“Every Breath You Take”
Single by The Police from the album Synchronicity
B-side	"Murder By Numbers"
Released	May 1983
Format	vinyl record (7")
Recorded	Dec 1982/Jan 1983
Genre	Rock
Length	4:14
Label	A&M - AM 117
Writer(s)	Sting
Producer	The Police, Hugh Padgham
The Police singles chronology
"Secret Journey" (1982) "Every Breath You Take" (1983) "Wrapped Around Your Finger" (1983) Audio sample Info (help· info)

"Every Breath You Take" is a song written by Sting and originally performed by The Police. It was released on their 1983 album Synchronicity (see 1983 in music). The single was one of the biggest of 1983, topping the UK charts for four weeks and the Billboard Music Charts (North America) for eight weeks. Sting won Song of the Year and The Police won Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the Grammy Awards of 1984 for "Every Breath You Take". The song ranks #84 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Image File history File links Every_Breath_You_Take_single_cover. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... This article is about the rock band. ... Synchronicity is the fifth album by The Police, released in 1983. ... “B-Sides” redirects here. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... A&M Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Universal Music Group. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Sting circa 1987 Gordon Matthew Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951), best known by his stage name Sting, is an English musician and formerly bassist and lead singer of The Police. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... This article is about the rock band. ... Hugh Padgham is a British record producer and audio engineer. ... This article is about the rock band. ... Secret Journey is a song released as a single by The Police on May 1982 only in the US. Categories: | | ... Wrapped Around Your Finger is the second UK single from The Polices 1983 album Synchronicity. ... Image File history File links Every_Breath_You_Take_by_The_Police. ... Image File history File links Every_Breath_You_Take_by_The_Police. ... This article is about the musician. ... This article is about the rock band. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Synchronicity is the fifth album by The Police, released in 1983. ... See also: 1983 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1983 Record labels established in 1983 // Michael Jacksons Thriller, the most successful album not only of 1983, but of all time, was released in 1982 and began its epic domination of the music charts the following year, 1983. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... The Song of the Year is one of the two most prestigious awards in the Grammies, if not in all of the American music industry. ... The Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal has been awarded since 1966. ... The 26th Grammy Awards were held in 1984, and were broadcast live on American television. ... This article is about the magazine. ... ...

Origins and songwriting

Originally thought to be about either angels, the government, or parents, the track was in fact written during the collapse of Sting's marriage to Frances Tomelty; the lyrics are the words of a sinister, controlling character, who is watching "every breath you take / every move you make". This article is about the supernatural being. ... A parent is a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian // Mother This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Frances Tomelty (born 1956 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish actress, perhaps most famous for being the first wife of Sting. ...

However, this fact has often gone unnoticed, or is ignored, and hence the song is often taken to be a love song.^[2] Some even conjecture that the song is themed after jealousy.

The lyrics are also very similar to the opening lines of a short story by science fiction author Judith Merrill titled "Whoever You Are". Judith Merril (January 21, 1923, New York, New York - September 12, 1997, Canada) was an North American science fiction author and anthologist. ...

The lines "Every breath you take / every move you make" are also very similar to two lines from the Led Zeppelin song D'yer Mak'er from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy: "Every breath I take, oh oh oh oh oh / Every move I make." For the bands 1969 eponymous debut album, see Led Zeppelin (album). ... Dyer Maker (intended to be pronounced with a British non-rhotic accent as jah-may-kah) is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... For the Led Zeppelin song of the same name, see Houses of the Holy (song). ...

"Every Breath You Take" is played by Sting on double bass, Andy on electric guitar, Stewart on drums, a group of four violinists, and a piano player.

Music video

The song had a music video (directed by duo Godley & Creme) that was praised for its black-and-white cinematography. Both MTV (1999) and VH1 (2002) named it as one of the best music videos ever, placing it 16th and 33rd in their respective top 100 lists. Daniel Pearl won the first MTV cinematography award for his work on the video.^[3] Godley & Creme was a duo of English pop musicians and music video directors, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. ... Black-and-white or black and white) can refer to a general term used in photography, film, and other media (see black-and-white). ... ‹ The template below is being considered for deletion. ... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ... VH1 (VH-1: Video Hits One until 1994 and VH1: Music First until 2003) is an American digital television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV. VH1 and sister channel MTV are currently... Daniel Pearl (born 1951, Bronx, New York) is an American cinematographer who has worked on many feature films, over 400 music videos and more than 250 commercials. ... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ...

Covers, adaptations, and legacy

The song has been covered by artists including UB40, Julianna Hatfield, Millencolin, and Copeland. "Weird Al" Yankovic included a polka interpretation in his medley "Polkas on 45." Mexican singer Yuridia remade the song as "Siempre Te Amare" for her covers album, Habla el Corazon. Also, a cover version of the song is used extensively in the film "Cat's Eye." UB40 are a British dub band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. ... Millencolin is originally a skate punk band that was formed in October of 1992 by Erik Ohlsson, Mathias Färm and Nikola Sarcevic in Örebro, Sweden. ... Copeland is an American indie/alternative band, originally formed in 2000 by singer Aaron Marsh (who also plays the guitar, mellotron, organ, and piano) with his friend, bassist and backup singer James Likeness, in the city of Lakeland, Florida. ... This article is about the musician. ... Street musicians in Prague playing a polka Polka is a fast, lively Central European dance, and also a genre of dance music. ... Yuridia Gaxiola, born on October 4, 1986, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was one of the 5 finalists of the fourth generation of the popular Mexican singing show La Academia. ... Cats Eye (also known as Stephen Kings Cats Eye) is a 1985 horror film directed by Lewis Teague and written by Stephen King. ...

The song was also covered in 2004 by UB40 for the "50 First Dates" Soundtrack.

Beyond covers, the song has also been heavily sampled or adapted. The refrain and other complete sections were the basis for Puff Daddy's collaborative tribute to murdered rapper The Notorious B.I.G., entitled "I'll Be Missing You", recorded with Faith Evans and 112. In a similar vein Hungarian rapper Speak uses the song's hook for his song Sometimes, and the Italian duo Karmah had a 2006 European hit entitled "Just Be Good To Me" which drew heavily on a sample of the song. Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969)[1] is an American record producer, CEO, clothing designer, actor and rapper. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Ill Be Missing You is a song and hit single recorded by Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112, in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist Notorious B.I.G., who was murdered on March 9, 1997. ... Faith Renée Evans (born June 10, 1973) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer, songwriter and producer. ... 112 (pronounced one-twelve) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B quartet from Atlanta, Georgia. ... Tamás Deák (born May 31, 1976[2]), better known by his stage name Speak, is a rap artist, model and actor based in Hungary. ... Karmah is an Italian duo that consists of a girl and a guy. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: Not notable song based on unreferenced claim. ...

Sting himself has been involved in some adaptations of the song. In 1984, Sting performed a version for Spitting Image entitled Every Bomb You Make, which was broadcast again as the finale of the New Year compilation show on January 1, 1985. He also performed the song with slightly different lyrics at the Live 8 concert, United Kingdom on July 2, 2005, when he sang, "We'll be watching you." referring to the heads of the G8. Also, at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards Sting joined Puff Daddy for a live performance of the song which was a tribute to rapper Notorious B.I.G. . Spitting Image was a British satirical puppet show that ran on the ITV television network from 1984 to 1996. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... On 2 July 2005, the main Live 8 concert will be held at Hyde Park, London, England. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Group of Eight redirects here. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ...

In 2003, VH1 ranked the song the #2 greatest Break-up song of all time.

 As of 2003, Sting was still taking in an average of $2000 per day in royalties for the then 20-year-old song "Every Breath You Take."[4] 

In October 2007, Sting was awarded a Million-Air certificate for 9 million airplays of "Every Breath You Take" at the prestigious BMI Awards show in London, England with only Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" a close second at 8 million air plays.^[5] This article is about the musician. ... Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) is a collecting society that protects composers intellectual property in the communications business, especially radio. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... George Ivan Morrison OBE (generally known as Van Morrison) (born August 31, 1945) is a Grammy Award-winning Irish singer, songwriter, author, poet and multi-instrumentalist, who has been a professional musician since the late 1950s. ... Brown Eyed Girl is a song written and recorded in 1967 by Northern Irish singer-songwriter, Van Morrison and produced by Bang Records chief Bert Berns. ...

Personnel

• Sting - Lead vocals, Double bass
• Andy Summers - Guitar, piano
• Stewart Copeland - Drums

This article is about the musician. ... Andy Summers (born Andrew James Somers 31 December 1942) is an English guitarist and composer best known for his work in The Police. ... Stewart Armstrong Copeland (born July 16, 1952) is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police and is an influential drum stylist. ...

Track listing

7": A&M / AM 117

1. "Every Breath You Take" - 4:13
2. "Murder By Numbers" - 4:31

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ...

2x7": A&M / AM 117

1. "Every Breath You Take" - 4:13
2. "Murder By Numbers" - 4:31

1. "Man In A Suitcase" (live) - 2:18
2. "Truth Hits Everyone" (Remix)

• rare 2x7" single

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ...

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Andy Summers mentions in his book One Train Later that the memorable guitar part he played was the first and only take done for the song. He was asked to put guitar onto what was to him an already finished song and just played what came to mind. As he finished his take, everyone in the control room burst into applause.
• According to the Back To Mono box-set book, "Every Breath You Take" is said to be influenced by a Gene Pitney song titled "Every Breath I Take".
• The song is composed in Classical rondo form with its ABACABA structure.
• The version of the song played by the UK offshore radio station Radio Caroline featured more political lyrics, referring to 'Every life you take' and 'Every Irish wake'.
• The song featured in a 9/11 documentary by Steven E. Jones.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Andy Summers (born Andrew James Somers 31 December 1942) is an English guitarist and composer best known for his work in The Police. ... Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 – April 5, 2006) was an American singer and songwriter. ... a rondo is played between episode which are played by non solo people Rondo, and its French equivalent rondeau, is a word that has been used in music in a number of ways, most often in reference to a musical form, but also in reference to a character-type that... Radio Caroline is a European radio station that started transmissions on Easter Sunday 1964 from a ship anchored in international waters off the coast of Felixstowe, Suffolk England. ... Candy Girl is an upbeat R&B song released by R&B quintet New Edition on the Streetwise label in 1983. ... New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1980, that was most popular during the 1980s. ... This is a list of the number one hits in the UK Singles Chart, from its inception in 1952 to the present. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Baby Jane was a UK number one single for three weeks in June 1983 for Rod Stewart. ... Rod Stewart CBE (born January 10, 1945), is a singer and songwriter born and raised in London, England, with Scottish parentage. ... Flashdance. ... Irene Cara (born Irene Escalera on March 18, 1959, in The Bronx, New York City) is an American singer of African, Cuban and Puerto Rican descent. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... This is a list of number-one hits in the United States by year from the Billboard Hot 100. ... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) is a song written by David A. Stewart and Annie Lennox, and first recorded by their group Eurythmics. ... For the approach to music education, see Eurhythmics. ... Physical is an Olivia Newton-John song that was a #1 hit. ... Olivia Newton-John AO OBE (born 26 September 1948) is a Grammy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated English-born Australian pop singer, songwriter and actress. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... Billboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or albums performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Prince (UK) chronology Purple Rain track listing Darling Nikki (4) When Doves Cry (5) I Would Die 4 U (6) When Doves Cry is a song by Prince, and the lead single from his 1984 album Purple Rain. ... The Artist redirects here. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Recording The Police's Every Breath You Take, Mix Magazine Online, 2003

• "Every Breath You Take" music video with lyrics
• "Every Breath You Take" with backing vocals