Billy Joel welcomed Sting to perform at his sold-out co-headlining concert at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Florida. Both artists came out during each other’s sets to collaborate on an epic duet performance.
Joel will perform several co-headlining shows this year, such as with Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks and other ’70s acts.
1. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
On Saturday night in Tampa, they began their co-headlining One Night Only summer shows by joining each other during each artist’s set to sing some classic hits, according to fan-recorded videos.
The duo performed iconic hits from throughout their legendary careers, and fans went wild! Strangers hugged each other in the audience while couples held hands tightly as concession workers sang songs as they sold churros.
Joel demonstrated his affinity for New York State by flashing video footage of Brooklyn Bridge during “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” and pointing towards Statue of Liberty during an energetic “New York State of Mind.” Later this summer he will complete his Madison Square Garden residency alongside Stevie Nicks.
2. Big Man On Mulberry Street
Sting joined Joel for an unforgettable duet performance of Mobster classic. Together onstage, their voices blended beautifully as the crowd sang along to every note they sang together.
Sting returned to the stage after changing into his Frank Sinatra look with black suit and fedora for “Big Man on Mulberry Street,” much to Joel’s delight; both performers seemed energized by its jazzy beat.
These two artists are currently co-headlining shows together and it makes perfect sense for both of them. Joel’s been busy this year with the release of his first solo album since 17 years as well as concluding his record-setting Madison Square Garden residency with 150 shows – not to mention touring alongside Stevie Nicks this spring!
3. New York State Of Mind
Joel composed this song in the early ’70s because New York held more of his heart than California. Additionally, during live performances he would often make quick references to John Denver‘s Rockies song and comment upon New York as being “masturbation magnets.”
Scenes From An Italian Restaurant and Uptown Girl added to the festive mood before Sting appeared, dressed like Frank Sinatra with his brimmed hat and gray suit, to perform Big Man On Mulberry Street as part of his duet performance with Elton John on stage – both artists blended perfectly, providing beautiful harmony vocals while the crowd sang along enthusiastically – providing the ideal start to their series of co-headlining shows that began back in February at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
4. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Joel offered an emotive tribute to his own family through this heartfelt ballad.
The song boasts an extraordinary and complex history spanning decades and continents and millions of dollars in royalties. Solomon Linda first composed Wimoweh for South African company Gallo Records in 1939. George Weiss then adapted and recorded an arrangement by doo-wop group the Tokens that became number one in America; Linda’s daughters later filed suit over copyright infringement but were eventually awarded an appropriate settlement from that litigation.
No matter whether or not we hear any new pop music from Joel, the Piano Man will remain part of our lives through stadium concerts this spring and summer with Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart as well as finishing up his decade-long residency at Madison Square Garden this July.
5. We Didn’t Start The Fire
Pre-YouTube, Joel’s song “We Didn’t Start the Fire” may have faded into radio obscurity but has found new life on YouTube, garnering many millennials their first history lesson through this track depicting two characters living through events from the Fifties through to Seventies as events pile up like flames on an ever-stoking fire.
Fall Out Boy has taken their version one step further by expanding upon their song to incorporate major world events up until 2023. While this might be too much information for listeners to process at once, its execution was flawless.
Their co-headlining shows will feature songs from both artists’ early careers. Each artist will perform four tracks from 1973’s Piano Man and 1976’s Turnstiles albums as well as five classic hits from the ’80s.