AOLiveMC9:
Welcome Sting!
StingLive:
Hello
AOLiveMC9:
Here is our first question.
Question:
Will you ever consider doing another
politically or environmentally motivated album?
StingLive:
I don't think I have ever done an
environmentallty motivated album. That has never been
my attention...intention... The enviroment much too
complicated an issue to deal with in songs.
Question:
How do you go about choosing new musicians
for your band?
StingLive:
MY band has a reputation of being the best
musicans available which in itself attracts good
musicians... and this is one of the few bands on the
road where improvistion is expected, and that also
appeals to the best musicians.
Question:
Hi Sting, What inspired you to come up with
the new song, Brand New DAy? from NanGarlan
StingLive:
I wanted to write an optimistic song about
love that began in one place and ended up in
another... I used the symbol of Y2K as a symbol of
beginning again. Turn the clock to zero is an
interesting symbol. A symbol of rebirth.
Question:
What do you find most rewarding and most
challenging about
songwriting?
StingLive:
The most rewarding thing about sonwriting is finishing
a song...
and the most challenging thing is beginning it.
Question:
How do you know when a song is finished?
StingLive:
lol I like to obey the structural rules of
songwriting...
I like the structure verse chorus verse chorus middle
8... coda.
Somethings are very comforting about that structure
that allows you to be creative within its context.
Question:
Sting, who inspired you the most to be a
musician
StingLive:
Many people...incudling my parents MY
parents are musicians.. Outside of my family probably
the Beatles.
Question:
Do you think you may one day write a rock
musical?
StingLive:
Absolutely not lol
Question:
Sting, who is your favorite musician besides
yourself? by the way im 12
StingLive:
Impossible to answer... highly
contentious...
Question:
sting...do you still have much contact with
stewart and andy? jr
StingLive:
Yes We have a lot of contact.
StingLive:
Stewart came to my show in LA I sang on
Andy's record last year. so we are still very good
friends
Question:
What is the greatest kick of performing
live?
StingLive:
I think to walk out onto a stage and be
welcomed by a large group of people is very rewarding.
Question:
What song reveals your hidden self the most?
StingLive:
That's up to you to find out.
If I tell you it wouldn't be hidden.
Question:
If you could change one thing about the
music business what would it be and why?
StingLive:
That's difficult. i entered the music
business when it was much more of a cottage industry
and now it is a corporate industry
There are advantages to corporate industry...That's
just the way it is.
It's not going back.
Question:
sting..... please tell me about the lovely
song "Valiparasio" and why you don'y play it live.....
tha.....nks jr
StingLive:
Valpariso is a seaport in Chili....I have
always
loved that name It means Valley of Paradise That has
always been a very romantic concepts to me...and it's
a song of the sea
that has always been one of my fascinations.
Question:
Hve you seen any results of all your work
you have done to save the rain forests ?
StingLive:
Yeah There have been some very tangible
results all be it small having worked to secure the
preservation a piece of forest
the size of Mass....both physically and legally
allowed the rainforest foundation as a model for work
in other tropical forest areas.
Mozambique, Thailand, as well as other locations
within the Amazon.
AOLiveMC14:
Where will you be for Christmas?
StingLive:
I'll be in England at Christmas..
I always gravitate toward my home to be with my
family.
Question:
Which album has ment the most to you and
why?
StingLive:
It's a little bit like asking which of my
children I prefer.
They all mean something to me. It would be wrong to
select one from my point of view.
Question:
Why "STING"?
StingLive:
Why not?
Question:
HI STING, HAVE YOU USED YOUR NEW BLENDER
YET? THE ONE THAT YOU WON FROM CONAN FOR NOT
MENTIONING THE RAINFOREST. YOU WERE A VERY GOOD SPORT!
DEBBIE
StingLive:
No I haven;t had a chance to plug in my
blender
but my sife was very impressed that I managed to come
home with something for a change.
StingLive:
That would be wife
Question:
did you have a good time singing with puff
daddy and do you like the way he remade your song?
StingLive:
Yeah, I was very touched that Sean chose my
song to remember
his friend.
Question:
As a Brazilian I loved the misc. of rhythms
in "Brand New Day". I was wondering if you plan on
playing in Rio again?
StingLive:
As you know, I am very fond of Brazil, and
I am currently structuring a world tour
and I can't imagine a world tour that doesn't include
Brazil eventually...but I don't know when exactly that
will be.
Question:
How did you came up with the lyrics for
Desert Rose? Anything special about that song?
StingLive:
With great difficulty
the English lyrics didn't fit for a long time.
It sousnded forced.
which is why I asked Cheb Mami
to sing in ARabic with me....
which authenticated the whole song.
Question:
has there been a positive change in your
life between Mercury Falling and Brand New Day to set
such contrast in mood?...
StingLive:
People tell me that Mercury Falling is a
dark record...
Although I can't remember feeling that dark...
I thin kyou just explore different emotions at
different times
I don't necessarily have to be in a bad state to
remember how that feels. or in a blissful state to
know how that feels.
I have enough experience with both to draw on thos
memories.
Question:
This question is about an old song of yours.
IN "Consider me Gone" there's a passage very similar
to Shakespeare's XXXV Sonnet. Were
you inspired by that sonnet?
StingLive:
Yep
Guilty
Stole it.
>From the Bard
But it's okay
I'm English too
He probably stole it from Petrarch. anyway.
Question:
On the picture on the back cover of your new
Cd you have something hanging out of your mouth,
please tell what it is. The folks in the newsgroup
would love to know
StingLive:
It's not a joint
I think it's a paper I rolled up in my mouth...to
relieve the boredom of being photographed.
Question:
Why have you stopped singing A Ghost Story
at the concerts
StingLive:
I needed to keep the pace of the show at
a certain level,
and I continued to rehearse that song in soundtracks
and will include it at a later date
but at the moment
the show works better without it.
Question:
Sting's songs are always full of references
to God and faith and i'd
like to know whether he still considers himself a
Catholic and what
religious faith actually represents for him (i think
he also had his
children baoptised)
StingLive:
Yeah...
well I belong to a Christian culture,,,,
being from England...
and I was brought up Catholic..
but I don't feel the need to belong to an organized
religion
in order to maintain faith
I prefer to find my own answers
ask my own questions
i am very curious about religion.
Question:
STING WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE MILLENIUM
StingLive:
At 12:00 midnight...I will be in New
York...
Jay Leno will say let's go to Sting
and I will play A Brand New Day
and that's where I will be
on the TV.
Question:
Sting, how do you feel about Alanis
Morissette's rendition of "King of Pain"?
StingLive:
I have yet to hear it
but I have heard very good reports
of the song...
I admire her work very much
It's on my shopping list for this week.
Question:
hi sting my name is chonine & i have such
great respect for you i would like to know your
opinion on the Y2K
StingLive:
Well, I think that there will ofcourse will
be problems...but my view on it is an opportunity...
it's an insteresting symbol of rebirth..
The next millennium might have a few birth pains.
but we have to work to gether for a new future
for our children and grandchildren.
Question:
Sting, why are songs on the b sides better
than the album tracks? I thought End of The Game is
one of your best songs, I can't believe it's not on
the album.
StingLive:
Your the only one who thinks that.
Question:
I really loved to hear Marsalis in the new
album. Do you plan to work with him again like you
did in "Bring On The Night" ?
StingLive:
Well, Brandford is family...
he appeared on every album since the Blue Turtles
I can't see any reason why we shouldn't play together
for as long as we can...
whenever we can.
AOLiveMC9:
Any last words for our audience?
StingLive:
It was an honor to speak with you all.
I hope I was forthcoming..
without giving everything away..
and I look forward to speaking with you again.
StingLive:
How was my typing?