Billy Joel kicked off his co-headlining tour with Sting at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa with an unforgettable duet performance, marking an exceptional debut performance of their co-headlining tour together. Billy has had an extremely busy past few months; recently releasing his first album in 17 years and concluding his Madison Square Garden residency.
The Show
At Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Saturday evening, two acclaimed artists Billy Joel and Sting shared the stage to produce an electrifying co-headlining show, sending shockwaves through the audience.
Former frontman of The Police delivered electrifying performances of iconic ’80s rock songs like “King of Pain” and “Fields of Gold”, seamlessly fusing reggae, jazz and world influences while delighting audiences with fan favorites such as “Roxanne” and “Englishman in New York”.
As the crowd sang along to classic songs like “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” and “Piano Man,” an air of collective nostalgia filled the auditorium – yet this show wasn’t about looking backward; rather it celebrated music’s power to bring us all closer together across time and place.
The Setlist
Sting and Joel made history at Raymond James Stadium by co-headlining a sold-out show as co-headliners, marking their inaugural co-headlining performance together. This collaboration made sense given their 2021 album, “Duets”, focused on collaboration. And for Joel it comes at an important juncture as his record-setting 150 show residency is coming to a close at Madison Square Garden this July.
The setlist was carefully curated to feature both Joel and Sting’s most beloved songs – which was no small task given their respective dozens of Top 40 hits – while also paying homage to lesser-known hits and meaningful album tracks, such as background singer Melissa Musique delivering an exceptional spotlight moment during “Heavy Cloud No Rain,” while backup vocalist Gene Noble added meaning and soul into “Shape of My Heart.”
This special was recorded prior to this year’s Super Bowl and will air Sunday on CBS, marking the first time ever that Billy Joel will perform on major network television.
The Audience
Joel and his band performed to a sold-out crowd spanning multiple generations; some in their seventies sat next to toddlers in strollers.
Before his shows in Moscow, Joel and his entourage explored Moscow by touring sites mentioned in his song, “Leningrad.” Along the way they made friends with Viktor Razinov (a clown featured in their video for this song).
Back at the Garden, Steve Cohen ensured Joel could concentrate on his music and audience, eliminating all distractions. Dugdale, Ehrmann and lighting designer Mark Foffano all did their part so Joel could deliver hits that mattered.
This event marked Joel’s 100th show from his long-running residency at Madison Square Garden, airing live on CBS and now available on Paramount+. Additionally, Sting joined Joel onstage for their first duet performance; these two make an excellent rock-and-roll duo each with his own repertoire of Tin Pan Alley songs that still sound fresh today.
The Final Words
Joel brought Sting onstage for one last song before turning over the stage to him for a duet, clearly enjoying their time onstage together and likely setting the stage for more co-headlining performances between two Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famers.
Setlist was full of hits from both artists. For “New York State of Mind,” an image flashed onto a screen depicting images from Brooklyn Bridge during performance. Sting made for an excellent complement to Joel by adding reggae, jazz and world music influences to piano-driven songs that Joel created.
At last night’s concert in Washington D.C., audiences enjoyed classic songs — with some newer ones thrown in for good measure! Both artists gave it their all. Stay tuned for more from this tour or catch its broadcast on CBS at 9:30 pm EST (if you were there!) Be sure to sign up for PEOPLE newsletter so you never miss another thing!