Sting for Prog Related

rushfan4 wrote: FWIW, I do find it interesting that Micky, who is on the Crossover prog team which is probably the closest in relation to where Sting might fit in, if he were to fit in, says that consideration is worth serious discussion, where as the two prog metal guys both weigh in and immediately dismiss him, given that that category may be the furthest away in sound to Sting.  That being said, I failed to mention in my previous post that although the thought of him being included on PA did cross my mind, I figured it was too much of a longshot to even mention.  Although some of his music might definitely apply, like the most controversial cases, he is too well known as a non-prog artist to ever get serious consideration (and probably for that matter, deserve serious consideration).

I know his music *very* well ... please don't think that just because I'm on the prog metal team that's the only genre I know something about.

They don't use the progfreak team charts for one thing.

I haven't heard any Sting solo compositions that would make me think he was suitable for Prog Related.  What would be his most progressive and experimental material?  I don't know his solo music well.

When I think about whether an artist is prog-related, I like to think about which prog subs that artist/ band has the most in common with, and which bands/ artists in the archives it has the most in common with in terms of compositional approach (an obvious approach to take).  In the case of Sting, we know he would have the most in common with those in Xover (at least becuase he has the pop element, but that's not the progressive part of the equation), but it's better to think of core progressive movements, say psych, krautrock,  jazz-rock, Canterbury, symph, experimental/ avant etc (noting that there can be overlap).

I'd appreciate it if links to his proggiest music were made available (may be ones on myspace and youtube).

What is this Sting you guys are talking about? 

Shouldn't he get the same chance as any other band? Added to a chart, voted upon by genre-team members, and rejected or approved??

Sting is a great musician.  Great music.  Police was fantastic.

NOT prog or related.  We sure try to stretch things around here sometimes.

He's Jazz-Related ... that's as far as I go. And I loved the 9/8 signature in I Hung My Head!


Edited by MikeEnRegalia - August 04 2008 at 13:51

I think where the prog-related thinking might come in is that "intelligent" pop tag mentioned above.  Something that I can easily confuse is intelligent rock with progressive rock.  And of course, my motto is that if it is in my collection it must be prog and I do have his discography, except for the most recent release.  Also, Sting is similar to Peter Gabriel in his mixture of world music and jazz with his pop rock sound.  When I listened to all of his albums a couple of months back, the thought did cross my mind that he might fit in to a category such as crossover or prog-related.  P.S. I'm not saying that since Peter Gabriel (X) is here than Sting (Y) should be here.  I'm just mentioning the similiarity in the use of world music. 

He was in the same band (The Police) as Stewart Copeland (ex Curved Air) and Andy Summers (ex Dantalions Chariot,Eric Burdon's New Animals and collaborations with Robert Fripp) so, prog related...maybe...

Edited by Man Erg - August 04 2008 at 13:17

Sting..?

I've heard a few of his solo albums and don't really hear anything prog-related in them. It's a no from me.