Why I lost a bit of respect for Sting (Rick Beato Interview)

[-Asdfgh-]

Its usually an ego thing when we bash someone online - makes us feel bigger

For me it's more being baffled that some people have such egos. I read that they have egos, but I just don't understand it.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

My wife worked in some excellent restaurants and has served a number of musicians and actors, and some are actually decent, at least to restaurant staff. Some are not. She never served Sting to my knowledge, or any of The Police, for that matter. But not all the most famous have huge egos. I don't know if there is any correlation, though.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I saw the police on the Zenyatta Mondatta tour in seattle, and it was one of the best shows ever. All three of those guys are monsters. I still remember Sting tapping his Spector with his left hand, playing a synth line with his right hand, playing bass pedals with his right foot, and singing at the same time...I guess he has a right to be conceited....

Someone here called him a mediocre bassist. LOL, that's rich. Dude comes up with genius basslines. Gil Evans, who worked with Miles Davis on some of the most important jazz albums in history told Sting personally that he loved the bassline on "Walking on the Moon". And Christian McBride thought enough of the song to cover it on one of his albums.

I guess it's fine to not like his personality, but truly mediocre people going around saying ridiculous BS is too much to take. People are still talking about him, and his music 40 years later. That's really all you need to understand. I've seen this guy play and he's next level.

 

[KenD]

Someone here called him a mediocre bassist. LOL, that's rich. Dude comes up with genius basslines. Gil Evans, who worked with Miles Davis on some of the most important jazz albums in history told Sting personally that he loved the bassline on "Walking on the Moon". And Christian McBride thought enough of the song to cover it on one of his albums.

I guess it's fine to not like his personality, but truly mediocre people going around ridiculous BS is too much to take. People are still talking about him, and his music 40 years later. That's really all you need to know.

I have listened to a couple of his live bass lines isolated. The playing was not impressive.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I have listened to a couple of his live bass lines isolated. The playing was not impressive.

OK. Opinions are valid. I guess his fame is just a fluke, you being the last arbiter of talent and all. I refer you back to my previous post.

 

[J_Bass]

Someone here called him a mediocre bassist. LOL, that's rich. Dude comes up with genius basslines. Gil Evans, who worked with Miles Davis on some of the most important jazz albums in history told Sting personally that he loved the bassline on "Walking on the Moon". And Christian McBride thought enough of the song to cover it on one of his albums.

I guess it's fine to not like his personality, but truly mediocre people going around ridiculous BS is too much to take. People are still talking about him, and his music 40 years later. That's really all you need to know.

McBride also invited him to participate in the "Conversations" album.

 

[Spin Doctor]

McBride also invited him to participate in the "Conversations" album.
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Yeah, I have that one also.

 

[iammr2]

I don't think Sting was that bad. He does what he does and that's that...considering he was fresh out of the dentist's chair in that interview. I thought he got a pleasantly surprised look on his face at one point that Beato was asking the more musically related questions. He seemed more interested in the musical points after that.

Seems like a bunch of judgementalism here. I think I'll go look for some rosewood vs. maple or ash vs. alder posts.

 

[J_Bass]

Yeah, I have that one also.

Walking on the Moon is probably my favorite Police tune.

It always makes me laugh when I see the videoclip and Sting only has a guitar to play. I guess they forgot to bring a bass, the previous night must have been fun!

Like the "De doo doo doo" video, where he plays a fretless Hamer, and they are with a massive hang over! Sting almost can't open his eyes.
Three weeks ago, they released a new video version of "Can't Stand", that was clearly filmed during the "De doo" weekend at the mountains.

Or the Roxanne video, filmed before a concert, probably?


I got a bit lost, there, sorry!

 

[pfschim]

I don't think Sting was that bad. He does what he does and that's that...considering he was fresh out of the dentist's chair in that interview. I thought he got a pleasantly surprised look on his face at one point that Beato was asking the more musically related questions. He seemed more interested in the musical points after that.

Seems like a bunch of judgementalism here. I think I'll go look for some rosewood vs. maple or ash vs. alder posts.

or J vs P

as far as Sting (or any other famous artist) being egotistical, I'm definitely in the camp of those who can appreciate the artistry but don't really care about the personality. The guy certainly has skills.

 

[IMMusicRulz]

I did use to have Synchronicity growing up but subsequently sold it.

I have nothing against Sting or the Police, but that album was overplayed compared to Ghost In The Machine and Reggatta De Blanc which are my favorite Police albums.

 

[SunByrne]

[deleted for not taking the advice in my signature]

Anyway, of course it is possible to be amazing and not an egotistical dickhead. Famous/talented/intelligent/creative/powerful/etc. people are still people, and have all the baggage (positive and negative) that comes with that. Of course it's more encouraging when the people we look up to also come across as decent people, and some of them do.

For instance, every time I've seen an interview with Tony Levin, he's such a humble and affable guy, it just makes me like his music even more. I'd love to go to his "summer camp" some year that I can generate the scratch and time to do it...

 

[fishdude101101]

As a contrast, I think that Damian Erskine, Steve Bailey, the late/great Charlie Hayden and others show that you can be famous and still be a decent human being.

Not the same level of fame though is it?

 

[fishdude101101]

Also in other Rick Beato videos Rick goes on and on about how Sting uses this mode or that mode and the brilliant music theory employed by Sting, then in the interview with Sting you get the impression from Sting himself he really wrote the music more intuitively and the songs were not derived from an extensive contemplation of music theory.

I would say its a case of music theory being more descriptive rather than prescriptive.

 

[CryingBass]

Not the same level of fame though is it?

Agreed

 

[fishdude101101]

I have some stories about him from the pre-YouTube days that aren't exactly flattering. Funny that he pivoted from being a producer that never quite made it to an internet sensation.

The thing I always question, with a Beato, or any of the others, is where does the money come from? He can't make that much from YouTube alone and he can't be selling that many Beato books. I have his ear training course, but how many are paying $200 for that? How do the bills get paid and who pays them?

 

[wes stephenson]

I guarantee you that most of your favorite musicians would not be a great hang. I think Sting is ridiculously talented. I've been tasked with singing amd playing some Police songs at the se time. I cam tell you he's no ordinary musician.

The fact that he's not warm and fuzzy doesn't change that at all. Most of the greats aren't.

Interesting. Most of the greats that I’ve met who are really gifted have always been super down to earth and humble. I’m sure some of them are jerks but I guess I’m just lucky

 

[jerry]

50 years ago when I was first trying to figure out how this whole music thing worked I would loved to have the access to a Beato channel, I don't quite get the animosity.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Wow, Sting and Beato in the same room together. Hard to know who to dislike more. Oh, wait, I know: one of them is a YouTube windbag and one of them is a talented musician and songwriter who generated some of the most influential music of his era. Is he a likable guy? No, but at least he has some redeeming qualities and I respect his work. How anyone can stand to watch Beato is a mystery to me, but to each their own. I tried, but he is just such an off-putting whiner I can't stand it.

I actually watch Beato, and find some of it informative. I don't always agree with him, and find he's missing a lot of stuff in his run downs of great <instrument name here> intros, or lists of great tracks (Edit: compared to what I think, as a nobody, are great tracks). I also watch Warren Hewitt's channel. I haven't watched Beato interview anyone though.

 

[Bonafide]

I really enjoy this interview and found both Sting and Dominic to be humble, gracious, respectful, intelligent… it was a fantastic interview, great questions, thoughtful replies....High level of musical conversation about a craft and the lifelong dedication to it in the room. How anybody can get ‘arrogant’ from that interview missed the point or did not understand the depth of the topics being discussed. His praise of his former bandmates was evident, he just simply wasn't going to dismiss his own contribution when he answered, nor should he have as that was the question posed to him.