I wish I could write that review earlier in the week. As a matter of fact, I did for the first gig, on monday. But once again, my message never reached you. For what reason ? I don't know. As I forgot to keep a copy of the review, I'm doing it again today, including the second concert. Anyway, they were very similar.
First, here's the band list for both shows (no big difference !)
*Sunday April 14th* *Monday April 15th* 1. Hounds of winter 1. Hounds of winter 2. I hung my head 2. I hung my head 3. Let your soul be your pilot 3. I was brought to my senses 4. I was brought to my senses 4. Let your soul be your pilot 5. When the wind cries Mary (#) 5. When the wind cries Mary (#) 6. Set them free 6. Set them free 7. Every little thing... (magic) 7. Every little thing... (magic) 8. Seven days 8. Seven days 9. All four seasons 9. All four seasons 10. Mad about you 10. Mad about you 11. You still touch me 11. You still touch me 12. 25 to midnight 12. 25 to midnight 13. Synchronicity II 13. Synchronicity II 14. Roxanne 14. Roxanne 15. When the world is running down 15. When the world is running down 16. Demolition man (#) 16. Demolition man (#) (First Encore) (First Encore) 17. If I ever lose my faith in you 17. If I ever lose my faith in you 18. She's too good for me 18. She's too good for me 19. Every breath you take 19. Every breath you take 20. Lithium sunset 20. Lithium sunset (Second Encore) (Second Encore) 21. Fragile (#) 21. Fragile (#) (#) =3D Duet with John Mac Laughlin
Do you notice the (very slight) change ? LYSPYP came before IWBTMS on the first show, and it was the other way on the second show. That was the only difference, except that the "palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy" wasn't as crowded on the second night. I suppose it's because it was a monday, and not a sunday.
Anyway, Nathalie Merchant did a great opening, for 40 minutes. 9h10 PM : the crew starts changing the set on stage. And at 9:30 PM sharp, Sting appears on stage. As you can see, the show doesn't open with "If I eve lose my faith in you" anymore. The lights aren't lit yet. The band arrives on stage. Vinnie starts rolling his drums. Sting comes, counts 1, 2, 3, 4 ! And here we go !
I love that song, "Hounds of winter" so I think it's a great first song, all the more that the 3rd verse is played with more energy than the first 2. It's different from the record, and I find it fits very well with the melody of the song. Check out when Sting performs in your area.
"I hung my head" ? I love the beat. "Let your soul" ? The backing vocals were off both nights, so I had to listen to gospels on tape. Is it the reason why the live version is so short ? I remember reading in the first review that the live version of LYSPYP was very long... They can't change the tapes, I guess! So they play the song as it was planned... No improvisation !
"I was brought"... Just as Sting performed it when he appeared in Taratata on french TV, 2 weeks ago. I just love that song !
Then, we had a big surprise with Sting introducing -in french- "un des meilleurs guitaristes du monde" (one of the best guitar players in the world). John Mac Laughlin came on stage with an acoustic guitar for "the wind cries Mary". It sounded much better the second night. It was a bit messy the first time. But I still prefer the acoustic version without JML from the acoustic session in 91.
"Set them free" was -no doubt- one of the nicest surprise of both shows. It sounds different from the other Tours. The song has grown up in sting's mind, that's obvious. And Kenny does a great job ! "Every little thing" ? I wish Sting took a guitar on a chair and just played the song -almost a capella- in the gorgious way he did, 1 1/2 year ago, during his first appereance on Taratata (#1). This time, it was just like 3 years ago.
Same thing for "7 days". About "All four seasons", we have one more reason to fear it might be the 3rd single, for Sting introduced the song saying "C'est une nouvelle chanson. Toutes quatre saisons ?!" (It's a new song). I was expecting something like one of the songs scheduled to be on YSTM forthcoming single. Wrong.
"Mad about you", like "Set them free", was a great, great version, with the same energy that came at the end of "Hounds of winter". Very touchy. It's a marvellous song. When YSTM came, I thought I eventually really like this song. Who said it starts like Isaac Hayes' Soul man ? I believe it's partly true. Anyway, Sting enjoys the song. I believe it's one of his favourite from MF, with "I was brought..."
"25 to midnight" (sorry for you, folks in the US...) wasn't as good as on the record. On stage, I heard almost nothing but Sting's voice and the beat. Thought, there's a change when he sings "that's it, more or less". The "it" is half or one octave higher than on the record. Sounds OK. Different, anyway, and that's what I like...
"Roxanne" is of no surprise now. But I think Sting gets bored with it. Looks like routine. Remember the endless "Roxannooo" from the Police bootlegs during the US Tours in the late '70s ?... This version was just the same than 3 years ago.
"When the world" confirmed that Kenny Kirland is much, much better, than David Sancious. His jazz education brings so much to the solos... this was outstanding, just like when they did the song in Taratata. Then,a surprise with "Demolition man" which at least half of the audience didn't really know. Strange last song before the encores ! Mac Laughlin came back on stage for this song. But it was so noisy and confused that I couldn't identify his guitar playing. Anyway, I prefer the CD version of the film. Cleaner.
"If I ever..." I just missed the harmonica. Without it, this song loses much of its charm. Too bad, but nice to hear it anyway. "She's too good for me"... funny how Sting remains interested in songs he's about the only one to like (most of us like the middle part though, I guess) ! No comment about "Every breath..." because I could tell the end was very near... When I heard the rythmic start of "Lithium Sunset", I thought it would be the last song. I did really like that version though... I wish he recorded it this way on the album, a bit like "Nothin' bout me" with a kind of endless end.
The last song was probably the best version I ever heard of Fragile, live or on record... The duet with John mac Laughlin took my breath away. Both acoustic guitars were like lovers whispering to each other. That was really what you can call a duet. Great complicity (correct english !?). A lot of emotion.
Now, it's my goal to get somewhere, somehow an audio copy of this moment. Fan-tas-tic. Julio Iglesias can go back to bed !
Anyway, that's it ! 1 hour 45 minutes of great joy !
Now, I'm looking for bootlegs or radio broadcasts of the show. If you get any copy or tip, please let me know. Thank you reading this review 'till the far end. I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think about it, and about what happened (or didn't happen !) in Paris.
I hope this review will be the occasion to meet new friends. You're all welcome to e-mail me !
Bye bye from Paris, wherever you are !
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