In one of the uncanniest collaborations of ideas and artists, Sting has returned with a new single, My Funny Valentine, embracing music of old along with one of the greatest forces in jazz and music as a whole.

My eyes grew wide when I first saw the name Sting paired with My Funny Valentine. Being a jazz musician myself, it’s almost impossible not to know this standard, or song, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I saw that Sting had attempted at a rendition of the classic song. Already enticed to go listen to it, I then noticed that Herbie Hancock was part of this rendition, and already I was sold. Pressing play, I noticed very quickly that my intuition was absolutely right.

Sting does a wonderful job giving true homage to the beauty of that era of music, especially with the help of his band o the contrabass, drums, and Herbie on the piano. Herbie, as always, gives life to the composition like no other musicians could do, melancholically traversing from chord to chord in harmony filled with tension and heartache. Sting’s voice compliments that style very well, his raspy delivery sounding like an old, fragile soul in the best way you could imagine. Towards the B section, he reaches for higher notes, and his voice cuts out almost at times, which adds so much to the emotion of the track. The composition as a whole both feels very old-school in terms of the kind of tone and setting, but the ideas and execution, especially with the production, can feel quite modern at times, having multiple layers usually not so present in this style of music.

My Funny Valentine has done nothing but made me wish for the two music legends to pair up together for a fully-fledged album of standards done in this style. It would be a wonderful addition to both of their discographies, but even without it this single is a wonderful song that’ll relax even your weariest bones.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.