What do you think of Stings rendition of John Dowlands 'Come Again'?

Answer 1

The question may well go beyond one of music. If, by exposing children (of all ages) to the incredible music of John Dowland, the message is conveyed that someone dead lo these past 400 or so years, has relevant trenchant thing to say to the acne-riddled ear of today's youth, I see no harm in that.

Moreover if a larger lesson is learned, specifically that we can learn from the past, even the distant past, doesn't that potentially make the hearer a more informed person?

Downland / early music purists have plenty of artists to whom they can listen. But if one's most salient connection to music is Sting, and Sting sings Dowland, what a revelation that might be.

Answer 2

My esteemed colleague GuitarGadfly's views are never less than colourful, frequently pertinent, and never without wit, but I'm going to have to demur a little here. I don't think that Sting's sincerity can so easily be called into question. And likewise, I don't necessarily believe that Dowland would be so offended by his songs being executed by means of a less than perfect voice. Would that necessarily be so very different from many performances in his own day? No.

My own feelings were very mixed when I first heard them. I was in fact rather pleasantly surprised that they were as unaffected and 'straightforward' as they were. At the same time, with a little more art, and artfulness applied to them, they could have been so much more. But that is rather a similar problem to that with Goodman's Mozart Clarinet Concerto, compared with a Brymer or Leister (just as examples). That doesn't invalidate Goodman's views -- they remain as revealing in moments as they will always be -- but you might still prefer to live with a Brymer or Leister in the long term.

Sting has things to say about these pieces, and I believe his authenticity in answering the urge to say them. This is not a rich man's whim, or if it is, I haven't yet experienced it as such, in which case he has at least proved one thing: he's a genuine performer regardless. My disbelief has been sufficiently suspended, so he has done well as regards the craft of coming before the people. In that sense, we really have no grounds to ask more.

A visitor for the weekend, maybe, rather than a cherished house-guest of years..?

Answer 3

Why TY kindly for asking! I went ahead and watched the entire Songs from the Labyrinth program. I laughed at Stingy-Wingy trying to singy Dowland songs so loudly I think I woke the sleeping dogs of Hell!
So, you can probably anticipate that I'm about to launch into a rant here, but bear with me dear reader. If you can't then please instead get the recording thingy by Mr. Stingy-Wingy and also the recording on Virgin Classics John Dowland , songs for tenor and lute with Nigel Rogers and Paul O'Dette. Listen to them both. Line up songs with the same title. And hear the difference between someone famous singing something he cannot handle and someone not so famous showing us how it should be done.
Granted Mr. Stingy has done a justice to Dowland by giving him ever so much more exposure to those who may not have heard of this genius who ranks with Bach and Mozart. Sting himself says in the show that many people told him he should sing Dowland since his love of Dowland was so obvious. Sting should not have listened to the yes men around his wealthy self so much. His renditions of Dowland have neither the training nor the understanding need to do Dowland justice. They are and were laughably bad. Horrific tone production, cracking notes- Lord God it is awful what a rich man can bring to life with his money!
Had he been less Stingy perhaps he would have given wingy to a better idea: NARRATE the thing- perhaps join the choir at the end. But shut up the singing. And ask Nigel North or Julianne Baird to sing. Keep that lutenist sure.
I myself am a lutenist. I have accompanied some fine singers on Dowland songs on the lute as well as the guitar. I undertook an undeclared "minor" in Early Music at Case Western Reserve University under Ross Duffin (host of the radio program Micrologus) and Quentin Quereau.
I have never heard worse singing of Dowland. Songs of the Labyrinth is a massive monument to Mr. Stingy's thingy: His ego. The Labyrinth in question is on his estate.
Shame on PBS for even airing the thing! They've done more harm than justice to Dowland. If we ever find an image of Dowland in Hogwart's Academy (there are none known) we may well see him sticking his fingers in his ears and begging Gordon to stop stinging his poor ears!

Answer 4

At least it is better than Michael Bolton singing Nessun Dorma. I recorded the Sting tv show - but am not so keen on showing it to my students. OK, they hear some of the msuic, and see some footage of lutes, etc. - and that courting chair merry-go-round is cute - but this is just OFF.

I also found in school someplace a recording of Hildgarde von Bingen chants sung over a reggae rhythm section. If there are any musicologists on this list who can verify that she actually DID go to Jamaica - gee, I'd love to know. It would really change my viewpoint about medieval monophonic music.

Answer 5

Sting's love of the music comes through...along with his sincere but not proper performance-style vocal technique. His renditions do not exemplify the method of vocal technique required to properly put over this art form. However, that being said, he is a contributor the revival and resurgence of the music, which he must be credited for.

Answer 6

well, we know of plenty of folks over in the pop department who prefer somebody else doing the cover work, so I don't have too much difficulty in acknowledging Sting's foray into classical ( or here, Renaissance) literature. His voice is well suited for the range ( assuming he's performing in the original key...), and I think he's very easy to listen to. I performed several of these lute songs while in university, so I know what's involved.
Plus, what a great way for a whole new generation to become acquainted with these songs!