Sting Puts New Spin on Classics

Sixteen-time Grammy winner Sting is exploring a whole new sound this summer, touring the world, performing new arrangements of his biggest hits with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

His latest CD, "Symphonicities," includes 12 fan favorites all in new orchestral arrangements, including his timeless "Englishman in New York."

"I wrote that song in New York City about 25 years ago or more," the British icon told "Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill.

Pictures: Sting on "The Early Show"
"Early Show" Summer Concert Series Line-Up
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For Sting, mixing things up musically is comparable to real life.

"It's like buying your wife a new dress. It looks like a million dollars and you have a new arrangement. It keeps things alive and fresh," he said.

Playing with London's Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra is different than playing with a band, however.

"You can't improvise with an orchestra. With a small band, you can just change the arrangement as you do it. With the orchestra, they have to be forewarned, it has to be written down, but they're pretty adaptable," he explained.

But Sting, who's constantly innovating and trying new things, doesn't like to be confined to just one thing.

"Well, that's what we do," he said. "I think surprise and novelty are the keys to music. You need a surprise every eight bars."

With six kids, there have been many surprises along the way. A couple of them have even followed him into the music world.

So, did the stellar singer encourage his musically-inclined kids, or was he hesitant to get them involved in the tough music biz?

"I encouraged them to practice and encouraged them to believe that music is its own reward. You don't need to be successful. You can play to three people, you can play to the cat or the dog, it doesn't matter," he said.

The humble singer, who draws his inspiration from his kids, doesn't do his best thinking across the pond; he says he actually does it in the Big Apple.

"My best thinking is when I'm walking in Central Park," he said. "You know, I can read a book or see a movie or a story that someone tells me in a bar, I see people. ... You know, you see people's faces, they have a story. I'm looking for stories the whole time."

Needless to say, he's found quite a number of them.

While Sting's music reflects a number of genres, he listened to classical music from a young age.

"I think the first classical piece I've ever heard was my mother playing Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata' on the piano, and that invested music in me," Sting said.

And it's certainly paid off for him -- and his loyal fans.

Sting also performed "She's Too Good," "Englishman In New York," "Next To You" and "Roxanne," for the "Early Summer Concert Series."