Customer Reviews

Lyrics

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Upon reading this book, i found the explanations and stories behind the songs very interesting. Sting has always been a prolific songwriter... especially during the years following The Police.

I guess I would have enjoyed more/deeper insights. But as a long-time Sting fan, I found this book very enjoyable.

It also serves as a great coffee-table book, since it's easy for guests to pick up & put down (ie- no real plot-line).

To those negative reviewers:
1) Read the actual book
2) Yes Sting is a bit narcissistic, but at least he can back it up. What's your problem?

I received this book as a Christmas present, and I've already devoured it.
This is a handsomely produced book containing all of Sting's lyrics from the five Police albums, and his solo output up to his last disc, "Sacred Love".

The actual physical construction of the book is gorgeous. The vellum-like wrap, the gentle coloring to the photos and text...it's a pleasure to read.

The book is loosely structured according to each album. He prefaces each album with a page or so of comments and thoughts, and then about 75% of the time makes individual notes for a single song. Not every song gets a comment, but all the "big ones" do.

Being a HUGE Police (and Sting) fan, I knew about half of the stuff he says from previous interviews, but there's a lot of new stuff here, and having it collated in one place is very nice.

I am a poetry hater. I have never understood nor liked poetry, and as you can imagine, reading song lyrics can either come across as decent poetry or puerile gibberish.

As I'm so familiar with these songs, I found it, for the most part, quite pleasurable reading through some of his songs. Most interesting is the progression from his punky-pop beginnings to his literate, complex tales as a solo artist.

For fans, this not only is a no-brainer, it's essential.

It is difficult for me to admit this, since I am a big fan of Sting and his work, but this book is a real disappointment.

Granted, I'm happy enough to have it on my shelf. It's nice to have all Sting's lyrics collected in one place. It's interesting to see how I've misinterpreted some things over the years; particularly, some of the harder rocking songs of the early era of The Police, when it was more difficult to make out the words. Still, I was hoping for much more.

The biggest problem, I think, is that there's so little here beyond the lyrics themselves. I guess of was hoping for much more in terms of background, interpretation and self-criticism of the work. That would have made this volume must-have interesting. But most of the songs have nothing extra in the way of commentary by Sting and those that do are little helped by what he does have to say.

For some reason, Sting still wants to cast darkness over his years as a successful musician. His autobiography, Broken Music, is wonderful--insightful and reflective--but he stops his tale as The Police are forming. In this book he once again had an opportunity to shed some light through the lens of his lyrics and he passed it by. Hopefully, someday he'll be willing to settle down and give us his impressions of his life since the late 1970's. For now, his fans will still have to wait.

Sting is one of the few artists of our time that still produces fresh music after 30 years in the business. Having been a avid fan for nearly 20 of those years, I'm grateful that he has pulled this book together.
Many times I have wondered what inspired songs like Spirits in the Material World, Fields of Gold, Inside, Shape of my Heart, etc. Many of his songs represent a certain time in my life, so its good to understand his creative process, simple or complexed. As far as Sting being a narissist, well what artist isn't? Some a little more than others, but that's okay because that's why we buy their music and go to their concerts.

I really love this book. Sting's lyrics are pure poetry. To read the lyrics alone without the music deepens it's meaning and i found my self later adding the music in my head and thinking of how the music stands alone as well. At times i would be singing out loud embarrassing my husband in borders.LOL
And it is interesting to hear how some of the songs were created or brought to life.
I am buying one book for myself and one for a friend.

I enjoyed the book. Sting's music has been around for a big chunk of my adult life, and I enjoyed the insight into the thought process that lies behind each of these songs.

I am really glad I purchased this book. I love Sting's music and like to sing along. Having the lyrics and some history of his process is interesting to me. If you really like his music, this is a nice accompaniment to your collection.

This is what song writing used to be. This is also what song writing needs to get back to! If you listen to "Shape of My Heart" and then read the lyrics and are still not moved...well, my friend, you have no soul and don't know real music when you hear it!

Give him credit. The man knows music and lyrics.
The product is excellent. Of particular entertainment value are the insightful introductions.
I would have given the collection five stars had there been more.
Sometimes the introductions come off a little too articulate. I appreciate Sting's command of language, but I am more interested in his personal thoughts than in his doctorate dissertation.
There are other great lyricists, one who may be more creative than Sting is Ian Anderson for example. But as far as addressing so many social issues with a mature and yet captivating "voice" there are none to compare.
Keep writing Sting. Please.

Whether or not this book can stand on its own is a question of personal preference, but knowing Sting's/Police's music certainly adds to the lyrics, in much the same way having the written lyrics in front of you will add to your appreciation of the music. This is of no great consequence as I assume practically everybody buying this book will be quite familiar with at least Sting's great hits.
The anecdotes surrounding the lyrics are extremely interesting to read and Sting's modesty and irony (not least the irony on his own part) adds a lot to the pleasure of reading these prefaces to the actual lyrics. I hope I'm not breaking any copyright laws quoting his intro to "So lonely", which proves my point perfectly:

I wrote these lyrics while I was in Last Exit and then grafted them shamelessly onto the chords from Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry." This kind of musical juxtaposition - the lilting rhythm of the verses separated by monolithic slabs of straight rock and roll - pleased the hell out of me. That we could achieve it effortlessly just added to the irony of a song about misery being sung so joyously.
It was something of a coup when someone pointed out to BBC television that, because of my poor diction, I seemed to be singing the name of a popular TV presenter, Sue Lawley, and not "So lonely." It was played on national television as an homage to Sue, but we didn't complain. Blessings are often unexpected.

The humanity of this great artist shines through every page of this book. Verdict: This book is a must for anybody who've been moved by Sting's/Police's music.