Supplied note - not independently verified
Sting wrote this song after seeing prostitutes in Paris, imagining a man in love with one.
View background statusThe Police
13 catalog entries, grouped by year.
ARTIST ESSENTIALS
Explore Artist EssentialsThe Police: a curated listening guide
Hear how the trio uses space, syncopation and tightly shaped melodies across its five studio albums.
25 selections with release evidence; 14 beyond the yearly lists.
About The Police
The Police brought together Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland in a trio whose music combined elements of punk, reggae and rock. Their five studio albums appeared between 1978 and 1983, from Outlandos d'Amour to Synchronicity. The playing often depended on space between the guitar, bass and drums, while Ghost in the Machine added denser keyboard and horn layers. Sting's subsequent solo recordings and the members' other projects have their own credits, separate from the group's studio catalog.
Artist background sources
The Police - official studio catalog and original years
The original five albums are explicitly dated 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983. Their original tracklists are separated from the 2018 box and later bonus disc. Names the trio and describes its punk and reggae vocabulary. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Ghost in the Machine - official Sting/Police album archive
Original album tracklist and studio recording discussion, read in the public discography body. The official studio index separately supports 1981. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Synchronicity - official Sting/Police album archive
Original album tracklist and studio recording discussion, read in the public discography body. The official studio index separately supports 1983. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
1978
1979
Artist background available
The Police brought together Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland in a trio whose music combined elements of punk, reggae and rock. Their five studio albums appeared between 1978 and 1983, from Outlandos d'Amour...
View background statusArtist background available
The Police brought together Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland in a trio whose music combined elements of punk, reggae and rock. Their five studio albums appeared between 1978 and 1983, from Outlandos d'Amour...
View background status1980
Supplied note - not independently verified
Sting's commentary on the simplicity of some pop lyrics.
View background status1981
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
The PoliceReported release: 1980Date needs verification | Recent carryover
Source year-end #57Supplied note - not independently verified
Despite its seemingly nonsensical title, the song is about the power of simple communication.
View background statusDon't Stand So Close to Me
The PoliceReported release: 1980Date needs verification | Recent carryover
Source year-end #71Supplied note - not independently verified
Inspired by Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita" and Sting's experiences as a teacher.
View background status1982
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
The PoliceRelease: 1981Source checked | Recent carryover
Source year-end #79Supplied note - not independently verified
Written by Sting about being in love but unable to express it.
View background statusSupplied note - not independently verified
A mystical song about spiritual exploration.
View background statusSupplied note - not independently verified
Written by Sting, exploring themes of spirituality and materialism.
View background status1983
Documented songwriting inspiration
Sting wrote the song while staying in Jamaica. He has described its apparent tenderness as deceptive: its narrator is possessive, concerned with watching and controlling another person. It should not be classified as...
Read background and sourcesSupplied note - not independently verified
A darker, more intense track from the band's final studio album.
View background statusSupplied note - not independently verified
Sting was inspired by the dynamics of power in relationships, drawing from mythology and literature.
View background status1984
Wrapped Around Your Finger
The PoliceRelease: 1983Source checked | Recent carryover
Source year-end #85Supplied note - not independently verified
Sting was inspired by the dynamics of power in relationships, drawing from mythology and literature.
View background statusALL 66 ANNUAL COLLECTIONS
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.