Released in 1983, initially as the B-side to their massive hit "Every Breath You Take" and later included on cassette/CD versions of the Synchronicity album, "Murder By Numbers" showcased The Police's darker wit. Co-written by Sting and guitarist Andy Summers, the song employs a cool, almost jazzy New Wave framework, incorporating Post-Punk detachment within a sophisticated Pop Rock structure.

"Murder By Numbers" gained a strong following despite not being a standard album track initially, admired for its clever, cynical lyrics and intricate musicianship, including Stewart Copeland's precise drumming. The song's detached perspective on a grim subject makes it unique. It remains a favorite among dedicated fans, often featured in Sting's solo performances, highlighting its enduring quality today, April 13, 2025.

SONG MEANING: "Murder By Numbers" offers a chillingly cynical and satirical perspective, framing the act of murder as a simple, methodical process that can be easily learned and executed ("It's murder by numbers, one, two, three / It's as easy to learn as your ABCs"). The lyrics provide detached, almost instructional steps for carrying out a killing, potentially commenting on societal desensitization to violence or the cold, calculated nature required for such acts.

Released in 1981 on The Police's critically acclaimed album Ghost in the Machine, "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" became another massive global hit for the British trio. Written by Sting years prior, the track showcases their sophisticated New Wave sound, uniquely built around a prominent, cheerful piano line and layered synthesizers, subtly incorporating the Reggae rhythmic influences often present in their rhythm section.

A chart-topper in the UK and major hit worldwide, "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" charmed listeners with its upbeat tempo and instantly memorable melody, offering a brighter counterpoint to some of the band's darker material. Its infectious rhythm makes it a great workout song. Still popular today, April 13, 2025, it remains one of The Police's most beloved and recognizable singles.

SONG MEANING: "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" describes the feeling of being completely captivated and infatuated with someone, to the point where their every action seems extraordinary ("everything she does just turns me on"). However, this intense adoration leads to paralyzing shyness and the inability to express these deep feelings ("But my silent fears have gripped me / Long before I reach the phone"), creating a bittersweet mix of admiration and frustration.

Released in 1983 on The Police's chart-topping album Synchronicity, "Every Breath You Take" became one of the biggest songs of the decade worldwide. Penned by Sting, its distinctive sound combines Andy Summers' mesmerizing guitar arpeggio with Stewart Copeland's subtle drumming and Sting's restrained vocal delivery. This minimalist New Wave approach, coupled with a deceptively smooth Soft Rock sensibility, created a unique and atmospheric global hit.

"Every Breath You Take" dominated global charts and earned multiple Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year. Its sophisticated sound ensures its enduring popularity on radio and playlists. Despite its common use as a romantic "Love Song" at events like weddings, its surface beauty masks the much darker lyrical theme intended by its writer, making it one of rock's most famously misinterpreted classics.

SONG MEANING: Despite its beautiful melody often leading it to be mistaken for a tender love song, Sting wrote "Every Breath You Take" about possessiveness, control, and surveillance after a painful relationship's end. Lines like "Every move you make... every vow you break... every smile you fake... every claim you stake, I'll be watching you" depict an obsessive, sinister monitoring rather than romantic devotion, exploring the darker side of lost love and jealousy.

The opening statement on The Police's chart-topping 1983 album Synchronicity, "Synchronicity I" immediately grabs the listener with its propulsive force. Written by Sting, this high-energy New Wave track showcases Stewart Copeland's complex polyrhythms, layered synthesizer textures, Andy Summers' atmospheric guitar work, and Sting's intense vocal delivery, creating a sound both urgent and sophisticated, representative of their mature style.

Lyrically exploring Carl Jung's concept of meaningful coincidences ("Synchronicity"), the song juxtaposes this idea against frantic images of societal unease and control. While not released as a commercial single itself, "Synchronicity I" is critically lauded for its musical complexity and effectively establishing the themes of the massively successful album it introduces, remaining a powerful fan favorite today, April 13, 2025.

SONG MEANING: "Synchronicity I" directly references psychologist Carl Jung's theory of synchronicity – the concept of meaningful, acausally connected events ("A connecting principle / Linked to the invisible / Almost imperceptible"). The frantic lyrics contrast this potential for underlying connection and meaning with disturbing snapshots of societal breakdown, control, and alienation ("Subhuman scraps... Daddy falling," "packed like lemmings into shiny metal boxes"), questioning human connection amidst modern chaos.