Sting-tastic!!

[clifftaylor]

I know the legendary mediaeval folk bass player isn't to everyone's taste, and I try not to be too critical.
But it's not always easy.

[Hot Flatus]

Oh dear god what a toss-pot.  Love the critique by the ex UK ambassador though 

[spindrift]

Oh my God, that's sleazy. Mentioning Unicef was just cycnical. What. A. Piece.Of. Work.

[clarion]

I think he is often unfairly criticised, but I can barely believe this is real.  How stupid or acquisitive do you have to be to do that?

[JT]

There's no doubting his talent as a musician and songwriter, but jebus he's a twat.

[clarion]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/aopKk56jM-I&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/aopKk56jM-I&rel=1</a>

[Flying_Monkey]

How greedy, un-self-aware and utterly mind-bogglingly stupid and unethical can one man be?

[andrewc]

How greedy, un-self-aware and utterly mind-bogglingly stupid and unethical can one man be?

Wasted as a musician, he should stand for parliament....

I saw him at Wembley, an Amnesty gig in 84 I think, with some of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo....

"They Dance Alone" - Sting....

Why are there women here dancing on their own?
Why is there this sadness in their eyes?
Why are the soldiers here
Their faces fixed like stone?
I can't see what it is that they dispise
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 They dance alone

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 They dance alone

One day we'll dance on their graves
One day we'll sing our freedom
One day we'll laugh in our joy
And we'll dance
One day we'll dance on their graves
One day we'll sing our freedom
One day we'll laugh in our joy
And we'll dance

Ellas danzan con los desaparecidos
Ellas danzan con los muertos
Ellas danzan con amores invisibles
Ellas danzan con silenciosa angustia
Danzan con sus pardres
Danzan con sus hijos
Danzan con sus esposos
Ellas danzan solas
Danzan solas

Hey Mr. Pinochet
You've sown a bitter crop
It's foreign money that supports you
One day the money's going to stop
No wages for your torturers
No budget for your guns
Can you think of your own mother
Dancin' with her invisible son
They're dancing with the missing
They're dancing with the dead
They dance with the invisible ones
They're anguish is unsaid
They're dancing with their fathers
They're dancing with their sons
They're dancing with their husbands
They dance alone
They dance alone

[Zoidburg]

Sting probably stepped in after Michael Jackson dropped out unexpectedly.

[mattc]

How greedy, un-self-aware and utterly mind-bogglingly stupid and unethical can one man be?

He's just moved onto my Flawed Genius list. He's been getting a bit odd for years.

(Stuart Copeland has a few things to say about him too )

[Mr Larrington]

He's just moved onto my Flawed Genius list. He's been getting a bit odd for years.

He's been on my Git List since, well, forever.

[Tigerrr]

There must be more to this story than meets the eye. Surely Sting can't actually be that much of a twit. He must have been set up for this somehow - at least that is what I hope.
On the other hand I guess it is possible Sumner is indeed as much of a cock as this story would suggest. The ex-diplomats review is thing of beauty though. 'Did he seriously think they were paying millions to hear him warble?' what a line!!!
Shame on him.

[LEE]

He's just moved onto my Flawed Genius list. He's been getting a bit odd for years.

He's been on my Git List since, well, forever.

He's been a pretentious twat much longer than that

[FatBloke]

A million quid is a million quid!  I'd perform for half that! 

[LEE]

A million quid is a million quid!  I'd perform for half that!  

So would I but I don't bang on about oppressed people whilst I'm playing for the spoilt children of people oppressors.  Sod it, I'd Tap Dance naked in front of Kim Jong Il, reciting Mein Kampf, for a million quid.  I just wouldn't write a (Lute-accompanied) song criticising other people who did.

Neither do I spend my time driving and flying a large entourage, and tons of stage gear (and several Lutes), around the planet, whilst simultaneously banging on about reducing carbon footprints.

If he just stayed at home rather than travel around the world playing his Lute then I can't help think that the world would be a better place (and that's not even taking into account the reduced carbon footprint, just that he wouldn't be playing his Lute around the World).

How much carbon does a burning Lute give off?  It seems a small price.

[mattc]

A million quid is a million quid!  I'd perform for half that!  

So would I but I don't bang on about oppressed people whilst I'm playing for the spoilt children of people oppressors.  Sod it, I'd Tap Dance naked in front of Kim Jong Il, reciting Mein Kampf, for a million quid.  I just wouldn't write a (Lute-accompanied) song criticising other people who did.

Ah, but now that you've made that post, what if the offer comes in? A dilemma that only a modified Delorean could fix, I feel ...

[LEE]

A million quid is a million quid!  I'd perform for half that!  

So would I but I don't bang on about oppressed people whilst I'm playing for the spoilt children of people oppressors.  Sod it, I'd Tap Dance naked in front of Kim Jong Il, reciting Mein Kampf, for a million quid.  I just wouldn't write a (Lute-accompanied) song criticising other people who did.

Ah, but now that you've made that post, what if the offer comes in? A dilemma that only a modified Delorean could fix, I feel ...

Not a dilemma.

I'm not complaining about the actual act of Sting "Dancing for Dictators" (not a bad title for his next album), just his hypocricy (and his Lute playing of course).

Like the Beatles, the Police were better than the sum of their individual parts.

However Mattc, just to prove I'm a man of principle, I'm going to make a pledge never to dance naked in front of an oppressive leader for a million quid.

[mattc]

2 million?