The Police's Sting Named Worst Rock Lyricist

Blender magazine named Sting of the rock group The Police the worst lyricist in rock, noting that his lyrics show "mountainous pomposity (and) cloying spirituality."

The full results of the survey are listed (and hopefully explained) in the magazine's November issue, which will be on sale next week.

Rounding out the top 5 worst lyricists: Rush drummer Neil Peart at No. 2, Creed frontman Scott Stapp at No. 3, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher at No. 4, and '70S/'80s folk-rocker Dan Fogelberg at No. 5.

"Blender assailed Sting for such alleged sins as name-dropping Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov in the Police tune "Don't Stand So Close to Me," quoting a Volvo bumper sticker ("If You Love Someone Set Them Free"), and co-opting the works of Chaucer, St. Augustine and Shakespeare."

Not surprisingly, a spokeswoman for Sting did not reply to a request for comment.