Remember that time Bruno Mars got Sting all emotional by singing his own song to him and absolutely bringing down the house!? Mars delivered one of the greatest Kennedy Center Honors performances ever with killer renditions of two old school The Police hits, and Sting was freaking pumped for it! Mars kicked off the show with “So Lonely,” and it was like the song was written just for him. Fans marveled at how Mars’s vocal tone so perfectly fit the ‘78 classic, and you better believe he sang just like a bird.
Next up, Mars kicked into the greatest Police hit, “Message In a Bottle.” He didn’t just sing it – he totally captured the emotion and feel of the song, just living it. Mars built to a big crescendo on the iconic “SOS” refrain at the end, getting the entire night’s lineup to join him, including Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen. At this point, Sting started pumping his fists like he was at the footy, then got visibly emotional, holding his hands to his face. Moments like this are why The Music Man loves Bruno Mars!
Seeing Sting react so emotionally was a big moment, as the English hitmaker famously has incredibly high musical standards. Fans were loving Mars’s tribute, and added comments such as “Sting’s facial expressions said it all. Bruno, the band and all those that came on stage to sing along with him killed it” and “I love Sting’s wife’s reaction. She’s like you doing my man right. So cute!”
Mars certainly showed off his good taste with his selection of “Message in a Bottle.” The 1979 hit has long been a highlight of The Police’s live show. The English trio delivered a particularly spicy rendition of the “Message in a Bottle” at their 1983 Synchronicity Concert, which was thankfully captured for posterity with a pro shot production. The Police would self-destruct within 12 months of the concert, and it sure is a great document of the band at the peak of their powers.
https://youtu.be/Ki97mpo6Y_Y
The Police issued “Message in a Bottle” on September 7, 1979, as the first single from their second studio album Regatta de Blanc. As with many of the band’s biggest hits, the song was credited solely to Sting, although the frontman did praise the “lovely colours” that guitarist Andy Summers added to the song. The Music Man readers may recall that “Message in a Bottle” was The Police’s first UK number one hit, and it has remained a fan and radio favourite ever since.