Monday, November 12, 2012 – Nice – 08:09 p.m.
To everyone’s surprise, the concert starts early! No opening act for the leader of the band The Police, who is currently touring with his bass slung across his chest.
And it’s accompanied by excellent musicians that Sting is performing tonight. While holding the bass lines of his Fender Precision, he gives the spotlight to his guitarist, his violinist, his pianist, his drummer, or even his lovely backup singer at chosen moments during the concert. Sting doesn’t let it go to his head; he’s there for the music, to enjoy the stage as a group, not to put himself above others, even on a tour carried by his name alone. Of course, at times, you can’t help but focus on this exceptional singer when his voice soars and plays with nuances. And he delivers his show without embellishments this evening. Just him, them, us. No staging, no frills, just some “do do do”s and “da da da”s, it’s “all he wants to say to you”.
Of course, there will be the famous “Message in a Bottle” by The Police, “Roxanne” which bathes the Nikaïa in its red light, or even “Every Breath You Take” during yet another encore, allowing the entire crowd that came to welcome him last night to sing along, also in celebration of his past hits. But his more recent collaborations are not left behind, as it is with “Desert Rose” (a piece originally shared with Cheb Mami) that he gets the audience dancing.
More than two hours of nonstop ovations at a Nikaïa that brought together all age groups. A beautiful moment of communion.
Photo credit: Flora Doin (www.flora-d.fr)
