Sting’s less-than-conservative opinion on other artists sampling his music

Not all artists like other colleagues to re-record or sample their compositions. There are notorious cases of musicians who do not authorize the reuse of their melodies in different works, whether faithful covers or mere insertions of excerpts into new tracks. This, however, is not the case for Sting.

The legendary vocalist and bassist, known for his work with The Police and solo career, he has a habit of releasing his compositions for reuse without major disruption. One of the most famous cases — and which recently became controversial — was the sample of “Every Breath You Take” in “I’ll Be Missing You”the rapper’s 1997 collaboration P. Diddy (now arrested and investigated for having committed several sexual crimes) with the singer faith evans.

In 2023, Pink and Marshmello came together for a re-recording of “Fields of Gold”which led to the report of the Los Angeles Times (via Ultimate Guitar) asking Sting why his work continues to attract younger musicians. The answer involves a non-conservative answer about not denying covers, samples and the like of his compositions.

Initially, he stated:

I have no idea (why the songs still appeal to younger people), but when someone wants to do a tween, or whatever it’s called, I never object.”

Then the British musician gave his reasons. It involves money in your pocket, of course, but not only that.

With interpolations, I always learn something about the song that I didn’t know or didn’t expect. And I get paid, so why not?”

Finally, the eternal frontman of The Police pointed out that versions, regardless of the format in which they are executed, make original works remain new for longer. He points out:

This keeps them current. Songs are living organisms. You have to keep giving them life, or giving them new companions.”

Sting and his controversial partnership with P. Diddy

Only in recent times has the partnership between Sting and P. Diddy took on truly controversial contours, given that the accusations against the rapper are recent, while the transfer of “Every Breath You Take” to “I’ll Be Missing You” occurred, as already mentioned, in 1997. At the time, the American artist signed as Puff Daddy.

During the same interview with Los Angeles Times, Sting was asked if he thought the hit The Police would have been, in some way, negatively impacted by the entire situation. He replied:

No. I mean, I don’t know what happened. But that doesn’t detract from the music for me. It’s still my song.”