In October 1987, Sting released his album 'Nothing Like the Sun', and within it lay a tender song: 'An Englishman in New York'. Its subject was Quentin Crisp. Born in Sussex, England in 1906, Crisp had moved to the Bowery in Manhattan at age 71, embarking on a new life. This song was Sting's tribute to the grace and dignity of that extraordinary man.
When Asked What Crime He'd Committed: 'Something Glamorous, Non-Violent, With a Dash of Style'
When Quentin Crisp was asked what crime he'd committed, he replied with characteristic wit: "Something glamorous, non-violent, with a dash of style." This single sentence encapsulated the essence of Crisp's entire existence. He was an actor and writer who never fit into post-war British society. His appearance challenged norms, his lifestyle defied convention. At 71, he abandoned everything and moved to New York to begin again.
From Reggae to Classical to Jazz
When Sting composed 'An Englishman in New York', he began with a gentle reggae rhythm—a laid-back feeling like strolling New York streets. But midway through, classical elegance enters: violins and violas envelop the track. This represents Crisp's British sophistication. Then the music shifts back to contemporary jazz.
This musical structure is genius. It's Sting translating the city of New York itself into sound—the music you'd hear walking down the street, flowing from classical music shops, jazz bars, contemporary radio. All contained within one composition.
The Hidden 'God Save The Queen'
Notice: buried in the orchestral arrangement is 'God Save The Queen'—not explicitly, but subtly hidden in the minor key within the symphony. This musical device expresses Crisp's nostalgia for the England he left behind. Living a new life in New York, yet carrying Britain in his heart.
Branford Marsalis's Soprano Saxophone — A Conversation
The soprano saxophone of Branford Marsalis is the song's most iconic element. It engages in call-and-response with Sting's vocals, like two souls conversing. This expresses the meeting of Crisp's British elegance and New York's free spirit—a dialogue between two worlds.
"Quentin Crisp walked his own path. No one changed him, and he never sought to change himself."
— Sting, interview
David Fincher's Music Video — Black and White
In 1988, a then-rising director named David Fincher created the music video for 'An Englishman in New York'. Black and white cinematography, refined composition, restrained visuals. It perfectly captured Quentin Crisp's elegance. The video shows Sting wandering New York streets, encountering various figures. Within the monochromatic frame, a cinematic atmosphere emerges. This became the foundation for the signature Fincher style that would define his later films and videos.
The 1990 Remix and Chart Success
'An Englishman in New York' reached #1 in Germany and Austria upon release. In 1990, a remix by Ben Liebrand charted at #15 in the UK. This proved the song transcended a mere hit—it had become timeless. In 2018, Sting performed it at the Grammys with Shaggy, demonstrating that after 30 years, the song still moves hearts worldwide.
