Behind Sting’s “Englishman in NY”
If you’ve listened to Sting, you’ve definitely heard this song and specifically the line “It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile, be yourself no matter what they say”. Branford Marsalis’ groovy, yet slightly sad sax stays with you long after the song is over. I always thought the song was somehow about Sting and his early days in New York. Instead, the “Englishman” in the song is none other than the famous eccentric Quentin Crisp.
According to Wikipedia, “Quentin Crisp (25 December 1908 – 21 November 1999), born Denis Charles Pratt, was an English writer and raconteur. He became an icon of homosexuality in the 1970s after publication of his memoir, The Naked Civil Servant, brought to the attention of the general public his defiant exhibitionism and refusal to keep his sexuality private. Sting wrote the song not long after Crisp moved from London to an apartment in New York’s Bowery. Crisp had remarked jokingly to the musician “…that he looked forward to receiving his naturalization papers so that he could commit a crime and not be deported.”
Sting – English Man In New York
Video link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2dr5x_sting-english-man-in-new-york_music
John Hurt reprising his famous role as Quentin Crisp
Trivia:
- An Englishman in New York, the movie which was released last year, stars John Hurt, who reprises his famous role as Quentin Crisp. The film focuses on the later years of Crisp’s storied life.
- The Black Eyed Peas sampled the track for their song “Union” which also features new vocals from Sting.
