Review: Billy Joel and Sting give an unforgettable, one-night-only performance in Tampa
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Under a glistening full moon, the “English Man In New York” and the “Piano Man” himself launched Raymond James Stadium into an ensemble of cheers as the pair took the stage for one night only.
Kicking off the night in Tampa Bay, Sting, donning a black cowboy hat and true rocker-style leather pants, adorned the stage. The long-awaited night began simple — with Billy Joel strolling on stage to join his pal.
Have Billy Joel and Sting ever co-headlined a concert before?
While the two had shared the stage before, Saturday night’s concert marked the first time the pair had ever co-headlined a concert, giving fans an unforgettable night filled with classic hits, iconic covers, and a few special surprises.
“Stick around and sing with me,” Sting told the crowd as Joel joined him on stage in a trucker hat.
The duo transcended the stadium with “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic;” however, like me, most of the crowd missed a chunk of the show due to traffic congesting outside the stadium — nevertheless, the night rocked on.
The former frontman of The Police sounded as smooth as he had in the 80s while performing the band’s classic hits “Message in a Bottle” and “Spirits in the Material World.” The 72-year-old also brought out reggae singer Shaggy for a duet of “Englishman in New York” before turning the crowd into a choir by closing his set with “Roxanne” — a crowd favorite.
Sting showcased songs from his solo career during his nearly 70-minute-long performance, including “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,” “Fields of Gold,” and “Desert Rose.”
He ended the night with a bow as the crowd cheered him on, and the lights turned black.
And just like that, it was Billy Joel’s turn.
“Welcome to Raymond James Stadium,” he told the crowd, sitting at his iconic piano. “Last time I was in Tampa, I took my kids to see Taylor Swift. It was a great show.” The crowd hooted and hollered at the mention of Swift.
Joel was a pleasure to watch. His stage presence and charisma sent joy and smiles throughout the crowd. Everyone was singing along with the Piano Man, causing the echoes of the audience to transcend beyond stadium walls.
“It’s kind of cold tonight. Every time we play in Florida, it’s freezing,” Joel told the crowd.
At 74, the singer played his new single “Turn the Lights Back On,” making Tampa the first city to hear the song in person. Joel released the ballad earlier this month before performing it at the Grammys.
“This is only the second time we’ve ever done this live, so I hope we don’t screw it up. What’s the tempo?” he jokingly asked before nailing every chord.
As Joel moved through each song, reflecting on his past albums, the visuals behind him painted a story for each melody. During “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” flashes of the Brooklyn Bridge appeared behind him. Large waves filled the screen for “The Downeaster ‘Alexa,'” with Joel dedicating the song to Long Island fisherman.
His performance was everything and more, and there wasn’t a bad seat in the house as the platform under Joel’s piano occasionally rotated, allowing both sides of the stadium to witness his piano-playing skills in awe.
Joel’s transition from “The Longest Time” to “Uptown Girl” was a doo-wop from the crowd and his band. Later that night, Sting returned to the stage, joining Joel alongside the piano dressed in a gray suit and brimmed hate for a duet of “Big Man on Mulberry Street.”
It wasn’t long before he switched from the piano to his electric guitar, showing the crowd his rock ‘n’ roll persona and his “Moves Like Jagger” for an electric and comical cover of Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up.”
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist; I ain’t Mick Jagger,” Joel joked.
Joel went through a mirage of his greatest hits before concluding his set with none other than “Piano Man.” At the final piano key, the lights dimmed and Joel walked off stage; however, the crowd knew the night wasn’t over.
Shortly after 10 p.m., Joel returned to the stage as everyone screamed for an encore, and sure enough, he kicked off his five-song encore with the spunky “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” He followed it up with “Uptown Girl” before moving on to “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me.”
As he sang his 1980 hit, the screens flipped back and forth between a young Billy Joel from the iconic music video, letting fans and Joel reminisce on the past. The star proved that he’s a man of many talents, twirling his microphone stand between his fingers like a baton during the ballad before whipping it over his shoulder.
Joel and Sting brought the fire and passion to Tampa Bay, illuminating the jam-packed stadium and allowing the nearly 80,000 fans to relive their good ole days with some good ole music.
“It’s a pretty good crowd for a Saturday night!” Joel sang as the singing crowd faded into the night.
ONE NIGHT ONLY SETLIST 2/24:
Sting
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic ft. Billy Joel
Message in a Bottle
If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
Englishman in New York ft. Shaggy
If you Love Somebody Set Them Free
Spirits in the Material World
Fields of Gold
Brand New Day
Heavy Cloud No Rain
Shape of My Heart x snippet of Juice WRLD’s Lucid Dreams
Walking on the Moon / So Lonely / No Woman, No Cry
Desert Rose
King of Pain
Every Breath You Take
Roxanne
Billy Joel
My Life with Ode to Joy into
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
Vienna (The audience was given a chose of either “Just The Way You Are” or “Vienna”)
Start Me Up (Rolling Stones cover)
An Innocent Man
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Longest Time
Turn the Lights Back On
Big Man on Mulberry Street ft. Sting
Don’t Ask Me Why with Goldfinger intro
New York State of Mind
The Downeaster “Alexa”
Allentown
Sometimes a Fantasy
Only the Good Die Young
The River of Dreams with “River Deep, Mountain High” interlude sung by Crustal Taliefero
Nessun dorm (Giacomo Puccini cover sung by Mike Delguidice)
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Piano Man
ENCORE
We Didn’t Start the Fire
Uptown Girl
It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me
Big Shot
You May Be Right with an interlude of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll”
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