The Police’s Every Breath You Take music video hits a billion views on YouTube

Virgin Radio

6 Oct 2022, 14:41

The music video for The Police’s Every Breath You Take is probably just as well known as the song itself and now it has hit a billion views on YouTube.

Originally released in 1983, the song quickly shot to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained at the top of the charts for eight weeks in total. It also went on to win a Grammy for song of the year and best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal.

The black and white music video, directed by 10cc duo Godley and Crème, was loosely based on Gjon Mili’s 1944 short film Jammin’ the Blues.

In it we see the band with a pianist and string section, singing the song in a dark ballroom as a man washes the huge floor to ceiling window behind them.

According to YouTube, the video has now averaged more than 300,000 viewers every day so far this year and has reached a billion views overall!

The Police first formed in London in 1977, but they really reached their height of fame in the early 1980s, while emerging in the British new wave scene.

Every Breath You Take featured on their final studio album as a band, Synchronicity, released in 1983 and it shot to No.1 in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Italy.

The song was the lead single on the album and became the band’s fifth UK number one overall.

Despite disbanding in 1986 and reuniting for a one-off world tour in 2007, the band have sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. Over their career they have won a number of awards, including two Brit Awards, six Grammys and an MTV Video Music Award, and in 2003, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

It’s no question they are one of the biggest bands of the 80s, a decade full of incredible music. If you fancy listening to some more of the biggest artist from the 80s plus the best music from the late 70s and early 90s, tune into our new radio station Virgin Radio 80s Plus!

You can listen to Virgin Radio 80 Plus HERE. You can also listen on DAB+ in London and Central Scotland and on smart speakers across the UK, as well as via the Virgin Radio UK app.