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Mccartney vs Sting?
- Thread starter zack01
- Start date
And in a joust Sting's Fender would turn Paul's Hofner into matchsticks - better break out the old Ric if you want to have a chance, Sir Paul
That is very true. Sting, however, is a great player, but I'm pretty sure that Sting would say that Paul McCartney paved the way for him. Saying Sting is better would be like Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten looking down on Larry Graham.
Paul has a little over 10 years experience on Sting so he should have more album sales, acquired wealth, earned respect. Both write great melodic songs with intellegent lines, but you can't base your judgement on Stings work with the Police nor can you base your judgement on Pauls Beatles works. Both have grew by leaps and bounds when they went on their own.
That's eazy to say in 2007.
Think how Paul's bass lines sounded in the mid-1960's.
He took the Jamerson thing, and brought it to pop.
Strong well crafted bass lines.
On what points are we judging these artists (personally I'd like to just close the thread)?
I've never heard a Beatles/Wings/Paul McCartney tune and thought it need a Sting line to make it better...
Nor have I heard a Sting/Police tune and thought "if only Paul was on the session".
These guys are both aclaimed artists, this VS. thread is as pointless as if it was a "Who cooks a better Fondue; Gordon or Sir Paul?"
While I am a huge Sting fan, you should read his memoir "Broken Music" and you will find that he is extremely respectful of the Beatles. Also he notes in many places that hearing the Beatles changed his life and defined for him a path in music that he still walks.
The only conclusion I can draw from this is that I may as well give up playing now. Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten have every right to look down on Larry Graham as they took bass to another level after standing on Larry's shoulders. Surely it's all a progression?
Personally, I think Sting is a better bass player for this reason. he doesn't follow the melody as much as McCartney and is far more subtle in guiding the song which, to me, is what bass is all about.
But surely these kind of debates (when entered into open mindedly) can give any player more avenues to explore musically and help us make more informed decisions about what and how we want to play?
This is hardly a debate by any stretch of the term.... discussing which of a pair of players are better than the other has zero to do with musical exploration, informed decisions or even the what & how to play.
I've seen far too many of these type threads end up going bad because they take the putting down of an idol personal.
I am a big fan of both men. obviously they're both great bassist, but I prefer Sting, because his bass lines are just a little bit more outside the box, for example I don't think Mac would have come up with the verse to "Spirits in the Material World" I also Enjoy the chorus line from "Invisible Sun" but I don't think that's beyond Paul's level so much.
Knowing that one has advanced a technique is no reason to look down on the originator. Without Larry, the others don't exist. Without McCartney, the world of rock that Sting came into would not have existed.
Couldn't agree more.
In terms of pure technical skill, I think most would agree that Sting has the edge. But Paul's melodic playing was groundbreaking. And, IMHO, Paul's miles better as a songwriter, and a somewhat better singer. Plus, Macca didn't agree to an obnoxious inlay on his signature bass.
Silly question, McCartney invented Sting one afternoon while the other three took a tea break. I mean, I like Sting, but give me a break. To paraphrase an earlier poster, one guy is the #1 most succesful and influential musician in the history of mankind and the other guy is on a reunion tour he swore he'd never do.
Paul by a long shot.. I saw him at Madison Square Garden a few years ago and he was great....
Sting is great but he strikes me as a very smug a**hole from the few interviews I've seen...
Sting is great but he strikes me as a very smug a**hole from the few interviews I've seen...
Why are they competing? They're both brilliant songwriters and excellent bass players.
