Every Breath You Take

May 20, 1983. The Police released 'Every Breath You Take' as the lead single from their fifth and final studio album, Synchronicity, on A&M Records. Written solely by Sting, the song became the band's only US number one, spending eight consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 from July to September 1983. In the UK, it held the top spot for four weeks. The track also topped charts in Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and several European nations.

Musically, the song is a pop rock ballad built around a minimalist arrangement. Andy Summers plays a distinctive, repeating guitar arpeggio, Stewart Copeland provides restrained drumming, and Sting handles bass and lead vocals. The gentle, romantic sound contrasts sharply with the lyrics, which Sting has described as being about obsession, surveillance, and the darker side of love, inspired by his own divorce. This contrast has made the song one of the most frequently misinterpreted in popular music, often played at weddings despite its stalker-like themes.

The black-and-white music video, directed by Godley & Creme, features the band performing in a stark, shadowy studio setting with close-ups of each member. Released in June 1983, it became a staple on MTV. On YouTube, the official video has over 1.2 billion views as of early 2025. The song was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2019 for combined sales and streaming equivalents of over 10 million units in the US.[edit]