The Sting Interview 

that has a lot to do with the interviewer

@@jacobsmithjr indeed, it has EVERYTHING to do with the interviewer. ...Wait, are we talking about... is Rick the interviewer? Or is Sting? Who is the interviewee? Nothing really matters, anyone can see...

@Billy White Jr. That said , you could see at the start Sting wanted him to back down from the Music theory questions a little bit and go up a level from techniques to something a bit more meta (perhaps Stings a slightly more intuitive songwriter than Rick expected) But once Rick does , Sting completely unwinds and opens up completely.

@@shayneoneill1506 Yes, it's a credit to Rick to feel that quickly and indeed the mood mellows. I also appreciate how Sting involves and acknowledges Dominic and his contribution. More often than not you need a strong sparring partner to cut out the OK parts and instead end up with something great. Now watching for the 2nd time ;)

I have to say sting sometimes seems grumpy in interviews here he seems genuinely happy to elaborate and comment in many ways this interview brought out the real Sting and what makes his music fantastic.

Damn straight

He is now, officially, that guy.

Brilliant indeed !!!

He interviews them as musicians, not as celebrities.

I had the exact same thought! Compare this to any other music related interview....no contest.

agreed

I don't think so

I'm not really a Music intellectual, Listening to SqueeZe right now 😂🎉🤙

​@AnthonyPOSSO-yg9gx Annie get your gun.

He was probably very glad he was beiing interviewed by someone who actually knows some music😂 (and "some" it's just falling really short with Rick)

Wow Rick. Thank you!

What made this interview so GREAT was just how prepared and knowledgeable Rick was about Sting's music. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, Rick carried out this entire interview without prepared notes or cue cards for his questions. This created a very relaxed and natural human interaction that brought out the very best answers from his famous guests, and made it such a huge pleasure to watch. Rick made this entire interview seem like a very personal and intimate conversation about the inner depths of great music with some of the most gifted musicians and creators ever to exist on this planet. Huge kudos to Rick Beato!!!

Absolutely wonderful. Great questions and I like how you allow your guests to answer in their own sweet time!

Sting is the GOAT!

I'm starting to find this sort of guest less incredible... That is, I believe they belong on this channel! Well Sting is one of the BIG ones, like Joni. (And Robben Ford is not chopped liver either.)

Agreed. You know it was a comfortable, engaging conversation when everyone looks at their watches & thinks to themselves, *"Wow, we've been at this for over an hour but it seems like 10 minutes."*

Agreed.

I love how Sting, who has done 1000+ interviews starts all crossed up and leaning away. As Rick reveals his amazing knowledge Sting relaxes and leans forward because he knows this interview is different that all the others. Hats off Rick. All I want to say is I live about 20 min away from Rick’s studio and so want to be best friends!

I pretty much iterated the same thing. Initially, I thought it might not go accordingly, but Beato, being himself, kept the train on the track by stating informed. He knows his craft.

​@DeniedGrace yep! I thought at first it might not as well as it did, but for sure, it seemed to settle in the groove quite nicely

Dominic looks like he needs a good sleep.

I really wonder what sting was thinking at that moment 😄

Fresh out of college, music major, I got a chance to talk with Keith Jarrett after a 1975 solo piano concert. Big thrill for me, but I asked the wrong questions, blathered a bit, and... the look on Keith Jarrett's face was the same as on Sting's face here in this video... up until 4:37. Damn, I wish I was Rick Beato, and could go back and ask meaningful and insightful questions, and see Jarrett's face light up like Sting did here!!! Way to go Rick, love all your interviews, and especially this one.

Congratulations, Rick, Sting found you surprising.

Or he was just bored out of his mind😂

@@perfectpiano1871 Oh yeah life if you had interviewed him you could have make him crack up.

Exactly, ^oo^

@@bernardthedisappointedowl6938 Didn't notice myself. Might have to watch again to see if I can spot him :)

I know! Isn't Dominic great!!! :)

I hope the younger generation learn the brilliance of The Police.

@@CloxxkiDon't you see the headband hanging on wall?

You have my vote!

Well said!

Approved !!

@@mikeziegler3365 But that's the thing, you want to ask musicians about music, actors about movies, football players about sports - things they know better than anyone... what do we care about their personal lives, political views etc. - how are those any more interesting than the next person's?..

@@mikeziegler3365 I'm a musician and I want to hear about D major and E flat or whatever, its sad that there's those who want to hear about stings personal life and not the fantastic music he's brought to us.

He used to sing for a band called Skid Row. Had a great voice.

@@harryflashman7562 Pretty sure he is referring to Johann Sebastian Bach. 1685-1750

He may be shy but he is a Bell End

How he evolves in the interview i think he is really thoughtfull and carefull about what he says. And has a decent social anxiety he needs to tame.

If anyone it's Copeland who's the arrogant one.

Very interesting point! thx

No, he is a egotistical arrogant jerk, for sure. Has nothing to do with shyness. He thinks he is the best, he is not. I know, saw him, up front center stage, the band was awesome, but Sting he has no gratitude for the fans at all.

Absolutely!!!

Rick started throwing out chord progressions, and Sting was like "WTF?" after that Rick shut up and quickly shifted to another topic...classic interview on the fly read and respond...

I am impressed by Rick's ability to so comfortably navigate this interview with his musical frame of reference, and especially in how well versed he is in Sting's catalog. I'm sure that was an atypical interview for Sting, Rick engaged him and he seemed to be stimulated and honored by Rick's professional well thought out compliments. No fluff, or flattery there.

@@jimmygrant3151 A lot of Rick’s videos consist of him saying stuff like, “Here the song is in MixoPhrygian minor and the guitar is moving through the chord changes with lots of suspensions highlighted by the 4th and flat 9….” Frequently the songwriter is thinking, “Is that what I did? Ok.”

Good point! It actually feels like Sting and Dominic are slowly pulling the shafts out of their asses as the conversation continues.

Yeah it seems like 99 procent of interviewers approach and address musicians like ‘hey what is it like to be famous? Everyone knows you!’ and I havent watched this interview yet, maybe Rick’s gonna ask something similiar but it is so helpful that Rick is a great musician and is so into music that his guests feel comfortable. His questions are based on geniune interest. The opposite of someone like Howard Stern who just bombards his guests with blunt questions.

It’s because of how often he is interview and hit with meaningless questions that don’t talk about the craft. He loves talking about the craft. I got a chance to talk to him in an interview setting with the audience got to ask questions and mine was around his musical approach. That’s the stuff he loves to talk about at this point in his career.

exacttly

@@janbresters1005 Rick beato is one of the most underrated musicians on the planet. I know that Sting has the utmost respect for the man's talents, even guesting anonymously on Rick's last album. ty

This is my 5th time watching this interview. I love Sting and Dominic. Thank you Rick.

When Sting has Stung, it doesn’t matter if Spring has Sprung.

Absolutely Agree!

Ditto

@@deketk I think you've nailed that Tony. You can see neither is hugely engaged at the start and I'd guess that's because their PR people have had them do stuff like this before that's just been absolute pants! (Just check out almost any USA chat show - dumb questions in front of a paid-for audience that's going through a series of show recordings in a whole day. Got to be the formula for crap TV, er?) Once the guys realise this is going to be different; everything flows. Great work Rick!

The difference between this and normal interviews is this is made by a musicians for musicians (or people who are really interested in music). This wouldn't really be too appealing for average Joes

@@MatmoeLP Don’t be so pretentious, I’m not a musician, I’ve never studied music. I like the mechanics of music, especially appreciate how Rick breaks down how a song is put together. One does not have to be an artist to appreciate art, or be interested in how the art is made.

well said!

Wow

how did he get sting to sit down with him lol sting is old .. he is like whatever lets do some youtube lol

That was the perfect cherry on a perfect "interview" sundae...

Well said. So refreshing to hear a smart interview. Sting and Dom were really engaged Great job, Rick!

I agree but I still think sting came across as a little bit pompous. I think having the 3rd party in the interview helped keep it grounded. Rick gave a master class on how to be humble and respectful yet still filled with enthusiasm (I think he might be secretly British ;-)). Well done Rick. Many more please.

Completely true

@@doa1001 Just in his defense, I think he had a cold, so might have been in a bit more of a lecturing mood than a healthy man would.

Yes, very astute.

for me it landed when Rick went through the difficult chord progressions and referenced other 'difficult' songs. Musician to Musician to Musician.

go listen to Art of Dying - Gojira (live), and listen... every genre's of music has a pinnacle , and this might just be it

I used to avoid interviews in the past, I hated the shallowness of them, but I always liked to listen to musicians talking about music, from the technical side of it to the soul of it that inspired them. I love that Rick approaches these interviews this way. His knowledge just translates into such interesting questions.

Well said and agreed

To bad he's unbearable to listen to !

"Inside the Musician's Studio" with Rick Beato

What he said.

Fields of gold

it is not the best but it is one of them.. now it is very important to understand that sting is being nice.. he KNOWS music is finished.. he knows that today stuff wouldnt even rate in the 70s and 80s... he knows 99% of the "performers" now day would NEVER EVER pass a sting live session qualification.. i dont know why he is saying the complements he is saying aside from trying to sound nice since he is so loved by so many.. it is just like he say the things about whats going on in the world.. he knows the truth he just need to take a stand to not "hurt" anyone's feelings.. which is not really how it would be in the 1980's... sting is in most liklihood the most important modern musician of the last 50 years.. there is no one better in the last half century.. and very few coming to that level in the last 100 years... i really do not think he should complement as much as he does the garbage out there.. he knows rap is not music.. he knows that eminem is not rap musician but more of a pop musician who had success because he was melodic and only CHOSE the route he went to due to the times.. but he could have been pop musician and sing in duran duran type band just as much... there must be a threshold to be a musician.. and today it does NOT EXIST... musician must be able to PLAY INSTRUMENTS... TO WRITE MUSIC... DOES NOT HAVE TO READ NOTES.. BUT MUST BE ABLE TO EARN THE TITLE OF CELEBRITY DUE TO THEIR REAL TALENT OF BEING MUSICIAN..... NOTHING ELSE.. this is what sting did the best.. and today generation fail miserably in.. and sting KNOWS IT.. he;s just being nice.. he know this is a lost case with the 2020's... dom knows this too you can see on his face... rick HIMSELF knows it too because he would never ask it if he did not think so!

@@onamemmet Very true, although I have enjoyed his reaction to silk sonic, it seems like he was genuinely gleeful to hear 70s soul inspired music and do it so well, whilst also sounding relevant to today.

@@yonirechter8896 im sure your parents thought the same when hearing the music of your generation

I'm a lover of music not a musician but interviews like this just mesmorise me. It's probably like a genius mind talking about physics. I don't get most of it but I just get I'm listening to people intimate with their craft. Not just the superficial stuff like the meaning of lyrics etc. Spellbinding interview. Well done Rick. More please.

It seemed awkward as hell. Got better towards the end, but then the performances were really half-hearted.

@@mikeblaszczak5346 I wonder if it was done early in the morning…they seemed tired and his voice was not warmed up.

Agreed. Rick's questions are quality, intelligent, and revealing of his own immense knowledge, and respect for Sting and Dominic.

@@mikeblaszczak5346 Yea the way sting was breathing while Beato was asking him theory questions after just explaining he doesn't bother with theory. I thought he might physically attack him lol

Absolutely. Special people interviewing legends. It made my day, it really did.

i was fearing that Rick might ask who Sting's favorite Beatle was... ;)

Or calibre, even :-)

@@malteadotas4 same here.

Spot on.

He's a Geordie. They're mostly like that.

Rick is honest and has no agenda - it’s why this worked. Brilliant!

@@Tang0Fox1 I love Ricks channel :)

@@Coopsterish Everyone asking questions has an agenda, my dear, everyone. Do you think he just made up these questions on the fly.....impromptu as he spoke to them? What rock were you born behind? C'mon Man.....get a grip and get real. I assure you Rick knew the questions, knew what he wanted to get out of Sting and Miller, and it was a calculated series of questions, hence the "agenda" or the attempt to get Sting to talk, reveal inside information about his technique, his theory, his musical values, etc. Let's all try to grow up and comment like an adult.

@@tonytrabort4939 Improvisation and destination are not necessarily antithetical to each other. No need to talk down to folx making observations.

@@DonnaKaySpeaks Yeah, ok, but they aren't good or in this sense accurate observations. The interview was very calculated and came off as wanting to give Sting pladits for literally everything, since the day he was born. I just about puked when not enjoying some of the banter.....lol. And, no discussion of any meaningful nature of You Tube, Spotify, Apple or how the Internet has monetized the business in a different way and stripped guys like Sting of massive royalties???? C'mon, lady, get real. This was Beato sucking up big time, not a candid, objective cross-exam of a major figure in commercial music for the last 40 years. I mean McCartney has gotten away with murder in the social media.....no push back by interviewers, just total suck-up and McCartney commentary on subjects he knows nothing about. I've had enough of the phony kumbaya karma and love-fest. It made my skin crawl at times...... Beato needs to know how he comes off......in front of his audience, even though he was such a groupie to Sting for decades....lol.

Great summary and comment!

Agreed. I love that Rick is fearless, or at least brave enough, to ask the deep questions about the details or specifics of music. Too many interviews that get dumbed down, instead of taking an artist to a place that not only interests us, but also interests them.

I am already in awe of Rick's ability to analyze, dissect, reconstruct, explain, and teach music...but this interview with Sting stunned me on how well thought out, structured and thorough an interview of a musical artist could be. It should serve as a tutorial on how to interview ANYONE! Bravo. Mr. Beato!

Rick’s knowledge in music gives him an opportunity to make killer interviews. In fact, besides being an interview, it’s just an interesting conversation between professionals recorded on camera 🎥

I agree, and Rick is an especially excellent interviewer.

Amen.

Great take on this interview Andy.

Don't confuse the fact that Jordan Peterson OCCASIONALLY says something true with him being smart He is an incredibly emotional and gullible person. When he speaks on factual matters he's wrong more than he's right Please don't take advice from Jordan Peterson. You will end up profoundly angry about things that are NOT real and it will drive people away from you which will only make you more angry upset and scared of the world

100%

Well said, Stephen. I thought something similar upon listening and watching, like ... he - Rick - somehow closed ranks with these giants in his own way in order to simply get to LAND such an interview! Speaks volumes of the mutual appreciation for Rick's work from these accomplished gentlemen! (and really every other major artist he's been interviewing so far)

I’m new to this channel and agree wholeheartedly with the comments. Rick has such a depth of knowledge that it makes the conversation really meaningful and insightful. Thank you Rick for being so on top of your game. Very few interviewers/hosts do that or have the band width. It makes all the difference to a great discussion.

Agreed. Absolutely flipping brilliant.

Walkerson: So True............you pay attention........Good for you!

What a great synopsis, and I agree completely. Especially with the possibility of this being the start of a great new adventure. Rick, you truly are a great interviewer.

Perfectly said 👍

Halfway through Sting was still cross-armed and touching his face, often glancing at Rick with a mixture of suspicion and disbelief ... and my interpretation is that Rick's detailed insight into anything about his songs, arrangements, band compositions ... was unsettling him because usually he's in total command at the musical or intellectual level. Rick's smile and body language was very disarming indeed but I'm not sure Sting would feel threatened more by stupid gossip questions, which he's used to evading, than by this kind of surprisingly intricate interview.

I enjoyed the Frampton interview too,its nice to listen to real musicians talk about their music and musicianship and this Sting interview is just amazing and wonderful.

Man thank you for your work on "If On A Winter's Night"! I've got a bunch of amazing memories linked to that album and I listen to it religiously at least twice a year :)

I can see the Joni interview will blow my mind.

Agreed, wholeheartedly.

'Crave' is the correct word.... Great, intelligent, civil discourse about a great topic..... more of this please! Thank you Rick!

First line: just YES

I feel the same way. I needed this to progress on my musical journey.

I noticed Sting's body language changed through the interview. In the beginning, he was a little more reserved (not surprising after conducting countless interviews over the years). But he absolutely relaxed and engaged as he realized he was in the company of a like-minded and extremely knowledgeable and thoughtful interviewer. I got the impression Sting enjoyed himself. That's a great accomplishment.

@@bryceb8331 I noticed the same thing Bryce. I completely agree, I think Sting enjoyed himself!

Agreed. This wasn’t just the best Sting interview I’ve ever seen, but the best interview of any musician, ever. I think that’s bc Sting recognized that Rick is an excellent musician first (even though he didn’t play a note or lick), and an excellent interviewer second (he was able to speak the same musical intellectual lingo on the same level as Sting without showboating). There was a “synchronicity” between the two men, and it was divine. Thank you, Rick.

@@michelleflynn7485 Synchronicity! Yes! Brilliant. :)

@@bryceb8331 great comment. I feel your description to my core.

this!!

Maybe the key to getting him to open up is to include one of his musicians in the mix.

Yess. Feeling the Same here - was sooo surprised Sting called Soul Cages his fav…it accompanied me thru quite some years of my life. Actually there not many recordings i could say that of. 😅

That's what I've enjoyed most about Rick's interviews, when the musicians realize their being interviewed by someone who has actually listened deep enough to recognize what actually makes their music great and they can actually tell someone who will fully understand.

Yeah Dom was a patient man waiting his turn for so long but he really had something worth listening to. At the end the guests were so amusing in their asides

True. But I am pretty sure Sting (and others) checked the website before. Sting, and others, are also people who are watching the same Netflix Shows as you, and also consuming the same RU-vid channels. I can imagine some musicians are also huge Fans of Ricks channel.

Sting started out so guarded but had totally relaxed by the end.

Yes! Well said

Great discretion for the progression of the vibe of this interview.

Best comment right here.

Completely agree

Excellent observation, I noticed that too. It was fun watching them loosen up and have a bit of fun talking with Rick.

Yes, that’s exactly what happened here!

And you can tell he meant it - high praise for Rick. That wasn't some average journalist asking Sting inane questions about his new album. This was musicians talking music

That's the thing,it wasn't so much an interview as a conversation.

An incredible rarity.

I used the word "guarded" as well. That is so funny!

I'd be guarded too if some people talked at me and tried to diminish my contribution to music. Rick did a great job of talking about the music and the process without insulting his guests.

A song should be enticing like a pretty lady in a show.

Absolute gem

He’s so correct

I'm now going to be a lot more conscious of trying to have something surprising in my first 8 bars. :)

Time to write another I-V-vi-IV

Amen

Yes, a thousand times yes. Rick is one of us. He's a fan like us, but he's also a prodigious musician and educator in his own right. That's what makes this intervew and this channel so special. I could imagine nerding out for hours with him.

Right?

Did you hear Sting say "great conversation" at the very end? That was impressive.

he has a knack of pulling personality out of the musician.

And focused on what he actually cares about, the magic of music. Not celebrity, fame or his personal life. The sublime wonder and magic of music.

@@sub-jec-tiv that's really all musicians want to talk about. I think we have made musicians into gods, and that's just wrong.

Well said!

I think he already understands at 1:05, either Sting is almost intimidated by Rick's opening or that little smile is him realizing it's going to be an interview he can enjoy.

Definitely. Sting was enthusiastic with his replies to excellent questions. That is exceptionally difficult to do with incredibly intelligent people such as Sting. Great work by Rick to stand on the same ground.

Wow how cool! 🤩

You MET him?! How?! And where?!

Took me 10 months. But your fortuitous meeting and comment did not get drowned out.

@Vile last May. He played a show in my town and ran into him at the same hotel he was staying. I had only a minute with him but was very cool to meet him. I met Stewart Copeland back in 2016 too after a show he played at a church.

That is so good to hear because this was the best Sting interview I ever saw, and he even mentioned at the end that it was great.

Thank you Amanda 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Keep fishing indeed!

Facts!

I'm certain, at some point during the interview, Sting realized how completely observant Rick was in all of Stings music, how Rick had dissected it, and Rick's first impressions of what was played, that most people just gloss over.

absolutely

@@rfish67 every little thing he does: it's magic

Totally agree there is a look that Sting gives him and you can tell he is thinking " this guy knows his music" and he has instant respect for Rick.

Dead right !!!!

Sting is intensely grandiose but to Rick’s credit he didn’t stoop to walking on eggshells when asking his questions.

True but I think it’s because he doesn’t “get” the OMG youre an amazing songwriter. For him it’s normal. So he seems a bit reserved. More proof of his genius ☺️☺️

@@schrire39 Agreed- Gordon Sumner still takes himself VERY seriously.

There was definitely some tension at first but then he opened up and relaxed as the interview progressed.

@@buzzfunk Reserved , yes and but also narcissistic. His genius is not in dispute.

Have watched this wonderful and insightful interview, I also caught that within the first minute and then suddenly… Rick immediately provides an example, his reasoning and the conversation begins. So lovely to watch.

I had the very same impression, but you said it better than me. When the interview started, the two guests had this look on their faces like where are we, who is this guy, and how the heck did we land here? But once the interview got under way they realized, this was a real interview by an actual musician who had done his homework. And asking intelligent questions, not the usual tabloid questions about their personal lives but about their music. They seemed to enjoy and appreciate it.

@@elitebicycleracers also got the same impression in the opening few seconds, they were a bit tense and body language was a little bit dismissive at first. Brilliant interview from Rick I imagine they don't get many interviews where the interviewer is so competent in this level of detail of their work. Great interview technique too, giving the interviewees space and time to respond in full without answering the questions for them.

Too bad they needed to be won over.

Absolutely, man.

Yes, I notice they're much more relaxed than they would be on a huge chat show with that faked idolisation from the presenter *COUGH, James Corden*! And perhaps knowing there's far less possibility of bringing up personal stuff they don't want to talk about.

@@IThinkYouLookLarvely Corden isn’t the worst though

Yes like all Rick's thinking is OMG! OMG! OMG! IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING? So happy for him..Such a presence Sting has🤩

The glee on his face when they improvised "Every little thing..." 😭 but I can't blame him, I squealed as well. My favorite song.

yesss :)

exactly

Rick looks like the cat who at the canary. And then he lets the Sting bird out and fly. Great interview about music and song writing.

Absolutely💪😁

agreed

Yeh and were all waiting for the next nirvana moment every one from that time remembers where when and how it happened for them. At one point i thought it was dubstep but that didn't quite make it

@@Brpwndood Very well placed sir! I was 18 year old when Smells like Teen Spirit was released! After hearing it on MTV I called my girlfriend and said: I am going to the record store because I have to buy the album! Great day and it will always stick to my memory😁🍻👍

So true..👍 good observation

I stated earlier in this thread...Rick's interview is a tutorial on how to interview...anyone!

OMG i was thinking the exact same thing! The other regular interviews could be interesting, for sure, but those never go far about the artistry.

The street gang analogy is spot on.

So many artists I hear describe songwriting in that kind of way its so interesting. As if its not you making the decisions but you're waiting for a catch ie a word or a lyric or melody. There's some kind of spiritual element to it.

Funny that the filmmaker David Lynch uses the exact same fishing analogy all the time for the creative process.

Weird how an English teacher could do that.

Analogies are like....oh, wait...analogies ;)

Sting doesn't know what any of those chords are really called. I mean, come on! lol

That is a great idea!

I don't think that's his thing. He wants to keep his content free while his subs donate through their goodwill. He also wants control of his content without interference. He wants a self sustaining channel free from corporate influence. I could be wrong, but that's just my opinion.

I'd tune in!

OMG I'm all for that!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾

Well, posting your work on RU-vid doesn't give them any rights to it, so, yeah, Rick will sell all of these to Netflix eventually.

For me too! For her Love is beautiful!