The Police put on a great show and bring the Maracanã to its feet...

The English band The Police respected British tradition and took to the stage at Maracanã promptly at 9:30 pm. Despite the initial chill, the stadium was on fire. The band opened, as expected, with their hit "Message in a Bottle," the first of 19 songs scheduled for the show. The stadium was already quite full at the start of Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland's set, which wasn't the case at the beginning of Paralamas do Sucesso's performance, when there were still large flashes of light in the stadium stands and on the pitch.

The audience, which warmly welcomed the musicians, was quite eclectic. There were many families, as well as people in their fifties and forties who knew the Police during their heyday. Many young people also attended what may be the band's last performance in Brazil, having already given a historic performance in Rio in 1982. On their second visit, the Police roused the crowd with a string of hits from their repertoire. At times, Sting ventured into Portuguese.

"I miss Brazil. Sing with me," Sting pleaded at one point during the show, which ended shortly after 10:30, the originally scheduled end time.

Scheduled to open for the Police, Os Paralamas do Sucesso took off at 8 p.m. sharp. They went on the attack, winning over the audience from the start with "Vital e sua moto," one of their first (and biggest) hits. It was the first of 14 songs on the set list, which featured Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser.

"It was perfect for opening the Police show," said 22-year-old college student Camila Machado.

(c) Jornal de Brazil by Julio Calmon

The Police win over the Rio crowd with their hits...

Over 70,000 people sang along to the band's hits at the Maracanã. The show featured Paralamas do Sucesso as the opening act.

A light system lowers over the Maracanã stage. The speakers echo the first chords of a familiar song, while huge columns illuminate both sides of the stage: it's "Message in a Bottle," a hit by The Police, announcing the band's return to Rio de Janeiro 25 years after their debut in Brazil.

Unlike the 1982 performances, when the crowd was enough to fill the Maracanãzinho gymnasium, over 70,000 people sang along to the trio's biggest hits this Saturday night (8), with Paralamas as the opening act. And there were plenty of them. "Synchronicity" and "Walking on the Moon" kicked off a sequence virtually identical to the repertoire shown at other shows on the current tour.

Innovation, in fact, was a hallmark of the band three decades ago. Now, the group responsible for the fusion of reggae, punk, and pop seems to simply fulfil its duty to fans with a bureaucratic performance. It's worth noting, however, that these are good musicians, and that hasn't changed. Despite a few slip-ups, Sting's voice remains clear. Likewise, Andy Summers' guitar and Stewart Copeland's drums deliver some good moments. The aggressiveness, however, is no longer the same.

Even the songs that didn't become classics are so radio-friendly that even a teenager who didn't experience the band's heyday recognizes them. "Driven To Tears" and "Hole In My Life" served as soundtracks to the dispersion, complete with rushes to the bars and restrooms of the Maracanã. But Copeland sounds his oriental gong, and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" revives.

Rio de Janeiro seems to have had some effect on Sting - the singer even cracked a smile at some highlights of the performance, such as "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da," and spoke to the audience in Portuguese. "I miss Brazil so much," he said, introducing the drummer. "Do you want to sing with me? You have 70,000 people here today. Show me your 140,000 hands."

"Walking In Your Footsteps," "Can't Stand Losing You," and "Roxanne" closed the first hour and a half of the show, receiving massive applause and cheers from fans. The intermission was the cue for the audience to chant "Meeengo!", but the band soon returned for the encore. The group launched into "King of Pain" and left no doubt: the night truly belonged to the hits. The highly anticipated "Every Breath You Take" followed "So Lonely." "Next To You" closed the show.

If the tension between the band members was always a bit heated - a fact that was evident at some shows on the tour - the musicians were either in good spirits or knew how to hide it very well during their time here. During "When The World Is Running Down," Sting got close to Summers' guitar, pressing his ear to the instrument. The scene made it seem as if the two were long-time friends who never parted ways.

(c) Globo by Ligia Nogueira

Police, redemption for 70,000 Brazilians...

The group puts on a technically perfect show, with virtuosity, vibrancy, and a happy audience - and not a drop of rain.

Despite the forecasters and the bad omen, not a single drop of rain fell on Saturday night, the 8th, in Rio de Janeiro, and the English group Police put on the biggest show of the year in Brazil. The band played 19 songs to a packed Maracanã stadium - 70,000 people, according to singer Sting; 72,000, according to the organizers; and 60,000, according to the Military Police.

The band took the Maracanã stage at 9:32 PM, with Sting unleashing his Portuguese right away. "I miss Brazil so much," said the singer and bassist. He introduced his bandmates, still in Portuguese, and asked the audience: "Do you want to sing? Who's singing with me?"

The request was met for much of the setlist, an enviable parade of hits - "Message in a Bottle" opened, but it was with "Don't Stand So Close to Me" that the giant choir began to get more engaged. The side screens weren't working, and the VIP area, set up in front of the stage, took up too much space for just a few people, while fans on the rest of the field lined up in huge lines for restrooms and beer. By the end, vendors were already selling cans of beer elsewhere in the stadium, evading the organizers' vigilance.

Sting's voice was in top form, and playing a battered, very old bass guitar, accompanied by two virtuosos, his colleagues Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (guitar), he went from conducting the crowd to experimenting with some more exuberant solos on his instrument, as he did on "Voices." During the performance of 'Invisible Sun,' a video filled the screen with images of very sad children who gradually became happier. Copeland played percussion, and Sting played an Andean flute during 'Walking In Your Footsteps.' It was a show to wash the crowd's soul - but with sweat, not rain.

(c) Estadao

The Police pack Maracanã for another unforgettable show...

Just two minutes late, according to strict British punctuality, The Police took the Maracanã stage at 9:32 PM, causing a huge uproar with their performance of 'Message in a Bottle.' Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland opened the show for 74,000 people, without a screen and with lighting problems. The equipment only synchronized during the second song ('Synchronicity II').

The audience, which included many parents and children, went wild when Sting, before the third hit ('Walking On the Moon'), addressed the crowd in Portuguese: "Thank you very much! I miss you so much! Do you want to sing with me?"

Earlier, at 8 PM, part of the audience was still outside when Paralamas do Sucesso began playing for 30,000 people. Only then was there some rushing and a small disturbance. Herbert and his bandmates played 14 songs in 50 minutes, highlighting the group's early days, when The Police's influences were strongest in their sound. Hits included "Vital e sua moto," "óculos," "Meu erro," "Ska," "O calibre," "Selvagem," and "Alagados." Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser was Paralamas's special guest throughout the performance.

Sting and his two bandmates left the Copacabana Palace at 3 p.m. and arrived at Maracanã about half an hour later. Minutes before the opening show, the Police frontman visited the Paralamas do Sucesso dressing room and praised the group's bassist, Bi Ribeiro. "I know you're the best," Sting said. One of the band's requests for the "pre-show" in the dressing room was a chorinho group.

In the morning, guitarist Andy Summers wanted to take advantage of the sunny day and went for a walk along the Calçadão. Andy was accompanied by his son and the security guard. Very friendly, he stopped several times to sign autographs and take photos.

Friday night, Sting went to a restaurant in Ipanema, where he always dines when he's in Rio. He was quite mobbed, but he kept his good humour and left a note in the restaurant's guestbook: "Always a special celebration." Stewart Copeland also went for a walk: he went to see Bebel Gilberto at Morro da Urca.

(c) O Dia by Sabrina Grimberg and Ricardo Calazans