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"Every Breath You Take"
(UK, 1983)
(US, 1983)
Music video
"Every Breath You Take" is a song by English rock band
from their 1983 album . Written by , the single was the biggest hit of 1983, topping the
singles chart for eight weeks (the band's only number-one hit on that chart), and the
for four weeks. It also topped the Billboard
chart for nine weeks.
the song was nominated for three , including , , and , winning in the first two categories. For the song, Sting received the 1983 British Academy's
for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.
The song is considered to be both The Police's and Sting's , and in 2010 was estimated to generate between a quarter and a third of Sting's
income. In the 1983 Rolling Stone critics and readers poll, it was voted "Song of the Year". In the US, it was the
of 1983 and fifth-best-selling single of the decade. Billboard ranked it as the number-one song for 1983.
The song ranked number 84 on the
list of the
and is included in . It also ranked number 25 on Billboard's Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs. In 2015, the song was voted by the British public as the nation's favourite
in a poll for .
Sting wrote the song in 1982 in the aftermath of his separation from
and the beginning of his relationship with . Their split was controversial. As
reported in 2006, "The problem was, he was already married – to actress Frances Tomelty, who just happened to be Trudie's best friend (Sting and Frances lived next door to Trudie in Bayswater, west London, for several years before the two of them became lovers). The affair was widely condemned." In order to escape from the public eye, Sting retreated in the Caribbean where he started writing the song. The lyrics are the words of a possessive lover who is
"e every move you make".
I woke up in the middle of the night with that line in my head, sat down at the piano and had written it in half an hour. The tune itself is , an aggregate of hundreds of others, but the words are interesting. It sounds like a comforting love song. I didn't realize at the time how sinister it is. I think I was thinking of , surveillance and control.
Sting later said he was disconcerted by how many people think the song is more positive than it is. He insists it is about the obsession with a lost lover, and the jealousy and surveillance that follow. "One couple told me 'O it was the main song played at our wedding!' I thought, 'Well, good luck.'" When asked why he appears angry in the music video Sting told , "I think the song is very, very sinister and ugly and people have actually misinterpreted it as being a gentle little love song, when it's quite the opposite."
According to the
box-set book, "Every Breath You Take" is influenced by a
song titled "Every Breath I Take". The song's structure is a variation on the Classical
form with its AABACABA structure, a form rarely found in modern popular music.
The demo of the song was recorded in an eight-track suite in North London's Utopia studios and featured Sting singing over a Hammond organ. A few months later he presented the song to the other band members when they reconvened at 's
to work on the
album. While recording, Summers came up with a guitar part inspired by
that would later become a trademark lick, and played it straight through in one take. He was asked to put guitar onto a simple backing track of bass, drums, and a single vocal, with Sting offering no directive beyond "make it your own." Summers remembers:
This was a difficult one to get, because Sting wrote a very good song, but there was no guitar on it. He had this Hammond organ thing that sounded like . It certainly didn't sound like the Police, with that big, rolling synthesiser part. We spent about six weeks recording just the snare drums and the bass. It was a simple, classic chord sequence, but we couldn't agree how to do it. I'd been making
with , 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.
The recording process was fraught with difficulties as personal tensions between the band members, particularly Sting and Stewart Copeland, came to the fore. Producer Hugh Padgham claimed that by the time of the recording sessions, Sting and Copeland "hated each other", with verbal and physical fights in the studio common. The tensions almost led to the recording sessions being cancelled until a meeting involving the band and the group's manager, Miles Copeland (Stewart's brother), resulted in an agreement to continue. Keyboard parts were added from Roland guitar synthesizers,
synthesiser. The single-note piano in the middle eight was recommended by Padgham, inspired by similar work that he had done with the group . The drum track was largely created through separate
of each percussive instrument, with the main backbeat created by simultaneously playing a snare and a . To give the song more liveliness, Padgham asked Copeland to record his drum part in the studio's dining room in order to achieve some "special sound effects". The room was so hot, that his drum sticks had to be taped to Copeland's hands to make sure they didn't fly off. According to Stewart Copeland:
In my humble opinion, this 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 song had a music video (directed by duo ) loosely based on 's Jamming the Blues (1944) that was praised for its
(2002) named it as one of the best music videos ever, placing it 16th, 61st, & 33rd in their respective top 100 lists.
won the first MTV cinematography award for his work on the video. Released in the early days of MTV, Every Breath You Take was one of the earliest videos to enter heavy rotation, a fact that significantly contributed to the popularity of the song. Pop star
remembers that "The first video I watched over and over was Every Breath You Take. It was like seeing a Bergman film. Directors usually spelled out every word of the lyrics in a video, but this was the first video I knew that didn't do that. It was abstract." According to
co-founder Jeff Ayeroff, "[The video for] Every Breath You Take probably cost $75,000 to $100,000, and we sold over 5 million albums. With a good video, the return on your investment was phenomenal."
"Every Breath You Take" was released as a single in 1983, with "Murder by Numbers", a composition by Andy Summers and Sting, on the B-side. "Every Breath You Take" reached the No. 1 spot in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Israel, Ireland, and . In the 1983
critics and readers poll, it was voted "Song of the Year".
"Every Breath You Take" has been acclaimed by many critics and publications as one of the greatest songs of all time.[] It quickly established itself as one of the most popular songs in The Police's repertoire, closing the band's performances before the encores in the
(1983–84) and later in
(2007–08).
Sting performed the song at
at London's
in 1985, with
providing additional vocals, to an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion people watching the live broadcast. Sting performed it again, 20 years later, at .
In 1999, "Every Breath You Take" was listed as one of the Top 100 Songs of the Century by . In 2003, VH1 ranked the song the No. 2 greatest Break-up song of all time. And also as of 2003, Sting was still taking in an average of $2000 per day in royalties for the then 20-year-old song.
The Police performed the song at their induction into the
in 2003 with ,
on backing vocals.
In 2007 Andy Summers called his photography book I'll Be Watching You: Inside The Police
after the lyrics of the song.
In October 2007, Sting was awarded a Million-Air certificate for 9 million airplays of "Every Breath You Take" at the
Awards show in London, with only 's "" a close second at 8 million air plays.
"Every Breath You Take" has been ranked as the 94th best song of all time, as well as the third best song of 1983, in an aggregation of critics' lists at acclaimedmusic.net.
magazine's
placed it at No. 84.
It is one of .
It ranked No. 25 on Billboard's Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs.
In 1989, "Every Breath You Take" was voted No. 95 by
on its list of the "100 Best Singles of the Last 25 Years".
In 2001, the 's
placed the song 44th (out of 365).
The song came in at No. 424 in 's list of the "1001 Greatest Songs Ever" in 2003.
In 2004, "Every Breath You Take" was ranked No. 216 in 's list of The 885 All-Time Greatest Songs.
ranked the song at No. 315 on its list of the "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".
In 2000, the song appeared at No. 42 on Rolling Stone's list of "100 Greatest Pop Songs", compiled by Rolling Stone and MTV music critics to rank songs released since The Beatles' breakthrough.
In 2015 "Every Breath You Take" topped the poll in 's "The Nation's Favourite 80s Number One" show.
VH1 ranked the song No. 46 on the "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s" countdown in its series .
In 1984, a version of the song was used for a sequence at the end of the first series of the satirical puppet show . The title was altered to "Every Bomb You Make", and alternative lyrics were written by Quentin Reynolds and James Glen. The video featured puppets of several world leaders projected over a setting sun. On the line "I'll be watching you", the puppet of Death appears. Sting himself performed the re-recording.
performed the song with Sting on a
sidewalk across from the
cold open immediately following 's final episode of
on May 20, 2015.
7": A&M / AM 117
"Every Breath You Take" – 4:13
"Murder by Numbers" – 4:31
2x7": A&M / AM 117
"Every Breath You Take" – 4:13
"Murder by Numbers" – 4:31
"Man in a Suitcase" (Live) – 2:18
"Truth Hits Everybody '83" – 3:34
Rare 2x7" single
Chart (1983)
Australia ()
Austria ()
Belgium ( Flanders)
Canada Top Singles ()
Germany ()
Ireland ()
Netherlands ()
Netherlands ()
New Zealand ()
South Africa ()
Switzerland ()
(Official Charts Company)
Chart (2011)
Chart (2015)
Chart (1983)
Australia ()
Belgium ( Flanders)
Canada Top Singles ()
Germany ()
Netherlands ()
Netherlands ()
New Zealand ()
UK Singles ()
End-of-decade chart ()
Six months after the release of "Every Breath You Take", singer
released the single "", the lyrics of which bore a striking similarity to "Every Breath You Take", even including the lines "Every breath you take, I'll be watching you."
on the lyrics in his song "", singing "Every breath you take/every move you make/every cake you bake/every leg you break..."
did an instrumental version on Moonlight Shadows (1986).
song "" (1997) samples the guitar, drum, and bass parts of the song, and the chorus is an interpolation of the lyrics.
American Punk Rock band
cover the song for a collection entitled "Before You Were Punk 2" released in 1999.
alias group The Yes Girls covered the song on
and guitar on their 2000 album.
The Soundtrack in 2004 from
cover version with
closing credits with .
The "woo-hoo" line in the song's closing adlib is sampled in the chorus of ' 2009 song .
In 2012 soundtrack of
film soundtrack cover of .
used the music with edited videos of
as part of protests against the .
Buskin, Richard (March 2004). . Sound on Sound.
. Like Totally 80s.
Lister, David, Pop ballads bite back in lyrical fashion, , 28 May 1994
According to Sting's former publisher Tom Bradley. "Writing a Super Hit" by ,
No. 86, April 2010, p. 74
. Archived from
on 17 March 2010.
. . 20 September .
Westbrook, Caroline (25 July 2015). . Metro 2015.
. The Independent.
broadcast with Casey Kasem.
2009. (Spoken in the second Sting audio clip.)
Summers, Andy (2006). One Train Later: A Memoir, Thomas Dunne Books, pp. 323–324.
Fisher, Bob. . International Cinematographers Guild 2006.
Craig Marks and Rob Tannenbaum, I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of The Music Video Revolution, Dutton, New York, 2011
. . 13 December .
. CBS News. 19 December 2003.
. . 16 October .
. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2015.
Chester, Lewis (1986). Tooth & Claw: The Inside Story of Spitting Image. Faber and Faber. pp. 90–91.  .
. . 21 May .
. . Hung Medien. Archived from
on 20 October .
" (in German). . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
" (in Dutch). . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
"." . . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
(archived 7 November 2006). .
. InfoDisc (in French). Select "The Police" from the artist drop-down menu 2016.
". . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
". . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
. musicline.de 2016.
" (in Dutch). . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
"" (in Dutch).
Retrieved 24 June 2016.
". . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
" (in Norwegian). . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
. rock.co.za 2016.
Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: a?o a a?o,
(1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE.  .
". . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
". . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
" . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
for The Police. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
for The Police. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
for The Police. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
(PDF). . New York, NY, USA. 30 July 1983. p. 39 2016.
(archived 11 September 2012). .
. . for The Police 2016.
. . for The Police 2016.
". . Retrieved 23 November 2015.
. . Hung Medien. Archived from
on 28 August .
(in Dutch). Archived from
on 26 January .
"." . . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
. top.france.free.fr (in French) 2016.
(in German) 2016.
(in Italian) 2016.
(in Dutch) 2016.
(in Dutch) 2016.
Scapin, Peter, ed. (1984). "Top 100 singles: 1983". BPI Year Book 1984. . pp. 42–43.  .
(archived 11 September 2012). .
. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media 2015.
(in Italian).
2013. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter The Police in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
2013. Enter Every Breath You Take in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
. YouTube 2016.
Preceded by
2 July 1983 – 9 July 1983 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
Preceded by
18 June 1983 – 9 July 1983 (4 weeks)
Succeeded by
Preceded by
4 June 1983 – 25 June 1983 (4 weeks)
Succeeded by
Preceded by
4 June 1983 - 25 June 1983 (4 weeks)
Preceded by
9 July 1983 – 27 August 1983 (8 weeks)
Succeeded by
Preceded by
11 June 1983 – 6 August 1983 (9 weeks)
Succeeded by
number one singles ()
– Best Song Musically and Lyrically
: Hidden categories:DefinitionBy Mayo Clinic Staff
Few sensations are as frightening as not being able to get enough air. Shortness of breath & known medically as dyspnea & is often described as an intense tightening in the chest, air hunger or a feeling of suffocation.
Very strenuous exercise, extreme temperatures, massive obesity and high altitude all can cause shortness of breath in a healthy person. Outside of these examples, shortness of breath is likely a sign of a medical problem.
If you have unexplained shortness of breath, especially if it comes on suddenly and is severe, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Schwartzstein RM. Approach to the patient with dyspnea. /home. Accessed Feb. 4, 2016.
AskMayoExpert. Dyspnea. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and R 2014.
Marx JA, et al. Dyspnea. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders E 2014. . Accessed Feb. 4, 2016.
Breathlessness. American Thoracic Society. http://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/breathlessness.pdf?gclid=CJetzPSG4coCFQgcaQodiRQGeQ. Accessed Feb. 5, 2016.
Shortness of breath. Merck Manual Consumer Version. /home/lung-and-airway-disorders/symptoms-of-lung-disorders/shortness-of-breath. Accessed Feb. 5, 2016.
Quintero DR, et al. Assessment of stridor in children. /home. Accessed Feb. 5, 2016.
Loftis LL. Emergency evaluation of acute upper airway obstruction in children. /home. Accessed Feb. 5, 2016.
Warning signs of heart failure. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/WarningSignsforHeartFailure/Warning-Signs-for-Heart-Failure_UCM_002045_Article.jsp#.VrTf7fkrJMw. Accessed Feb. 5, 2016.
Living with COPD. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/copd/livingwith. Accessed Feb. 5, 2016.
Gallagher SA, et al. High altitude illness. /home. Accessed Feb. 5, 2016.
Olson EJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 6, 2016.
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The prize for winning the race around the world is almost within reach. But sometimes the biggest danger can lie close to home.Quinn, Ash, Zain and the crew of the Libertas are racing against the clock to get back to Verdania before the King's deadline. Will they make it in time? Will Quinn complete the first map of the whole world? Will Zain bring back enough treasure to satisfy the King? Will they win the race to the end of the world?Or will their enemies stop them from getting back at all?For fans of international bestseller John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series and Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books.The first book in the series was named one of the best middle-grade books of 2014 by Readings.'Not since Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest series has there been such an exciting adventure tale from an Australian author. Echoes of Robinson Crusoe make this feel like a classic with a new twist, and it's perfect for readers aged 8 to 12 who are looking for some escapism in the sea of contemporary stories' - Readings on Prisoner of the Black HawkThe Mapmaker Chronicles1. Race to the End of the World2. Prisoner of the Black Hawk3. Breath of the Dragon (October 2015)
September 2015ISBN 0Read online, or download in secure EPUB
Title: Breath of the Dragon
A.L. Tait&
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data-description="The prize for winning the race around the world is almost within reach. But sometimes the biggest danger can lie close to home.Quinn, Ash, Zain and the crew of the Libertas are racing against the clock to get back to Verdania before the King's deadline. Will they make it in time? Will Quinn complete the first map of the whole world? Will Zain bring back enough treasure to satisfy the King? Will they win the race to the end of the world?Or will their enemies stop them from getting back at all?For fans of international bestseller John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series and Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books.The first book in the series was named one of the best middle-grade books of 2014 by Readings.'Not since Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest series has there been such an exciting adventure tale from an Australian author. Echoes of Robinson Crusoe make this feel like a classic with a new twist, and it's perfect for readers aged 8 to 12 who are looking for some escapism in the sea of contemporary stories' - Readings on Prisoner of the Black HawkThe Mapmaker Chronicles1. Race to the End of the World2. Prisoner of the Black Hawk3. Breath of the Dragon (October 2015)">
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