Fields of Gold".
Also to add to your Quadrophenia discussion, Quadrophenia was an album by The Who. The Who did concept albums and that album was one of them and the film was a screen adaptation of the album. It was the Mods vs the Rockers, you had the Mods who rode Lambrettas and Vespas etc and the Rockers rode motorbikes and both we a subculture or youth in the 60’s The Mods were fashionable and dressed well in suits etc and were clean shaven and short hair a bit like the hair you get with your standard Lego man, lol, and they listened to Jazz, Soul, Ska and Motown music whereas the Rockers looked your typical rocker that you would see riding a motorcycle, your leather jacket, white t-shirt, your Danny Zuko from Grease type look with the quiff hairstyle and they listened to rock and roll and R&B. So think early Elvis for the Mods and late Elvis for the Rockers. As for the perception of the fights, the media blew it up to be something more than it actually was, even back then the media was sensationalising things to the point it added fuel to the fire a bit like they do with black vs white in the media today which is what exacerbates the issue and then that caused it to essentially come to a head in Brighton in 1964 which is what is depicted in Quadrophenia and will be the footage Ren sent you. I have friends who were involved in both sides and were involved in the Brighton fight and heard the stories, it was almost 2 decades before I was born so I didn’t experience it myself but the were the ones who first told me about it and it was essentially just two groups of young men who were into their music and their subculture and were a bit tribal about it, they were growing up during the post WWII era and it was an unprecedented time of change in the UK and the youth were finding ways to blow off steam as the youth do, you had football hooliganism with the sports fans and this was basically the music’s version of the football hooliganism but for some reason the media made it out to be something way more than it was and in doing so caused it to become a bigger thing as they pitted one side against the other and we all know what effect that has, especially with the youth who are discovering their place in the world and wanting to be part of something, in with a group, to be cool and get your leg over, a ticking you know what that only needs a bit of gasoline thrown onto the situation to make it go up and the media were the ones throwing the gasoline on the fire.
If you want to understand Ren's influences you should do a deep dive on the Police. They were huge and influential, and you can still hear it in some of Ren's music. You two have a big hole in your musical knowledge without listening to the Police. Some great tunes. P.s. there was no internet in '87, Black P!
You need to hit the original Walking on the Moon (drummer Stewart Copeland puts on an absolute high-hat clinic), Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, Message in a Bottle, Synchronicity II, De Do Do Do, and many, many more! The Police were smash hit machines.
Love sting 100% I’m 52 and I grew up on listening to sting, men at work my favorite and Toto, love them all, please do some men at work if you have not.
Sting used to hang out with adut Jazz musicians as a teen. When he was fifteen,he was wearing a vertical yellow and black striped sweater,and, they thought it made him look like a hornet, hence,the nickname 'Sting'.
Hey BP! I'm glad you decided to come listen to this one first. One of the things I've started doing is searching out Ren's mixes, nods and samples when don't recognize it. I've actually been learning quite a bit about rap history in the process and it's been fascinating. I've been more into hard rock/alternative for most of my life so this has been an education in music appreciation.
i love the synchronicity of this one - Don mentioned his first gig (he must have been very young) being The Clash, an English institution of a band. my first gig was Bowie, another English musical institution, who i saw in 1987 when i was 12... the same year this song was released 😎🤘 Respect & Peace ☘
Great reaction. I got to watch Sting with the same lineup as this video. I watched them run through a full set when preparing to play in San Antonio, TX, in March of 1988. I was checking out the auditorium before work. Branford (sax) and Omar (drums) came out and started matching rifs. Then Sting came out and scatted with them. Then the rest came out, and they started their rehearsal. I was the only person sitting in the theater. I was supposed to be setting up the bar I was working at, but I couldn't get myself to walk out.
I went to a Police concert in New Zealand. I will never forget it. One of the best, although it was in the 70's so I was quite high. :) Stewart Copeland got held up at customs coming into Christchurch and he came cartwheeling onto the stage a bit late. haha. From my memory, I think it was Stewart (drummer) anyhow the music was incredible.
You are correct, Nas did sample a Sting song for The Message, he even sampled his own song N.Y State of Mind, something to return full circle to this song. The Sting song sampled in The Message is Shape of My Heart
If you enjoyed Quadrophenia then check out another cult British classic film with Sting in it "Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels". It's VERY different to The Who's classic, it isn't based on any historical events specifically, but it is a brilliant film that reflects actually fairly accurately British gangsters, particularly in the 90's, in a really fun, humorous way. It's the film which made Guy Ritchie famous, and established Vinnie Jones as an actor
Uhh... I hav been looking forward to this... Sting (amazing voice, amazing lyrics) - and afterwards Ren and The Big Push ❤🙏🔥 What will be great was if you guys could take a look at another song with Sting. From when he was in The police - and the song Every breath you take. I would like to hear your interpretation of it
Great to see you react to this. If you check out Black Eyed Peas, Union - you'll hear pieces of this in there... the sax is right at the beginning and Sting appears towards to end.
After seeing your expression about "don't stand so close to me" you have to remember Sting was a school teacher first with huge talent for music in Newcastle UK. His wife Trudy was his childhood sweet heart if I remember correctly. He wrote "Fields of Gold" about when they used to bunk off school and Lay in the rape seed fields .. Love that song. Ray K UK YNWA.
After working as a bus conductor, building labourer, and tax officer, he attended the Northern Counties College of Education (now Northumbria University) from 1971 to 1974 and qualified as a teacher. He taught at St Paul's First School in Cramlington for two years before he got into the music game. In the lyrics he says I'm a legal Alien.
This was a movie theme for a documentary movie about Quinton Crisp, a gay English man who had lived most of his life in New York ,he became notable as a true english eccentric.
Quadrophenia "A Way of Life" released in 1979 is THE classic Mod movie based on the 60s Mods & Rockers culture here in the UK and features some of our most iconic actors/artists, including Sting (as the bellboy), cult hero Phil Daniels (as Jimmy, the main character) and everyone's favourite geezer Ray Winstone. The soundtrack mostly features tracks by The Who, (it was their concept, the original Rock Opera being produced in 1973), plus various soul artists from that era including James Brown. Back in the day watching this movie was a right of passage. RE: Phil Daniels, you need to react to Parklife by Blur - he made a guest appearance on stage to perform this track with the band at the recent Blur gigs in Wembley Stadium, it damned near brought the house down.
The first time that I ever heard Hi-Ren and at the ending where he sang "Cower at the man I become when I sing at the top of my lungs" I thought Woah! that's Sting's voice. At least his range and his sound. Ren however has an amazing tone and color to his voice that you hear in "Chalk Outlines" and "How to Be Me" just for some examples. Just saying...Enjoyed the reaction. ❤❤❤❤
Lyrics Englishman in New York I don't drink coffee, I take tea, my dear I like my toast done on one side And you can hear it in my accent when I talk I'm an Englishman in New York See me walking down Fifth Avenue A walking cane here at my side I take it everywhere I walk I'm an Englishman in New York Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien I'm an Englishman in New York Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien I'm an Englishman in New York If "manners maketh man" as someone said He's the hero of the day It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile Be yourself no matter what they say Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien I'm an Englishman in New York Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien I'm an Englishman in New York Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety You could end up as the only one Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society At night a candle's brighter than the sun Takes more than combat gear to make a man Takes more than a license for a gun Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can A gentleman will walk but never run If "manners maketh man" as someone said He's the hero of the day It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile Be yourself no matter what they say Be yourself no matter what they say Be yourself no matter what they say Be yourself no matter what they say (oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien) Be yourself no matter what they say (I'm an Englishman in New York) Be yourself no matter what they say (oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien) Be yourself no matter what they say (I'm an Englishman in New York) Be yourself no matter what they say (oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien) Be yourself no matter what they say (I'm an Englishman in New York) Be yourself no matter what they say (oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien) Be yourself no matter what they say (I'm an Englishman in New York) Be yourself no matter what they say Songwriter: Gordon Sumner (= Sting), 1987
Stings band for this album (Dream of the Blue Turtles) was all jazz royalty. Branford Marsalis on the Sax. Kenny Kirkland - Keyboards. Daryl Jones - Bass. Omar Hakim - Drums. - was one hell of a concert.
Would be interested to see what Black P would make of "the Clash"...Don obviously knows them so he'll have to keep shtoom and give nothing away...maybe something like "Bankrobber" or "Magnificent 7"
It’s about Quentin Crisp - the older guy in the video - bit of a uk cultural icon. I like Sting and he wrote it but prefer The Big Push’s version - it’s just more fun! 😁 PS I remember the tantric sex interview too! Remember thinking his wife was a lucky woman - not so sure now - it’s a hell of a long time!!!
Black Pegasus, DUDE! Given the current state of affairs with Russia and Ukraine, you NEED to listen to Sting's song "Russians". CRAZY that it would be relavent again after all those years.
Sting wrote this song about Quentin Crisp, writer and gay icone (you can see the eldery man in one of the background shots). Absolutely love this song !!
Upbeat music with a darker message. “Every Breath You Take” is about stalking someone. The Police were amazing as a group, but Sting, Stuart Copeland and Andy Summers have all had ama big careers separately. 🙂
He wrote it about the older Gentleman in the video, Quentin Crisp, having the courage to be who he was, a gay man, in NY, when people were not really out and it was dangerous to be non conformist. Love this song and the meaning! "Takes a Man to suffer ignorance and smile, be yourself, no matter what they say" Amen!
I remember hearing this song for the first time back in school in english class and at first I thought "wtf is this", but after only seconds I really liked it and when the drum part came in, I lost it in class and it felt so epic and everyone looked at me, like I'm crazy. I put it on my mp3 player right after and listened to it a lot. I grew up with metal, rock and some hip hop and this was just so far away from things I listened to and I think it was pretty much the start of me being more open minded to different music. Now I listen to nearly every genre
Quadrophenia was a film version of a Album by The Who..basically about the 1960s culture in the UK when the music of rock n roll was been opposed by groups such as the who, the small faces etc.. whose listeners were referred to as "Mods" ...listen to Some Who, Small faces and the natural progression to The Jam (Paul Weller) and ontowards Oasis etc
What a vocalist Steve Marriot was (RIP) and obviously hated miming so messed around...left to form Humble pie..( listen to Black Coffee) totally down your street.. th-cam.com/video/MnD4LCFkbQk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_zrV-GB7_QptUlZz
My first concert was the police. I was in the sixth grade, and it was the synchronicity tour. I agree with other people that commented Sting and the Police deserve a deep dive.
I went to a pool party as my friends +1 at Stings house as she was friends with Stings daughter (way back when we were 18/19 yrs old) About 12 of us ended up just sleeping on the lawns in sleeping bags (very, very heavy and insane but fun shenanigans night 🫣🤐). We woke early in the morning freezing, and i had the worst seaweed green hair!!! (Chlorine + peroxide bleached hair = HORRENDOUS dark green hair) After everyone stopped laughing at how horrified i was.. Sting actually told me how to fix it, and gave me a bottle of Tomato ketchup, told me to cover my hair with it, leaving it wrapped in a towel for an hour... It worked!!! No green hair after washing the ketchup out... stank like a hot dog for a few hours, though 😂😂😂
Sting was an actual school teacher in England. The song don't stand so close by the Police was based on a true story that Sting went thru as a teacher.The Police is one of the great bands.
Sting actually was a teacher before becoming a music egend!! Seen him 3 times here and he is simply incredible! FYI - Sting wrote the song about the famous eccentric and gay icon Quentin Crisp, who is the "Englishman" of the title. You seem him in the video.....looks like an old woman. The song was composed not long after Crisp had moved from London to an apartment in the Bowery in Manhattan. ☮️❤️Sea Point, Cape Town
check out message in bottle which i interpret as as alcoholic screaming for help. (might not be). roxanne is arguably his most famous song after Englishman. and like said dont stand so close me. sting was actually a teacher before he became famous
Sting is saying "I'm a legal alien." You should check out Sting and Shaggy Tiny Desk Concert doing this song. They're fantastic together. As a teenager The Police were the first well known band I ever saw live. They were brilliant 😊
You should listen to "Don't stand so close to me" They did two 1980 / 1986 versions go with the original. The Police is the greatest "Reggae Rock" band ever.
If you've ever seen the old Stephen King film 'Cat's Eye' a Police song 'Every Breath You Take' is in the soundtrack. Dark song, dark movie, perfect fit, I dunno why but it always stuck in my head & jumped in again when you guys were talking about old movies!
I'm so sorry you have had to grow up in your life without the songs of The Police in your head!!! 'Don't stand so close to me' should be your next one by them ❤❤❤❤❤
That’s what the movie “Gangs of New York” was also about, it is about a real time in America where different gangs in New York fought and killed each other in the streets. One of the greatest movies ever made and the acting in it is truly unbelievable.
A musician friend of mine came up with the Police. He disliked them intensely (mostly Stewart Copeland for an unknown reason) & said even though they were talented, he just couldn’t ever listen to them. This was in the 90s & he was still holding a grudge after 20+ years. 😂 💜
I drove around almost 20 years ago singing this song with slightly adjusted lyrics. I'm from England and have live in the US for around 20 years. The day my green card came in the mail, I drove around singing this but replaced the New York with the name of my town that rhymes with it.
Sting is one of the most influential musicians ever, you guys should definitely go back and check out the police, Stewart Copeland is by far my favorite drummer of all time. I suggest starting with message in a bottle, it’s about depression, and complete loneliness and realizing, there’s a lot of people that feel just like you
I feel like Sting is hugely underrated in the US as a songwriter. He and The Police have some really iconic music. Also, fun fact, Chinchilla has opened for him.
Nah, he is/was HUGE in the US.
@@NoCanDuyeah basically underrated NOW .
So huge in the US his wife appeared as his wife in Friends.
Listen to the Police album 'Reggatta de Blanc' which means white reggae. You will love the vibe.
Not under rated by me. Cheers.
Fun fact of the day. This song was written about Quentin Crisp who was an openly gay English man when it was dangerous to be so, he was an author/actor (amongst other things) and wrote The Naked Civil Servant. He (Crisp) moved to New York when he was 80. The title of the song was later used as the title for a biographical film about Crisp's life. AFAIK Sting and Crisp were friends before Crisp's death in 1999.
Edit: Just remembered that Crisp is in this music video.
TIL. One of my favorite songs of his and I always thought it was about him moving to New York after the Police broke up, kind of like John Lennon.
@@lez0nthat is exactly what I thought! I am glad to be set straight with this fun fact. One of the few times the real story is better….
Thank you for the info!!!!
Crisp referred to himself as 'the stately homo of England'. Stately homes are the homes of the English aristocracy - think Downtown Abbey)
Yes, Sting and Crisp were friends. They got to know one another on the set of the 1985 movie The Bride, which they were both in.
The song was written by Sting about Quentin Crisp, (he appears in some of the cutaways in this video wearing a hat). Quentin was an English raconteur, whose work in the public eye included a memoir of his life and various media appearances. Before becoming well-known, he was an artist's model, hence the title of his most famous work, The Naked Civil Servant.
Love this/ Thank you!
There was a film made of Mr Crisp's life I recall from the seventies (?). From what I recall it referred to him deciding not to cover up his homosexuality - illegal back then - and live his life as an openly gay man. Must have made some sort of impression, as i recognised him in the clips.
@@gordowg1wg145 'The Naked Civil Servant' with John Hurt playing Quentin.
For all that is wrong w the interalgobotwebs... this is waht is right. I thank you for the rabbit holes and the wisdom. I sincerely am grateful. ... and now need to rummage for a few hours. Peace, Love, Joy!
@@PeteFindsObscureStuff
That was it, thank you - been a fair while, so not surprised I mis-remembered it..
Stig's lyric's are actually "Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien", not illegal. lol
"Just what i was hearing." Well pointed out.
Thanks for the reaction, guys! Sting is a mean lyricist. This song is about Quentin Crisp, who was, as they say on wiki -"the gay legend of his time"... He is the grey haired gentleman in the video.
Sting's "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)" has to be one of the most emotional protest songs (at least in English). Learning about Chilean women dancing the Cueca, alone with photographs of their disappeared loved ones in their hands, was eye-opening, and introduced me to the Chilean dictator Pinochet's regime who killed thousands.
"It's the only form of protest they're allowed
I've seen their silent faces scream so loud
If they were to speak these words they'd go missing too
Another woman on a torture table
What else can they do?
They're dancing with the missing
They're dancing with the dead
They dance with the invisible ones
Their anguish is unsaid
They're dancing with their fathers
They're dancing with their sons
They're dancing with their husbands
They dance alone."
Superb song, even better when you learn Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) amd Eric Clapton featured on it
I can't believe you guys have not heard this song! One of my favourites of his. Sting and his group The Police were amazing; standing out in an era when the charts were fought over by the likes of Queen, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran, etc.. Every week was a plethora of fantastic music and these guys were in the thick of it. Other songs to check out from Sting are Russians (still relevant today unfortunately even though it came out at the height of the cold war), Fragile, Wrapped Around Your Finger and Fields of Gold. For The Police I suggest Message in a Bottle, Every Breath You Take and Roxanne.
You mean Stewart Copeland’s band that featured Sting? 😊
Ren references Roxanne in Losing It
@@lez0n LOL, I referred to it this way bc they probably wouldn't know what I was talking about otherwise 😅
@@lez0nSomeone had to say it!
…and Fragile ☺️
He’s a “legal alien” and that sweet jazz sax is being played by Branford Marsalis 🤗 Sting is a great lyricist with an amazing voice! Thanks for doing both songs; that’s great for folks who have never heard it! ✌🏻🫶🏻
Thanks for confirming my thought on the sax. Saw Marsalis once when he was fronting Buckshot LeFunk.
Branford Marsalis appeared on stage with him at Live Aid, amazing sax player!
Small mistake: he's not the alien, but Quentin Crisp who appears in the video walking. Make a search with that name.
Every track on Dream of the Blue Turtles has Branford on it.
Sting is one of the greatest lyricists of a generation. His songs prompt us to take stock of our humanity. Some favorites are "Fragile", "Be Still My Beating Heart", "The Shape of My Heart", "Russians", and "Fields of Gold".
Also to add to your Quadrophenia discussion, Quadrophenia was an album by The Who.
The Who did concept albums and that album was one of them and the film was a screen adaptation of the album.
It was the Mods vs the Rockers, you had the Mods who rode Lambrettas and Vespas etc and the Rockers rode motorbikes and both we a subculture or youth in the 60’s
The Mods were fashionable and dressed well in suits etc and were clean shaven and short hair a bit like the hair you get with your standard Lego man, lol, and they listened to Jazz, Soul, Ska and Motown music whereas the Rockers looked your typical rocker that you would see riding a motorcycle, your leather jacket, white t-shirt, your Danny Zuko from Grease type look with the quiff hairstyle and they listened to rock and roll and R&B.
So think early Elvis for the Mods and late Elvis for the Rockers.
As for the perception of the fights, the media blew it up to be something more than it actually was, even back then the media was sensationalising things to the point it added fuel to the fire a bit like they do with black vs white in the media today which is what exacerbates the issue and then that caused it to essentially come to a head in Brighton in 1964 which is what is depicted in Quadrophenia and will be the footage Ren sent you.
I have friends who were involved in both sides and were involved in the Brighton fight and heard the stories, it was almost 2 decades before I was born so I didn’t experience it myself but the were the ones who first told me about it and it was essentially just two groups of young men who were into their music and their subculture and were a bit tribal about it, they were growing up during the post WWII era and it was an unprecedented time of change in the UK and the youth were finding ways to blow off steam as the youth do, you had football hooliganism with the sports fans and this was basically the music’s version of the football hooliganism but for some reason the media made it out to be something way more than it was and in doing so caused it to become a bigger thing as they pitted one side against the other and we all know what effect that has, especially with the youth who are discovering their place in the world and wanting to be part of something, in with a group, to be cool and get your leg over, a ticking you know what that only needs a bit of gasoline thrown onto the situation to make it go up and the media were the ones throwing the gasoline on the fire.
I am so in for reactions to Sting and the Police! Can't wait to see what you react to next!
I rocked The Police on vinyl as a youngin’ in the 80’s. You should definitely do more 80’s songs!! Such great music from that era.
If you want to understand Ren's influences you should do a deep dive on the Police. They were huge and influential, and you can still hear it in some of Ren's music. You two have a big hole in your musical knowledge without listening to the Police. Some great tunes. P.s. there was no internet in '87, Black P!
Bang on... His vocal style is massively influenced by Sting.
the reggaeton is front forward and gorgeous
@@djfozziyep, as a huge Sting/ Police fan in the 80s/90s, it was one of the first things I picked up in REN’s music.
The smooth jazz followed by hard beats shows the clash of the refined englishman in a harsh new york, making him feel like a legal alien
You will both know The Police from 'Every Breath You Take' which was used by Puffy to remember Biggy
You need to hit the original Walking on the Moon (drummer Stewart Copeland puts on an absolute high-hat clinic), Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, Message in a Bottle, Synchronicity II, De Do Do Do, and many, many more! The Police were smash hit machines.
Love sting 100% I’m 52 and I grew up on listening to sting, men at work my favorite and Toto, love them all, please do some men at work if you have not.
Sting used to hang out with adut Jazz musicians as a teen.
When he was fifteen,he was wearing a vertical yellow and black striped sweater,and, they thought it made him look like a hornet,
hence,the nickname 'Sting'.
Hey BP! I'm glad you decided to come listen to this one first. One of the things I've started doing is searching out Ren's mixes, nods and samples when don't recognize it. I've actually been learning quite a bit about rap history in the process and it's been fascinating. I've been more into hard rock/alternative for most of my life so this has been an education in music appreciation.
The old guy is Quentin Crisp immortalised by John Hurt in the film A naked civil servant.
i love the synchronicity of this one - Don mentioned his first gig (he must have been very young) being The Clash, an English institution of a band. my first gig was Bowie, another English musical institution, who i saw in 1987 when i was 12... the same year this song was released 😎🤘
Respect & Peace ☘
Quentin Crisp authored the classic book. The naked civil servant
The video features well known Englishman gay icon Quentin Crisp.
Also famed for NEVER dusting his home
Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level. It's cheaper.
My favourite quote from him and my motto
Great reaction. I got to watch Sting with the same lineup as this video. I watched them run through a full set when preparing to play in San Antonio, TX, in March of 1988. I was checking out the auditorium before work. Branford (sax) and Omar (drums) came out and started matching rifs. Then Sting came out and scatted with them. Then the rest came out, and they started their rehearsal. I was the only person sitting in the theater.
I was supposed to be setting up the bar I was working at, but I couldn't get myself to walk out.
I went to a Police concert in New Zealand. I will never forget it. One of the best, although it was in the 70's so I was quite high. :) Stewart Copeland got held up at customs coming into Christchurch and he came cartwheeling onto the stage a bit late. haha. From my memory, I think it was Stewart (drummer) anyhow the music was incredible.
Brandon Marsalis sax,Police,Sting..My generation. Ren...cultur music, english classic..epic Sting,epic Ren and Big push.❤❤ Thank you from Italy guys❤
BP, you should check out the shinehead cover of this from the early 90s Jamaican in New York
Thank you for this reaction. You just confirmed my preference for Ren's cover!
I’m glad you did this version first because I haven’t heard it in a long time and the big push killed it
Sting is a fantastic storyteller. "Shape of my heart" is another one of his songs worth listening to.
You are correct, Nas did sample a Sting song for The Message, he even sampled his own song N.Y State of Mind, something to return full circle to this song.
The Sting song sampled in The Message is Shape of My Heart
If you enjoyed Quadrophenia then check out another cult British classic film with Sting in it "Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels". It's VERY different to The Who's classic, it isn't based on any historical events specifically, but it is a brilliant film that reflects actually fairly accurately British gangsters, particularly in the 90's, in a really fun, humorous way. It's the film which made Guy Ritchie famous, and established Vinnie Jones as an actor
What a great mix up with ur normal content! Sting is one of the all time greats -- awesome reaction!
Really dig your reaction to this song/video....a great message...ever lasting words of wisdom
Sting is a legend and icon AND musical genius.
I love this man. He is such an amazing and diverse artist.
"Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a LEGAL alien
I'm an Englishman in New York"
Uhh... I hav been looking forward to this... Sting (amazing voice, amazing lyrics) - and afterwards Ren and The Big Push ❤🙏🔥
What will be great was if you guys could take a look at another song with Sting. From when he was in The police - and the song Every breath you take. I would like to hear your interpretation of it
Bed's Too Big Without You. That's a banger!
*helenajrgensen3157*
Yes completely agree in recommending The Police's 'Every Breath You Take' to anyone who has never heard it before.
Great to see you react to this.
If you check out Black Eyed Peas, Union - you'll hear pieces of this in there... the sax is right at the beginning and Sting appears towards to end.
Thank you guys for diving into some ren retake originals❣🙏🍀 inspiration origins!
He is masterful! He will blow your mind every time!
After seeing your expression about "don't stand so close to me" you have to remember Sting was a school teacher first with huge talent for music in Newcastle UK. His wife Trudy was his childhood sweet heart if I remember correctly. He wrote "Fields of Gold" about when they used to bunk off school and Lay in the rape seed fields .. Love that song. Ray K UK YNWA.
After working as a bus conductor, building labourer, and tax officer, he attended the Northern Counties College of Education (now Northumbria University) from 1971 to 1974 and qualified as a teacher. He taught at St Paul's First School in Cramlington for two years before he got into the music game. In the lyrics he says I'm a legal Alien.
Yeeeees, Sting, thank you so much 🥹🥹
This was a movie theme for a documentary movie about Quinton Crisp, a gay English man who had lived most of his life in New York ,he became notable as a true english eccentric.
Thank you for this info
Super interesting hearing this connection. When I first heard HiRen I thought of Sting.
The Police were my band since 1979 & i’ve them once but seen Sting in concert so many times, please react to both the band & Stings solo work 🎶❤️🙏
Sting is a Beast. Watch his Ted Talks about how he hit the wall when music suddenly failed him.
Quadrophenia "A Way of Life" released in 1979 is THE classic Mod movie based on the 60s Mods & Rockers culture here in the UK and features some of our most iconic actors/artists, including Sting (as the bellboy), cult hero Phil Daniels (as Jimmy, the main character) and everyone's favourite geezer Ray Winstone. The soundtrack mostly features tracks by The Who, (it was their concept, the original Rock Opera being produced in 1973), plus various soul artists from that era including James Brown.
Back in the day watching this movie was a right of passage.
RE: Phil Daniels, you need to react to Parklife by Blur - he made a guest appearance on stage to perform this track with the band at the recent Blur gigs in Wembley Stadium, it damned near brought the house down.
Sting is the best every breath you take
The first time that I ever heard Hi-Ren and at the ending where he sang "Cower at the man I become when I sing at the top of my lungs" I thought Woah! that's Sting's voice. At least his range and his sound. Ren however has an amazing tone and color to his voice that you hear in "Chalk Outlines" and "How to Be Me" just for some examples. Just saying...Enjoyed the reaction. ❤❤❤❤
I was a massive Police fan and I thought about Ren‘ singing the same 😅
Really nice to watch you guys do this.💕👍🦇
Lyrics
Englishman in New York
I don't drink coffee, I take tea, my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York
See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York
Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
He's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
He's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say (oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien)
Be yourself no matter what they say (I'm an Englishman in New York)
Be yourself no matter what they say (oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien)
Be yourself no matter what they say (I'm an Englishman in New York)
Be yourself no matter what they say (oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien)
Be yourself no matter what they say (I'm an Englishman in New York)
Be yourself no matter what they say (oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien)
Be yourself no matter what they say (I'm an Englishman in New York)
Be yourself no matter what they say
Songwriter: Gordon Sumner (= Sting), 1987
Stings band for this album (Dream of the Blue Turtles) was all jazz royalty. Branford Marsalis on the Sax. Kenny Kirkland - Keyboards. Daryl Jones - Bass. Omar Hakim - Drums. - was one hell of a concert.
Nope, wrong album, this is from Nothing like the Sun, most of the personnel are the same except Omar Hakim, he was replaced with Manu Katche.
Deep culturing with Sting here. Bravo!
Loved this thank you 💐💐💐
Ohh!! Please do the Police and Sting rabbit hole!! 🙌🏻❤️
If I remember well, Manu Katche was on the drums in this one
Favorite artist of all time
Would be interested to see what Black P would make of "the Clash"...Don obviously knows them so he'll have to keep shtoom and give nothing away...maybe something like "Bankrobber" or "Magnificent 7"
Love The Clash
Blast from the past.. good tunes on that album. Also good in the band The police
It’s about Quentin Crisp - the older guy in the video - bit of a uk cultural icon. I like Sting and he wrote it but prefer The Big Push’s version - it’s just more fun! 😁
PS I remember the tantric sex interview too! Remember thinking his wife was a lucky woman - not so sure now - it’s a hell of a long time!!!
When I was in 6th grade, Don’t Stand so Close to Me was a hit and the kids at school used to sing it about a stinky classmate. 🤷🏼♀️
This is the best reaction chanel in my opinion,
Black Pegasus, DUDE! Given the current state of affairs with Russia and Ukraine, you NEED to listen to Sting's song "Russians". CRAZY that it would be relavent again after all those years.
Truth!
Sting wrote this song about Quentin Crisp, writer and gay icone (you can see the eldery man in one of the background shots). Absolutely love this song !!
Shape of my heart by sting 👌
Upbeat music with a darker message. “Every Breath You Take” is about stalking someone. The Police were amazing as a group, but Sting, Stuart Copeland and Andy Summers have all had ama big careers separately. 🙂
I like the format that this guys react on...
He wrote it about the older Gentleman in the video, Quentin Crisp, having the courage to be who he was, a gay man, in NY, when people were not really out and it was dangerous to be non conformist. Love this song and the meaning! "Takes a Man to suffer ignorance and smile, be yourself, no matter what they say" Amen!
I remember hearing this song for the first time back in school in english class and at first I thought "wtf is this", but after only seconds I really liked it and when the drum part came in, I lost it in class and it felt so epic and everyone looked at me, like I'm crazy. I put it on my mp3 player right after and listened to it a lot. I grew up with metal, rock and some hip hop and this was just so far away from things I listened to and I think it was pretty much the start of me being more open minded to different music. Now I listen to nearly every genre
If you ever get into Sting, pleaseeeeeeee do Shape of my heart, lyricism at its finest👏
So many great Sting/Police tracks. A personal later fav of mine is "Fields of Gold." "Bed's Too Big Without You" might be my fav Police track.
the base line on beds too big is just the best
Just the intro is so nice! Oh, I spoke too soon Sting.
Quadrophenia was a film version of a Album by The Who..basically about the 1960s culture in the UK when the music of rock n roll was been opposed by groups such as the who, the small faces etc.. whose listeners were referred to as "Mods" ...listen to Some Who, Small faces and the natural progression to The Jam (Paul Weller) and ontowards Oasis etc
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What a vocalist Steve Marriot was (RIP) and obviously hated miming so messed around...left to form Humble pie..( listen to Black Coffee) totally down your street..
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Yeah, the 80's was full of upbeat tunes with dark lyrics.
Omg I love this song!
Sting is amazing and has had a huge career!
My first concert was the police. I was in the sixth grade, and it was the synchronicity tour. I agree with other people that commented Sting and the Police deserve a deep dive.
Check out the little desk concerts. Sting does the same song with shaggy. It’s awesome.
I went to a pool party as my friends +1 at Stings house as she was friends with Stings daughter (way back when we were 18/19 yrs old)
About 12 of us ended up just sleeping on the lawns in sleeping bags (very, very heavy and insane but fun shenanigans night 🫣🤐). We woke early in the morning freezing, and i had the worst seaweed green hair!!!
(Chlorine + peroxide bleached hair = HORRENDOUS dark green hair)
After everyone stopped laughing at how horrified i was.. Sting actually told me how to fix it, and gave me a bottle of Tomato ketchup, told me to cover my hair with it, leaving it wrapped in a towel for an hour... It worked!!! No green hair after washing the ketchup out... stank like a hot dog for a few hours, though 😂😂😂
🤣
Sting was an actual school teacher in England. The song don't stand so close by the Police was based on a true story that Sting went thru as a teacher.The Police is one of the great bands.
I suspected that,actually.
Yes but the girl was after him, not the other way around Ron 😮😂❤
Sting actually was a teacher before becoming a music egend!! Seen him 3 times here and he is simply incredible! FYI - Sting wrote the song about the famous eccentric and gay icon Quentin Crisp, who is the "Englishman" of the title. You seem him in the video.....looks like an old woman. The song was composed not long after Crisp had moved from London to an apartment in the Bowery in Manhattan. ☮️❤️Sea Point, Cape Town
Consider me gone. One of my faves.
check out message in bottle which i interpret as as alcoholic screaming for help. (might not be). roxanne is arguably his most famous song after Englishman. and like said dont stand so close me. sting was actually a teacher before he became famous
Sting is saying "I'm a legal alien." You should check out Sting and Shaggy Tiny Desk Concert doing this song. They're fantastic together.
As a teenager The Police were the first well known band I ever saw live. They were brilliant 😊
Quadrophenia.. That was a great film. My own Dad was caught up in the 60's Mod v Rockers thing. It was a serious thing for a while.
Please do more Sting and Police reactions 😊 Would love to see a reaction to Angel Eyes Sting 🙏🏼
My fav Sting songs are 'It's Probably Me' and 'Desert Rose'.
Nothing Like the Sun is such a great album, are so many others of his.
You should listen to "Don't stand so close to me" They did two 1980 / 1986 versions go with the original. The Police is the greatest "Reggae Rock" band ever.
If you've ever seen the old Stephen King film 'Cat's Eye' a Police song 'Every Breath You Take' is in the soundtrack. Dark song, dark movie, perfect fit, I dunno why but it always stuck in my head & jumped in again when you guys were talking about old movies!
I'm so sorry you have had to grow up in your life without the songs of The Police in your head!!! 'Don't stand so close to me' should be your next one by them ❤❤❤❤❤
That’s what the movie “Gangs of New York” was also about, it is about a real time in America where different gangs in New York fought and killed each other in the streets. One of the greatest movies ever made and the acting in it is truly unbelievable.
Three icons in one video!
A musician friend of mine came up with the Police. He disliked them intensely (mostly Stewart Copeland for an unknown reason) & said even though they were talented, he just couldn’t ever listen to them. This was in the 90s & he was still holding a grudge after 20+ years. 😂 💜
I drove around almost 20 years ago singing this song with slightly adjusted lyrics. I'm from England and have live in the US for around 20 years. The day my green card came in the mail, I drove around singing this but replaced the New York with the name of my town that rhymes with it.
Pretty sure that’s Branford Marsalis on sax.
Sting feat Eric Clapton "It's Probably me" is probably my favorite.
Sting is one of the most influential musicians ever, you guys should definitely go back and check out the police, Stewart Copeland is by far my favorite drummer of all time. I suggest starting with message in a bottle, it’s about depression, and complete loneliness and realizing, there’s a lot of people that feel just like you
Sting is singing 'legal' alien he worked in the US I think and Stuart Copeland a fellow band member
of the police id American...