His Luteness, Sting

Ouch. Dude. I watched the whole thing.

Billy Joel Reamed

Ron Rosenbaum at Slate just tore Billy Joel a new one. I mean, he really goes off on the guy:

"Billy Joel, they can't stand you because of your music; because of your stupid, smug attitude; because of the way you ripped off your betters to produce music that rarely reaches the level even of mediocrity. You could dress completely au courant and people would still loathe your lame lyrics.

It's not that they dislike anything exterior about you. They dislike you because of who you really are inside. They dislike you for being you. At a certain point, consistent, aggressive badness justifies profound hostility. They hate you just the way you are."

Ouch! And to think I was hard on Sting. Slate has done this kind of thing before. I hope they don't ever do Bono like this.

Update: This picture is on page 1 in Google search, credit should go to www.ShowBizIreland.com
I get a ton of hits on this, BJ fans are great! Don't let that article get you down, it was so bad it was funny.

Sting: Re-ASS-essed by Slate

"Sting may have given the Police lyrics and melodies; but just as critically, (Stuart) Copeland, who founded the band and whose intricately manic polyrhythms define its sound, prevented Sting from impressing too much of his character on its music. Unyoked from Copeland, Sting was free to become what he is today: one-third spirit in the material world, two-thirds scented candle."

Ouch! And I thought I was tough on Sting. Since I last blogged about his-lutness, he's re-banded with the ol' boys for a swing and a dance at the Grammy's, doing a watered-down version of the overplayed yet brilliant "Roxanne". Bo-ring!

Here's what I wrote back in October '06: Well, maybe if some of the big rock stars out there sang rock music, it wouldn't be so stagnant, Mr. Sting. But no, some egotistical rock stars quit their good band, go on to release whiny white boy reggae/jazz fluff, do commercials for upscale car companies, and brag of sexual prowess, before giving it all up and doing albums of "Dowland lute music". Sting is through with rock and he admits it....finally, 20 years after the fact.

Now, it seems that Sting has changed his mind again and is willing to sing old hits for big dough after all. Maybe he reads my blog? If so, may I suggest starting your next set with "Next to You" or "Can't Stand Losing You" or "So Lonely". I love that album. I wish he'd sing like that again....I mean, if he's doing it for the money, he might as well do the best possible impression of the old Sting (the pre-scented candle Sting).

Sting Gives Up

"BERLIN (Reuters) - Sting said contemporary rock music is so stagnant that he prefers to sing 16th century English ballads.

The former teacher who shot to fame as lead singer, bassist and composer in the 1970s and 80s for The Police told German newspaper Die Zeit that he prefers singing songs of Elizabethan lutenist and composer John Dowland to the rock music of today.

His album of Dowland lute music "Songs from the Labyrinth" has topped classical charts on both sides of the Atlantic and entered the UK album chart at No. 24."

Well, maybe if some of the big rock stars out there sang rock music, it wouldn't be so stagnant, Mr. Sting. But no, some egotistical rock stars quit their good band, go on to release whiny white boy reggae/jazz fluff, do commercials for upscale car companies, and brag of sexual prowess, before giving it all up and doing albums of "Dowland lute music". Sting is through with rock and he admits it....finally, 20 years after the fact.