43 Years Ago Today, The Police Released 'Every Breath You Take,' Their Only Billboard Hot 100 Hit

Few bands are as synonymous with the '80s as The Police. The four-piece English rock outfit is one of the best-selling bands of all time, with four of their studio albums appearing on iterations of the Rolling Stones' "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list.

Led by frontman, bassist, and primary songwriter Sting, the band formed in 1977. They released only five studio albums during their tenure, but they racked up quite a few accolades, including six Grammy Awards. They were also widely considered the pioneers of the Second British Invasion in the United States.

Despite releasing iconic tracks like "Roxanne" and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," which dominated the UK charts, only one single by The Police took the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100. On this day in 1983, the band debuted "Every Breath You Take," a soft-rock/new-wave fusion that became their signature song. It was also the biggest hit of the year in the US and Canada.

Written by Sting, the lyrics are a meditation on jealousy, obsession, and possessive lovers. Some listeners have woefully misinterpreted the track as a love song. However, one describing the act of watching your every move is anything but. Sting recalled the inspiration behind the song in a 1993 interview with The Independent, noting that "Every breath you take; every move you make" was stuck in his head. "I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance, and control," he mused.

The Police guitarist Andy Summers fought to get songwriting credit for "Every Breath You Take," with drummer Stewart Copeland showing his support in a 2000 interview. Summers revealed his guitar riff in the tune "has become a kind of immortal guitar part that all guitar players have to learn," and that the track would've been discarded if he hadn't "played on it." Summers and Copeland sued Sting for "writing credits and lost royalties." Sting later paid them £600,000 in January 2026.

In addition to peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Every Breath You Take" skyrocketed to the top of eight other weekly global charts. It went certified Platinum in seven countries and Gold in two. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listed it as one of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll," while Billboard ranked it at No. 25 on its "Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs" list.

In 2019, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) crowned the 1983 track as the most-played song in radio history.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 11:33 AM.