The MOST PLAYED Song in History Is Actually Pretty Creepy… | Professor Of Rock
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2022
- The Police created the 1983 #1 Hit Every Breath You Take at a tumultuous time.. Sting was going through a painful divorce, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers were fighting tooth and nail with Sting to get their ideas heard and producer Hugh Padgham was in the middle of the strife. Manager Miles Copeland had to go lay down the law. They were the biggest band in the world and they wanted Synchronicity to be the biggest record on the charts so they were able to stop the fist fights for a time to create a blockbuster. Sting sat down to write a love song one night but it turned into a sinister stalker song. Every Breath You Take would take a lot to finish but when it dropped it went to #1 for 8 weeks… The biggest song of `1983 and the most played song ever. Get ready for a riveting story of the trio who had an outright songwriting brawl, all the way to #1.
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By 1983, The Police were at the height of their rockstar powers... They were, both in their own minds and everyone else’s, the world’s biggest band. Their fifth studio album Synchronicity was vying to be 83’s biggest album alongside Michael Jackson’ Thriller, which spent 22 weeks at #1 that year. And although Synchronicity would ultimately take second place, it still turned in an incredible 17 weeks at #1. Just to give you a little perspective, these two juggernauts combined for 74% of the #1 rankings that year. That’s means three out of every four weeks, it was either MJ or The Police at #1... For the entire year! It was phenomenal.
That left very little opportunity for the rest of the music industry to claim the crown. Men at Work, Quiet Riot, Lionel Richie, and the Flashdance Soundtrack all divvied up the scraps. For the Police, so much of this success hinged on a timeless song that not only became the biggest hit of the year, even surpassing Michael Jackson’s biggest hits off thriller. Of course, I’m talking about ‘Every Breath You Take’. In fact, the song was so popular that it spent almost 14 months in heavy rotation on MTV. And actually, MTV was so high on The Police that they gave the band top billing through the year, featuring them prominently in their ‘I Want My MTV” ad campaign. They also promoted them via TV specials, exclusive interviews, meet the band contests, and free ticket giveaways.
The Police were on top of the world. It seemed like nothing could slow their momentum. Nothing except, maybe themselves. Behind closed doors lead singer-slash-bassist Sting, guitarist Andy Summers, and drummer Stewart Copeland were falling apart... even more than usual.So, let’s rewind to the making of Synchronicity and figure out how it all got to this point.
On December 12, 1982, The Police gathered at AIR Studios on the Caribbean isle of Montserrat to begin recording their fifth album. But according to Andy Summers, the three musicians were thousands of miles apart. It was like Sting was at North Pole, Andy at the South Pole, and Stewart somewhere in the tropics. Said producer Hugh Padgham, “by the time of Synchronicity, they were sick of each other - 
Развлечения
Poll: What is your pick for the most MISUNDERSTOOD song in rock history?
It has to be Every Breath You Take.
Born In The USA
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Fairies ware boots
My top two 😉💚
"Love Me Two Times" by The Doors
I only know this as a love song until several years later when I am older, realized it was not entirely. One day, my daughter heard it for the first time and said to me, "Dad, the singer is saying he is a stalker". Darn, these kids are quick.
It is not that they are quick, it is that they view the world through different lenses. When and where I grew up, the concept of stalking was non-existent. Most (not all) what is considered stalking now was a relatively normal (though perhaps annoying) behaviour. But not creepy. The boundaries have shifted
Good girl!
The most important thing to take away from this video is when the professor of Rock said
" That's when the Grammys meant something."
How incredibly true!
I picked upon that too! Yeah, those were the days….🫤
I don’t get it. All the awards shows have always just been their industry’s self ingratiating orgies. The only difference is that the public has had a falling out with it. With a possible carve out for People’s Choice. Best evidence of this is that, aside for some very minor and insignificant tweaks, methodologies for choosing nominees and winners haven’t changed
Yep, now it’s just a fashion show with an award or two sprinkled in.
There isn't an awards show that's worth a f*ck anymore. Grammys, Oscars, Emmys... It's all about Woke Leftist ideology now. Talent isn't the goal anymore.
And when, because those were Singers, there was both a different quality, and different depth, to those songs.
Auto-tune might be good for a voice worn from too many concerts or illness but it hasn’t made current music better, and it’s lessened the whole space. (Canceling concerts is better for voices though)
This song came to my mind last year at Granddaughter’s birthday party. Their 3 year old Labrador, Brutus, was sitting near my feet, staring at me, while I was eating lunch.
“Every bite you take, every meal you make, I’ll be watching you.”
Lemme guess your other dog’s name…Cassius?
😂
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Bigus Dickus.
LOL!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I don’t know where his name came from. But if they had 2 dogs, Cassius would be good for the 2nd dog.
Sting also wrote Don’t Stand So Close To Me which was also pretty creepy. About an encounter between a young teacher and a student.
Listen to young girl by Gary Pucket
Little Girls by Oingo Boingo
I was gonna make a parody of that song about a p@dophile and then found out it was actually about a p@dophile 💀
Oh yes, the old "hot for teacher" trope. Sting mentions Nabokov, but the story sounds a lot more like _To Sir, With Love._ Great movie. Nice title song.
Well, Gordon “Sting” Sumner was an English teacher at a prep school, and, sort of, dealt with this topic from somewhat of an experiential perspective, so it might be Sting is just a little bit of a freak.
I was born in the early 80’s .I remember Every Breath You Take being played during evening and always being dedicated to a significant other. I never understood why it was considered romantic when it creeped me out. When i got a little older I started calling it The Stalker Song.
Pink's Just Give Me a Reason makes a good pair with it. The singer accuses the partner based on literal DREAMS they've had.
Me too. But I am a 70 s child. I also have referred to this as the stalker song.
"can't you see .. You belong to me" yeah 😆 who dedicated this to their SO? so rapey
Hah, yes, exactly! It’s still a great listen though musically.
Me too, its bizarre but the again look at 'Twilight' same concept of creepy being 'romantic'
I recall seeing an interview with Sting where he talked about how creepy it was that so many people thought EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE was a love song. He said people tell him they played it at their weddings, and his unspoken wear thin was “get away from me”.
Nobody tells a music story with more passion and enthusiasm than the Professor of Rock!
I keep watching his videos even though his music tastes couldn't be farther from my own from what I've seen before. Sting makes me cringe. Counting Crows makes me want to count sheep. Don't care, I'll listen to the Professor of Rock tell a story about it.
a song can mean different things to different people just because Sting wrote it about one thing doesn't mean it can't be something positive for someone else LOL
Sarah McLachlan's song "Possession" is also often mistaken for a love song but is actually about an obsession to control the object of one's desire.
Of course, people often mistake their obsessive lust for "love", so it only makes sense people confuse the two in songs.
There's a fair bit more detail to "Possession", but it is a great song.....funny how the crowd absolutely cheers when it starts!
What’s really funny is people still remembering McLachlan, much less listening to that derivative trash. I remember all the basic broads constantly singing believe me idiot, or whatever it was called.
Yes although keep in mind that part of the reason the song actually is romantic is it is clear in the context of the lyrics that the woman in question actually is his wife or at least an extremely serious long-term girlfriend. This isn't some random crush he doesn't mean anything to and just desires.
@@alexanderfretheim5720 I'm not sure that's such an important distinction when you consider the number of abused women who have to flee violent relationships. This level of obsession and need to control or "possess" is unhealthy regardless of motive.
@@NorthernKitty But do we have actual evidence that this kind of jealousy and abusive behavior are connected? From what I've read (and I'll concede if someone has better information), abusiveness is less about control or possession and more about malice. It's literally a desire to tear someone down in order to tear someone down, not really a desire to control or possess them. From what I've read, they only really choose romantic partners because romantic partners tend to be less likely to run away then people with more casual, non-committed relationships, with their second choice actually being work relationships for essentially the same reason.
I read Andy Summer's biography "One Train Later" and he describes the story of the song. He said that the song was originally very complicated, played on an organ with a middle section riddled with synth. He went in, played his guitar about as "dry" as possible in one take and we now have that legendary riff. Form there they made took the middle and added the simple piano. From a recent interview with Summers in Guitar World:
When the Every Breath You Take riff came off your fingers, were you aware of that being a special guitar part?
“Well, I didn’t stand there and crow about it. It was more about keeping those other bastards happy. That song was going to be thrown out. Sting and Stewart could not agree on how the bass and drums were going to go. We were in the middle of Synchronicity and Sting says, ‘Well, go on then, go in there and make it your own.’
“And I did it in one take. They all stood up and clapped. And, of course, the fucking thing went right round the world, straight to No 1 in America. And the riff has become a kind of immortal guitar part that all guitar players have to learn.”
Super cool! Andy Summers is a guitar genius!
Also, I don't believe he got any arrangement credit.
The guitar part sounds simple but it actually complex. Only accomplished players can master it......genius
@@jirky015 he did not arrange it. Read a chord chart.........
@@ZAPN2525 Dude, he came up with that arpeggiated guitar figure. That was not written out for him.
Have been to a LOT of weddings where the song was either used when the bride walked down the aisle or used as the first dance. Every time I think to myself "do these people know what they're doing!?"
I’ve heard of at least one wedding near my place where the couple danced to this song.
the mind boggles
🤣😜
✌🏻🇦🇺
Thinking as she's coming down the aisle "Dude looks like a lady" yeah sounds like it would work today:)
I went to a wedding and, granted it was in an informal setting. The bride thought it was a good idea to have everyone join in singing Bohemian Rhapsody to start the ceremony. Maybe it's just me, but I thought it was odd.
Nope. They obviously didn't.
Before you even said the title of the song, I (as well as many others, I'm sure!) just KNEW it was "Every Breath You Take". People use the term "iconic" too loosely sometimes, but this song is just that! The Police, at their very best!!! Thanks for letting everyone else know it was really a rather dark song; I always listen to lyrics, and this song screamed STALKER OBSESSION to me...
I didn't know about the personal troubles the band was having at this time, and I LOVE the fact that Sting gave Andy "carte blanche" to do as he would with it. His faith clearly paid off!!! A one-take wonder of musical history...impressive :-}
It was the creepy part that nailed it for me. I’ve always been torn, it’s a well written and well performed song about a dangerous looser.
@@throbbinwoodofcoxley6830 Loser, not "looser".
Roxanne From the 70s was better than this song ,,, LETS VOTE
Saw Sting in concert a few years back. The man oozes charisma, amazing story teller and performance.
This song was number one when I started kindergarten in August of 1983. It was on the radio every morning on the way to school. Every time I hear this song, I’m back in the car on my way to school as an almost 5 year old. I can feel it in my soul. ❤️Jenn
Music can bring you back to a moment in time. So cool. I remember listening to "Here comes the rain again" while finger painting a cherry tree in kindergarten class.
Among many things, what makes "Every Breath" so compelling is how that bass-driven hook descends into what feels like despair, then climbs back up to feel hopeful, then back again throughout the song. Mirrors the yearning and torment of the vocals and lyrics. Masterpiece.
The guitar riff is super iconic and perfectly conveys this message.
It really is the hook for me. The opening is just amazing. I love the hook so much I get annoyed when it gets loud later in the song. I prefer the music to the lyrics sorry Sting.
I saw them and interviewed them on their first tour. $3 tickets and they had to serve as their own roadies. Back then, they were labeled as a new wave band😯😂
Lucky you, that's a cool memory alright!
I remember hearing Every breath you take, for the first time. It immediately sounded identifiable. As if I'd been listening to it my whole life. I was immediately cast under its spell. Everything about the sound brilliant....that intro, the anguished cries, the screams, the drums. All these years later, I still can't get enough of the song. Still so fresh. Andy Summer's intro and absolute classic. Probably the single greatest thing about the song. Crazy that Sting gets the lion's share of royalties from this song, yet, I argue that Andy Summer's brilliant intro is the reason that this song still captivates audiences today.
YESSS!
I’ve always been creeped out by this song. It sounds like it was written by a control obsessed stalker. My wife loved this song til I told her to listen to the damned words.
Now she hates me. 😅
I ruined the song for her.
The first time I ever listened to this song, I immediately came to the conclusion it was about a stalker, and now I just call it "The stalker's anthem"
Yes, as Sting has said to people who've told him:
"You know, my wife and I danced to 'Every Breath You Take' at our wedding...it was our wedding song..."
"Really? Well, good luck..." -- Sting.
...Sting should know! ...ha-HAA!
I LOVE IT!
YEP!
I've seen him give this quote and it loses a bit in written word compared to when you watch Sting say it. The sardonic way in which he says 'good luck' is enough to communicate it isn't a love song.
Oh ho ho…😜
I remember reading Sting's autobiography where he said that he felt like a balladeer stuck in a heavy metal band. He said that he just didn't fit. That was probably unfair to the others. How could they have achieved what they did if it was true? But it did show that they all wanted to go in completely different directions. The best thing they could do for their peace of mind was to do what they did, which was to break apart and each go his own way.
I always thought that the singer meant the song as a love song but didn't realize that it was the anthem of a stalker.
When you say it's 'so sinister', you must remember when we first heard this song like I did as a young teen, the first thing I recall is the sound of the instruments, the vocals the uniqueness of the atmosphere ..thats what sold it to me. The sinister element would only be realised in the post analysts perhaps years later. What a great summer it was with this song book marked it for all time!
Great stuff as always man.
"Stranger Things" used this song to perfectly creepy effects in their Season 2 finale. While a school dance featuring many cute moments feels extremely out of place for a song about a stalker, it makes MORE sense when the camera pans out to show the Mind Flayer ominously watching our heroes.
I thought the same thing! Brilliant use.
Yes, at the dance! I thought Nancy wanting to dance with Dustin was a super sweet moment. But then we realize that the Mind Flayer is still there.
Sorry for being such a Boomer, but what is 'stranger things'?
@@OZARKMOON1960 It's a science fiction series that starts off in the early 80's. Many nostalgic moments in it for me. The 80's were great. If you have time, start from season one .
It's also in Stephen King's cat's eye
I started listening to the police in 1978 when l was 14 years old and haven’t stop listen over 40 years later. I saw The Police several times even this tour. I have been privileged to see Sting 17 times over the last 40 years, a complete professional musical legend. Can’t wait to see him again!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
My first song by them was Roxanne.
Same here. Even the same age :) It was the record of the week on Radio Luxembourg and I couldn't even get a copy until it was re-released. Love this band beyond measure.
Lucky! I honestly got into them long after their heyday (though I was old enough to have been alive for it, I wasn't really old enough to appreciate it).
I have never owned this album but I have listen to the songs probably thousands of times over the years. These songs still carry today
When this came out we always felt it was an upsetting song, in fact my cousin had called into a radio station and had it dedicated to my step father who was shall we say made inappropriate visits to my sister's room at night time. She wanted it to be known that we all knew, he was oblivious to it.
I saw Sting earlier this year in London and he was AMAZING! It was such a great show and hearing so many Police songs mixed in with his solo efforts was incredibly satisfying.
Awesome episode! Three awesome musicians! Copeland is one of the best at his craft, ever! "Don't Stand So Close To Me" is right up there on the creepiness scale!
Synchronicity 2 is a fascinating journey of a song that really explains the concept as well as anything. it's emotional flow is amazing
Didn't seem sinister when I was listening it almost religiously in the 80s...I was won over by the instrumentation and Sting's yearning voice..Only now do i realize there's more to the song than I ever knew. Still a Glorious song.
i wonder if this song wasn't about a woman but about Sting's two bandmates
This was an album I never owned but knew all the songs because they were on the radio constantly.
This was my album probably more so than any other when I was 16 and 17 years old. I played Synchronicity to death and Every Breath You Take was my song. I had gone through that 16 year old breakup were I thought the world was over. The Police were my band. By this point The Police had been broken up for 6 or 7 years. Everyone else had moved on to something different like grunge but for my buddy Brian and me, The Police felt like they were all ours. I still remember us putting in our orders for the Message in the Box boxset. One box of tapes for Brian and one box of the cd's for me. We would drive around for hours playing the tapes in his 81 Chevy Citation. Nothing spoke to me more during those difficult last few years of high school except maybe The Beatles. The Police and Every Breath You Take for all the darkness were my light. Thanks again for another great video, Adam.
I had a chevy citation too! Ha ha. I wrecked it the summer before my junior year. I remember begging, borrowing, and pleading for Message in a box.
@@ProfessorofRock it was a good time to be alive.
Great memories Dave!
@@ProfessorofRock _Haha. 'Club Citation.' Glad you survived that wreck, Professor Adam. Although, I do feel bad for the Citation. 👍 Here's a funny (& sort of related) story:_
*Back in the 80s, I had a buddy that drove an old Chevy Chevette. As a couple of teenage bachelors 'on the prowl', whenever we'd be out & about & meeting new people (mainly girls), he'd often brag to these girls, "Yeah, I drive a 'Vette." The look on the handful of (un)lucky girl's faces that ultimately saw that his 'Vette' was NOT a Corvette... was always 'quite entertaining'. 😂 LOL*
_The 1980's... what good times we had back then!_
Awesome! This story proves that music heals the soul!
I will never forget seeing Sting and the Police perform this song live! I saw them in the summer of 2007 on their reunion tour. It was in St. Louis and we had nosebleed seats, but it didn’t matter one bit! Sting’s charisma was so strong I felt as though I was standing in the front row! It was truly unforgettable to hear them play so many songs that were woven throughout my formative years.
I saw them about the same time at Churchill Downs. I was a veterinarian (now retired) and was on call... as soon as my call time ended I had a BALL!!!!!!! Was an AWESOME night!!! An unforgettable performance.
This episode is EXACTLY why I keep coming back to watch you more and more, @Professor :) I was 11 at the time this song came out, but music had already captured my heart and soul, like that first crush you never forget. I remember grabbing a cassette and recording it the first time I heard it on the radio, catching some of the advertisements and the DJ's intro voice over (which so annoyed me at the time). Every Breath You Take was the song that you would listen to and just get lost in the moment. Imagine my amazement when I found my aunt's The Police - Synchronicity LP on her bookshelf... she instantly became that much cooler. If only we could freeze those moments in time and then pop the top on them whenever we wanted, to relive them would be a drop of Heaven. Thanks Professor, for all you do and have done. Keep it up! You're restoring our faith in the healing qualities of music.
You do a great job, Adam. Always appreciate the insights you lend to the back stories of my favorite songs.
Thank you!
Agree 100% The Prof ROCKS!!!🤘😛
Sting is the master of masters in terms of songwriting, and Copeland and Summers are among the most influential rock drummers and guitarists of all time. My favorite band.
This was literally the soundtrack to my 12th grade year. I was absolutely miserable and walked around with my Walkman on all the time. I was depressed, but it was like the blues and kept me afloat. ❤
Talking about an inappropriate song for a wedding, one of my cousins had my dad, who was a good tenor, sing Gordon Lightfoot's Ribbon of Darkness for them. Needless to say the marriage only lasted a few years.
I've never heard of Ribbon of Darkness, so Googled the lyrics. It looks like it's about a man who just wants a 'friend with benefits and no emotional attachment.
I love your content. I don't always comment, but I always appreciate your analysis and commentary.
I appreciate that!
Copeland’s drumming could blow your mind, although it’s not showcased on this song. Sting got the most attention (which fed his ego), but it was the unique combination of 3 talents that made the band one of the all time greatest.
He really NAILS it on Synchronicity II.
correct!
Agreed-the snare drum smack on this song is the true highlight, with Summers’ riff a close second.
I think there was one documentary of them playing on stage and Copeland was rushing it. Sting had to turn around to motion him to slow down.
My favourite band EVER! Got into them in 1978 before they'd even had a hit in the UK. it felt like I shared the journey to mega-stardom with them. I've even got The Police tattooed on my shoulder. For me, there's The Police and then there's music. As much as I love Synchronicity, my favourite album of all time is Reggatta De Blanc. They were MY band and always will be. For me, nothing musically will ever come close to those years between 1978 and 1983. Thank you boys!
It certainly was a unique era of music. A "between era" if you will.
ROOOOOXXAAAAANE Was Their best song PERIOD 70s Baby
If you have been the victim of a stalker this song takes on a whole new meaning. When it came out I was being stalked by a ex the song gave me chills. I never thought of it as a love song.
I figured out that this song wasn't a love song when Cracked - when it was a magazine - put out a parody of pop music as if it was done in Andropov's USSR. "Every Breath You Take" was there completely unaltered except that the band was called "The Secret Police"
The most interesting song (on CD/cassette editions only) was "Murder by Numbers". A hidden gem!
Funny how this was written by Andy Summers and Sting, the only collaboration.
Great song. I think it's my second favorite on the album. I also like the non album track Someone to Talk to. I though Stewart and Andy were good writers.
absolutely agreed.
Most definitely
@@ProfessorofRock Murder by Numbers didn't even make the American version of the album for some reason. Also when Ghost in the Machine came out the record company wanted to have the Andy Summers song Omegaman as a single but Sting threw a fit apparently and so it never happened
Murder By Numbers is a really good song. I think Adam should go deep on that one!
Aside from the "stalker" label it often gets, I think the melody is simply gorgeous. I was in 6th grade when this came out. I remember being drawn to it and slightly relieved after the glossy pop of Lionel Richie and Cindi Lauper. My favorite part is after the bridge after Sting's line of "baby, baby please" I absolutely love the piano passage. I still get goosebumps everytime. Tremendous amount of atmosphere. This and the lesser known songs of Men At Work were top on my list. Thanks again Adam for posting this. Hope you're well.
It’s a song that just calms you with its arrangement.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Exactly.....
Me... 4th grade... And that was one of many gems from that album... And one of my personal favorites... Way before I was tainted by what stocking is! And crazy as it sounds... Very possibly framed more of myself than I ever fully grasp, before...
I, too, was in 6th grade (or about to be, that is) when this album was released. Even though it's been almost forty years, it still has profound emotional impact on me when I either listen to it in its entirety or to specific songs -- whether individually or in blocks. This is due in large part because 1983 was the year after when my birth parents separated (ultimately divorcing in '87/'88). So much emotional upheaval was going on in my young life at the time, and I was having difficulties with regard to my scholastic performance as well (so much that I almost had to repeat 6th grade). My two islands of stability in an otherwise storm-ravaged sea of chaos and turmoil were my pet cat and this album (Prince's Purple Rain sndtk would take its place the following year). Somehow, despite the dark subject matter of the songs' lyrics, I found a psychic comfort in the music off this album that nothing else could touch. Every time I hear songs from this album, I'm instantly and vividly brought back to that time in my life. The emotions it triggers can sometimes overwhelm me -- almost like PTSD symptoms.
To me, that 15-second stretch from 2:00-2:15 could possibly be the most beautiful music that I have ever heard.
I first heard 'Message in a Bottle' in 1979 when I was 9 years old and it blew my mind. The Police becoming (and remaining) one of my favourite bands of all time. I've been privileged to have seen Sting multiple times. Adam thanks for your fantastic presentation and content and it would be great to follow this up with a review of some of Sting's solo albums
I VIVIDLY remember hearing this song for the 1st time. I was 5 years old, sitting in the floor at my cousins house playing a board game. MTV was on the TV in the adjacent room. Within seconds of it playing, I jumped up & bolted to the TV to see who/what this was. As striking as the melody was...the thing that initially drew me in...the black & white video was equally entrancing. I remember standing there staring like I'd been hypnotized. Even after it ended I had the "what just happened???!!!" reflex. I've heard it/seen it probably hundreds if not thousands of times in these almost 40 years since. Never fails to immediately return me to that hypnotized kid. Still the most beautiful video I've ever seen. Except now, though I love it as always, as soon as I see that ashtray I cry like a baby.
I love the Police. They were one the my main music soundtracks of my high school years during the early 1980s. I graduated High School in 1983 and the Police were definitely the biggest rock band in the world that year. Every Breath You Take was all over the radio during that summer. It's a shame that they couldn't get along nor coexist anymore and wound up breaking up after the Synchronicity tour was over. However, they were one of the few bands, like the Beatles, who did go out on top.
They did go out at their peak. I tend to believe the Beatles would've just gotten bigger.
My aunt and one teacher at my school graduated high school in 1983 and they both probably remember Every Breath You Take being overplayed that summer!
Class of 1983 here, too! If you haven’t seen this live Police performance, you’ll love it: ruclips.net/video/DbGqXpDIHjo/видео.html
I would think egos are the demise of a band.
Police come back tour was awesome to see. Especially when they played in New Orleans few year after the hurricane Katrina disaster. It definitely boost the city’s moral. Everybody were like still high from the performance from the night before (I meant high like mentally not drug induced but that was there too).
The police is still my favorite band since I first heard them.
Oh by the way, Fiction Plane was opening band for The Police in New Orleans. It was Sting’s son’s band. They were pretty good too.
Absolutely loved this! I grew up listening to the Police and to this day love their music. And never really realized how sinister every breath was. Thank you for the trip down memory lane!
I never thought of it as a creepy song, until now. Lol. There's a lot of songs that my son has questioned me on. My Sharona, GO away little girl, there's a lot of em. I don't quite know how to feel about loving a song that I had totally misinterpreted. Lol. But I think Sting is a lyrical genius and he will always be one of my favorites.
The obsession is also expressed in the repetitious structure of the lines, especially at the end with the overdubbed backup vocals. And that persistence of the piano playing a single chord again and again, along with the snare hit. I love it when the music and the lyrics mutually support one another like this.
What a fantastic video.
I was in high school when these guys were on top. I loved them. I was introduced to them via Roxanne. At the time I didn’t know who they were, and it would be several months or so before I heard them again.
I saw them in concert in Comiskey park in Chicago during an all day, multi band event.
There’s a lot in this video I never knew about them. it really brought me back to those days, and gave me even more insight into the dynamic that made these guys so great.
Thanks very much!
_Dream of the Blue Turtles_ is a truly sublime album. So many fantastic songs on that.
Love Is The Seventh Wave...absolutely brilliant.
I was almost 13 when this album was released and let me tell you this album blew up. I loved the entire album from the beginning. Of course at that time I didn’t know the backstory with the band and I could not understand why Sting left the band and I was heartbroken!!
A friend went to see the Police, with Thompson Twins opening. I was so jealous, and we had no idea at the time that it was simply a delayed end to the whole thing. Later on, the reunion tour, just as it did for other artists, showed that time can at least close up open wounds, even if they never completely heal. There is a level of respect among the three, and it shows in interviews that ask the right questions.
Just mentioned the Thompson Twins in my comment too. It truly was a fantastic concert!
Thank you, @professorofrock! Was so fortunate to see the Police in Providence in Feb. 84, right before they broke up.
I was born in 82 and some of my first memories are my dad blasting The Police along with Dire Straits, Cold Chisel, INXS.
I didn't appreciate how great 80's music was until 30 years later.
The Police were a phenomenal band and I also followed much of Sting's solo career as well as Andy's collaborations with Robert Fripp. I just missed seeing the Andy Summers Trio in NYC back in the early 2000s. Sadly, I've only been to a relative handful of concerts over the last 20 years. I hope that changes over the next 20 years.
I was in kindergarten when this song came out and I remember it would always come on the radio during my ride to school early in the morning. So I always get a nostalgic feeling when I hear this song now. It’s Very comforting
Great Great channel you came up on my feed. Have me reminiscing i was a senior in high school in 1984, love the Police
I remember this song beating “Hungry Like The Wolf” and “Foolin’” on Friday Night Videos phone-in battle. I never really liked that song though. I was a bigger fan of Wrapped Around Your Finger and King Of Pain. Thank you for another great segment as always!!
_Christy, I agree. I loved (& still love) 'King of Pain'. It is a quirky song & the lyrics are odd (to be clear, I'm saying that it's NOT the typical 'love-based' song... as most 'radio-centric' songs are). But it's still one of the best songs, IMHO, of that unforgettable summer of my youth, 1984. 👍_
Friday Night Videos....the poor man's MTV! LOVED FNV!!!
Invisible Sun was odd. Wrapped Around Your Finger was killer. It slapped enough sense into me to save me from marriage and hell.
We weren't allowed to have MTV in Canada but we had Friday Night Videos! Jeeze!
Oh yes, I’ve seen that on RUclips! I love Wrapped Around Your Finger, that’s my favorite from Synchronicity.
Every Breath and King of Pain were both overplayed but great music. Sync II was my fav. But as a band they were overloaded with talent and empty on humility. The measure of future music is only found in their respective chronological work. Thanks Adam.
Professor - Very Nice. I loved the Police from day one at School at UConn. Still love every single song today. Thank you !
Police were my absolute favorite during high school. GREAT episode covering this stellar band!
1983 will always be the best year of my life. The music helped add to the overall memories and to this day when I hear songs released in 1983 it always brings back the fondest memories of that year.
*I'm right there w/you, my friend. It was the summer of so many 'firsts' for me. I miss the summer of 1983 'like the deserts miss the rain'. : )*
@@andyroid5028 great way to put it. Was a summer of firsts for me as well. Great time to be alive.
One of the biggest years ever! My aunt graduated high school that year!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 yeah. Forget Bryan Adam's and the summer of 69...summer of 83. ;)
@@thomasduchene9415 Oh, brother. 🙃😉
I would love to have just a smidgen of the royalties from this song. The Police put out a lot of great music in a short period of time. I like how they incorporated Ska/Reggae and different time signatures into their songs. Queen Elizabeth, RIP.
I was crushed when they broke up after all the hits in such a short time!
I heard the news in my class this afternoon when students were talking about someone who died. I got nervous, and the teacher told me she thought they were talking about a TV show. But then people started mentioning Queen Elizabeth, and I looked it up and yep. They were right. I’m devastated, but okay now.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 She reigned with grace and humility.
@@Bacchus69 I respected her a lot. She lived a full, long life.
Thanks for that great story Adam. I always knew the band wasn't getting along at the end, but i don't think i knew just how contentious they were, especially during the making of Synchronicity. It's hard to think of a band with members that quite literally hated each other more, while still managing to produce such a gem of a record.
A beautiful story, beautifully told. Thanks
King of Pain steals this whole album! The guitar effects/synths Summers used on that, & the whole album, influenced guitar players for generations & still do!
What a great song.
best song EVER by the band.........
Lyrically superior
Best song on the album hands down!
King of Pain is my favourite of all Police songs ever..
I saw Sting at Carnegie Hall around the time of Dream of the Blue Turtles. He was amazing. I haven't seen many concerts, but the ones I have have been legendary. Bob Dylan with Tom Petty, Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, The Grateful Dead, and of course, my favorite, The Monkees -- I saw them 4 times in the 80s/90s. (And some lesser-known but amazing artists like England Dan & John Ford Coley, Le Chic and The Roches, to name a few.) Thanks for another great video!
Professor! I enjoy each lecture. Thank you for taking me down memory lane
Yes, please do a sequel to this. Great history lesson! I always learn something new and interesting with every video. Please keep up the great work professor!
I remember when KROQ, as a Synchronicity album promo, was giving away any Police album of the caller’s choice, if you were able to get through on the phone line, at any time during the weekend. Spending hours dialing, I got through multiple times, and I was able to complete my Police collection.
*That's awesome. Were they vinyl albums? It's odd that they allowed you to win multiple times. Anyway, nice job. 👍*
@@andyroid5028 No, they were cassettes. I still have them, though.
Ah, KROQ! Poorman, Jed the Fish, Richard Blade, Rodney... great times back then
Great content, you do justice to the music. I've always been interested in bands origins, from the bands names to the intricacies in the makeup of the songs on different albums, you provide mini documentaries of the music of my past from the 60's, I was 5 when the Beatles came to America and I've been a fan of R&R ever since. I very much appreciate your efforts.
Thank you very much John. I appreciate your support.
That's what drew me to PoR originally (bands from 70's-80's for me).
Some folks at my school were born during Beatlemania and I’ve repeatedly talked to them about how big it was back then!
Professor, You’re the greatest. Thank you for keeping real music alive. Where do we build a monument to you?
Love your channel! I just wanted to share a semi unrelated Police story. When I was a kid, I saw a weird looking add to call a phone number in the local paper about ghosts…
I called the number and heard a beep, then a dial tone.
10 minutes later, the phone rang, and a recording of spirits in the material world played for 30 seconds and said “the Police”! Been hooked ever since. 80s promotion lmao!
The Police have always been one of my all-time favorite bands. I was lucky enough to have seen them in Boston and before seeing this, I never would have imagined that they fought so much, especially considering the incredible music they created.
Every Breath You Take is almost hypnotic. It just never gets old. I've heard it a thousand times and it's still as good every time, as the first time I heard it.
Hypnotic is the perfect word to describe it!
For a lot of women, they loved the song because it meant it was possible for a man to love only them and not every other girl who walked on by. An obsessed boyfriend was a loyal boyfriend who didn't fool around town.
Yeah, but the song also implies that the woman is breaking vows. It's right in the lyrics. It's not just about obsession and longing, it's about betrayal and bitterness.
People who are emotionally healthy and who respect their partner are more likely to be faithful to them, think about it. Controlling people almost never apply that control to their own actions - only those of of their victim.
Very interesting! Thank you. Subscribed.
Great video!! I've always loved The Police. I remember Message in a Bottle at No.1 in the UK. & I can't get enough of Every Little Thing. For me, Stewart Copeland's percussion is always king, which is what I love about Every Breath... It took time for me to realise how creepy the song is, but it still fascinates me. I love the spare, efficient sound, the repetitive drum, the low key guitar. When it picks up, it becomes intense before fading away...just magical. It may be The Police's most ubiquitous song, but it's easily their best (and there's a lot of Police greats to choose from).
The iconic guitar arpeggio riff that Andy Summers put into the song should have given him a songwriting credit for the song. I love the Police. 1983 might be the best pop music year of my life.
_I'll toast to that, my friend. That summer's (not an Andy Summers pun, lol) music will always be iconic to me! Here's to 1983! 🍻_
🍇 *Whenever anyone mentions "Every Breath", I always mention that Sting meant for it to be a searing indictment of a sick mind, and for "If You Live Somebody Set Them Free" to be a picture of a healthy, loving mind. Sting is great.* 🍇
Fascinating work on the history of The Police! I never knew about the in-fighting of the band.
You are amazing, Adam.
Thank You!
It absolutely destroys me that I was just getting old enough to recognize music when this record came out. I loved it, and then they were gone just like that. I wish I could have had a entire decade plus of them putting out new music! :(
My very first concert was The Police, 1983 Synchronicity Tour, Shea Stadium, New York. Field Level!
I got there early. Guys were drunk, sliding into second base pretending they were playing for the Mets. Everyone is howling.
The first act is REM. They walk on the stage, grab their instruments, walk up to the mic, THEN WALK OFF. THEY DIDN'T PLAY ONE NOTE! The second act was Joanne Jett. She got a nice ovation when she played, "I Love Rock 'n Roll," THAN GOT BOOED OFF!
The Police take the stage and everyone goes nuts! In the middle of their set, Sting says, "Ok, we need a break. We're English we have to drink some tea!" The camera shows them at tea time, then THEY START SMASHING CAKE IN EACH OTHERS' FACES!"
My very first concert, what a memory...😄
Wow, the memories that a song or even just a few words from a song can bring up.
I've seen *Queensryche* , that opened for Def Leppard get booed off stage as well as *ZZ Top* but because I saw them open a few times for different bands & in different cities, I don't remember the main act/band. It was well before the Queensryche/Def Leppard concert, obviously. (Maybe Kiss? But I don't remember for sure).
@@charleyanne I hear ya! I've heard stories of Alice in Chains have garbage thrown at them when opening for Pantera.
Awesome!
They did a similar thing at Hollywood Park that year....
My memory, a clear, hot summer night at The Police concert, Synchronicity. Rained during "Everything She Does Is Magic" ....It's a big enough umbrella but it always me that ends up getting wet. It had suddenly and unexpectedly rained on cue. One of my best nights ever. The rain refreshed the air and seemed to liven up Andy Summer and Stewart Copeland. The rain abruptly stopped after a few minutes. Magic! Professor, would you be willing to share more about Sting. I'm planning on going to his concert in 2023. Thank you for sharing great content.
What a great episode, Adam, I never knew any of this, and I was a big fan. Once again, you have outdone yourself.
I remember that song in the 1985 Stephen King movie Cat’s Eye starring Drew Barrymore after she did E.T. and Firestarter- great iconic song in the summer of 1983! Maniac and Billie Jean were the other top hits that summer too !
...Summer of '83 was Nuts...N-U-T-S!! ...One Classic, after another....
One of the great 80s child stars!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 you ever seen the movie Cats Eye?
@@duromusabc Not all the way through. But I have seen clips. I am NOT one for horror films.
The segment where they placed this song, shows someone was playing attention to the lyrics.🤨😉😎
Absolutely adored this episode. I was being beaten up at school every day in the fifth grade. We had just move to a town where everyone was in polos and docksiders and I was in Ocean Pacific. So, they just beat the stuffing out of me. Synchronicity was light a candle in that darkness and opened my whole world to the Police. I played it over and over like a mantra and it never failed to bring my heart resolve. Now, all my kids adore Sting and we love playing all his records and the Police ones too (especially in the fall).
Thank you for this remarkable episode and all your work, Prof!
I'm so sorry about your rough time in school!
@@just-sayin67 thank you! That is so kind of you to say. The beautiful part about it is it helped me always remember to be kind to those who are vulnerable.
This album was and is still one of my favorite albums OF ALL TIME. In fact, I graduated from high school in 1983. A pivotal year in the HISTORY OF MUSIC. Lol. Great video Adam. (Yes, please more on The Police)**
Great job!!
This was the first cassette I ever bought. My mom told me I could get one tape and I choose The Police.
Great choice!
Super cool!
This song has always creeped me out. I sat down with an old boyfriend to dissect what the words meant and he said they were just words. We broke up shortly after that and I cut all contact with him.
Personally, I listen to music for the sounds and melodies; it’s a shame when good music is ruined by unappealing lyrics… 😅
At least the song “I’ll be missing you” has some more agreeable lyrics with the same tune!
Overthinking it.
I would have said that the words are about possessive jealousy.
Wow, thank God; he really dodged a bullet there. Your divorce petition would have involved not agreeing on which way the toilet paper should be placed.
So his plan worked?
I was born in the end of '83 so I grew up listening to this song and I thought it always sounded brilliant. It wasn't until later on I saw a comic poking fun at the song calling it a stalker anthem. Then it clicked in that Sting sounded obsessed 😳 😅
as always, brilliant!
Truly a very interesting song with a rather dark meaning, but that is how songwriting goes sometimes in the process. I look forward to hearing the story.
Very true.
When I first heard this song I thought it was about love, but then a few years ago I saw a stalker using this song on a TV show, and I never heard it the same way again.
It was about this time when Sting starred in an extremely creepy movie called Brimstone and Treacle. From memory, his character is possessed by the devil, or it's suggested he is. It's been 40 years since I've seen it, but the creepiness level of the movie has stayed with me. Maybe that's why Sting thought he was the devil. 😆😈 I think the soundtrack was done by The Police.
Yes, in 1982. Quite different get a hold of on vynil now. I Burn For You is absolutely brilliant.
Great episode!! Great album!! So glad that I was in my late teens to enjoy The Police in the moment. 🙏🙏
Awesome video. Yes…do more.
Most played song ever?
Ive heard that about a few tunes, including Unchained Melody and Yesterday.
It was a huge hit, no doubt
What a flawless album to end a band's career. And of course it leads next into Sting's incredible Dream of the Blue Turtles.
I must add that Every Breath wins my #1 music video of all time.
It would have really been cool to use the Creepshow Cat Dance for the video!
Except for “Mother”. 😂
YES! A Part II on this song would be fantastic!