[Beginner’s Guide] Start Here! A Collection of Sting’s Greatest Songs [2026]

Rushing WaterSting

Sting – Rushing Water (Official Video)

Sting, the British artist with worldwide popularity, has continued to earn high praise even after going solo, thanks to his distinctive sound that fuses jazz and rock.

The song I’m introducing here opens his album “The Bridge,” released in September 2021.

Its driving, guitar-forward sound is striking—truly a number that feels like a return to rock.

In fact, the piece portrays inner anxieties and life’s turning points through the motif of a “surging current.” While it depicts the fear of being swept away by an irresistible flow, it also carries a powerful message about breaking free.

Give it a listen when you want to overcome something or need the courage to take a new step forward.

We Work the Black SeamSting

We Work The Black Seam

In his solo work, Sting blends jazz and rock, and he also writes songs with social messages.

From his solo debut album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, released in June 1985, here’s a track that conveys his strong resolve.

Sung from the perspective of British coal miners of the time, the piece expresses pride in their work as well as anxiety and anger about a future shifting into the nuclear age.

The sound—combining a mechanical rhythm, fiery saxophone, and a deeply human voice—is breathtaking.

The lyrics, which portray the cries of the workers, pair perfectly with the dramatic arrangement, so be sure to check it out.

Brand New DaySting

Sting – Brand New Day

The lead song “Brand New Day” from Sting’s final album of the 20th century, Brand New Day.

It’s a classic known for its powerful forward momentum driven by a shuffle beat that emphasizes triplets, and for its bright harmonic chords.

Stevie Wonder also appears as a guest, playing chromatic harmonica, and you can hear his performance throughout the track.

Combined with the pop-tinged harmonica tone, it’s a song that fills you with hope and a positive outlook!

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Hamada Takuya

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If You Love Somebody Set Them FreeSting

Sting – If You Love Somebody Set Them Free

“If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” is the debut single by Sting, who launched his solo career when The Police went on hiatus.

When you listen to this track, don’t you sense a touch of jazz in the chord sounds as well as in the sax and keyboard phrases? The album that features “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free,” titled “The Dream of the Blue Turtles,” is a highly acclaimed classic that showcases Sting’s talents in jazz and classical music—give it a listen if you can!

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Hamada Takuya

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Desert RoseSting

Sting – Desert Rose

This is an innovative track that layers synthesizer tones over uniquely styled vocals reminiscent of folk music from various cultures.

It’s included on Sting’s sixth album, Brand New Day, released in 1999.

The song showcases Sting’s sensual side to the fullest, and its fusion with an Arabian atmosphere creates a one-of-a-kind soundscape.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Mad About YouSting

Sting – Mad About You (Official Music Video)

Mad About You, a track included on the classic 1991 release The Soul Cages.

Several singles from this album can be called masterpieces, and Mad About You is one of them.

Centered on the theme of “mad love,” the song conveys a sense of madness through both its melody and its lyrics.

It is said to have been inspired by the tale of King David and Bathsheba, rendered as a dark love romance.

If you enjoy songs with a brooding, somber atmosphere, be sure to give it a listen.

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Ryo

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Englishman in New YorkSting

Sting – Englishman In New York

It’s a track included on Sting’s 1987 album “…Nothing Like the Sun.” The song is notable for its strong jazz influences and lyrics that seem to reflect his own experience working alone in New York.