Rock and roll icons opened their first-ever co-headlining shows together Saturday in Tampa, Florida. Sting joined Joel during his set to duet on “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”. Fans were even treated to another surprise performance: Sting joined Joel during his set to perform an encore duet version.
Sting’s performance left the audience enthralled as they sang along and danced along to classics such as “Uptown Girl” and “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant.” His musical force proved compelling as well.
The Concert
Piano Man and Reggae-fusion royalty brought plenty of New York love to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for an energetic “New York State of Mind” performance. For those who stuck through, Sting, sporting an ensemble reminiscent of Frank Sinatra with fedora and hat, returned for the first time since 1999 to duet with Joel on “Big Man on Mulberry Street”.
Sting, wearing an elegant black suit with a tuxedo hat for his portion, pulled in Shaggy as an unexpected guest star to perform their hit “Englishman in New York” together – making this co-headlining show one of the year’s most unforgettable performances.
The Setlist
Billy Joel began with a mix of hits from both his 1970s and ’80s catalogue as well as lesser-known cuts. Later, Sting returned onstage wearing a Sinatra-esque suit and fedora for an astonishing duet performance of “Big Man on Mulberry Street”, not performed since 1999 in Tampa.
Rock legends Keith Richards and Don Henley exchanged verses and harmonized on an unforgettable song during each set. It showcased their longstanding musical friendship, as well as how well their voices complement one another on stage.
Joel has also been giving his all to reach his milestone 100th performance at Madison Square Garden and 2024 has been an amazing year for him, releasing his first new single since 17 years and dueting with Sting on tour – not to mention performing at the Grammys!
The Performances
Sting’s 16-song opening set was an outstanding example of concert planning, orchestration and delivery that moved seamlessly from start to finish: from his duet with Joel on “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” right through to “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”
He made songs like “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle” and “So Lonely” sound fresh and vital while maintaining their integrity and original key, time signatures and arrangements.
Once Sting’s set was over, Joel came out onto stage and joined Sting for an astounding duet performance of Piano Man’s “Big Man on Mulberry Street.” Fans captured video footage of this incredible moment: two singers taking turns howling different lines before uniting at the chorus to bring down the house! Fans took footage that brought people to their feet in applause.
The Audience
The sodden stadium was filled with passionate fans singing along and dancing joyfully, knowing the power of songs that have become an integral part of so many lives – recalling fond memories, stirring longing for something better, or providing insight into even our darkest corners of humanity.
Billy Joel ignited an infectiously high-spirited performance despite soggy conditions, reminding his audience that true music fans won’t let a bit of rain dampen their spirits. His piano skills remain razor-sharp and his voice, though showing its age, still held strong throughout.
Sting’s surprise appearance for an encore performance was an inspired move; their voices blended beautifully to produce an incredible sound, something only possible when two such accomplished artists come together onstage. It was an unforgettable evening, reminding us all how music transcends boundaries; its power can reach deep within our souls, motivating us towards greater achievements.