Paxman asked some difficult questions, and Sting answered the best one could in that situation. It's civil and quite intelligent overall. This is how journalism should be like. I don't see how this clip warrants hating either of them.
@TheSeagull: absolutely right, well done for saying it. Watching Paxman is always thrilling but he would hold even more weight if he was more honest and conceded the odd point. Sting answered fairly and honestly, and admitted to being a hypocrite as the lesser of two evils. But rather than admiring that humility, Paxman simply ignores it.
I can't understand why anyone actually agrees to be interviewed by Paxman. There is no upside, its like being on the stand with an aggressive prosecutor. He is rude, arrogant as an emperor and insulting. He then hides under a disingenuous veil of politeness when challenged back. He puts people on the defensive from the outset making them squirm. In Paxman's world if you are not 100% a saint you must therefore be a devil, he sets out to discredit everyone he interviews. If anyone talked to you like this in real life they would get a sore lip fast enough.
@@mrjefferies90 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6kv4dsh31v4.html He's so righteous when he's firing the questions, look at what happens when the tables change, tell me what you think.
Would you rather an interviewer that bends over backwards to not offend the interviewee? I personally would rather have those in power put under pressure and asked the hard questions than "What's your favourite sport?"
i get a little tired of people bagging on folks like Sting. he is attempting to use his fame to focus attention on highly important issues and give a voice to those without one loud enough or powerful enough to be properly heard. yes, that inevitably draws attention to what he does primarily, making music. big deal. i invite those who dislike him for whatever reason to consider that he could easily be a useless star sitting in a tub counting cash. it'd be much easier for him if he just avoided the stick he knows he'll get for opening his mouth and putting his energy and money behind worthy and vital causes. his career also tends to suffer when he talks a lot about these things. people start using the word "pretentious" a lot. folks, he's not pretending to be anything. he is the genuine article. he was instrumental in politically demarcating a chunk of equatorial land the size of a small European country to spare the indigenous peoples there from dying off due to their land being polluted and plundered in the name of multinational corporations. what have any of you done for the planet today?
I don't think Paxman is rude or Arrogant!, in my view. I think a lot of these stars pay "lip service" to these causes, while living a over indulgent life style!. I'm sure if Sting had only one house, maybe a one car (should be able to do that for €200,000) and tries to live off the land more, and give the rest of his wealth (€499,800,000) to the people he says he is trying to help, then Maybe he would be less of a hypocrite
Thank you Mister Paxman. I cant stand it anymore that our society admires people who can sing, write songs or merely look good to such an extent that they become sources of political influence and are considered experts on academic fields.
Learn to read and argue: I'm not saying whether music is or isn't essential as that's not at issue. I've said, he is 'selling a non-essential product made of plastic. Whatever you views on music, you can't argue that CD's and records are essential to life as music can still be played and listened to as it has for thousands of years.
i liked charlie brookers quote on this - 'just ask the newsnight viewers who watched in astonishment as mr issues himself, stingford stingington sting wandered unwittingly into the paxman thunderdome', he was talking about how celebrities usually get an easy ride from interviewers, but not with paxman!!!
Sting has helped raise more awareness for the Brazilian rain-forests than anyone else & deserves great credit for this. He has done a lot more good on this earth than lame cynics like Paxman.
I find it ridiculous that so many want to tear down a man's effort to do some good His music and and just being a "rock star" gives him a platform from which to speak, and he is actually using it. Part of being a rock star is touring. Shall he stop? Where then is his platform from which to speak and be heard? Is this hypocrisy? As for Sting bashers, limousine liberal bashers, or bashers of any kind, what have you done today, or this month, or this year to help anyone other than yourself?
@u2atomicbomb That interview was not a "floor-wiping." It was an interview. Many people seem to have forgotten what an interview is, but a real interview is what happens when a journalist asks his or her subject serious, hard questions, challenging the subject to defend his or her position. It's not an attack; it's not an agenda. It's journalism. If you don't think people on your side deserve that treatment, then you've been reading Mother Jones and Utne Reader exclusively for far too long.
I saw an interview with Sting from the 80's where he was sitting in a hammock dressed like pirate twirling a sword with a pouting look on his face trying to look intellectual. Nuff said.
12 years ago I gave to Sting face-to-face 300$ for his foundation and I'm proud of that.Kayapos have their own place,they can live in rainforest.Terrible is the fact that very soon this Indian reserve could be last piece of native rainforest. Money,media,politicians and corruption rules and destroying our planet and I think we'll have to change it fast because one day human race could lost chance stay alive here.Exist two kind of people one try to do something,other do nothing.Rich or pauper.
The last three people I heard talking about higher taxes and wage-freezes were Sting, Bill Gates, and the chairman of the Bank of England. Do they even begin to comprehend how fucking galling it is to have a multi-millionaire tell a poor family that they need to pay more and earn less?
@thebigstephen: I agree. He was honest about the situation and answered the questions to the best of his ability. I noticed that when he pointed out that the Indians would die if the dam were built, Paxman had no comment. it's kind of a relevant point that the structure would wipe out an entire community of human beings.
@KazooDuude I was just thinking that my self, nervous you reckon? Or crapping him self at the fact he is at the mercy of one of the most formidable journalists in the world?
Sting is well known to be one of the most arrogant people alive today. His slouched posture and sleepy demeanor during the interview did little to help him get across his important message.
It’s a pretty simple one. Regardless of the indigenous folk who live there, preserving the rainforests should be at the top of every nations list of ecological priorities. What was the outcome of this?
I'm not a fan of Sting, so I came to this clip hoping to have a laugh at his expense. However, I thought he handled the interview remarkably well and was extremely dignified in his responses. It appears he's a better person than I.
[Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: "We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?"; Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: "I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it." - "60 Minutes" (5/12/96)]
Hi Coleen, For the record I actually completely agree with you about Sting and his huge ego. Just saying that sometimes you want to see what the reaction to the video is, and all you end up seeing are people's reactions to other people's reactions. It's sometimes a pain just trying to find the start of their argument anyway and quite often it IS just two people just calling each other names. Nothing personal intended(!)
Say what you like about Britain, there's few other countries in the world in which famous, rich, powerful celebrities would get their ass kicked on public television.
Paxman's questions are spot on. It's a tradition for show biz stars to run with a cause. It's interesting he mentioned Prince Charles because before rock stars "helping the poor" was Royalty privilege. Paxman's role as a journo is to drill him to see if Sting is a hypocrite. Now, yes he is a rude bastard, just like Morgan is. There's a very interesting Dutch interview about the Savile scandal where Paxman gets absolutely destroyed by his nterviewer. Always easier to be the aggressor.
It's funny you should say that, as today I was an extra in a small movie. The thing that struck me was the amount of energy being used to produce something that will most probably be background noise in someone's living-room. One of the crew told me that he worked on the last Bond movie and they destroyed 7 Aston Martins filming the opening scene. How can you be an tv/film actor and an ecologist; your industry isn't vital and has a huge carbon footprint.
I really do like it when Celebrities start "preaching" but this interview really did highlight the hypocrisy that often comes with all that "preaching".
@u2atomicbomb Paxman focused on those issues because those were the topic of the show. In the intro video the commentator did say that Sting was accused of being a hypocrite among other things, and Paxman wanted to talk about those allegations. True, on watching again, it does seem that Paxman is harsh on Sting, but I don't think that is completely unjustified, given the alleged 700 ppl Sting is moving around by airplane.
Sure Paxo tied him up in bundles, but I think Sting is actually sincere in his intentions & not many other celebs would never have had the courage to face the great Paxo.
I'm not saying these environment issues should not be addressed,not at all,but there are also issues at home,on the local news last night it was disclosed that a community centre is at risk of being closed due to insufficient funding.Its a day centre accomodating mentally disadvantaged people learning them new skills and hobbies,some have had strokes others accidents,which have left them debilitated,the threat of the closure is real and it would be sad to see them walking the streets,shocking!
I like Sting, I thought he was quite fair and reasonable in his answers. He doesn't claim to be an expert, just a pop star trying to give a voice to some causes that strike him as important.
Sting is one guilt ridden man. Most people don't cope to well with the way they make their money and go off on these unthought through missions which do nothing to help change the real problems. A real shame.
Do we have the right to displace an indigenous population who have established a harmonious equilibrium with their ecosystem which they have maintained over thousands of years due to the fact that we have destroyed ours and now need to act out in desperation?
natebooce Yeah but farts, when they're your own, are always the best. Speaking of context, 'invalid' doesn't mean mentally or intellectually challenged; just to fill that other gap in your knowledge.
Thomas, 'invalid' is someone who is physically impaired or disabled, I attributed it to a mental condition. If you're going to be so hopelessly pedantic you're going to have to try harder. But you already sound insecure enough Thomas, Thomas who wants to fuck Sting up the arse.
No matter what you think of Paxman, the fact is he really does have a point here. This world is full of hypocritical mega rich celebs who try and tell the masses how to conduct their lives but aren't prepared to practice what they preach.
Paxman does ask some pretty probing questions but I think Sting held up well...but when Paxman tried to pin him down on specifics he just evaded the question claiming it was not his responsibility. Thats the thing you suspect about celebrities. They are not economists or politicians but when you take a stand, you should have all the facts. You suspect its just all about making a big noise, hugging a few natives then jumping back on the jet with that nice warm feeling inside.
