Broken Music by Sting

I always pick up a music biography to read, especially about artists whose music I can relate to. Broken Music by Sting piqued my interest, and I had the best time reading this beautifully crafted memoir. Here are some of my favorite moments from the book for In the Heart of the Passage.

Mother’s Magic

Sting beautifully captures his mother’s influence, recalling how she would often say, “This place looks like a bloody tagarene shop!” Although he had no idea what it meant, it signified disorder and chaos. He also remembers the small yet magical lessons she taught him how to pack a fire for the night, iron a shirt, fry an egg, and vacuum the floor. It’s fascinating how much we unconsciously imbibe from our mothers over the years. I know I inherited my love for music, reading, art, and even cooking and keeping a tidy home from my own mother. This relationship was undoubtedly a significant one in the life of Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner.

A Dreamer

There were days when Sting didn’t want to go to school, preferring to stay close to his mother. She recognized that he was a bit of a dreamer. I can relate. I had similar moments as a young girl, wanting to stay home, wrapped in the familiarity and quiet mysteries of my surroundings.

Love Described

I loved this passage where Sting reflects on the limitations of language when it comes to expressing love:

“Perhaps it is the scarcity of vocabulary that is the root of the problem. Love seems like such a deeply inadequate word for a concept with so many complex shades and shapes and degrees of intensity… Yet we, who spend vast amounts of our time, energy, and ingenuity thinking about love, being loved, loving, longing for love, living for love, even dying for love, have no more than this paltry, troublesome word…”

His comparison to the Inuit having numerous words for snow was particularly striking. Love, in all its complexities, deserves a richer vocabulary.

His Humor

Many chapters had humorous anecdotes, and Sting’s writing brought them to life so well. One of my favorites was the story of a gig where the band accidentally snapped a crucial piece of plastic from a bingo machine. Before they could react, the horrified audience was pelted with ping-pong balls flying everywhere. The band had to flee for their lives! The trouble a band could get into at a gig!

Sting, The Teacher

It was wonderful to read about Sting’s time as a teacher, how he studied to become one and then juggled his job with his music career. It was heartwarming to see how he engaged with students and imparted his wisdom.

One anecdote I particularly enjoyed was when he borrowed wind instruments, and his students had a riotous time figuring out how to play them. Other teachers disapproved of the noise levels, but learning was happening nonetheless! It reminded me so much of my own Speech and Drama classes always full of energy and sound, yet rich with learning.

Sting’s Musical Journey

While I initially picked up this book to learn about Sting’s rise in music, what captivated me most was how he led readers through the pivotal moments of his life. From playing in small pubs to forming The Police, Sting’s journey was one of persistence, discipline, and passion. His influences ranged from jazz and classical music to rock and reggae, shaping his unique sound. Broken Music gives a raw, introspective look at the struggles and triumphs that led him to global fame.

I wonder if Sting ever imagined that his broken music would one day take the world by storm.

Leaving you with the song that changed his life:

Roxanne You don’t have to put on the red light Those days are over You don’t have to sell your body to the night…