“Every Breath You Take” the Song and the Controversy
June 12, 2018
“Every Breath You Take,” by The Police, is a creepy song. The song was originally released in 1983, and according to VH1, is one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
Topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight straight weeks, how could this song possibly get such a bad rep? Well, according to students at GP, the lyrics are very “stalkerish.”
Yes, the song describes watching someone literally every breath they take, every move they make, and every step they take, Sting will be watching them. What’s so bad about that? Many current songs have similar meanings, and I’m sure Sting’s intent was not to sound like a creepy guy that stalks some girl he’s interested in.
For example, does anyone ever frown upon Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me?” No. Yet, Swift talks about basically knowing her interest’s moves. “You’re on the phone with your girlfriend; she’s upset.” The real question should be how does she know that?
In a Blondie song, which many of us still know and sing along to today, talks about driving past someone’s house, seeing if the lights are all out, and see what’s going on. Is that not also relatively creepy?
Not to mention, the Radiohead song “Creep,” though heavily implied by listeners, seems to be about a kid that’s lowkey watching this “angel” that makes his skin cry, and getting completely overwhelmed by not being where he’s supposed to be.
It never dawned on me how “Every Breath You Take” was hated by so many people until I was in Mr. Parker’s class, and the song came on VH1’s 100 greatest rock songs of all time list. All I heard, while I was trying to sing along, considering it is one of my favorite songs, were mutters of “this song is so creepy,” or “he sounds like he’s a stalker,” or even, Joey Bickford with a “I hate Sting so much.”
I am quite offended that students frown upon this song so much. Sting has said that many people misinterpret the meaning of the song, but admits that it has rather “sadistic” lyrics.
What do you think? Should I play this song at my wedding or save it for my stalker to sing to me while he peers in through my window?
Melissa • Aug 20, 2022 at 5:45 pm
It gets creepy when the animosity becomes clear- every smile you fake, every claim you stake, every vow you break…
It’s the kind of thing the jilted lover says, the stalker aspect raises all the red flags, and men who decide they can’t live without you will, on occasion kill the source of their pain. If he can’t have her, no one can.
So yeah, the song is alarming in a lot of ways.
Chelle • Aug 18, 2022 at 2:21 pm
Catchy tune, but seriously creepy stalker song. Doesn’t even come close in comparison to the other songs you mentioned. Literally sounds like a psycho.
Charles • Dec 29, 2021 at 7:04 am
Hi Sambo. What you’re saying can’t be right. What about … “How my poor heart aches”, “I long for your embrace”, and “I keep crying baby, baby please”. If Sting said that this song was about 1984, he couldn’t have been sincere. Personally, I like the song a lot and never noticed the creepiness until women pointed it out. I think if Sting changed “you belong to me” to “how you mean to me”, it would make the song less creepy and more of a romantic obsession.
Sambo • Nov 29, 2021 at 10:31 pm
This song was written to denounce men that stalks women. Sting says every time that when he wrote that song he was thinking about George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four. It’s not a love song.
James • Oct 30, 2019 at 8:54 pm
I too find this song to be incredibly creepy. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like it!! I still think it’s a very cool sounding and catchy song. Creepiness can be a good thing. Stephen King used this song in “Cat’s Eye.” Not to mention its’s on my Halloween playlist. The problem is I think that when you compare this song to the Taylor Swift song, they’re played very differently. “Every Breath You Take” is very deadpan and dark sounding. Taylor Swift is more romantic, and sounds a lot brighter than this song. That can make a big difference.
Ron Bardin • May 1, 2023 at 3:01 pm
I saw this song being done on a sports show between Tennis players, I believe it was Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe.
It was really cool how that song was played into their gamesmanship in the eighties. It was a great sports ideal using that song to match each player was watching the other one during their career matchups!