Two of rock ‘n’ roll’s biggest names are coming to Busch Stadium on Sept. 27 (note: concert has been rescheduled to Sept. 29). Grammy Award-winners and Rock and Rock Hall of Fame inductees Billy Joel and Sting will take over the stage performing together and separately.
This is one of just three remaining shows featuring both Joel and Sting. Joel, a six-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, catapulted to stardom following the release of his 1974 single “Piano Man.†He released his latest song “Turn the Lights Back On†in February 2024. It was the decorated singer’s first new release in 17 years.
British singer-songwriter Sting rose to fame as the lead singer of the U.K. new wave rock band the Police before going solo in 1985. Twelve Grammy’s later, Sting remains one of the most celebrated musicians in the world with a lengthy catalog of hits.
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Clearly, Joel and Sting have made significant impacts on mainstream music. Whether you were there when their records were originally released or fell in love with a sample in a new song, the concert will probably bring up some nostalgia. Here are five songs from Billy Joel and five from Sting that helped shape generations of music lovers and musicians.
Billy Joel
‘It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me’: A hit record from his 1980 album “Glass House,†Joel had a few things to say about the pressures of the press and mainstream music in his song “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me.†The music industry was changing fast in the ‘80s as a new wave of rock subgenres began to emerge. Joel humorously expressed his frustrations in the song, where you could tell he isn’t taking himself too seriously. However, Joel didn’t hold back in questioning what was wrong with the old sound as the new wave gained ground. “It’s Still Rock and Roll†peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1980. The single is now certified platinum.
‘Vienna’: The opening notes of “Vienna†are some of the most beautiful chords Joel has ever played. The record is one of the musician’s favorite songs and a fan favorite at concerts. Released on Joel’s 1977 album “The Stranger,†“Vienna†is a relatable coming-of-age song. Full of powerful, honest lyrics, the song is also bursting with lighthearted, fluttering piano chords and delicate vocals with Joel teaching life lessons from behind his piano. Originally released as a B-side to the song “Just the Way You Are,†the song flew under the radar for decades before becoming popular amongst millennial and Gen-Z listeners. Now, “Vienna†is Joel’s third-most-streamed song on Spotify. He released a music video for the song earlier this year.
‘Piano Man’: Before he had his first hit record, Joel was a simple piano man playing in lounges across Los Angeles in the ‘70s. His experiences inspired the fictional accounts he sings about in “Piano Man.†The 1973 single was Joel’s breakout record. The title rightfully became his nickname and peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. A highly decorated song, “Piano Man†was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2015, it was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry.
‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’: The second single from Joel’s 1989 album “Storm Front,†“We Didn’t Start the Fire†was one of three No. 1 hits for Joel. In the song, he runs down a laundry list of notable figures and historical events including Richard Nixon, Marilyn Monroe and the publication of the book “The Catcher in the Rye.†Everyone and everything mentioned emerged in pop culture between Joel’s birth in 1949 and the release of “Storm Front.†The fast-tempo track is a Joel favorite and hopefully a part of the set list for his upcoming Busch Stadium performance.
‘She’s Always a Woman’: One of Joel’s more underrated songs, “She’s Always a Woman†is a beautiful ballad from his “The Stranger†album. A love song about Joel’s desire for a woman who is just as lovely as she is flawed, “She’s Always a Woman†is full of romantic lyricism inspired by his ex-wife and former manager Elizabeth Weber. With the acoustic guitar and harmonies, the emotional song serves as a heartfelt and meaningful ode to new-age women.
Sting
‘Fields of Gold’: “Fields of Gold†didn’t break into the Top 10 on U.S. or U.K. charts when it was released in 1993. The second single from Sting’s “Ten Summoner’s Tales†album, the song went on to become of the artist’s most popular. “Fields of Gold†is clearly a love song. However, Sting said in an interview that he drew inspiration from the golden color of the barley fields around his home in England. The sway of the barley in the wind reminded him of the bond between lovers.
‘Every Breath You Take’ (The Police): A list of Sting’s best songs would be remiss without at least one song from his time with English new wave rock band the Police. “Every Breath You Take†was the band’s lead single from their final album “Synchronicity†(1983). Although it was the band’s last hoorah, “Every Breath You Take†became their fifth U.K. No. 1 song and the band’s only No. 1 hit in the U.S. The song was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and won the 1983 Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
‘Shape of My Heart’: Another single from the “Ten Summoner’s Tales†album, “Shape of My Heart†has some of the most memorable guitar riffs in music history. The song tells the story of a gambler constantly finding life lessons in a game of cards. “Shape of My Heart†wasn’t a smash hit when it was released in 1993. However, the song grew into a pop-culture classic, landing in movies like “Leon†(1994), and has been sampled by artists like Craig David, Nas and Juice WRLD.
‘Desert Rose’: Inspired by Latin and Arabic culture, “Desert Rose†reached No. 2 on the Canadian charts in 2000. The song features Algerian singer Cheb Mami. His airy background chanting complements Sting’s vocals, giving the song an otherworldly undertone. The pairs vocals mixed with a host of drums, strings and other instruments created an exotic and fresh sound for the British singer.
‘Love Is the Seventh Wave’: A reggae-inspired song full of tropical flavor, “Love Is the Seventh Wave†was released in 1985 on Sting’s debut solo album “The Dream of the Blue Turtles.†The lyrics are full of love and unity with chanting and colorful instruments swirling behind the vocals. Sting wrote the song in Barbados while watching surfers ride the waves. They’d told him that the seventh wave was always the strongest, leading Sting to the conclusion that love, in fact, is the strongest wave of them all.