Bruno Mars Leaves Sting Emotional With Electrifying Tribute to The Police

Bruno Mars delivered one of the most memorable performances of the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors when he celebrated Sting with powerful renditions of two classic songs by The Police.

Mars opened his tribute with “So Lonely,” bringing his own energy to the band’s 1978 track while remaining faithful to its distinctive sound. His vocal tone proved a natural match for the song, earning praise from viewers who felt the composition could almost have been written for him.

But the performance became even more extraordinary when he moved into “Message in a Bottle.”

A performance that brought Sting to his feet

Mars did more than simply reproduce the 1979 hit. He captured its sense of isolation and urgency, gradually building the performance toward a dramatic conclusion.

During the final “SOS” refrain, other artists from the evening joined him onstage. The group included Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen, turning the tribute into an enormous communal singalong.

Sting could be seen enthusiastically pumping his fists as the music reached its climax. Moments later, the visibly emotional singer raised his hands to his face while watching Mars and the assembled performers celebrate his work.

The reaction was especially meaningful because Sting is widely known for having exceptionally demanding musical standards.

Fans praise Mars and Sting’s reaction

Viewers were impressed by both the performance and the response it received from Sting.

Many felt his expression communicated everything that needed to be said about Mars’s interpretation. Others praised the backing band and the artists who joined the final chorus.

Sting’s wife also attracted attention for her delighted reaction as she watched the tribute unfold beside him.

Why “Message in a Bottle” remains a Police classic

Mars’s decision to perform “Message in a Bottle” drew on one of the most enduring songs in The Police’s catalogue.

The band released the track on September 7, 1979, as the first single from its second studio album, Regatta de Blanc. Written by Sting, the song became The Police’s first number-one hit in the United Kingdom.

Although Sting received sole songwriting credit, he later praised the “lovely colours” guitarist Andy Summers brought to the recording.

The track remained an important part of the group’s live performances. One notable rendition came during the 1983 Synchronicity Concert, professionally filmed while The Police were at the height of their success.

The trio would break apart within 12 months of that concert, making the footage an important record of the band near the peak of its powers.

Decades later, “Message in a Bottle” remains a favourite with audiences and radio listeners—and Mars’s Kennedy Center Honors performance showed how powerfully it could resonate with a new generation.

Watch the moment Bruno Mars brought Sting to his feet—and then left him visibly emotional—below.