Why Sting should never apologise for his music

Forty-six years after forming The Police, superstar Sting is still a creative force armed with glorious new songs. So why was he apologising?

Sting was in top form and fine voice at Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Nui Te Koha

Sting should never apologise for his magnificent songs. But there he was, at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night, saying sorry for three new gems.

“I know no one wants hear a new song, but you never know, it might be a hit one day,” The Police superstar and multi-platinum solo artist told the crowd.

He added: “How do you define a hit? There are so many different charts, so many different streaming services. But here’s my definition. It’s 1977, and I’m woken up in a hotel room by a window cleaner whistling something that I recognise. He’s whistling (The Police hit) Roxanne. “So, my friends. When working people are getting through their day, whistling your song, that’s a f---ing hit, right?”

Sting debuted If It’s Love, with catchy hooks and whistling motif, the swampy gospel-flecked Loving You, and Rushing Water. Each song deserved a place alongside the avalanche of classics in Sting’s greatest hits show, humbly titled My Songs.

Sting performs at Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Nui Te Koha

“His songs” means some of the best and most beloved ever, and the set list picked from The Police (Message In A Bottle, Roxanne, Wrapped Around My Finger, King Of Pain, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Walking On The Moon and So Lonely) and solo triumphs (Fields Of Gold, Fragile, An Englishman In New York, If I Ever Lose My Faith In You and Brand New Day).

Sting was in top form and fine voice, backed by a faultless band (Dominic Miller, guitar,

Kevon Webster, keyboards, Shane Sager, harmonica, Zach Jones, drums, and backing singers Melissa Musique and Gene Noble).

Shape Of My Heart received a hip hop transplant with a verse from Juice WRLD’s Lucid Dreams, and Sting revealed So Lonely was heavily influenced by Bob Marley’s No Woman, No Cry.

He also paid tribute to the late promoter Michael Gudinski who staged Sting and The Police shows in the past, adding: “I got quite emotional when I walked into (Melbourne Park) and saw Michael Gudinski’s statue standing there.”

Indeed, the stories behind the songs gave the arena show a wonderful sense of intimacy.

Like the time Sting was inspired by the fields of barley he saw from the windows of his home. “Actually,” he said, casually correctng himself. “It was a castle.”

King Sting performs at Rod Laver Arena on Friday, and A Day On The Green at My Duneed, near Geelong, on Saturday.