Iluvthe80s
2-08-04, 11:51 AM
*From Jam! Music:
Saturday, February 7, 2004
Sarah, Rufus, Antonio, Melanie honour Sting
By ANGELA PACIENZA
Associated Press
CULVER CITY, Calif. (CP) -- Dozens of celebrities convened Friday to honour Sting at the annual MusiCares bash.
That meant yet another red carpet during a party-filled Grammy week.
A fashionably late Sarah McLachlan arrived as the media-lined walkway outside a sound stage at Sony Studios was closing.
Her trip to Los Angeles has been a whirlwind of activity. On Thursday she shot a video for her new single Stupid. Then there was a last-minute invite to perform on Sunday's Grammy show.
That meant mandatory rehearsals and galas for the Nova Scotia-born singer.
She said she's been reminding herself to breathe amidst all the activity.
"I'm performing this year so that adds a lot of pressure, and it's my first gig with my new band. It's going to be a lot of fun," said McLachlan, who will perform Fallen, which earned her a nomination for best female vocal performance.
"I don't even know who's here. I've been living in a bubble. I'm going with wide eyes and I can't wait for the whole thing."
Dustin Hoffman, Bob Geldof, Mary J. Blige and Tony Bennett rushed past the media throng, pausing only for a few pictures. Big-name guests like Madonna and Elton John entered through a different door to avoid the the flashbulbs.
But plenty of other stars paused long enough to gush about Sting and their favourites among his string of smash hits.
Antonio Banderas seductively sang De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da into wife Melanie Griffith's ear.
"In today's music many things are in the picture that aren't about the music, the images, the promotion. Sting is all about the music," said Banderas. "He's a landmark, an icon."
John Mayer and Herbie Hancock went with the popular Every Breath You Take, while Hoffman said he preferred Englishman in New York. Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 said the ballad Fragile was his pick.
"Sting is sexy. He's always been cool. When you see pictures of him really young, he was cooler than me. When he was 8, he was cooler than me. That's why he's Sting," said Thomas.
About 2,000 guests gathered for a dinner, silent auction and concert in Sting's honour.
Performances included The Black Eyed Peas with Walking on the Moon and French singer Charles Aznavour with Herbie Hancock doing Moon Over Bourbon Street. Rufus Wainwright, who has opened for Sting several times, was to perform King of Pain.
"Every time (Sting) gets up, he's just flawless. It's like somebody turned on a CD player," said Montreal's Wainwright, who had fashion reporters salivating over his flamboyant outfit of multi-coloured women's pants and retro T-shirt.
Diana Krall, her new husband Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Dido, Elton John, and Dave Matthews were also to serenade Sting with covers of his songs. They didn't walk the red carpet.
Grammy-nominee Kylie Monogue turned lots of heads in an elegant black Channel gown.
"There's a great atmosphere here tonight. It's not televised. It really is just to recognize Sting and his achievements," said Monogue.
Rushing past reporters with wife Trudie in tow, Sting was all smiles.
"I'm extremely happy,"he shouted to the press corps. "Am I worthy? Probably not."
Saturday, February 7, 2004
Sarah, Rufus, Antonio, Melanie honour Sting
By ANGELA PACIENZA
Associated Press
CULVER CITY, Calif. (CP) -- Dozens of celebrities convened Friday to honour Sting at the annual MusiCares bash.
That meant yet another red carpet during a party-filled Grammy week.
A fashionably late Sarah McLachlan arrived as the media-lined walkway outside a sound stage at Sony Studios was closing.
Her trip to Los Angeles has been a whirlwind of activity. On Thursday she shot a video for her new single Stupid. Then there was a last-minute invite to perform on Sunday's Grammy show.
That meant mandatory rehearsals and galas for the Nova Scotia-born singer.
She said she's been reminding herself to breathe amidst all the activity.
"I'm performing this year so that adds a lot of pressure, and it's my first gig with my new band. It's going to be a lot of fun," said McLachlan, who will perform Fallen, which earned her a nomination for best female vocal performance.
"I don't even know who's here. I've been living in a bubble. I'm going with wide eyes and I can't wait for the whole thing."
Dustin Hoffman, Bob Geldof, Mary J. Blige and Tony Bennett rushed past the media throng, pausing only for a few pictures. Big-name guests like Madonna and Elton John entered through a different door to avoid the the flashbulbs.
But plenty of other stars paused long enough to gush about Sting and their favourites among his string of smash hits.
Antonio Banderas seductively sang De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da into wife Melanie Griffith's ear.
"In today's music many things are in the picture that aren't about the music, the images, the promotion. Sting is all about the music," said Banderas. "He's a landmark, an icon."
John Mayer and Herbie Hancock went with the popular Every Breath You Take, while Hoffman said he preferred Englishman in New York. Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 said the ballad Fragile was his pick.
"Sting is sexy. He's always been cool. When you see pictures of him really young, he was cooler than me. When he was 8, he was cooler than me. That's why he's Sting," said Thomas.
About 2,000 guests gathered for a dinner, silent auction and concert in Sting's honour.
Performances included The Black Eyed Peas with Walking on the Moon and French singer Charles Aznavour with Herbie Hancock doing Moon Over Bourbon Street. Rufus Wainwright, who has opened for Sting several times, was to perform King of Pain.
"Every time (Sting) gets up, he's just flawless. It's like somebody turned on a CD player," said Montreal's Wainwright, who had fashion reporters salivating over his flamboyant outfit of multi-coloured women's pants and retro T-shirt.
Diana Krall, her new husband Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Dido, Elton John, and Dave Matthews were also to serenade Sting with covers of his songs. They didn't walk the red carpet.
Grammy-nominee Kylie Monogue turned lots of heads in an elegant black Channel gown.
"There's a great atmosphere here tonight. It's not televised. It really is just to recognize Sting and his achievements," said Monogue.
Rushing past reporters with wife Trudie in tow, Sting was all smiles.
"I'm extremely happy,"he shouted to the press corps. "Am I worthy? Probably not."