Every Breath You Take

The song's harmony is defined by its use of 'stretched' add9 voicings, which provide a cold, intellectual clarity to a standard pop structure. While the verse uses a common I-vi-IV-V progression, the specific fingerings and palm muting emphasize the 9th (the 'add9'), giving the song its iconic 'ringing' yet sterile sound. The most sophisticated harmonic moment occurs in the bridge, where the shift to bVI and bVII chords (from the parallel minor) creates a dramatic lift and a sense of instability before resolving back to the tonic A major.

Written by Sting in 1982 following the collapse of his marriage to Frances Tomelty. Sting woke up in the middle of the night with the line 'Every breath you take' in his head and immediately sat down at a piano to compose it. While it sounds like a love song, Sting intended it to be sinister, reflecting obsession, jealousy, and surveillance.

Released in 1983 as the signature hit from 'Synchronicity', this track defines the minimalist-yet-sophisticated sound of The Police. Despite its common use at weddings, the song is a chilling exploration of stalking and surveillance that became the biggest hit of the year.