Sting's NBA All-Star halftime show is preemptively bumming people out
Drake, if you're listening, they really want you to play in Toronto more
Sting is going to play the halftime show at next month's NBA All-Star Game in Toronto, a fact which many Torontonians seem pretty bummed out about.
While the artist was once known for songs like Roxanne and Walking on the Moon, reaction to the NBA's announcement this morning suggest that these days, he's mostly known for being a bit of a bore.
<a href="https://twitter.com/mattgallowaycbc">@mattgallowaycbc</a> just what an adrenaline fueled event needs. Twenty minutes of a guy with a lute.
—@cbarnett99Coldplay and Sting will be doing halftimes at the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Game. What a break for those suffering from insomnia.
—@Sid_SeixeiroA 2000 Grammy Award for his solo album Brand New Day – and roughly a decade with English rock band The Police – won't save him from the crushing fact that he's not from Toronto.
The fact that the NBA didn't pick a Torontonian artist, or even Canadian artist, to play the first All Star halftime show outside of the U.S. was a sticking point for fans.
Sting doing the all star game is an absolute joke. They really wanna make a mockery of Toronto.
—@RobNEverythingThe Weeknd, <a href="https://twitter.com/alessiacara">@alessiacara</a>... There are a lot of people who would have been great at the NBA all-star game in TO. Instead, they booked Sting.
—@metromorningWe are in, perhaps, the greatest era of Canadian pop music, and the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA">@NBA</a> tapped <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sting?src=hash">#Sting</a> to headline <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAAllStarTO?src=hash">#NBAAllStarTO</a>. <a href="https://t.co/7aARFGlqsj">pic.twitter.com/7aARFGlqsj</a>
—@Blackinthe416Even Ex-Toronto Mayor Rob Ford had something to say, which he shared with the world thanks to his newfound Twitter prowess.
Really <a href="https://twitter.com/Toronto2016">@Toronto2016</a>? Sting? What were your backup options, Cher and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra? How about some TORONTO talent!
—@TorontoRobFordThat's like asking me which knee I want to bump into the coffee table with <a href="https://t.co/MVwbJ8VMHe">https://t.co/MVwbJ8VMHe</a>
—@TorontoRobFordAlthough someone did have a Ford-related explanation for how the NBA might have picked the artist.
The All-Star Game has Sting as the halftime performer in Toronto in honor of all the undercover operations against Rob Ford
—@BobbyBigWheelThe popular answer for who should be playing the halftime show was Drake, a noted b-ball aficionado.
And performing at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAAllStar?src=hash">#NBAAllStar</a> Half Time show in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Toronto?src=hash">#Toronto</a>..... *drumroll*....*assumes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Drake?src=hash">#Drake</a>*....... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STING?src=hash">#STING</a>.
—@RoobyDeeThe All Star game is in Toronto but instead of having the most well known Torontonian & huge NBA fan Drake perform, Sting will. huh?!!
—@TeronBriggsDear <a href="https://twitter.com/Drake">@Drake</a>, Please drop an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash">#NBA</a> diss track! Not for yourself.. But for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/The6ix?src=hash">#The6ix</a> & The Rest of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada?src=hash">#Canada</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAAllStarTO?src=hash">#NBAAllStarTO</a> <a href="https://t.co/FLEMiU5Muo">pic.twitter.com/FLEMiU5Muo</a>
—@KevinNoelHe might be in rough shape.
TFW they announce Sting performing at the NBA All Star game in Toronto <a href="https://t.co/yZ7frQdJGo">pic.twitter.com/yZ7frQdJGo</a>
—@toysubmarineNBA hired Sting to perform at all-star weekend in Toronto like Drake ain't sitting in the 6 like <a href="https://t.co/EBwgy0GYhL">pic.twitter.com/EBwgy0GYhL</a>
—@MatthewACherryEven John Tory, Toronto's mayor, doesn't seem excited to talk about the news.
Sting is coming to town and this is what Mayor Tory and others thought about it. <a href="https://t.co/0rd8KB96TA">https://t.co/0rd8KB96TA</a> <a href="https://t.co/MD3WMr0ywz">pic.twitter.com/MD3WMr0ywz</a>
—@CP24Although that may be because during the Pan Am games in Toronto, he assumed that Kanye West was Canadian, prompting a similar wave of outrage when people also called for Drake instead.
Maybe Sting could change the name of a song on Toronto's behalf?
Sting: Okay, just about me then. I'm an "Englishman in New Yo- James Taylor: The game's in Toronto Sting: JT so help me I will flay you aliv
—@RealRickLaginaAt least Cirque de Soleil will also be there before the game.
Cirque Du Soleil will be performing before the NBA All Star Game. What is happening? <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA">@NBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/wcPXLvc5Bd">pic.twitter.com/wcPXLvc5Bd</a>
—@PeterKashIt's going to be a weird show.