In a recent interview, Sting expressed his views on his song “Every Breath You Take” amid the controversy surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs. The 73-year-old musician maintained that the current allegations against Combs have not affected his perception of the 1983 song Police.
“So I don’t know what’s going on (with Diddy),” he said. “But that doesn’t tarnish the song at all for me. It’s still my song.” When reminded of the song’s enduring popularity, Sting simply replied, “Absolutely.”
Sting shared his open-minded approach to sampling while discussing his 2023 collaboration with Pink and Marshmello, “Dreaming,” which samples his solo hit “Fields of Gold.” He expressed uncertainty as to why young musicians were interested in his work, but stated that he welcomed such adaptations, gaining new knowledge of his songs and benefiting financially.
“I have no idea, but when someone wants to chime in or whatever it’s called, I never object because I always learn something about the song that I didn’t know or guessed,” he explained. “I get paid too, so why not? It keeps them up to date.” “Songs are living organisms; you have to keep giving them life or give them new bedfellows.”
Combs, who sang “Every Breath You Take” in the song “I’ll Be Missing You” released in 1997 and performed it with Sting at the MTV Video Music Awards the same year, is currently in custody.
The 55-year-old music mogul was arrested in September on serious charges including racketeering and sex trafficking. He is awaiting trial in the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center after his £50 million bail bid was rejected, and his new bail request is awaiting a decision.