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Q: I was
just wondering if you ever recorded the guitar solo of 'Shape of my
Heart' as you did it in 'The Professional'... that last scene where
Mathilde was walking in the yard... and then as the movie ended, it
went into the original one, but that simple guitar piece before that
is what always comes up in my mind and I have hoped for it when I
bought your album with Neil Stacey and the 'Demolition Man'
soundtrack. Would you ever consider recording it as a single? - From
Don
A: I
remember recording that intro for ‘The Professional’ (which is called
'Leon' in France and Europe). Luc Besson was a fan of the song and
called me up to ask if I could customise it for him and then segue
into the original. It worked out well. But it's exclusive to the movie
so I can't release it in that form.
Q: In
which key did you write 'Shape Of My Heart' (the intro and
solo/instrumental part) it sounds like they were written in different
keys. - from Soy
A: The
intro is in F#minor and then modulated to C# minor for the solo.
Originally I wrote this in E minor. I am glad you enjoy it.
Q: Please
could you tell/show/communicate the fingering for 'Shape Of My Heart'.
I have played it a several ways and they all have their own
idiosyncratic hardships, so rather than let my fingers drop off I
thought I'd ask the writer. - from Pete
A: There
are indeed different ways of playing this part. The way it was
recorded was by having the high note on the G string and 14th fret
going down etc. The way I like to play it now is with the high note on
the B string and 10th fret. The simplest way but not the best sounding
is to play it 'downstairs' with the high note on the E string and 5th
fret.
Q: How did
you end up arranging the alternate opening for 'Shape of My Heart' for
the film 'The Professional?' Did Luc Besson personally choose that
song? It's a beautiful arrangement.
A: Luc
Besson personally called me up and asked if he could use the song for
his movie and if I wouldn't mind doing a custom version for the film.
Of course I was interested so I did, and had a lot of fun working the
arrangement to picture. I was just playing around with different keys
until I arrived at what you hear.
Q: Some
pupils at the school have heard the song - 'Shape of my Heart', on the
new CD and think it is great. I am willing to pay for the music if
this is necessary. Although I have already been told that the music
for this song is not available some pupils in the school that I teach
in have expressed an interest in performing this song and I wondered
how it would be possible to give them the opportunity to play this
music, especially the guitar so that they could be further motivated.
- From Alistair
A: Thanks
for your interest in this song. I get a lot of questions about it. As
far as I know there isn't an official publication of the guitar part
but there are many unofficial ones. It's actually all down to the
fingering which seems to vary from one guitarist to another.
Q: Could
you please tell me what guitar you use in the 'Shape Of My Heart'
video? - From Paul
A: The
nylon I used on the video was a Rodriguez classical guitar. Very
serious.
Q: I just
got done watching your videos on the sting website and I have to say I
feel like I just had a conversation with my best friend! I purchased a
classical guitar (I've been playing regular guitars for years) and it
is so different. I don't know where to start. I learned 'La Belle Dame
Sans Regrets' - most of it anyway. Do you have any tips? - from Tim
A: I am
glad you have taken the time out to learn 'La Belle'. You must have a
lot of patience because this is quite a tricky one to play. My main
tip for this tune would be to practice playing the melody on its own
to try and make it "sing" as much as possible. Then do the same with
the rhythm and try and make it as smooth and relaxed as you can. The
reason I say this is because if you separate the parts you have a
better chance of understanding their nature. Then have a rest. Now
play the tune with both parts, remembering what you have worked on. I
think you will find some improvement. The beauty of Bossa Nova and
most Brazilian music from that era is that the guitar parts are so
self-contained. The master would be the guitarist Baden Powell. He
sounded like an orchestra playing different parts against each other
and even tackling polyrhythms. Deep ***t!
Q: Would
it be fair to say that 'La Belle Dame Sans Regrets' is a tribute to
Jobim? - From Colin
A: 'La
Belle' was indeed inspired by Jobim. I wrote the music (or it wrote
itself, more like) the day I heard of his death which had a profound
effect on me like Kennedy or Lennon dying. I was a passenger while
putting this together and he was driving.
Q: When I
heard 'La Belle Dame Sans Regrets' I just fell in love with it. In
fact, I think the first time I heard it was from the movie "French
Kiss". Where did you get that inspiration to write that song? - from
Ivy
A: The day
I heard Antonio Carlos Jobim died I wrote that music. It is directly
inspired by his and all Brazilian music. I am glad you identify with
it.
Q: On
'Mercury Falling' there is a song called 'La Belle Dame Regrets' and
it's also on your album 'New Dawn', and my question is did you write
the guitar part? - From Jacky
A: I did
write the music and guitar part for that song. It's a co-write like
'Shape of my Heart'. I am glad you like it. It is directly influenced
by the style of playing of my favourite guitarist Baden Powell.
Q: While
everyone asks you and knows everything about 'Shape Of My Heart' would
you please tell me the story of 'Lullaby To An Anxious Child'? I love
both songs but 'Lullaby' is closer to my heart. I have learnt it a few
days ago, and I really enjoy playing a song of yours what I'm able to
sing too. It's strange, because as I'm listening to 'Second Nature' it
makes me think that it was a complete piece before Sting wrote the
lyrics. How much of the song belong to him? - from Andris
A: It was
a complete piece of music before Sting came to it. He wrote the lyrics
and I wrote the music (and melody). This tune very much South American
approach (particularly Venezuelan and Peruvian) in harmony and rhythm
which I have a strong identification with. I wrote it in hotel room in
Japan during the Soul Cages tour of 1991/1992. I am glad you like it.
Q: I was
wondering if you could tell me about the effect used on the electric
guitar for the main riff in 'A Thousand Years'. Also, I read somewhere
that the riff was based on a Bach piece... anything to that? - from
Gordan
A: It is
very much based on a Bach riff. I just used some chorus, delay and
compression for the sound.
Q: I was
watching the DVD from the rehearsals for the 'Sacred Love' album again
and picked up 'All Would Envy'. I've tried to find the chords to play
but I can't really picture it. Any chance you know what key it is in?
- from Peter
A: This
song is in the key of C#. It's quite a tricky chord sequence. I don't
know of any transcriptions. Chris Botti recorded this song on his last
album.
Q: I
always wondered where did the guitar progression on 'Bring On The
Night' came from, as it always looked to me as a classical study. I've
seen you have added the song into your solo concerts' set list, so I
guess you do like it quite a bit. Could you also tell me how did it
evolve to become 'Never Coming Home' and what was your participation on
the arrangements? - From Julio
A: 'Bring
on the Night' was played by Sting and I think it is influenced by a
combination of Villa Lobos and Spanish music. If you listen carefully
you will see that the shapes are the same as 'Fragile'. 'Never Coming
Home' is indeed based on the same riff. I came up with the electric
ideas for that song but also played the acoustic part (which is
Sting's).
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