Song List
You Still Touch Me
Lullaby To An Anxious Child
The Pirates Bride
Twenty Five To Midnight
Facts about "You Still Touch Me"
(Found at Sting's official site http://www.sting.com)
Released on the album "Mercury Falling" March 6th 1996
UK - Single released May 11th, 1996
Highest UK Chart position #27, 3 weeks on the chart
US information unknown at this time
The tour program for Sting's 1996 album "Mercury Falling" quotes Sting describing his inspiration for the varied styles he covered on that recording, ""That line about Mercury falling was the first lyric that came to be when I started to write. That lyric has a lot of reverberations, one being that I’m mercurial in darting from genre to genre on this record...Mercury was the thief of the gods, so I steal from everywhere this time." With that in mind, take a close listen to "You Still Touch Me" - is that Sam & Dave you hear? That's the usual comparison, but I'll let you draw your own, after you rush out and grab a copy of this excellent CD single.
I'm going to steal from you the usual review of the title song - it is not the reason to buy this CD. Sting has recorded many B-sides and bonus tracks, and the public at large is completely unaware of some incredible material. All three of the "extras" on this CD are album worthy - in fact, "Twenty Five to Midnight" was released on the UK version of "Mercury Falling". It's the story of a singer who has to choose between the big break for his band, or getting home in time to stop his girl from marrying his best friend. Sting loves to write about complicated relationships... This is a terrific song performed in an infectious 7/4 time; Sting brings in a nifty horn section, and turns up the humor in the bridge. (I have a hard time keeping a straight face, picturing Sting as the lead singer for the "Latino Lovers"). It's a fun song, and eventually, you'll learn to tap your toes along with the unusual rhythm.
You'll need to tap very quietly during the absolutely lovely "Lullaby To An Anxious Child", co-written and performed with his guitarist, Dominic Miller. (The song also appears as an instrumental on Miller's 1999 album "Second Nature") The song was written for Sting's newborn son, Giacomo - in my early years of fatherhood, I sang lullabies for my children, but never anything quite this exquisite:
Hush child
Let your mommy sleep into the night until we rise
Hush child
Let me soothe the shining tears that gather in your eyes
Hush child
I won't leave I'll stay with you to cross this Bridge of Sighs
Hush child
I can help the look of accusation in your eyes
In your eyes
The world is broken and now
All in sorrow
Wise men hang their heads
Hush child
Let your mommy sleep into the night until we rise
Hush child
All the strength I'll need to find, I'll find inside your eyes
In your eyes
- Copyright 1996, Sting/A&M Records
Finally, Sting takes us deep into the longing heart of "The Pirate's Bride"; in my mind, this is a musical follow up to "The Secret Marriage" from the album "Nothing Like The Sun". "The Pirate's Bride" is widely acclaimed by collectors as a "lost classic", and I would go further to state that this is one of Sting's finest accomplishments. Like the rolling tide of the chorus, everything about this song pulls at your emotions. The piano delivers the heartbroken soul of the wife waiting for her true love to return from sea, while bass and strings combine with a simple percussion to form the never ending cycle of the waves. The percussion shifts from a four pattern to six to give the third verse added flavor, while the vocals and instruments continue on in four. It's a jazz touch that works well, and brings even more depth to this well-crafted song.
It's a crime that none of these three "extras" are well-known, but these three still touch me. Now get clicking, and buy this CD! (the author and Epinions.com do not condone stealing this CD, no matter what Sting says...)
My Sting Reviews
Singles, Maxi Singles and other Song Collections
All This Time [Single]
I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying [Maxi Single]
Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot [Maxi Single]
Albums
The Dream Of The Blue Turtles
Nothing Like The Sun
The Soul Cages
Ten Summoner's Tales
Mercury Falling
Brand New Day
All This Time
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