Sting: My Songs Tour: International

Sting shined with his classic songs...

The artist's recovered voice joined that of more than 5,000 people to relive his most popular songs.

With Sting in good shape, although somewhat subdued after recovering from a throat infection that forced him to cancel five concerts in Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, Úbeda once again stood out as a venue for major shows, regaining the prestige it once acquired thanks to the presence of internationally renowned artists in these hills. Not surprisingly, last night's concert at the fairgrounds was one of three concerts scheduled this year in Spain by the former leader of The Police (on Friday he performed in Calella de Palafrugell, Girona, and today he will do the same in Marbella, Málaga).

The acclaimed British artist managed to bring together more than 5,000 people yesterday who enjoyed a carefully curated show full of unforgettable moments. It's true that it was shorter than expected (under an hour and a half), but unlike his three previous recitals in France, Catalonia, and Portugal, it wasn't so intimate and restrained, as if to demonstrate that his voice was fully recovered. However, he relied on his backing singers more than once, more out of prudence than medical advice.

Thus, he shone during an evening of great classics, in which there was something for everyone, and in which he delivered as both an instrumentalist and vocalist, surrounded by a huge band. The complicity with his musicians is another hallmark of the house, which was evident last night in Úbeda. There were seven of them, including instrumentalists and backing vocalists. Among them were Dominic Miller, Sting's regular guitarist, and his son, Rufus Miller, also on guitar.

Perhaps some in the audience missed the chairs placed in the venue, although in favuor of the chosen format, it must be said that the recital had many uplifting moments that got the audience dancing.

He kicked off the night with "Message in a Bottle," heralding a selected repertoire packed with hits. He threw his message in a bottle to the sea of people spread out before him, and that message was heard and answered: a memorable night had just begun. 'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You' and the celebrated 'Englishman in New York' followed. By then, the audience was completely hooked.

From there, he alternated between high points and softer ones, managing his timing and energy well when punctuating the show with songs from his latest album, "My Songs," which is nothing less than an update of his most popular and iconic songs, both as a solo artist and as a member of the Police. He's a methodical and perfectionist musician, and it shows in the details. And although the more punkish Sting of his early years was missed (which is understandable, especially since four decades have passed), he made it clear that he's one of the most complete artists in history.

This was reflected in other immortal songs that are part of the vital soundtrack of millions of people, such as "So Lonely," "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "Brand New Day," "Desert Rose," and "Every Breath You Take," which the audience sang along to, truly realizing they were seeing and hearing something historic. He hit the nail on the head with his repertoire, and very few songs were missed (mostly "Roxanne"). And for the encores, he reserved songs like "Next to You" and "Fragile." The night ended there, in a mid-tempo setting amidst the strains of Spanish guitar, leaving the audience wanting more.

Sting, who had performed in Portugal the night before, flew to Granada Airport, where a vehicle picked him up just after 3 p.m. to take him to Úbeda. He arrived for sound checks. After the concert, he didn't spend the night in Úbeda, despite initially having a room reserved. He preferred to leave the stage, get in his car, and travel directly to Marbella, where he will perform tonight as part of the Starlite Festival.

To feed his crew, he brought his own cook, who used a cook's helper provided by the FestMuve organization. During the tour, they pay close attention to their food, following a very specific diet. Yesterday, among other things, there were prawns, cod, and cockles. The artist and his musicians had access to a dressing room area equipped with every comfort. An ear, nose, and throat specialist was also on hand at the venue in case his throat problems recur.

Sting's concert concluded the program for the first edition of FestMuve, a new Summer Music Festival that has put the World Heritage city on the map of major summer events and, in the process, has brought a little life to the city in a month when visitor numbers typically drop considerably. In addition to the crowd that attended last night, we must add the nearly 10,000 people brought in by Manuel Carrasco, the approximately 4,500 who attended Il Divo, and the approximately 3,000 who enjoyed Pablo López.

In addition, in the adjacent leisure area, serving as a summer terrace with various atmospheres, La Blues Band de Granada and Apache performed free of charge, and the "We love 80s and 90s" party was held, all of which formed a parallel program for all audiences. FestMuve is an initiative of the Friends of Music Cultural Association and the Úbeda City Council, organized in collaboration with various companies and organizations. The intention is to continue this with new, improved editions and new concerts by renowned artists, consolidating Úbeda as the cultural capital of the province.

(c) Ideal by ALBERTO ROMÁN