Billy Joel and Sting Deliver an Unforgettable Live Performance of “Big Man on Mulberry Street” and The Police Hit

Billy Joel made a strong return to the music industry in 2024 with his first single in over ten years, “Turn the Lights Back On”. He also leveraged connections with a high-profile friend to enhance his live performance, leading to rock icon Sting joining the band for Joel’s deep track “Big Man on Mulberry Street”. The collaboration was developed when they co-headlined a concert at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 24, 2024.

Sting truly captivated the audience by stepping onto the stage in a perfectly tailored silver suit, complete with a black fedora, setting the tone for the jazz performance. Sting and Joel then shared lead vocals, with The Police frontman taking the spotlight while Joel showcased his talents on a grand piano. Sting clearly enjoyed his time on stage, delivering an impressive performance for the crowd, engaging with the band, and displaying some impressive dance moves.

The audience was treated to a fantastic evening, with Sting performing a 16-song set and Joel delivering an extensive 24-song set that included many of his hits as well as covers like The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. Not wanting to be outshined, Sting brought rapper Shaggy on stage – yes, that Shaggy – to perform a duet on “Englishman in New York”.

Joel also joined Sting during his set, appearing on stage for the opening song “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”. Sting played bass and provided backup vocals for the classic Police song, while the Piano Man took the lead on the first verse and chorus. In the second verse, they switched roles, with Sting leading vocally, and he still excels at it.

Before performing The Police song, Joel introduced Sting to the audience, stating, “I saw this guy when he came with his band to the States, and I was blown away. This was the late seventies. I thought he was great then and I think he’s great now. He’s one of my favourite musicians of all time.” You and many others, Billy!

Joel and Sting demonstrated impressive chemistry on stage, and hearing two legendary voices perform together on such excellent songs was truly special. Later in the concert, Joel shared a personal remark with the audience before performing “An Innocent Man.”

“I wrote this in 1983 and I didn’t realise that I was going to be singing all of the high notes when I was 74,” he said. “So every time I do this song, I’m a little worried, because if I don’t hit those high notes you ain’t going to like it.” This elicited laughter from the crowd, and Joel added, “Just pray for me.” Whether the prayers were effective or not, Joel’s fears proved unfounded, as the videos from the night clearly show he was in excellent form.