Thanks to Kris & Pascale for the Ticket Stub
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Thanks to Kris & Pascale for the Ticket Stub |
Hello everyone, I just came back from Sting's return concert in Paris, at "le Palais Omnisports de Bercy". Let's start with the no-surprise information: the set-list. Surprise comes next...
February 5th 1997. Paris. Palais Omnisports de Bercy. Attendance: 15 000. Supporting band: Noa.
As you probably noticed, a # mark stands right on the "Fields of gold" line... I'll explain this in a moment. First thing first!
Noa, from Yemen (I was wrong, you were right: she's not israeli), made a fantastic job, as a supporting singer. She, with bare feet and such long hair, and her band came on stage at 20:30 sharp. They played for almost 40 minutes. Before the first song, she said in French, reading the message on a piece of paper: "A terrible event took place yesterday night in Israel. 73 young men died in a helicopter accident. We wish to dedicate this first song to them..."
So did they. The 4th song was "I don't know" which was a huge hit in France, about a year ago. Noa moves in a very sexy way on stage, doing gestures like an egyptian pharo would, playing with her hands. She also played congas and various south american drums, giving a lot of rhythm to the songs. As a result, the whole crowd at Bercy clapped as one person. I hardly ever witnessed such a success for a supporting band. She even came back for an Encore. As a matter of fact, I believe a few people came to tonight show because of her... Anyway, the band left at about 21:10. Twenty minutes and counting...
The arena became dark just a few minutes after 21:30 (Mrs Sailor, we were almost synchronized...). Sting, Dominic, and the horn section wore black. Kenny was wearing a light grey jacket, contrasting with the rest of the band. Vinnie, same T-shirt as usual.
A few beats on the drums, one guitar chord, and Vinnie (yes, he was still in the band ;-)) started rolling his drums for "Hound of winter". I've always loved the live version. And I still do as much. Actually, Dominic's guitar riffs were a bit different from what I heard in newcastle for example. Also, Sting made more variations with his voice throughout the song. And I have the feeling the outro is still longer than before. Just a guess...
On "I hung my head", I noticed a different beat by Vinnie, not as specific as on the CD, more casual, closer to 4/4, or close to that. Then it went back to the usual beat after the first chorus.
Solo parts seemed longer during "I was brought...". Kenny started, followed by Clark and Butch. Obviously, the audience knew the song better than in April. Of course, the song came out as a single in the meantime.
First surprise... Guess who sang the first verse of "Let your soul..." and made the backing vocals during the chorus? Kenny!! He would make a perfect performer from the audience for "I'm so happy..." Some like Ross do sing definitely better than Kenny. But anyway, it was a good surprise...
Magic is always "Magic"... Particularly when it comes to the story of the big enough umbrella... Soon on T-shirt? ;-) Clark and Butch started acting as Pom-pom boys during "Seven days", asking the crowd to clap their hands. We all smiled!
What else can I say about the "Mad about you" live version? I love so much the horn section on the song. It makes it so much more dramatic. This is one song I can't wait to get on the official live CD...
Then, the band came at the front of the stage to play "You still touch me"(acoustic). Sting stood next to Vinnie. He said "Vinnie, today is a special day for you, right? It's his birthday!" Then, Sting started to sing "Happy birthday, dear Vinnie", with all of the 15 000 people in Bercy. So nice! (Jer, that's the first reason why you must get a boot from tonight...)
I was a bit surprised then, because Sting didn't give any explanation before starting the acoustic version. No joke about Kenny's keyboard, no mention about Vinnie being "one of the best drummer in he world". The beat was quite fast. But again, a great version.
Then, we got the big surprise. It may not seem big to you, in the US, or at the other side of the world. But for us, French fans, it was unique. Sting said "Je vais vous presenter mes copains (I'll introduce my pals)...I Muvrini!" Most of you probably don't know I Muvrini. They are from Corsica, this French island situated north of Sardinia, off the coast of France and Italy. I Muvrini is a band of a dozen Corsicans, polyphonic voices. They filled Bercy about a year ago. They use almost no instrument. And they bring tears only with their voice... Anyway, the 2 lead vocals from I Muvrini came on stage. One of them was carrying a traditional instrument, looking more or less like a guitar. We heard the first chord from the keyboard. The band started "Field of gold". Sting and I Muvrini shared the vocals as soon as the first verse. Then Noa came back on stage, and joined for backing vocals. I guess no-one will ever see this trio together again. Too bad because they made an unforgettable version of FoG. Second good reason for you, Jeremy... The best one!
Then came "I'm so happy..." Sting spoke only French, with absolutely no mistake. I'll translate what he and his guest said:
(Sting): Now, someone is going to sing with me. I need a woman (screams in the audience). It's difficult for me... (within 5 seconds, a woman climbs on stage!) What's your name?
(Marina): Marina.
(Sting pointing his finger at himself): Sting! (laughters) How old ?
(Marina): 21.
(Sting): Same! (laughters) The song is called "I'm so happy I can't stop crying". Do you know it?
(Marina): Yes!
(Sting): I speak French like a Spanish cow... (French joke) Where is the guy? (Sting asked a man who was holding a sign, apparently saying he just divorced, in the first rows to come up. The guy didn't get to climb as Marina did. Laughters...)
(Sting): What's your name?
(Philippe): Philippe!
(Sting) It's a song about divorce. You've just been divorced, right ? (I always feel bad at that point...)
(Philippe): that's right...
(Sting): OK. At one point, I sing "I took a walk alone last night..." (and Sting does sing this whole part a capella, and the 2 guests join him as a rehearsal. They both sounded terrible...)
Then, the song starts. They sing, it ends, they take 4 bows, Sting kisses Marina, hugs Philippe, take them back to the front of the stage, back in the crowd. No backstage for them, and no souvenir tape obviously...
"Synchronicity II", then "Roxanne". Great Trombone solo. It seemed to me that Vinnie had some "space" for himself during the middle part. Maybe, one consequence of the recent argument.
"Bring on the night" did change since Newcastle. Kenny plays the first part of his solo (different but as great). Then a break occurs in the song, Kenny resumes his solo, but in a more intimate way. I thought for a few seconds I heard the four main chords from "I miss you Kate"... Then Sting brings the bass back in the song, exactly like on the Police studio version.
I am still wandering why Sting keeps playing this version of "Demolition man"... Anyway, it's still better than "Purple Haze". On the other hand, Sting dropped "25 to midnight", good idea. I don't think the live version is even half as good as the studio version. Last song before the Encore: "Englishman in NY". The bit when Sting sings "Be yourself, no matter what they say" with the audience did last longer. Nice.
The end of the show came with no surprise. Always goose skin at the end of "Fragile"... Then, the bad "Yellow submarine" was back in the speakers as the white light came back inside Bercy.
Conclusion: "FoG" version was unique. But some of us, well informed, expected more. I have a story for you. Sting didn't stay last night at the hotel where he always stops when in Paris: le "Royal Monceau". He moved to the "Hotel Coste", THE hotel where one actor, singer "has to be" at the moment in Paris. One of the reasons for that unexpected change of plans would be that Phil Collins was staying at the "Royal Monceau". Some, in Paris, think Sting wanted to be the only star in the place... I'm not so sure. Sting & Phil Collins have been friends for a long time. Remember Amnesty, Live Aid, Long long way to go & Take me home... Anyway, those going to tomorrow's concert in Geneva may hope a big surprise: Phil Collins is living in Geneva. Maybe they arranged something for the last european show of the MF tour? We'll see...
A rumor said that the Gipsy Kings would come on stage as they seem to have just recorded a Sting's cover. With "I Muvrini", the guess was not so bad. Cindy Lauper also happened to be in Paris today. But I didn't see any particular reason why she would have come on stage. I don't know is she attended the show.
Eventually, some news about those who were (weren't) here. Steven & Leslie from Glasgow seem to have enjoyed the concert, despite Steven feeling a bit of a flu'. No trace from Peterlien (Dutch Sting Fan Club). She was supposed to come: did you, Peterlien? We were a dozen friends, most of them great fans & collectors (Erwin: including Alain). Unfortunately, most of them don't have Internet access yet...
That's all for this review. I may meet some of you in New York at the end of this month. I'll know for sure in 24 hours. Hope you enjoyed the story! Do e-mail me if you have any comment.
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