Sting Talks Diddy Sampling ‘Every Breath You Take’: ‘Still My Song’

Despite the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs, “Every Breath You Take” remains unblemished — at least for the man who wrote it.

In a new interview with Los Angeles Times published Monday, Nov. 11, Sting revealed that despite what was “going on” with the disgraced music mogul — who famously sampled the 1983 Police hit in his and Faith Evans’ 1997 song “I’ll Be Missing You” — the original number belongs to him.

When asked if Combs’ current situation has affected how he views the classic ’80s song, the Police songwriter and bassist, 73, gave a fairly straightforward answer: “No.”

“I mean, I don’t know what happened (with Diddy),” he added. “But it doesn’t tarnish the song at all for me. It’s still my song.”

Plus, when LA Times The interviewer pointed out that people still love to hear “Every Breath You Take,” adding, “Absolutely.”

The rock legend also offered some insight into his general philosophy on sampling while discussing a recent collaboration, 2023’s “Dreaming” with Pink and Marshmello, which uses one of his solo hits, “Fields of Gold.”

When asked why he thinks his music continues to draw younger musicians, Sting told the outlet he has no idea — but he doesn’t mind.

“I have no idea, but when someone wants to interpolate or whatever it’s called, I never object because I always learn something about the song that I didn’t know or expect,” the rocker said. “And I get paid, so why not? It keeps them updated.”

“Songs are living organisms – you have to keep breathing life into them or give them new bedfellows,” he concluded.

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Combs — who not only sampled Sting on “I’ll Be Missing You” but also performed with the rocker at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards — has been in jail since his arrest in September on charges of extortion, sex trafficking and transportation to engage. in prostitution.

The 55-year-old music mogul was taken into custody on September 16 after nearly a year of ongoing investigations, which included home raids and several lawsuits against him alleging sex abuse and rape.

Diddy was indicted on three counts, and a judge rejected the $50 million bail proposal made by his attorney. He is currently in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting trial, and late last week he filed a new motion for bail, which has yet to be ruled on.

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