Sting and Paul Simon sublime together at the Sportpaleis...

Sure, big stars often visit Antwerp's Sportpaleis, but when two of the most important icons in pop history share the stage, it's still something special. Sting and Paul Simon shared their joys and sorrows for three hours last night, emphasizing above all that neither their status nor their careers had been handed to them for free. It was a concert for the history books.

At seventy-three, Deene seemed even smaller than he ever was. An old, inconspicuous New Yorker you imagined strolling through Central Park, but in reality, he'd won twelve Grammy Awards, been inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame twice, and is considered by Time Magazine to be one of the hundred people who shaped our world.

The other was British, ten years younger, much taller, and wore a full, somewhat grayish beard for the occasion. In the seventies and eighties, he fronted one of the world's most popular rock groups; A solo career that was as versatile as it was successful followed. One hundred million records sold. Sixteen Grammy Awards collected. In fact, he achieved everything a musician can, and then added a little extra for good measure.

Besides impressive resumes, Paul Simon and Sting also share a long-standing friendship, and that mutual respect was palpable on stage. The set began and ended with a heart-warming hug, and the mutual appreciation was evident in the way each tackled the other's songs.

To share two goosebump-inducing moments right away: Sting delivered a refined, soulful version of Simon's "America," and Simon's worn-out, somewhat fragile voice, in turn, was such a perfect fit for Sting's "Fragile" that tears welled up spontaneously. It's rare to see so much top talent in the same space. Without further ado, you understood why their material continues to resonate with new generations. These are two artists who helped define the concept of a pop song, and in three hours, they strung together more than thirty true classics.

The American leg of their joint tour had already generated euphoric reactions earlier this year, and in Antwerp, too, you immediately sensed that something special was about to happen. The opening quarter certainly indicated how high the bar had been set: "Brand New Day," "The Boy In The Bubble," "Fields Of Gold," and the playfully reggae-beat-bouncing "Mother And Child Reunion" were a greatest hits that other acts would undoubtedly save for the encore.

The two could each choose from such an impressive repertoire that afterward, you couldn't tell which hit would resonate longest. And they'd even left a whole bunch of their old favourites in the closet. Someone in France once coined the expression "l'embarras du choix" for this.

The stage was roughly divided into two halves, with both Sting and Simon fielding their own bands. A total of sixteen top musicians played in a wide variety of configurations, swapping instruments as if they were clean underwear.

The set structure was also completely free of pretence: they started together, took turns, joined in, sang duets, performed covers, and occasionally delved deeper into their own repertoire. Despite the lack of acclaim, neither Simon's melancholic "Dazzling Blue" nor "The End Of The Game" - a somewhat forgotten track by Sting - were quite up to par with their well-known hits.

Paul Simon was in considerably better form than during his last three visits to Brussels, but Sting, in particular, proved to be incredibly good. A powerful voice, a dynamic presence, and an eager presence. The two made each other even better, so that 1+1 became 4 for the occasion.

The band members also had the opportunity to shine. It was beautiful, moreover, how they had reimagined almost every song for the occasion. For example, the hectic Police classic "So Lonely" was given a tuba solo, and "Walking On The Moon" was enhanced by a handful of furtive brass sections. "Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard," meanwhile, pointedly evoked the marching bands of New Orleans. All this ensured that even the most familiar songs remained surprisingly fresh.

Thus, the three hours flew by in a flash. And even after the brilliant encore - in which "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Every Breath You Take," and the Everly Brothers-borrowed "When Will I Be Loved" were reworked into duets - the audience kept clamouring for more.

Good thing: the tickets were on the pricey side - at 200 euros for the most expensive, and almost triple that for a VIP package. But with thirty-five songs on the setlist, you essentially got two full concerts. I never thought I'd say it, but Sting and Paul Simon were more than worth their money. A live album, please. And soon.

                       

(c) De Morgen by Bart Steenhaut