Sting & Shaggy — Tiny Desk (NPR), 2019

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Why this recording

NPR’s write-up is by Josh Rogosin, who was also the session’s audio engineer, giving an insider’s view of this early-morning visit. Sting plays the 1957 Fender Precision he has used for more than twenty-five years, while Dominic Miller, co-writer of “Shape of My Heart”, plays acoustic guitar. The moment to watch for is the final song, where it is mashed up with Juice WRLD’s “Lucid Dreams”, sung by Gene Noble. After the opener, Sting remarks that he had never sung “Englishman in New York” before 8 PM.

— Simon Janvier, live-sound professional and editor of the catalogue

Recording technical sheet

Rights-holding channelNPR Music
Source statusOfficial — broadcaster or organiser
Uploaded
Exact runtime
ResolutionHD (720p+)
Source qualityProfessional (multi-camera)

Metadata checked on YouTube on 29 September 2026; direction, camera setup and sound documented by the editors.

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Published on September 25, 2026 by Simon Janvier

Filmed live session by the duo of Sting and Shaggy for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk, recorded in July 2019 in Washington. An unlikely pairing on paper, the meeting between the former leader of The Police and the Jamaican dancehall star nonetheless works beautifully: beneath the reggae pulse that already ran through many Police songs, the two voices answer each other with real chemistry. This intimate set features three tracks — “Englishman in New York,” “Don’t Make Me Wait” (from their joint album 44/876) and a “Shape of My Heart / Lucid Dreams” medley — reworked in the format’s warm, acoustic spirit. This live capture reveals the rapport between two artists who clearly relish playing each other’s repertoire. This filmed live concert documents a singular collaboration between pop, reggae and dancehall. For fans of live reggae, acoustic sessions and unexpected encounters, a delicious piece that highlights the shared groove of Sting and Shaggy at the Tiny Desk.

Setlist

  1. Englishman in New York
  2. Don't Make Me Wait
  3. Shape of My Heart / Lucid Dreams

Personnel & credits

  • Sting — vocals, bass
  • Shaggy — vocals
Category

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