What It's Like Writing A Song With Sting

[@rickbeato2]

Full Interview Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5e1gptoq9ijjMUsi=z1MDJzL1FZfZdNyh

[@CFCMahomet]

“The bridge is therapy”… this is brilliant.

[@kipponi]

Yes and bridge is solution whatever problems are in songs.

[@misternoplease]

I love how Sting actually listens attentively when Dominic speaks, displaying obvious respect for each other. Sting has always appreciated people who take care of their craft.

[@richardrikkangelori7273]

Because he's actually been one of the longest running guitar players he's used and incredibly versatile

[@luzhizui]

People like Stewart Copeland?

[@ignacioperandres]

❤truth

[@heyjameshurst]

His explanation of how bridges work for songs (his in particular) is a revelation.

[@oliverthedrummer]

Read this comment thinking about how great Sting is at bridges, specifically with EBYT, and low and behold its mentioned right at the end of the vid 😅. I think If I Ever Lose My Faith in You is a strong second place within Sting's best Bridges.... Gonna have to re-vist many of his/Police songs and create my own list...

[@heyjameshurst]

Agreed. He’s really a master of bridges

[@alfiegaishauser4989]

Let me know the list aha

[@oliverthedrummer]

@@alfiegaishauser4989 Without going through the entire back catalogue, and based on Lyrical and/or Instrumental Composition, probably something like: 1) Every Breath You Take 2) If I Ever Lose My Faith In Your 3) Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic 4) King of Pain 5) Englishman In New York 6) If you love somebody set them free 7) Cant Stand Losing You 8) Voices Inside My Head 9) When the World is Running Down (Lowkey instrumental banger) 10) Don't Stand So Close To Me

[@jaguarcarrera]

We should call him Pontifex Maximus.

[@CaesarDarias]

Sting has been a musician for more than 55 years. He has released 17 original studio albums, several other albums such as the winter themed project, the lute album and the Last Ship Broadway album. He has completed 20-plus full world tours. The man is a ridiculously experienced, focused, talented, prolific perfectionist and workaholic. Yet he doesn’t often sit down to talk about his master musical knowledge. It’s fun to listen to him talk shop. I hope he will return, perhaps for his next project.

[@AnthonyWilliams-ot1yk]

Sting is a creative mastermind. And he has one of the most unique and recognizable voices in music.

[@glennlavertu3644]

I love the matter-of-fact responses Sting makes. It comes from a place where songwriting is as familiar and human as any other function in our lives.

[@doubts]

Sting seems constantly at war with himself. Even after everything he's accomplished as an musician/entertainer. Still a top bloke 🙏

[@robertbrown7408]

Sting was stuck with Every breath you take until Andy came up with the riff that is constant throughout most of the song. It's like the 4 note motif that George Harrison came up with for "And I love her". Paul only now acknowledges how that riff really enhanced the song.

[@revolverband2698]

And?

[@marshac1479]

Dom would be a good bloke to go down the pub with.

[@garethpepin6167]

He coached a friend of mine here in Kent a few years ago, very nice guy.

[@AkuV1]

He’d be happy: “tell me why Everybody Laughed But You is actually January Stars…what do you play on these last 5 seconds of Lithium Sunset blah blah 😂

[@sadetwizelve]

Stop talking like that,you know damn well you don't talk like that lol

[@Gilmourized]

“You know what I mean”

[@jasonwarren3999]

Dom DeLouis?

[@daviddunn4269]

Sting's use of the word "release" to describe the bridge of a song is not random or accidental; old school composers and jazz musicians actually called that section of the tune "the release". Ever since I learned that from the mentors I had on the bandstand I've thought of it that way.

[@drzlecuti]

A lot of great insights into musical mastery. I like his thoughts on practice. "You can play anything if you slow it down." This is how they tell piano students to learn pieces by Chopin, Bach, etc. There's the apocryphal saying: "Take what's difficult and make it a habit. Make the habit easy. Make what's easy beautiful." Step by step--this is how mastery comes. I also like his comments on structure, where the "break" is "therapy." This makes me think of 18th and 19th century opera, where the "recitative" moves the story while the aria is where the story stops for a minute while the character dwells on the emotional aspect of what's going on. Sting plays his right hand using apoyando--very cool! OK, now I need to hear the whole interview.--cuing it up for my trip to the far south side of Chicago for a property inspection.

[@jaguarcarrera]

The hardest part of playing strings slowly is that the fretting fingers hurt.

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

I would love to hear And Summer's take on things.... how about that Rick?

[@brownin329]

He has an interview with Andy. Go look it up.

[@scally1969]

What a great inspiration for young musicians. That guy's of Sting's age and experience still practice. That's how you become successful with your chosen instrument

[@rickjason215]

Jeff Beck practiced every day.

[@andyashla]

The bridge is therapy. Very cool perspective.

[@jsullivan2112]

"The bridge is therapy." Yes. There is no catharsis without it. Brilliant.

[@jonashormann5700]

My favourite interview of Rick probably

[@jbvart3974]

The bridge in a song gives you another twist in emotional release

[@marcelopez1248]

you shine in this talk with two very gentle men, Rick....... well well done...

[@JulesStoop]

Really nice to rewatch this, Rick!

[@gregb91401]

Sting's key changes are so interesting. I'd love to hear your analysis of his key changes in a future video.

[@julianbaldwin6992]

I’d be interested to see a top 20 greatest bridges video

[@richadambudgen7520]

The fella is 71! He looks remarkably good.

[@scottjanssens9978]

This was such a great interview. I could've watched for hours.

[@ralphmackay6635]

Nice to revisit this segment. Sting's breadth and depth of musical expression is extraordinary. An inspiration to seek out the subtleties of song. I sense he was born with a special gift, and he opened it, and explored it to share with the world.

[@paulinecrystalline6125]

Something I've been waiting for my whole life... a musician interviewing musicians! 🎊 I just learned like 10 things... and none of them had to do with who Sting is dating 😉 if you catch my drift. I'd love to see one of those silly morning shows have a discussion about the role of the bridge in songwriting structure! 😂

[@cdub10071]

This great content. Listening to the artists discuss their roll in the band. I’d like to put a request in for getting Nigel Pulsford on the show. He never wrote the songs but was incredible at elevating simple foundation work to platinum selling material. Gavin was the home builder and Nigel was the interior designer.

[@richardjames1946]

Sting is happy. Sting makes Sting happy.

[@mygicshow]

Hounds Of Winter is just fantastic! I still believe Ghost In The Machine is Sting’s masterpiece… I always say check out Dominic‘s work on Mark Hollis’ his solo album, stunning work!

[@rayofsunshine5539]

As a Songwriter myself i agree the bridge in a song is very important as it brings the listener a refreshing change in sound and direction. Pre choruses pretty much do a similar thing though not to the same extent.

[@NesconProductions]

Wise words from a fantastic composer, writer, singer and player! Lack of a bridge these days would make the 'Godfather' of Soul / R&R JB quite sad. Met the Police as a child not knowing at all who they were (giving away ticket at a local mall on their first trip to the US). One of my biggest regrets not understanding what was Sting's & the Police musical legacy would become. Glad to see him later in life on solo tour & when Sting reunited with the Police but missed the opportunity to shake their hands when I was standing next to them 😕.

[@jeffprokes8990]

Great interview.. Brilliant musician and song writer...

[@SergioSabinoMusicOfficial]

It's always great listeng to this musical genious talking about his work.

[@subbbass]

"walking in your footsteps" is the most relevant song today in the 2020 ies. what a masterpiece.

[@davidhoxit4274]

Profound perspective in the surprise....you were expecting to hear that again. I heard this in the music of The Police back in the day...and I yearn for that still today...

[@markhillethan215]

Mr Beato, a new level of your already fantastic videos 🙏🏻 Wow! (may be stuck watching and listening instead of practicing)

[@davidfleuchaus]

7:10 Modern songwriting: “The structure is simpler, it’s minimalist. The bridge is disappeared.” “The bridge is therapy.” “Structure is therapy.” “I’m looking for solutions… music can help.”

[@dystopia2386]

But there is no bridge in So Lonely. Loneliness forever...

[@henrycaruana3145]

Mr Gordon & Dominic, together, they're great, especially the shape of my heart 😊❤ Kiku malta 🇲🇹

[@alexmbrenner]

I saw the Soul Cages tour. Dom is a monster player!

[@AlexPettyMusic]

I saw that tour too!! Loved it

[@DarthCalculus]

The bridge of "Every Breath You Take" *IS* the best part of the song, and yet if the rest of the song wasn't there, the bridge wouldn't be so special

[@realRainz]

you put that bridge in a different song and it still works, let's say, try Soul Cages song then put that bridge in there, works

[@DarthCalculus]

@@realRainz sure, but then there be a different "the rest of the song there." I meant the context makes the bridge excellent Also, the line "since you've gone, I've been lost without a trace" would be so weird in The Soul Cages lol

[@oullahtakanbghikhbibadialiawil]

sting is a goat !!! "shape of my heart", "every breathe you take " , "fragile", "desert rose" etc etc he s awesome composer

[@joshcoxmusic]

Super cool. Both guys knowledgeable and down to earth. Love this channel 🤘

[@anatol1204]

Hounds of winter is in my fav Spotify list.Amazing piece

[@bennytudor5313]

2 legends, and gentlemen.

[@NikilyMusic]

Sting is a good songwriter

[@mcolville]

I was LITERALLY thinking "It's like tennis, and Sting is serving. But Dom is also a player!"

[@thewebstylist]

Amazing take by The Man on todays modern music

[@70sladyalways25]

Great interview! I’m looking forward to seeing Sting this month. Greatly appreciate your channel, Rick!

[@pcoleman1971]

Various people have noted that The Police didn’t become what they were until Andy Summers joined the group. It freed up Sting to write more complicated songs because he then had musicians who could play it. Sting is a great composer, and it's great that he continually surrounds himself with great musicians who can bring his vision to life.

[@augustusbetucius2931]

Listening to Andy Summer's solo work, from XYZ, all the way through to his recent bands, it's obvious that Andy summers has a deep compositional sense, and an advanced sense of harmony. He practiced his but off as a kid, learning solos and songs from records. The work it takes to do that can't be underestimated. I was in the last generation to do that, and it makes you a far better player than you would be without it. All that to say, Andy Summers is and was a far better musician than most give him credit for. If you ever hear the demos the Police did prior to Andy's arrival, it is inarguable, they wouldn't have been the same band without him.

[@kushking420]

Sting has some of the most classic basslines, and some are quiet simple but stand out

[@rastAsia]

No bridge no song. Bridges for Therapy off from this crisis. It's what the world needs today. So damn right!

Super cool questions, one that you miss is the fact that Sting uses fretless almost always in the early police years and that'll be contemporary to jaco!!!

[@markgiles313]

I love all the music Sting has produced, but I have these reoccurring dreams where he is just so mean to me. I think it has a little to do with the fact that I'm a couple of years younger and in the 80's, as a musician myself, every new band wanted to sound like them. Anyway, Sting, please hit me up if you're ever in Portland, Oregon, so that I can solve the dream.

[@DanielBoonelight]

dreams don't really have much to do with the real live agents so much as they have to do with the dreamer. everything you have to work out with that particular issue is of yourself and within your power to explore and interject upon. i daresay that meeting up with sting himself would have little utility with what your brain is using him for symbolically. i hope that makes sense.

[@frankscutari9516]

LOL, now I have this vision of a overhead drone shot of each individual band member walking aimlessly by themselves throughout the garden digging deeper into chord progressions!

[@bragee]

Sting is still fit. Even at 71...

[@andrewashdown3541]

To hear Bach improvise - on cembalo or organ - would be top of my bucket list

[@Greedygoblingames]

To me, Sting's approach to song writing is story-led... a lot of modern music on the other hand, is motivated predominantly by the hook line. I think it shows a change in how the brain is consuming music; people now want their instant dopamine hits (probably due to Tik-tok/Twitter etc) and is less able to appreciate complexity in a song. It's only my opinion of course and I'm sure many would disagree, but that's how I see it.

[@leoniea138]

Sting is simply a legend

[@mickeykeymoaw]

Intelligent Music Conversation.

[@j.k.4584]

This is sooo cool. Man, you've built a great channel.

[@mitchweiner]

It really is a shame Dominic Miller isn’t more of a household name!

[@alfiegaishauser4989]

True but real fans know and the man’s got his millions😌

[@majortom4543]

He has the best of both worlds. I suppose he can still have his privacy while in public. Unlike Sting and other top rock stars.

[@rollingtroll]

Maybe a little less compression on stings heavy breathing? 😁

[@Matt-ng9xv]

Broooo lol thank you for asking him this. Damn it’s so cool watching you get here from the first videos I saw of yours.

[@JaykleMusic]

Great video one of my very favourites of all time 🎸🎸🎼🎤👌👏👏👏👏👏

[@Wilycher]

Stings was thinking in Paul Simon songs when made so.e of his songs, very, very similar songs. Simon made thus beautifull songs in the 70's.

[@paulsawers4342]

Holy molly rick your interviewing rock legends. Awesome 🤩from nz.

[@live2shredguy]

Please interview Slash and Axl, John Mayer, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, David Gilmour and Roger Waters (separately)

[@joemontalbo8071]

RIck, There are SO MANY great artists that don't get the exposure they deserve PLEASE do something like "What Makes This Song Great" for undiscovered artists. You'd have an unlimited source of material! Start with Janet's Jukebox (Janet Montalbo) ! And what about more coverage of Lyrics. An aspect of songs you.don't cover much..

[@adityapadode]

7:28 - Sting puts down one of the easiest way to visualise a song structure and arrangement

[@byjoveshow]

If u listen to if i ever lose my faith after the little bass variant u pointed out u will find another different more subtle variant the second time thru. Listen carefully! to see if u can hear it

[@thezenhodler1620]

Sting said it like it is regarding most of modern music.

[@394pjo]

My favourite Sting part is where he sings I want my MTV on Dire Straights song Money for Nothing.

[@earthpart3]

that one guy was fallin asleep

[@bassbyrdtx]

Give us this day our daily Bach…

[@johnnyxmusic]

I’ve hear Sting saying this thing the bass player he determines what chord is being played. Now who am I to argue with Sting?… But any given note in the bass could be part of an inversion or an extension, or simply a slash chord.… It probably takes more than one note on one chord to determine what is happening in the harmonization.

[@davin6175]

He was saying he also controls the top vocal melody line. So that vocal note could be a third , a seventh, an eleventh, a suspension... between those two notes he can totally change the character of the chord and the direction of the resolution. And he does! He uses this power pretty cautiously, but he does play and sing simple things that do add an unusual flavor.

[@romgtr]

Today's music lacks a hook and melody!😢

[@judegraham463]

Yes Sting..

[@rabukan5842]

"I'm looking for solutions... I want to see how to get out of it." And he still keeps finding them.

[@bobbafet9377]

Sting is a vampire!!!! Ageless!!!!

[@andrewjohnston9115]

I love how they tip their hats to Bach, real muscians who understand music and the power of the classical composers.

[@alephnull7410]

Sting hit the nail on the head with the circular nature of modern music. It goes nowhere. It’s philosophically circular.

[@ImpartiallySpeaking]

On Demolition Man from Ghost in The Machine, it wasn’t even Sting playing bass with the irony that the person who plays on the track was never credited for his contribution. As for everything being pre-arranged, it would be disingenuous for anyone to take credit for Andy’s guitar riffs including his guitar part on Every Breath You Take which was 100% the creation of Andy Summers.

[@BeatSyncBytes]

More I look into Sting, more gifted I find him. He is actually underrated artist

[@iliafigueroa4820]

Underrated to who? 😂 He is one music’s GODS. Whoever likes the fact or not. He is history alive.

[@alfiegaishauser4989]

Is the song with the change there talking about “if I ever lose my faith in you”. I can’t hear the Damn change

[@TonyAguirreJazz]

Sting and Paul work the same in that it starts with them

[@t3br00k35]

When he says “the bridge” does he means the “middle 8”?

[@tvark75]

In my opinion, it is not Sting who writes "his" songs. In many videos and concerts he can not even play the song on the guitar. I think he has a professional team who writes his songs (one member is D. Miller).

[@rehakaranfil]

this is a 9 minutes video lasts for about 30 minutes or more. i feel the need to go and listen to the songs and then come back here.

[@makimachawngthu]

Who is that breathing? And we are here breathless

[@nemethzsigmond4548]

Bach... "We practice, but not enough". My saying is you can't practice enough. :)

[@billysuter]

Bach was a monster, its the right answer.

[@Cuatroveintech]

soooooooooooooo good...

[@nicolasmateusiak3592]

0:18 Dom is literally sleeping

[@frankjamesbonarrigo7162]

I practice Bach too,everyone does

[@papagaio1696]

Fun tastic

[@mojito6629]

But many today songs are also have even unpredictable bridge

[@creepingdeath9795]

"There is a harkonan among you"

[@DedSec44]

Bach... We practice, but not enough

[@shyboy2112]

Wait, he used to double all his bass parts on a strat??

[@thewomble1509]

Yes. He'd play parts on an electric bass, sometimes doubling with a fretless AND a Strat. It's well documented.

[@archaicrevivalsYTchannel]

''ahh, Bach'' -Radar O'Reilly