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Every Breath You Take
The Police
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- Album
- Synchronicity (Remastered 2003)
- Released
- 1983
- Genres
- Length
- 4:14
- Tempo
- 117 BPM
- Label
- Polydor Records
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About this song
Sting wrote the song around the time he had just divorced his first wife, Frances Tomelty. The track has a minimal arrangement with Sting on bass, Stewart Copeland on drums and Andy Summers on guitar, plus synths, piano and recording effects, and the recording was marked by frequent conflicts within the band. It became a worldwide success, and its music video, directed by Godley & Creme, won the band the first Best Cinematography award at the 1983 MTV Video Music Awards. The song was the best-selling single of 1983 in the United States and won the 1984 Grammy for Best Song of the Year.
What it's about
Though it is often heard as a love song, the lyrics are sung from a character with sinister intent who watches and controls a former lover.
Fun facts
- Sampled in 20 other songs, like “Ich vermisse dich by Pietro Lombardi”.
- Covered 57 times, including “Every Breath You Take by Rita Lee”.
- Written by Sting.
- Produced by The Police and Hugh Padgham.
- Recorded at AIR Montserrat.