Wednesday March 31, 2021 “Every Breath YouTake” Police
A frequent, very wrong choice for wedding songs.
Written by Sting (Gordon Sumner) at the same desk in Jamaica that Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond novels and also sung by him “Every Breath You Take”, was the number one song for the year in 1983, Song of the Year in Rolling Stone and it has been described as one of the most misunderstood songs ever.
The song is included on the fifth and final Police album/CD Synchronicity...final album because apparently the other two band members, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers were having an increasingly difficult time working with an increasingly difficult Sting, who would sell over 100 million records with the Police and as a solo artist.
In 2003, the Police were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, four of their five studio albums appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". The band was also included among both Rolling Stone's and VH1's lists of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Ah, but the song, you’re asking? In a 1983 interview with the New Musical Express, Sting explained: "I think it's a nasty little song, really rather evil. It's about jealousy and surveillance and ownership. I think the ambiguity is intrinsic in the song however you treat it because the words are so sadistic.”
“Every Breath You Take” was written as Sting was ending his marriage to his first wife, actress Frances Tomelty and as he was having an affair with Frances’ best friend (ouch!) and Sting's future wife Trudie Heller.
Stay safe and well...and if you are planning any wedding songs or know someone who is and this tune is on the list, please cross it off.