Paolo Prudencio växte upp i Benin i Västafrika. Hans musikälskande mamma spelade Stings hitlåt från 1988, ”Englishman in New York”. Idag har Paolo artistnamnet Shirazee och bor i Bronx, New York. Inspirerad av Stings ikoniska sång komponerade Shirazee sin egen version som han kallade ”African in New York.” Sting gav Shirazee sin välsignelse, skriver The World.
Shirazee om African in New York:
“He said it made him smile in a time where he felt that’s what we need. He felt like it was a very special version. It’s just very mind-boggling to me to go from: discovering it as kid and now being able to be in a conversation with him [Sting] about it. It’s just incredible. And I’m glad people are actually reacting the same to the record. It’s pretty cool if you ask me.”
Källor
- Sting på Youtube
- Shirazee på Spotify
- The World: ‘African in New York’: Shirazee’s personal twist on an iconic song by Sting
