An English Man in Milan...

"Message in a Bottle," "Englishman in New York," and many more: Sing's concert in Milan brings the Police back to life.

The event had been eagerly awaited by hundreds of fans for well over two years, as the My Songs Tour was postponed from March 2020 due to COVID. The announced sold-out performance and the return to normality did the rest: the Assago Forum was a festive roar, with packed stands and a packed audience ready to stand up and invade the stage.

Sting's son, Joe Sumner, opened the show for a set lasting just over half an hour. After 9 p.m., Sting and his band took the stage. He wore a headband microphone, wore a casual grey t-shirt, and was in tip-top shape, with his biceps on full display. The concert kicks off with the cult songs “Message In A Bottle” and “Englishman In New York,” which confirm that the artist’s voice is still as perfect as it once was.

My Songs on Tour, which began in 2019, provided the bassist with an opportunity to revisit some of his best-known songs, as well as monumental Police hits, in a new vein. With the release of the album The Bridge (2019), while the tour's title remained unchanged, three songs ("For Her Love," "If It's Love," and "Rushing Water") from the new album were included. These, along with the song "What Could Have Been," composed for the Netflix series Arcane, bring a breath of fresh air to a set list heavily focused on classics.

Sting's show, lasting just over an hour and a half, demonstrated his remarkable charisma and energy. Often speaking in comprehensible Italian, he excelled in his spontaneity and charm, revealing himself as an artist of great calibre yet capable of stepping down from his pedestal. Confirming this, Sting invited his youngest musician, Shane Sager (only eighteen years old), on stage to play harmonica in place of Stevie Wonder on “Brand New Day.” Backing vocals Gene Noble and Melissa Musique joined him on “Shape of My Heart” and “Whenever I Say Your Name.” Finally, his son, Joe Sumner, joined him on stage for “King of Pain.”

The show's grand finale featured the band's most famous hits, which brought the audience to their feet: "Walking on the Moon," "So Lonely," "Desert Rose," and "Roxanne." A beautiful finale to the evening concluded with the melancholic "Fragile."

(c) Rockon by ByStefania Clerici