Sting held another of his Rainforest Foundationbenefit concerts Monday night, this time at the Beacon Theater in New York instead of its usual spot in Carnegie Hall.
And as is always the case, he managed to wrangle together some quality acts --Bruce Springsteen,John Mellencamp, Rainforest regular James Taylor, Debbie Harry, Shaggy, DMC, Ricky Martn, Bob Geldof, a reunion of the Eurthymics and others.
As usual the combination of acts and the song selection did not disappoint. This year's theme was the music of the '80s and '90s, so Springsteen and Mellencamp joined forces on "Glory Days" and "Pink Houses." Mellencamp also did an acoustic version of "Jack and Diane," while Springsteen covered Bryan Adams' "Cuts Like a Knife," as well as his own "Dancing in the Dark."
Host Robert Downey Junior did Robert Palmer's “Addicted to Love.”
James Taylor dialed it back to the '70s for “Your Smiling Faces,” as well as "Up on the Roof” and “Secret o’ Life.”
Bob Geldof chipped in with his Boomtown Rats classic, “I Don’t Like Mondays” and told the audience he was “sick of doing that song.” He also did Elvis Costello's "(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.”
Debbie Harry did “Call Me,” and, with DMC, “Rapture.”
Sting did his own “Englishman in New York” with help from Shaggy, and, with former Rolling Stones background vocalist Lisa Fischer, "We’ll Be Together.” He also covered Peter Gabriel's “Sledgehammer.”
The Eurythmics --Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart-- came back together for runs through “Would I Lie to You?,” “Here Comes the Rain Again” and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).”
The finale was everyone on stage for Journey's "Don’t Stop Believin.'”