2004-09-02 Annie Lennox - Sacred Love Tour With Sting - Philips Arena - Atlanta - The USA

Information

Artist : Annie Lennox

Date : 2004-09-02

Tour Name : Sacred Love Tour With Sting

Country : The USA

Town : Atlanta

Venue : Philips Arena

MAP

SETLIST

MEMORABILIA

PHOTOS

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REVIEWS

PublicationReview
Atlanta ReviewSting and Lennox deliver youthful sound

By SHANE HARRISON


It was adult night at Philips Arena Thursday.

There wasn't anything X-rated happening. It was just a concert by a couple of pop stars of a certain age, Sting and Annie Lennox.

There was no shortage of balding and gray heads among the audience, but both of the evening's main attractions looked fitter than many pop stars half their age. They sounded even more youthful than they looked, despite having a combined total of about 50 years in the music business between them.

Lennox practically glowed. The only thing flashy about her stage set was the animal print top she wore over low-riding denim jeans.

The soulful Scot seemed to be having the time of her life, posing with childlike glee during ?No More I Love Yous." It was her voice that really set the place alight. The velvety power she displayed on the slow-burning ?Cold? was enough to send shivers through every limb.

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," the most familiar tune from Lennox's time with '80s duo Eurythmics, stood up well to the gritty rock treatment it received, as did crowd-pleasing takes on the guitar-heavy Eurythmics tunes "I Need a Man" and "Missionary Man."

Above it all, Lennox's voice soared, sounding better than any studio has ever been able to capture. "Ooh, mama," she exclaimed at the end of the sprightly pop gem "Walking on Broken Glass." Ditto, Miss Lennox..

Then it was Sting's turn.

It didn't take long for the crowd to get what it came for: some hits. For the set's second tune, he reached all the way back to his days in the Police. His piercing tenor has lost none of its power since that song, "Synchronicity II," was recorded more than 20 years ago.

Sting's backdrop was much flashier than the bare stage Lennox prowled earlier, with a scrim initially covering the front of the stage and video screens projecting images behind him. The images were unobtrusive yet often lovely. Don't know the quiet tune he's strumming from 2003's "Sacred Love" called "Dead Man's Rope"? Just watch the pretty pastoral pictures and drift away.

Don't drift to far, because after that it was back to the beat with "We'll Be Together," which included a return appearance by Lennox, who had slipped what looked like a pink nightie over her jeans and a hair net on her head. Strange but riveting.

Otherwise, it was a winding and usually winning jog through Sting's solid back catalog of Police tunes ("Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic") and solo tracks ("Desert Rose," "Englishman in New York") peppered with several numbers from the recent "Sacred Love."

Among the latter was "Whenever I Say Your Name," a song recorded as a duet with Mary J. Blige. Live, her spot was filled by the more-than-capable voice of backing singer Joy Rose. Sting ceded the spotlight to Rose's powerhouse pipes as she rattled the rafters and the audience cheered her on.

And the man coulldn't possibly get away without doing "Roxanne." It may have lost about half of its tempo since first appearing on the 1978 Police debut "Outlandos D'Amour," but its sing-along appeal is undimmed.

It's author - and his touring partner - shine on brightly, too.
Atlanta ReviewIt was adult night at Philips Arena Thursday.

There wasn't anything X-rated happening. It was just a concert by a couple of pop stars of a certain age, Sting and Annie Lennox.

There was no shortage of balding and gray heads among the audience, but both of the evening's main attractions looked fitter than many pop stars half their age. They sounded even more youthful than they looked, despite having a combined total of about 50 years in the music business between them.

Lennox practically glowed. The only thing flashy about her stage set was the animal print top she wore over low-riding denim jeans.

The soulful Scot seemed to be having the time of her life, posing with childlike glee during ?No More I Love Yous." It was her voice that really set the place alight. The velvety power she displayed on the slow-burning ?Cold? was enough to send shivers through every limb.

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," the most familiar tune from Lennox's time with '80s duo Eurythmics, stood up well to the gritty rock treatment it received, as did crowd-pleasing takes on the guitar-heavy Eurythmics tunes "I Need a Man" and "Missionary Man."

Above it all, Lennox's voice soared, sounding better than any studio has ever been able to capture. "Ooh, mama," she exclaimed at the end of the sprightly pop gem "Walking on Broken Glass." Ditto, Miss Lennox..

Then it was Sting's turn.

It didn't take long for the crowd to get what it came for: some hits. For the set's second tune, he reached all the way back to his days in the Police. His piercing tenor has lost none of its power since that song, "Synchronicity II," was recorded more than 20 years ago.

Sting's backdrop was much flashier than the bare stage Lennox prowled earlier, with a scrim initially covering the front of the stage and video screens projecting images behind him. The images were unobtrusive yet often lovely. Don't know the quiet tune he's strumming from 2003's "Sacred Love" called "Dead Man's Rope"? Just watch the pretty pastoral pictures and drift away.

Don't drift to far, because after that it was back to the beat with "We'll Be Together," which included a return appearance by Lennox, who had slipped what looked like a pink nightie over her jeans and a hair net on her head. Strange but riveting.

Otherwise, it was a winding and usually winning jog through Sting's solid back catalog of Police tunes ("Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic") and solo tracks ("Desert Rose," "Englishman in New York") peppered with several numbers from the recent "Sacred Love."

Among the latter was "Whenever I Say Your Name," a song recorded as a duet with Mary J. Blige. Live, her spot was filled by the more-than-capable voice of backing singer Joy Rose. Sting ceded the spotlight to Rose's powerhouse pipes as she rattled the rafters and the audience cheered her on.

And the man coulldn't possibly get away without doing "Roxanne." It may have lost about half of its tempo since first appearing on the 1978 Police debut "Outlandos D'Amour," but its sing-along appeal is undimmed.

It's author - and his touring partner - shine on brightly, too.

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