Rapper FIRST time REACTION to The Police - Every Breath You Take! I didn't know...

[@starlette570]

This song was huge when it came out and everyone was playing it at weddings. Sting found that disturbing because it isn't a love song, it's a song about obsession and stalking someone

[@cattewest]

It's about a stalker!

[@JeffMartinEquinox]

He has gone back on it and said he doesn't want to Yuck anyone's Yum... people can enjoy it the way they want.

[@angb6561]

He may have been focusing on writing a song about a stalker but he failed to realize the song COULD be about something else to. I'll never think of this song in THAT negative way.

[@ruthlafler5622]

@@angb6561 well, it's clear that they are no longer together and he's still watching her and says she belongs to him. It's hard to see how that's not creepy obsession. Plus there's the bit about the vows she breaks and the smiles she fakes. On one hand he's obsessed with her, and on the other hand he's saying she's a terrible person. That's right out of the stalker handbook: that he's obsessed with her, and yet he also blames her for what he sees as her wrongdoing. That's when women end up dead and it's her fault. If only she weren't that way. Etc.

[@starlette570]

@@angb6561 I don't know how the lyrics could be interpreted any other way.

[@jonathanross149]

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, Message in a Bottle, Roxanne, Synchronicity 1 & 2

[@beedeegee9374]

Fields of Gold

[@ConspiracySmurf]

YEP ALL OF THESE!

[@dawnmguzman]

Don't Stand So Close To Me

[@kelleewolfe2834]

Yes!! All of these! You'll love Roxanne, lol.

[@brigidsingleton1596]

​@@kelleewolfe2834 "Rock Sand... You don't have to put on the red light!"

[@timoneill6931]

It always cracks me up when this song is played at weddings.

[@hopeklemann1]

omg! why in the hell would someone play this at their wedding? lol

[@larspetrus3917]

Green Day's "Good Riddance" is another terrible wedding favorite. It's probably from mishearing "I hope you had the time of your life" as "*have* the time of your life", but if you read the lyrics it's obviously a breakup song, not the opposite...

[@angb6561]

WHY? Just because Sting wrote it about ONE thing....doesn't mean listeners have to TAKE IT that way. I don't care if he wrote this about being stalked. THAT ISN'T HOW I CHOOSE to take the song.

[@edwardlongshanks827]

@@angb6561 It's kind of hard to interpret lyrics such as "Every vow you break" and "Every smile you fake" to be about a positive relationship.

[@gregmason2434]

To be fair, I've been at large weddings where Billy Idol's "White Wedding" was played. The bride and groom were long gone it was just a dance party 3 hours later... but still...

[@Mainecoonlady.]

Ultimate stalker song. Everyone thought it was a love song, even having it played as their wedding song. Finally Sting had to come out with… what song is written about. That is actually called “the bass”. It is larger than a cello. The cello also has a different range.

[@JeffMartinEquinox]

Sometimes even called a Double Bass

[@karidrgn]

I've always heard itv as a stalker song

[@funkspinna]

If everybody thought it was a love song then it's obviously not the "ultimate" stalker song. LOL.

[@Freddie-sq1su]

Listen to the words... it's obviously a stalker

[@victorslayton8726]

Yep that's a stand up bass.

[@williamwhalen746]

The Police formed in 1977 and U2 formed in 1976. It took a while for both of them to become big names. Their history is close enough to each other that it is unlikely that one or the other directly influenced each other. They were both two of the biggest groups of their era. Sting stated that much of his inspiration came from Calypso and Reggae with Bob Marley being a key artist. Bono listed The Associates, The Clash and The Who as influences.

[@HeavyTopspin]

And two of the best albums of the 80s in Synchronicity and Joshua Tree. The difference is that the Police broke up when their frontman went bonkers.

[@williamwhalen746]

@@HeavyTopspin "Joshua Tree" is great but I preferred U2's "War" album.

[@wegotlumpsofitroundtheback5065]

In an interview Sting said it's clear in the lyrics it's about a stalker and is horrified when couples tell him this was their wedding song.

[@Kriyavas1]

Horrified is a bit of an over reaction. He may be horrified but he continues to make literally millions off this song, perhaps this song should come with a warning if he feels so strongly about it

[@growler63]

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, Message in a Bottle, Roxanne, Spirits in the Material World, and Wrapped Around Your Finger!!!!!!

[@clew5687]

Fields of Gold by Sting, one of the greatest records ever released. Such a beautiful song.

[@elizabethfranco1284]

U2 was formed in Ireland in 1976 and The Police in England 1977,so they were contemporaries.

[@RoverWaters]

U2 was a kids band Police was in their prime

[@declanmoore9005]

They also covered many gigs together and became and still are very much friends.

[@declanmoore9005]

​@@RoverWatersSunday bloody Sunday made an impact ❤

[@KOALA876]

Sting and Bono are both tenors so they have a similar vocal quality.

[@declanmoore9005]

@KOALA876 however live back in the day didn't really matter. We had sound engineers lighting technicians and no Internet. If you were good and your fans connected with you, your lyrics and message you would sell vinyl! Yes the money grabbing people would get involved in order to feather their own nest! There was never any competition between them. In fact there was huge professional respect between them all. What happened before mobile phones and camera's shall stay within the amazing time!

[@flamestergirl]

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." Regarding the common misinterpretation of the song, he added: "I think the ambiguity is intrinsic in the song however you treat it because the words are so sadistic. On one level, it's a nice long song with the classic relative minor chords, and underneath there's this distasteful character talking about watching every move. I enjoy that ambiguity. I watched Andy Gibb singing it with some girl on TV a couple of weeks ago, very loving, and totally misinterpreting it. (Laughter) I could still hear the words, which aren't about love at all. I pissed myself laughing."

[@valhenning1504]

I never really liked this song, I always thought it was weird. But since I have learned to play the piano and my 2nd husband passed away it now has a whole new meaning to me and is actually a very beautiful song.

[@Kriyavas1]

@@valhenning1504 absolutely agree. I don’t know where Sting was coming from if it was such a nasty song why put it on the album at all. As far as Andy Gibb? No it’s not a light hearted love song, ridiculous. It’s obviously about a fantasy of wanting to possess the person who is no longer there or no longer loves us. I don’t think the character is nasty at all, he’s a broken man lost without a trace. I am so sorry for your loss, I also felt that way when my husband died, lost. I am glad you have found the beauty and true meaning of this song and it brings you some comfort. 🙏🙏

[@VictorPM1550]

"Is that a cello?" - no, that's a classic double bass! 🙂

[@monchorga]

@VictorPM1550 I was going to say the same thing. It's a shame some of those in the younger generation don't know how to identify some simple musical instruments. If it isn't on a computer game or their cell phones, they are lost for general everyday knowledge. No wonder today's music sucks.

[@williamhannam3870]

A Double Bass is essentially a double-sized cello with a deeper sound.

[@kristend344]

@@williamhannam3870 No, the strings are different. Cellos are tuned in fifths, a double bass is tuned in fourths. Viola and cello use the same strings (cellos strings are an octave lower.)

[@StevenQ74]

Which probably looked good in the video but is not what is actaly played , on the recording Sting used a Fender and en electric double bass to double up those notes

[@MarkoMakela-kk7qf]

That got some smile to my face too as I do love classical music too...

[@declanmoore9005]

Mr Sumner ( Sting) was my elder sisters English teacher and I watched him and dire straights practicing. My father ran a tour busses company and I have been privileged to have these amazing influences in my life! Mr Sumner caught me dancing to UTFO once and danced with me! I was a pasty assed white boy the 80's asking for funk and soul ❤❤❤ His interaction was amazing ❤

[@shanegooding4839]

Geordie?

[@declanmoore9005]

@@shanegooding4839 HWTL ♥️

[@declanmoore9005]

@@shanegooding4839 HWTL ♥️

[@M.Sforza]

Love White boys.

[@lisamareepritchard6375]

Oh wow ❤

[@michellepearce5278]

The stalker song! 😂 Sting wrote this about his divorce from his first wife. Used to be a wedding song but even Sting said it’s about an unhealthy obsession. Try Don’t Stand So Close to Me ❤

[@tomroome4118]

"Don't Stand So Close To Me" was the Covid-19 anthem!

[@terryconnelly484]

​@tomroome4118 And also a underage girl /teacher relationship

[@hpesrep]

@@tomroome4118more like a pedo anthem lol

[@rockmetalplaylists5595]

@@tomroome4118 Oh fckin STOP!

[@sarahholland2600]

At the time, I remember reading everywhere that it was about his ex girlfriend Francesca Annis. A very beautiful actress who is still performing today. My babysitter back in the day got her first Nanny job in London at the time: for Sting. It was the talk of the village.

[@wordygirlandco]

❤This was the biggest song of 1983 both here in the US and the UK. The Police are amazing musicians and Sting is a legend.

[@ruff500]

This song was popular with teenagers in the USSR in those years

[@marymccoy535]

i always imagined this song played at the beginning of law and order s.v.u. leading into the show. and the song by bruce springsteen i'm on fire.

[@joankisloski6972]

Sting plays guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, piano, harmonica, saxophone and pan-flute. The instrument Sting is playing in this video is a upright bass.

[@divadaedalus]

Also plays the lute.

[@creepyoldlady2995]

Sting's first solo single, "Fortress Around Your Heart," is one of my all-time favorite love songs. What a songwriter!

[@justinmay5792]

Yes. That song is a personal favorite to me -- a banger.

[@back2black717]

Mine too! LOVE IT!

[@firecracker8071]

Fields of gold is my favorite

[@hopeklemann1]

🌸 good for Sting for standing his ground!

[@valkyrie757]

Every little thing she does is magic, Murder By Numbers, Message in a Bottle are all great tracks! Love your content friend ❤

[@stephenstrudwick8095]

Sting wrote "Every Breath You Take" in 1982, and it was later included on the band's fifth and final album Synchronicity, released a year later. The song is considered to be both The Police's and Sting's signature song, and in 2010 was estimated to bring in between a quarter and a third of Sting's music publishing income. The song's demo was recorded in an eight-track suite in London's Utopia studios and featured Sting singing over a Hammond organ. Andy Summers, who played guitar for the band, was asked to put guitar onto a simple backing track, with Sting offering no directive beyond "make it your own." According to Summers: "I'd been making an album with Robert Fripp, and I was kind of experimenting with playing Bartok violin duets and had worked up a new riff. When Sting said 'go and make it your own', I went and stuck that lick on it, and immediately we knew we had something special." Unfortunately, the recording of the album Synchronicity was dogged with inflated egos and in-fighting, leading to each member laying down their parts in different rooms and overdubbing in the studio separately. Producer Hugh Padgham also claimed that Sting and Stuart Copeland, the amazing drummer/percussionist for the band, "hated each other", with verbal and physical fights occuring in the studio. According to Copeland: "In my humble opinion, (Every Breath You Take) is Sting's best song with the worst arrangement. I think Sting could have had any other group do this song and it would have been better than our version - except for Andy's brilliant guitar part. Basically, there's an utter lack of groove. It's a totally wasted opportunity for our band. Even though we made gazillions off of it, and it's the biggest hit we ever had." The Police were never going to exist once they’d reached a certain point. And that point was playing at Shea Stadium in 1983, where Sting felt it was the band’s “Everest”, deciding then to pursue a solo career. On stage, The Police kept it together, performing to thousands of adoring fans each night, right up until the Synchronicity tour was completed in Melbourne on 4th March 1984.

[@JoBarnes-x2n]

I was at that Melb Concert it was electric! They all put their hearts and souls into that performance!

[@bethboldman8314]

I just can't agree with your review.

[@ginamarandino6451]

Sting was playing an upright Bass. You should listen to a song from the same era from another three man band where are the lead singer played the bass. Rush was very influenced by the police, in particular Neil Peart was influenced by Stuart Copeland the drummer. The song The enemy from within has a very similar drumming style.

[@lynette.]

It is chilling if you listen to every word. Stalker.

[@kamander0]

Fun fact: Sting has explained many times that this is not a love song. It was written in the context of stalking. "Is he playing the cello?" Sting is playing the upright bass in this song. I think the bass line in this song is what gives "U2 vibes." The U2 song With or Without you has a similar sounding baseline.

[@chelseahaley8350]

Yay! Another one I can cross off my list! 😁 This song always gave me major stalker vibes for some reason! 😆🤷‍♀️👀

[@heartwork8318]

Amen!

[@zoelo8149]

P

[@zoelo8149]

It’s probably because the song was written from the perspective of a stalker. Sting actually looks creepy to me in this video. So I totally understand why you feel that way about the song. I heard an interview with Sting where he said people come up to him and say that they played this song at their wedding and he’s puzzled by that. Me too…🤔

[@chelseahaley8350]

@@zoelo8149 Very interesting! I never knew that!

[@inspiredfunkmark]

It is a stalker song, the whole album covers the story - from Murder By Numbers, to Can't Stand Losing You...even Every Little Thing....

[@hank3rebel373]

Roxanne is the break out song for the police great song

[@Lechuque]

I didn't realize it when I grew up in the 70's, 80's and 90's but my god were we spoiled!

[@Kriyavas1]

Yes this song is about obsession but so are most love songs. Debbie Harry ‘One way or another’ Bruce Springsteen ‘I’m on Fire’ Snow White queen by Evanescence’a woman destroyed’ Garbage, Jace Everett ‘Bad things’ the list goes on and on. This was never meant to be a light hearted album most of the songs allude to the metaphysical struggle to find one’s self meaning and purpose. It is a breathtaking album, so are we to delete this song which so beautifully paints a picture of a broken man, does anyone really think he’ll be everywhere she goes, it is a fantasy one he will eventually outgrow as in Wrapped around Your finger. Either enjoy this song for what it is or move on, no one was hurt or stalked in the making of this song or album

[@ApteryxRex]

This song is the counterpoint to "Don't stand so close to me" [also a fantastic song by the Police] . If you follow Stings finger movements you can see where the baseline is coming from..

[@marty6945]

This song is not about divorce but about stalking. Actually, the song with this stalking does not mean the relationship between two people, but the influence of the omnipresent Big Brother of today, surveillance and control.(Sting) The band U2 was founded even a year before the Police (1976) Both bands belong to the classics of the genre and do not influence each other in any way.

[@user-ju9pj5zp4g]

Police GREAT band song AMAZING Sting the best vocalist......

[@komakafox4207]

At a recent concert he chuckled as he announced this as "the stalker's anthem."

[@LibraAllWoman]

B.P., Sting isn't playing the Cello. He a Bass player. He is playing the Upright Bass.

[@amberrose8756]

U2 formed in 1976 and The Police formed on 1977. The Police burned out as a band at their height while U2 is still releasing music. I like the Police, but I’ll always pick U2. Their songs are so meaningful and Bono is the best.❤

[@luckyrobinshomestead]

He's not playing a cello. You have to sit down to play a cello and it is much smaller. He's playing an upright bass. And the song is about a man stalking a woman according to Sting. When I was a kid my friends thought it was a romantic song and I was like, are you kidding me? It's not romantic to have someone obsessed with you, especially someone you are no longer with. But then they thought Don't Stand so Close to Me was romantic, too.

[@traceylowther8116]

Exactly 😊

[@jannachtsheim5989]

saw them live 5 times. the song is about stalking. I had such a huge crush on Sting!!

[@The_Kiosk]

This is my favorite band. Dig deep.

[@karlene1972]

My favorite band of all time. The amount of good songs and great songs from The Police and Sting is amazing

[@FinallyTuned]

Sting is playing the standup bass, which can be plucked and functions (sounds) like and electric bass. You see it played like this in Jazz/Blues, or played with a bow (and some plucking) in an orchestra.

[@shannoncolwell758]

Uptempo/upbeat depressing and sad songs are a trip

[@stephenstrudwick8095]

As you noted, the song's famous riff was sampled in Puff Daddy's 1997 number one tribute to The Notorious BIG, 'I'll Be Missing You', which was a massive international hit. However, despite only using Andy Summers' guitar riff rather than Sting's contribution, only Sting ever receives royalties. Andy Summers remarked: "And I mean, it’s very flattering. I guess everybody likes it. You can work yourself up into a fury about 'Why am I not getting paid for it?'." He added: "The Puff Daddy one was weird for me, because, I mean, what do you use with the guitar riff? He actually sampled my guitar, and that’s what he based his whole track on. Stewart’s not on it. Sting’s not on it. I’d be walking round Tower Records, and the f**king thing would be playing over and over. It was very bizarre while it lasted."

[@JeffMartinEquinox]

Andy Summers had a great documentary Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police - worth a watch

[@KARENCOGS]

I was obsessed with the Police back in the late 70’s and 80’s. My room was a shrine! Saw them a bunch in concert. Yeah they inspired me !

[@bostonwhofan]

Ditto. I remember seeing them in Foxboro, MA on the same bill as A Flock of Seagulls and The Fixx in 1983. There are rumors Stewart Copeland (drummer) will be getting together with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson from Rush in the near future. Stewart had a ton of respect for Neil Peart and I think it would be great to see/hear him performing with Alex and Geddy.

[@TerryL421]

I love Sting - with The Police or solo. This song sounds like a love song, but it's about an unhealthy obsession and stalking. Other songs by The Police are Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, Message in a Bottle, Roxanne, Spirits in the Material World, and Wrapped Around Your Finger. Some solo songs by Sting are Fortress Around Your Heart, Fragile, It's Probably Me (with Eric Clapton), Fields of Gold, Shape of My Heart, and my absolute favorite Desert Rose. There is also a great collaboration between Sting, Rod Stewart, and Bryan Adams on the song All for Love.

[@doughaviland1729]

The STALKER song!❤

[@annebaker9408]

I might be wrong….but, both The Police and U2 were from my early teen years, and I feel that one of my earliest favourite songs was ‘Gloria’ by U2. It is hard to determine who came before who in the 80s….it was such an amazing time of originality and ingenuity. But, I was young and thought it was just normal for each band /artist to invent their own ‘new sound’…and that is what really defines the 80’s…..’new’! Everything was new! And, we were young and on the cusp of a new exciting world…..that turned out to be not as good as all that! But we had ‘high hopes’…and fast evolving music was exciting and gave us all hope. But, as it turned out, we got some good technology in the 90’s and beyond, but we also lost so much…..I have to wonder if we didn’t lose much more then we gained. :-( We gained instant communications (that have the power to instantly ruin your day), we never have to fight about facts anymore….we just google things. But, we have lost soooooo much. People don’t seem to be able to (or enjoy) communicate face to face to face in ‘real time’ any more. The biggest thing we lost is the ability to ‘trust’ what we hear or see. This is astonishing to me! I am Australian and I am shocked by the way Americans are swayed by propaganda from non reputable sources…but Americans just ‘swallow up’ rubbish media they are spoon fed…..it is scary! Don’t you guys ‘think for yourselves’? Sorry, I don’t mean to be political…but, America seem on the verge to join Russia, Iran and North Korea…..Trump is the worst enemy of USA and certainly of the rest of western society in my lifetime….if Trump gets back in, USA and Australia will end up being enemies…..that is so sad, europe is in the same boat.

[@BalbazaktheGreat]

Good on you for catching the sharp undertone on this one, it's pretty easy to miss if you aren't paying attention.

[@jillday2955]

I was a student intern when they performed at my school (Michigan) and it was an interesting experience; I also got to work concerts by Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, Michael Jackson, Rita Marley and Prince.

[@revaflowers3115]

This is such a great beat,and the voice of Sting is pure gold in this song. I don't care if it is about stalking,I love this song. Sting is playing the Standing Bass/double bass/or Bass Fiddle

[@JeffMartinEquinox]

Sting's response to his own song is If You Love Someone, Set Them Free, from his Dream of the Blue Turtles album. Worth a listen.

[@carrollmurphy2289]

That's my favorite Sting song and video!

[@kathylutz948]

I would highly recommend listening to Don’t Stand So Close to Me and Message in the Bottle. Great songs

[@silverdoeGirl]

Two words - Timeless classic

[@bradparnell614]

Before the electric bass there was the upright bass. They are still mainstays in jazz and bluegrass. Check out some Stray Cats who were doing rockabilly in the 80s. They have made fretless electric basses that sound similar but there's nothing quite like the sound of an upright and many rockers have chosen to play them on certain songs to get that sound. Paul McCartney, one of the greatest bassists of all time, now owns the upright bass played on many Elvis Presley recordings.

[@elizabethfranco1284]

Don’t Stand So Close to Me,Roxanne,King of Pain. For Sting solo,Desert Rose,Fields of Gold.

[@michellepearce5278]

@@elizabethfranco1284 I love King of Pain

[@filmgirlLisa]

Don't know why but Don't Stand might be my favorite Police song.

[@eggy1962]

King of pain for me has lyrics you have to listen to……Dont stand…..story tellin done very well

[@cw6587]

Fields of Gold for me!

[@michellepearce5278]

@@cw6587 Yes for solo Sting

[@katjohnson6315]

Check out Sting, Brian Adam’s and Rod Stewart singing “All for Love” Real raspy voices just killing it!

[@rowanmayfair9249]

THE STALKER ANTHEM!!! Yes!

[@BuddyBoy68]

Hi Black Pegasus! It's Andrew Erroch fae Paisley in Scotland here. You should dive into more from The Police and I'm sure you won't be disappointed. There are so many brilliant songs from them for you to discover. Æ 🙏

[@richardmose]

My friend, love your reactions, and just to help you out, and pass on my knowledge to you. Sting is playing a traditional standing bass used in classic jazz, and symphonic pieces. Acello is played using a bow on the strings, and the musician iseated in a chair with the cello nestled between their legs. Also, a cello is much smaller than a standing bass. I just realized that I sound like a smart-assed nerd, but, really I'm only trying to increase your musical knowledge, and prevent you from making rookie mistakes. Thanks for the reaction.

[@tonyherrera9329]

The Police were an interesting bunch, they have said that they often clashed/fought during their time together. But their musical chemistry was phenomenal, with Sting writing most of their songs. When Sting left and went out on his own he began to explore so many of the influences that he was influenced by. Fields of Gold, Desert Rose, Englishman in New York and Roxanne are some of my favorites. Definitely check out more of the Police and Sting as it's truly a treasure trove for the ears.

[@nanalol4fun]

I suggest you check out The Very Best of Sting & The Police. Many good songs on there!! One of my favorites is De Do Do Do De Da Da Da. Very fun song. 😊

[@gizmo5925]

Both the Police and U2 started as bands at around the same time (mid-late 1970s), but the Police made it big first. Both bands were part of the New Wave, trying to break out of the formula that bands had been using for the previous decade or so to make their music. My guess is that both bands, perhaps independently, tried a few of the same new ideas to make music, and that might be why you hear a similarity between them.

[@kenneth2875]

This was their biggest song they had. On September 27 The Police are releasing as 6 disc 50 song set. The set includes unreleased songs and alternate versions of songs

[@dougman23]

one of the greatest bridge/middle 8s in music..."since you've gone, I've been lost without a trace..."

[@rockymillwood3347]

So many fun high school memories with this one. My first band(1984ish) we covered a few POLICE songs.❤

[@JoseDaniel-o8z]

❤police❤ police sting❤❤ de valor👑🤴👑🥺🥺🥺🥺 grupo 💯🙏 lenda viva lenda sem palavras 🤩.

[@marcovtjev]

If you are an old String fan, it is not just the rap versions of old Plice songs that brought it all back in recent years. How about the movie(s) Dune? String played Feyd Rautha in the original... And that is a contra-bass, Chello's big brother, and what a electric bass-guitar models

[@oktober-vh6gl]

he's playing a contrabass or double bass, basically an acoustic bass. this an an electric basss are just like the difference between an acoustic or electric guitar. most of us bass players learned on something like this in school as this is the type of bass used in orchestral performances. these can be plucked, as Sting is doing here, or used with a bow... like a cello or violin. sometimes, if you want to get fancy, you can get a fretless electic bass, then use it with an ebow to get an electric bass to sound more like a contrabass. there are acoustic basses that look more like accoustic guitars, but they just don't have the deep resonance of one of these huge contrabasses.

[@keithbond9423]

as of a couple years ago, this song was named by BMI as the most played song on radio. Not sure if it still holds the title, but it is certainly one of the biggest songs of all time.

[@marcieharreld286]

Classic Stalker song!!! Even Sting said its about obsession!!🎶🎼🎵🎸🎤🎹🎧🎙🥁🔥🔥🔥

[@kelleewolfe2834]

Love this freaking song!

[@darcylyons4313]

You hit the nail on the head Sting said it is about Divorce, exactly that so yeah very perceptive of you❤

[@garybradford8332]

Great song. The film "Cat's Eye" (1985), written by Stephen King, used this song. It was about a guy (James Wood) who wanted to quit smoking and goes to a shady company that promises 100% success. He can't escape the eyes watching him to see if he cheats while the song plays.

[@annemarinelli7303]

I liked this from when I heard it years ago 👍

[@susancosnick3852]

One of THE songs of the 80's

[@rockmetalplaylists5595]

Ya gotta love the beat change in Puff's version tho!

[@Mario-it3po]

This song was #1 for 12 weeks in a row back in the day!!! I believe it was back in 1984 if I am correct. I was in high school at the time.

[@donnasmith5942]

I absolutely love this song.

[@pd4104lang]

The quintessential, iconic, stalker song!

[@ravenw.navarre9718]

The Police and Sting were on the scene before U2, however I am sure if you were to ask Bono or The Edge, that they were influenced by the band's early songs. Just so cool to see how music influences other artists. Not surprising that they try to copy some. You should check out Wrapped Around Your Finger, I think you would like it.

[@LillyLillyLillyLillyLillyLilly]

This was the first concert that I attended as a freshman in college, where we had to stand in line for tickets for over eight hours; even then our seats were behind the band with limited vision in the nosebleed section.

[@Makai77]

The entire Synchronicity album is so well produced. For some wild lyrics, try Murder by Numbers which is the B side of the Every Breath You Take single.

[@ThornyLittleFlower]

7:24 That's a double bass, not a cello. Much bigger. Fun fact: Oscar Pettiford was the first to play the cello by plucking as you would a bass due to a broken arm. He was an amazing bass player. I would love for you to react to some of Oscar's work. He played with Duke Ellington and the greats going right back to where all future greats were created!

[@mariusstachelhaus5458]

I like that you can enjoy international music and recommend the German group Seeed, it's a mix of hip hop and reggae. But there is also singing. A mix of English and German. Their first album from 2001 is legendary, it's called new dubby conquerors❤

[@quaresma9003]

Diddy R.I.P , i never forget you my Friend 💐

[@Victoria-nl3zx]

Both were awesome

[@carolineskipper6976]

You are absolutely right that it is a song about divorce. Sting wrote it about his reaction to the breakup of his marriage, and his threat to stalk his ex. Weirdly a lot of people chose it for a song to play at their wedding......

[@philburton2223]

I never understood how people thought this was a song appropriate for a wedding. I was 13 when this song came out & recognized that it was a song about stalker like obcession 🤔

[@nicholaspritchard5603]

U2 and The Police are contemporaries. They both formed late 70's so they probably were inspired by the same bands.

[@karencolley-smidt864]

I saw The Police in concert in Austin Texas way back in 1982. It was such a great concert!!!

[@emerald1805]

In 1979 they played Austin on Halloween. I still have that promo poster they stapled to telephone poles all over town.

[@anitawright7169]

Awesome song. Love your reaction!

[@dorisgardner-mccraw4723]

Sting is playing an upright bass.

[@toddylu6869]

Watching the Police live on their Synchronicity tour was awesome. My 10 th grade English teacher used almost the entire album to teach us about poetry and symbolism in 1983. Mr Appleton rocked!!

[@AzaleaLala]

I had a Police period. I was obsessed with their music. Also, U2 happens to be one of my two favorite bands(Led Zeppelin being the other one). I've never seen it mentioned that U2 were influenced by the Police. But both groups were probably influenced by the same musicians and bands. The Clash, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Thin Lizzy and others influenced U2. U2's earlier music was very much a punk sound and influenced by 60s protest songs with political lyrics. To me Coldplay sounds very much like U2, especially Coldplay's earlier music. It probably was helped by the fact that both groups have worked with Brian Eno once or twice.

[@rickeyjohnson4491]

this song was the bomb. OG

[@baronlster5674]

Sting is playing a bass - it’s considerably large than a cello with a deeper range

[@jaccilowe3842]

It's NOT a stalker song. It's referring to Sting's quite acrimonious divorce from first wife Frances Tomelty. He's warning her not to try conning him because he's a wake up to her deceit and money-grubbing ways..."every claim you stake"

[@freyjabeth4372]

Sting sings a beautiful song called Desert Rose, beautiful song

[@dawnmguzman]

Gawd, when I hear this song the strong pangs of nostalgia kick in, making me yearn for the neighhood, friends and family I grew up with during my jr and high school years. Such a classic!

[@laurarominger2073]

A song Sting did about divorce that’s awesome is “I’m so Hapoy I can’t Stop Crying”. Check it out. Watch the live version. The video is so weird and has nothing to do with the song! It was redone by a country artist too. I could relate to this. I’m the mom but I had to go half of each week without my kids and it was torture. On the subject James Taylor and another great singer (I am spacing his name!) did a song about divorce called “Used to Be Her Town” which really hit home. Divorce is the hardest thing to go through. Many people will relate to these songs.

[@davidmackeown9318]

I had this song on repeat and use to listen to it daily when I was young. Used to be played all the time here in Ireland on radio and tv. Grew up listening to the police and this has always been my fav. Still get goosebumps after all these years. Sting in my opinion was one of the very best vocalists of the 80s.

[@valkyrie757]

I didn't know about the lawsuit but I definitely remember Sting and Puffy with Faith Evans performing this together

[@karlsmith2570]

5:05 " 'Every Breath You Take', It Sounds Like A Song About Divorce" Actually, Pegasus, it's about a stalker And the weird part is that there's people who actually included this in their wedding playlist, blissfully unaware that it's about a stalker