1983 Classic, Ranked Most-Played Song in Radio History, Became a No. 1 Hit 43 Years Ago
On June 4, 1983, The Police hit No. 1 in the U.K. with "Every Breath You Take" - a song Sting would later call "nasty" and "rather evil." Forty-three years on, it's still one of the most misread hits in rock history.
It may be a first-dance favorite, but according to the frontman, anyone who's used it at their wedding may want to give the lyrics another listen.
"I think it's a nasty little song, really rather evil. It's about jealousy and surveillance and ownership," Sting told New Musical Express in 1983.
That said, he gets why the darker meaning tends to go over people's heads. "I think the ambiguity is intrinsic in the song, however you treat it, because the words are so sadistic," he continued.
"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."
The song gave The Police their fifth and final U.K. No. 1, sitting at the top of the charts for four weeks. Taken from their album Synchronicity, it also swept the 1984 Grammys, earning Sting Song of the Year and the band Best Pop Performance.
While "Roxanne" and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" also dominated the U.K. charts, neither made it to the top spot in the U.S. "Every Breath You Take" remains the band's only Billboard Hot 100 No. 1.
In May 2019, BMI named "Every Breath You Take" the most-played song in radio history, surpassing 15 million airplays and breaking a 22-year record previously held by The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin.'"
But the song's success came at a cost. Behind the scenes, "Every Breath You Take" was helping drive the band apart.
The group was already showing signs of strain, and their manager Miles Copeland, brother of drummer Stewart Copeland, was outspoken about his views on the track.
"In my humble opinion, this is Sting's best song with the worst arrangement," Miles later said. "I think Sting could have had any other group do this song and it would have been better than our version - except for [band member Andy Summers'] brilliant guitar part."
"Basically, there's an utter lack of groove," he added. "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."
Creative differences and Sting's growing interest in a solo career led to the band's breakup just one year after their biggest hit.
They regrouped briefly in 1986 to put out a singles compilation, Every Breath You Take: The Singles. In 2007 they returned, reuniting at the Grammy Awards before heading out on a world tour that ran through 2008.
Related: 1967 Classic, Ranked 'Greatest Song of All Time,' Became a No. 1 Hit 59 Years Ago
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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 8:52 AM.