Annie Lennox’s Performance Leaves the World in Wonder – Unexpectedly Honors Sting at the Polar Music Prize

The journey began when Abba clinched victory at the Eurovision Contest in 1974. Stig “Stikkan” Anderson served as Abba’s manager and lyricist. In 1989, Anderson sold his production and music management businesses to Polygram, while continuing as Chairman of the Board for Sweden Music AB and Polar Music International. Using the proceeds from the Polygram sale, Anderson allocated MSEK 42 to establish one of the world’s premier music awards, The Polar Music Prize. (MSEK? MSEK represents millions of Swedish krona).

The independent board of the Polar Prize comprises members of Anderson’s family as well as distinguished figures from across the globe. (Anderson passed away on 12 September 1997). The roster of honorees who have received their certificates from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is both diverse and remarkable, including names like Ligeti, Arvo Pärt, Metallica, Peter Gabriel, and Angélique Kidjo. In 2017, Sting was among the two recipients. During the celebratory dinner and award presentations, the organizers surprised the English artist in Stockholm.

The YouTube comments reflect the emotional impact of Annie Lennox’s rendition of Sting’s “Fragile,” a song from his second solo studio album “Nothing Like the Sun” (1987). The track was inspired by the death of Ben Linder, an American civil engineer who was killed by Contra “rebels” while working on a hydroelectric project in Nicaragua in 1987. Ivan DeSantis comments, “The talent of Annie Lennox is only eclipsed by how graciously she has always carried herself. Great tribute for Sting.”

K M Carter remarks, “Sting’s version is bittersweet, Annie’s is bone-chilling and post-apocalyptic. Shattering. Beautiful.” Dattrax adds, “Sensational. Her voice. Her presence. That performance. Their mutual respect. His appreciation. This video is a masterpiece of beauty. Art that moves us. I cry every time I watch this. Thank you for posting this gem.” When The Polar Music Prize awarded Sting, it released a video showcasing his commendable accomplishments. Let’s take a look:

Congratulations, Sting. The Polar Awards statement concludes by highlighting Sting’s numerous musical accomplishments and stating, “Sting is a true citizen of the world, who has also been indefatigable in using his position as an arena-filling artist to promote human rights”.

Each year, the Polar Music Prize typically honors two, and occasionally three, recipients. In 2011, the awardees were the Kronos Quartet and Patti Smith. In 2022, it was granted to the Paris-based Ensemble Intercontemporain (“the Stradivarius of modern music”) and Iggy Pop. The prize is dedicated to acknowledging the diversity and breadth of music. In 2017, alongside Sting, Wayne Shorter was the other recipient of the Polar Music Award. The Polar Award webpage highlights Shorter’s accomplishments “in epoch-making groups such as Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis’s second great Quintet and Weather Report”, as well as his contributions to key Joni Mitchell albums. Over his six-decade career, Wayne Shorter composed “a number of the most enduring compositions in the history of jazz. Without the musical explorations of Wayne Shorter, modern music would not have drilled so deep”.

Aligned with the ethos of the Polar Music Prize and acknowledging that Wayne Shorter ranks among jazz legends like Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Ornette Coleman as a saxophonist, let’s conclude with the Polar Music Award’s feature on Wayne Shorter. Enjoy.