A huge UK choir has made the ‘difficult decision’ to remove The Police’s Every Breath You Take from their repertoire. The 1983 track, written by frontman Sting, became the band’s biggest hit, reaching number one across the UK and US charts. It has faced criticism in more recent years for seeming to depict the perspective of someone stalking a love interest.
![[Platinum Jubilee Ox Roast Windsor]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-1241056334.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Songwriter Sting has denied this intention, saying it was more about being in the public eye and facing surveillance, control and Big Brother effect. Despite this, the founder of Rock Choir, Caroline Redman Lusher, sent out a letter to the choir’s over 31,000 members to confirm it would be removed from sets.
![[Photo of Andy SUMMERS and Stewart COPELAND and POLICE and STING]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-91151955.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
This was after concern about the ‘negative and challenging’ impact on the members due to the song’s undertones. She wrote in a letter, seen by Far Out, that ‘after much thought and discussion with some of the team, I have made the difficult decision to remove Every Breath You Take from the repertoire.
![[TOPSHOT-DENMARK-MUSIC-FESTIVAL-STING]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-1258550825.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘I have never removed a song before now but due to the impact the narrative is having on some Rockies and the potential – when it is taught – of more negative and challenging feelings from the wider membership, I feel it would be wise to replace the song.’.
Rock Choir has over 400 communities across the UK, and Caroline was awarded an MBE for her services to music and charitable work in the recent New Year Honours. In 2019, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) recognised Every Breath You Take as the most-played song in radio history.
