Sting praises “beautiful” school choir cover of ‘Fragile’ on ‘Adolescence’

Sting has praised the choir cover of his song ‘Fragile’ that features on Adolescence, calling the rendition “beautiful”.

A stirring version of the former Police frontman’s 1988 solo single – from his second album ‘…Nothing Like The Sun’ (1987)’ – soundtracks the final scene of episode two of the acclaimed Netflix series.

This version was performed by 14-year-old actor Emilia Holliday (who plays murdered schoolgirl Katie Leonard) and the real-life choir from Minsthorpe Community College in South Elmsall, West Yorkshire – the school where the episode was filmed. It was conducted by Aaron May and David Ridley.

Sharing a video of the scene in question on social media, Sting wrote: “The reaction to the cover of my song, ‘Fragile’, in the new Netflix series Adolescence has been fantastic.

“It’s always interesting for me to hear one of my songs through someone else’s lens. A great cover can reveal things about a song that I didn’t originally see and give a song a new life.”

He continued: “Emilia Holliday and the students of the Minsthorpe Community College Choir are incredibly talented. Together they have created something beautiful.” You can see the post above.

Co-created and co-written by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, Adolescence also stars the latter as Eddie Miller – the father of 13-year-old schoolboy Jamie (Owen Cooper). The show was directed by Philip Barantini (Boiling Point).

In a four-star review, NME described the series as “essential viewing”, adding: “It’s unflinching commitment to the darkest corners of the story will remain with you long after the credits have rolled. These four episodes alone won’t stop the encroachment of the so-called ‘manosphere’ on regular boys’ lives but it has the power to start some much-needed conversations.”

Netflix recently announced that it would be making Adolescence available to view for free in all UK secondary schools.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the creators of the show that it was “really hard to watch” with his own teenage children. This came as he hosted a meeting at Downing Street to discuss the influence of online toxic material.

Shortly afterwards, former PM Boris Johnson criticised the plans to air Adolescence in UK schools. He also described the series as “well-acted tosh”.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that producers are looking at the possibility of making a second series of Adolescence.

In other news, Sting is set to headline the Isle Of Wight Festival and Latitude 2025 this summer. He’ll play a run of dates at the Eventim Apollo in London this autumn, following a gig at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in the capital.

Earlier this year, Britain’s largest choir announced that they would no longer be performing The Police’s ‘Every Breath You Take’ due to the “impact” of its lyrical content.