Solo career wasn't a total bust....he had about a half dozen classics, but none of it was as clever as his former band...

Posted by Casper on Tuesday, 12.12.06 @ 03:02am

True, "...Nothing like the sun" didn't suck. And I have sortof a soft spot for "Russians," even though it's aged really badly. But he's already in there with the Police; I'm perfectly happy letting that be his sole representation.

After all, he is a turtleneck-wearing pretentious British nancyboy.

Posted by Al on Wednesday, 01.24.07 @ 07:49am

Sting's solo career starting off with much promise. "Dream of the Blue Turtles" was a nice stylistic break from The Police, showng that he wasn't going to just continue sounding like the Police even though the band was broken up. "Bring on the Night" was a nice live showcase of a unique band he put together. "...Nothing Like the Sun" was also adventurous and varied. "Soul Cages" is way underrated, probably his best solo album thematically and lyrically. But after that, he became like Elton John and Eric Clapton in the latter part of their careers, boring AOR, autopilot crap. But his early solo stuff is so strong that I might still let him him.

Posted by Dezmond on Tuesday, 01.30.07 @ 10:15am

Of course the darling of the MOR set will make it, but I'm not listening to the man we dub "stink"

Posted by Jack on Monday, 02.5.07 @ 12:49pm

police: of course.
sting: no. better than asia or kenny g though.

Posted by bleedin' quadrophenic on Saturday, 06.16.07 @ 09:23am

Sting has experimented with all genres of music in his time as a solo artist and has influenced many great artists today. John Mayer, Rob Thomas, Maroon 5 and many others say Sting is a brilliant song writer and big influence.

He's used many different time signatures and has shown that you can be intelligent, both in lyrics and music. Many others have as well, but Sting does it to perfection. If you are just making your judgements based on the radio songs Sting has put out (which the rock hall doesn't do), then you are missing out. I suggest looking into the album tracks. His catalogue of brilliance goes deep.

Posted by Ryan on Friday, 06.22.07 @ 08:24am

"If you are just making your judgements based on the radio songs Sting has put out..then you are missing out."

I have seen this type of a statement made for a half dozen artists now, including John Mellencamp. Aside from any debate on Sting himself, I don't understand the need to be apologetic about Sting's (or anyone's) singles - why do you have to proffer: "Well, just ignore the stuff you've heard - he/she is a COMPLETELY different sound when you play their whole cd."?

That's a horseshit stance and also an unneccesary preface. If a single doesn't accurately (at least in part) represent an artists musical sensibilities, then what is it? A marketing lie? A front, a farce? "If You Love Somebody..", "Love is the 7th Wave", "The Soul Cages", "Brand New Day",... these may showcase Sting's pop abilities, but they are not a departure from his sound and talents.

I like Sting very much, and I'm not afraid to point to the tracks he chose to release as singles as some of my favorites.

Posted by shawn mc on Friday, 06.22.07 @ 08:49am

I thought letting him in with the Police was somewhat generous as it is. His solo work is absolutely horrid.

Posted by Creepozoid on Saturday, 06.30.07 @ 01:34am

"I thought letting him in with the Police was somewhat generous as it is. His solo work is absolutely horrid."

That has to be the dumbest statement I have ever seen written on these posts - you have proven to all that are the biggest idiot on these posts, surpassing myself, Kit, William, Shawn MC and Dezmond. THe Police are one of the most prolific and incredible rock bands of all time - they should not have gotten in?? Whattttt???

As for his solo career, that has been stellar. Incorporating jazz with a rock sound and DOING IT QUITE WELL. The Dream of the Blue Turtles is and still is one of my all time favorites. For that album alone, he should get in....

If I continue to read such dumb posts, well, "Consider Me Gone." Ha ha....

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, 06.30.07 @ 06:55am

" I thought letting him in with the Police was somewhat generous as it is. His solo work is absolutely horrid."

Dude, are you on a daily regiman of Nyquil or industrial pesticides? Is the jury still out on whether the earth is really round in your mind, too?
I'm with Anon 100% on this one.

Sting did have some misses over the course of his 22 tear solo career - sure, but calling him "absolutely horrid" is fucking witless. He created some inventive, beautiful, original stuff. First Peter Gabriel, now Sting - you're 0 fer 2 with that insult stick of yours, you fucking imbecile.

Tell us agin how you feel about Survivor and Motley Crue... dude.

Posted by shawn mc on Saturday, 06.30.07 @ 07:54am

The Police are one of the greatest bands ever. Hands down. Saw them the other night in Houston, and the show rocked. What kind of moron can't see their greatness?

Now, there actually can be differing opinions on Sting's post-Police work, though. I would lean toward inducting Sting solo as well, but not without some reservations. 'Dream of the Blue Turtles' was a brilliant debut, and bold move by making a record so removed from the sound of the Police. 'Bring on the Night' is a fantastic live record that brings 'Dream if the Blue Turtles' to its logical conclusion. 'Nothing Like the Sun' was atmospheric and solid, and then 'Soul Cages' was the peak of his solo work, in my view. It is all great up to there, but then he turned a corner and went on cruise-control down AOR Drive, and he sould not be given much credit for his solo work from the early 1990's forward. Sorry.

Posted by Dezmond on Sunday, 07.1.07 @ 14:48pm

Agreed Dezmond, as for the solo career, Dream of the BT and Nothing like the sun to me were so original and different, that those two albums alone should push him in...plus, he is Sting :-)

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, 07.1.07 @ 16:36pm

While I agree with you Dez that Sting's first three albums are his strongest and most intriguing, I'd also put "Ten Summoner's Tales" from '93 in there too; you wouldn't?

'94's "Mercury Falling" did admitedly begin the less jazz/more AOR phase of his work that I less prefer. I thought he really lost it on '03's "Sacred Love" (a duet with Mary J. Bligh? C'mon..) Blech and boring mostly.

But I would stop far, far short of condemning Sting's recent works in the same category as Rod Stewart's or Elton John's bland surrenders and creative empty tanks. Sting's stuff is still pretty unique, if not remarkable. I was impresseed with "Fille Her Up" and "Brand New Day" off of said album.

The times that Sting has really disappointed me in the last 8 years or so are when he behaves as if he's desperate to reach a new audience and he embarrasses himself (and his longtime fans, like me). I'm talking about his cheesey appearance with the Backsteert Boys (or was it N'Sync?) at an awards show where he walked out and "joined" them in singing "Every Breath..). The Jaguar commercial using "Desert Rose" was an eye rooler. And tht GAWDAWFUL song he did with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart fro that 3 Muskateers movie was absolute shit.

Posted by shawn mc on Sunday, 07.1.07 @ 16:44pm

Dez, the solo career may be debatable, my response was the "creeps" claim that his solo career has been " absolutely horrid."

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, 07.1.07 @ 18:50pm

If Sting retires, can we just call him Stung?

Posted by K-Money on Monday, 04.14.08 @ 10:47am

He can only retire once he's released enough insipid solo albums to make everyone forget how good The Police's first four albums and the second side of Synchronicity were.

Posted by Liam on Monday, 04.14.08 @ 11:28am

I think he deserves the honor. I like all his solo cd's......Ten Sumner's Tales is one of my fav. His lyrics.....pure poetry.....read his lyrics to Ghost Story, Mad About You, All This Time, Love Is Stronger Than Justice, Shape of My Heart, Fragile, etc. The guy is amazing.

Posted by bquest on Friday, 09.26.08 @ 11:20am

He's in with the Police. And that's all he should be in for.

Posted by Blueby on Wednesday, 10.8.08 @ 17:55pm

Rock & Roll Jeopardy
Category: If They Collaborated

If Sting and Billy Joel were to collaborate, the song would be...

What is "Englishman In A New York State Of Mind?"

Posted by Aaron O'Donnell on Friday, 07.24.09 @ 23:30pm

Someone said letting in The Police was "generous"? Good God, somebody hand me a knife and a gun. As for his solo work, I say no. I grew up with it thanks to my parents, and he's written some really great stuff (for those who lost interest after the 80's, Mercury Falling has some beautiful songs and Brand New Day has some good stuff), but can we honestly call it groundbreaking? Plus, I know of few (if any) artists that are inspired by him outside of the police. He still has a great voice (the one-off appearance with Jeff Beck at the Hall of Fame shows), but considering the backlog of worthy artists that are waiting, I'll have to vote no.

Posted by Sam on Friday, 02.5.10 @ 12:28pm

"The Jaguar commercial using "Desert Rose" was an eye rooler." - Shawn

Especially when a) he and his wife are environmentalists and yet he's endorsing cars b) His net-worth is currently 150 million pounds. Does he really need more money?

I still like some of his music, and though before I would've voted no it still wouldn't have bothered me if he was inducted again. Recent news has come to me, however, that has made it a definite "no" to me and has drained any enthusiasm I might've had for his induction. I found out that in February he played a concert in Uzbekistan, and was invited by the daughter of the Uzbek president, who has an appalling human rights reputation, plus ticket prices for the event were outrageous. He even lied about UNICEF sponsoring it. This is devastating news, considering his support for Amnesty International and writing about human rights issues both on his own and with The Police ("They Dance Alone", "Russians", "Spirits in the Material World".) I still enjoy his music, and I'm quite willing to defend it, but this is one thing I cannot possibly defend. What happened Gordon?

Posted by Sam on Tuesday, 04.6.10 @ 19:54pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_(musician)#Criticism_and_controversy If you want to know more.

Posted by Sam on Tuesday, 04.6.10 @ 19:54pm

NO NO NO !!

Posted by James Robinson on Sunday, 04.11.10 @ 16:06pm

Formula for being a hypocrite: Be an environmentalist and endorse cars with "Desert Rose" being played on Jaguar adds AND claim to be such a humanitarian whilst playing a private concert for the Uzbek President whose country under him has received a dreadful human rights record. I know this has nothing to do with his music but it's still an eyebrow raiser.

I don't know who was the benighted individual that said the induction of the Police was "generous" but I'm willing to bet its the same kind of person endorsing the induction of the Jonas Brothers. As for Sting solo, he's done some good stuff, I don't think it quite measures up to Hall of Fame caliber but who knows, maybe I'm the only person to feel this way. If however, the Hall chooses to induct a "big" name like Sting solo in the next two or three years ahead of dozens of other artists who were more important to Rock history with regards to Influence and Innovation just to generate ticket sales, well, then that's just sad.

Posted by Tahvo Parvianen on Wednesday, 07.28.10 @ 09:59am

(Applause.) Perfectly stated, Tahvo. A flawless, five star masterpiece of a statement. I might add that Sting and his wife also own 8 properties (no, not near where I'm moving to)... and why does Mrs. Gordon Sumner need a private jet to fly from their New York apartment to D.C.? Oh well, I'm still happy to listen to some of his solo stuff, but like you said he doesn't quite cut it as far as a second induction is concerned.

Posted by Sam on Friday, 07.30.10 @ 15:23pm