If you’re a music fan, you will probably be familiar with the name Sting. Born Gordon Sumner in Northumberland, UK, Sting went on to found one of the most important bands in popular music history, The Police, a rock group formed in the late 1970s which has since sold over 75 million records worldwide. Sting also went on to have a lucrative solo career, having hits throughout the 1980s and 1990s with tracks including ‘Russians’, ‘When We Dance’, ‘Fields of Gold’ and ‘Englishman In New York’.
Back in 2021, Sting played some gigs at the stunning Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, one of which happened to fall on his 70th birthday. In a video filmed by a fan that has since reached over one million views on YouTube, Sting returns to the stage for an encore after performing the main segment of his show, greeted by the whoops and cheers of the audience. He proceeds to play a stripped-back version of his beautiful 1988 single, Fragile, taken from his second album ‘…Nothing Like The Sun’.
Once he finishes performing, however, Sting gets a surprise. His backing singers launch into a version of ‘happy birthday’ just as he starts to walk offstage. He turns around, looking amazed but happy as the singers continue, with the audience eventually joining in too. But the celebrations clearly hadn’t finished just yet. Two men from backstage bring on a huge birthday cake for the singer, before his wife Trudi Styler follows to reveal that it was she who organized it all.
And this isn’t the only time Sting has been surprised at a live event. Back in 2017, he was visibly shocked when Scottish musician Annie Lennox made a surprise appearance at the Polar Music Prize award ceremony, and then proceeded to perform ‘Fragile’ on piano. Sting looked humbled and honoured as Lennox played, with Lennox also giving an emotional, heartfelt speech to say how “privileged” she felt to play the track for him, and how she had been a genuine fan of his music for many years.
Whilst the main focus of that evening at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens back in 2021 would of course have been Sting’s performance and the songs he chose to play, it was also heartwarming to see him being surprised by his wife with an enormous 70th birthday cake and an unexpected rendition of ‘happy birthday’. Both the singer and the audience looked as though they were having the time of their lives, which of course is what live music performances are all about.
Discover more from the iconic and legendary musician, Sting, by subscribing to his official YouTube channel. For updates and more, follow him on his official Facebook page. Not only is he known for being part of popular music band ‘The Police’, but also for his successful solo career with chart-topping hits throughout the decades. Witness more of his stunning performances and life moments, like his 70th birthday celebration on stage during his concert in Athens. Enjoy the surprises and shared love for this remarkable artist.