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"Every Breath You Take"
is the Police's and Sting's signature song and was released
on May 20, 1983, as the lead single from the band's final
album Synchronicity (1983). Sting wrote the song in 1982 in
the aftermath of his separation from Frances Tomelty and the
beginning of his relationship with Trudie Styler. While
recording, guitarist Andy Summers came up with a guitar part
inspired by Béla Bartók 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". "Every Breath You Take" topped
the official hitlist in the United States for eight weeks
and was the biggest hit of the year there. Furthermore it
reached no.1 in United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and no.2 in
Australia, Spain, Sweden, and Norway. The song won two
Grammys for Song Of The Year and Best Pop Performance by a
Duo or Group with Vocals and Sting received 1983 the
prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and
Lyrically from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers
and Authors. |
