Customer Reviews

Sting: The Illustrated Lyrics

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This book was first released in 1991, as a part of the big lavish box that was called: "Sting ~ Acoustic Live In Newcastle." Inside that box was a CD of a concert in Newcastle, England. My very favorite snippet of my favorite batch of live Sting recordings.

Roberto Gligorov, designed this wonderful book, wrapping his art around Sting's great lyrics so we are now able to have fantasic 'visions' of Sting's words presented for our eyes.

Twenty five songs are featured here, and they are expanded with fine visuals into something even more unique. With pen & ink, watercolors, oils, Photographs and early computer images, {1991, the Stone-Age for that medium!} these words by Sting, are transformed and they increase in scope and color.

The only other book of this sort that I have come across was about The Beatles, {if you have found other rock and pop artists that have been presented in this fashion, please leave me a comment!} This book showcases a great new way to observe what music can be for us, the listener.

If you ever wondered just what was going on at the: "Island of Souls" or why: "We Work The Black Seam Together." Here in this book, is the place to bring it more into or out-of focus. Art, IS only what you perceive, within itself.

This book is like jumping into the deep end of the pool for some, for others they may find these waters cool and refreshing. These visuals are an opinion, we may agree or disagree as much as we like, but if we are so lucky, we may find something new and refreshing within.
Sting, likes this book plenty, and so do I, art is cool and fun sometimes!
4.5 Stars!!!

Obviously, we all get different images in our head when we hear certain songs, just as when we read a novel we don't all picture the characters the same exact way with the same voices. This is the collection of just one man's visual interpretations. It is however done in a creatively diverse way that complements the experience of listening to these songs.

Roberto Gligorov is the artist. He also happens to be a Sting look-alike, to the point where he has been chased in public before by rabid Sting fans. You have to see the included photo of them together to believe it. Curiously enough, Sting and Gligorov seem to be fans of each other's works.

"Sting: The Illustrated Lyrics" is a collection of artwork collages that blend Gligorov's art with the fully written lyrics of various Sting songs. With maybe 5 or so exceptions, this book includes every song from the first three studio albums from Sting's solo career, "The Dream of the Blue Turtles", "...Nothing Like the Sun" and "The Soul Cages".

The artwork is beautifully varied. You'll find a mix of photographs and drawings in a number of different styles, ranging from the purposely cartoonish to the disturbingly twisted. The layouts are also just as varied. For most songs, the artwork is in more of a short comic book form, with a separate drawing or photograph for each line of lyrics. A few songs have only one single page with one drawing.

This is an excellent coffee table book for any Sting fan. Once in a great while I like to take my copy out, put on a Sting CD, and immerse myself in the artwork while I read along. Frankly, I'm surprised that books like these aren't done more often for other singer-songwriters.