Brand New Day

Brand New Day
Name	Brand New Day
Type	studio
Artist	Sting
Released	1999
Recorded	Lake House, Air Lyndhurst Hall, Abbey Road Studios
Genre	Pop rock, jazz, worldbeat
Length	39:46
Label	A&M Records, Polydor
Producer	Sting, Kipper
Prev title	Mercury Falling
Prev year	1996
Next title	Sacred Love
Next year	2003

Brand New Day Brand New Day is a 1999 studio album by the English singer-songwriter Sting. The release followed Sting's work with The Police, collaborations with Eric Clapton and sessions at Abbey Road Studios, reflecting influences from Miles Davis, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel and world music currents. The album's lead single and title track achieved international radio play across BBC Radio 1, MTV, VH1 and major European markets.

Background and Release

Sting recorded the album after touring in support of the 1996 album Mercury Falling and collaborating with artists associated with Cream, Dire Straits, Carlos Santana and Sheryl Crow. Production took place at recording venues including Abbey Road Studios, Air Studios and private studios used by Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. The project reunited Sting with producer Kipper, who had worked with musicians from the Grammy Awards circuit and engineers linked to EMI and Universal Music Group. Release strategies involved distribution through A&M Records, licensing agreements with Polydor for European markets and promotional partnerships with broadcasters such as BBC and NPR.

Composition and Lyrics

Musically, the album combines elements drawn from the idioms of jazz figures like Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis, pop textures associated with Phil Collins and rhythmic patterns reminiscent of Fela Kuti and Buena Vista Social Club. Sting's songwriting on the record references narrative techniques used by Bob Dylan, melodic phrasing linked to Paul McCartney and harmonic choices found in works by Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. Lyrical themes invoke personal relationships similar to songs by Joni Mitchell and political undercurrents comparable to material by Bruce Springsteen, while also nodding to spiritual concerns explored by Leonard Cohen and George Harrison.

Critical Reception and Awards

Critics compared the album to output by The Police and to solo releases from artists such as Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon, noting arrangements that evoked Ornette Coleman-inspired improvisation and studio craftsmanship akin to Brian Eno. Reviews in publications like Rolling Stone, NME, The Guardian, The New Yorker and Pitchfork highlighted the title track and collaborations with musicians who had worked with Eric Clapton, Herbie Hancock and St. Vincent. The album received nominations and awards at the Grammy Awards, and its singles appeared on year-end lists curated by editors at Billboard and Spin.

Commercial Performance

Upon release the album charted on national lists including the Billboard 200, the UK Albums Chart, the Canadian Albums Chart and the ARIA Albums Chart. Singles from the record entered charts monitored by Nielsen SoundScan, receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1, KEXP, Z100 and European stations affiliated with Radio France and Deutschlandfunk. Sales milestones were certified by industry bodies such as the RIAA, the BPI, Music Canada and ARIA, and the album featured in year-end sales summaries by IFPI.

Music Video and Promotion

The title track's music video was played on MTV, VH1 and European music channels linked to MCM and VIVA (German TV station), directed by a filmmaker who had worked with Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry collaborators. Promotional appearances included interviews and performances on programs like Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Top of the Pops and specials produced for PBS and BBC Two. Marketing efforts tied into tie-ins with festivals such as Glastonbury Festival, guest slots on Saturday Night Live and curated radio sessions at BBC Maida Vale Studios.

Live Performances and Tours

Sting supported the album with tours that brought him to venues associated with Royal Albert Hall, Madison Square Garden, Sydney Opera House and arenas on multi-leg itineraries resembling tours by U2, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Madonna. Live band personnel included musicians who had collaborated with Eric Clapton, Herbie Hancock, Anoushka Shankar and session players from the Musicians' Union roster. Performances incorporated arrangements adapted for festival settings such as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and concert residencies in cities like New York City, London, Sydney and Los Angeles.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

The album contributed to Sting's wider legacy alongside work with The Police and solo records examined in retrospectives by institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museums curated by Victoria and Albert Museum. Songs from the album have been covered by artists influenced by Norah Jones, John Mayer and Adele, and have been used in soundtracks for films and television programs distributed by companies like Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox and BBC Films. The record is cited in scholarly discussions in journals focusing on popular music history at Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and university programs such as those at New York University and University of Westminster.

Category:1999 albums Category:Sting albums