Sting Unaffected by Diddy’s Legal Troubles, Says ‘Every Breath You Take’ Remains Untainted
(Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photos By (L) Dan Tuffs; (R) Paras Griffin)
Amid the legal troubles surrounding music mogul Diddy, who was arrested on September 16 on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, The Police frontman Sting remains unfazed about the impact this may have on his iconic song “Every Breath You Take.” Diddy famously sampled this song in his hit tribute track “I’ll Be Missing You,” released in 1997, yet Sting insists that Diddy’s current situation doesn’t alter his perspective on the song or its legacy.
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times on November 11, Sting was asked if the ongoing allegations against Diddy have affected his view of the song. He responded with a simple “No,” adding, “I mean, I don’t know what went on with Diddy, but it doesn’t taint the song at all for me. It’s still my song.”
Sting expressed a broader view on the use of his music by younger artists, saying he appreciates the way new interpretations breathe fresh life into his work. “When somebody wants to interpolate or whatever it’s called, I never object because I always learn something about the song that I hadn’t known or anticipated, and I get paid, so why not? It keeps them current,” Sting remarked.
He sees songs as “living organisms,” needing to evolve and connect with new listeners to remain relevant. “You have to keep breathing life into them or giving them new bedfellows,” he added. Diddy, who had performed “I’ll Be Missing You” alongside Sting at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn since his arrest.
The founder of Bad Boy Records has sought bail multiple times but remains in custody as he awaits his trial, set for next year. While Diddy’s legal issues have attracted considerable media attention, Sting’s unaffected stance reflects his confidence in the enduring power of the original song. For Sting, the value of “Every Breath You Take” remains intact, regardless of the current controversy surrounding one of its most famous reinterpretations.
