# "Every Breath You Take" in minor key **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2020, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092 "2020-05-19T08:01:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/1 "2020-05-19T08:01:55Z")
“Every Breath You Take” by the Police is one of those deceptive songs that has a meaning that’s different than what a superficial listening would lead you to believe. It sounds like a typical love song but when you pay attention to the lyrics you realize it’s about a stalker. [And this video makes that subtext overt.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JyFrIH2-ns) Somebody took the original song and manipulated it with a computer so it’s in a minor key. And now it sounds like a song being sung by an obsessive stalker. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/2 "2020-05-19T08:28:53Z")
Phew! That’s _creepy_! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/3 "2020-05-19T11:49:55Z")
There are a lot of those out there-- I think I remember seeing a thread on this topic here once before. For the other side of the coin, here’s REM’s [“Losing My Religion”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6KmiIq2-m8) in a major key. It’s transformed from being a song of almost overwhelming existential angst and despair into a song about a guy who’s maybe a little confused about things, but you know in the end everything’s going to be aaaalright. The intro sounds a lot like “Shiny Happy People”. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/4 "2020-05-19T12:01:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > “Every Breath You Take” by the Police is one of those deceptive songs that has a meaning that’s different than what a superficial listening would lead you to believe. It sounds like a typical love song but when you pay attention to the lyrics you realize it’s about a stalker. > > [And this video makes that subtext overt.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JyFrIH2-ns) > > Somebody took the original song and manipulated it with a computer so it’s in a minor key. And now it sounds like a song being sung by an obsessive stalker. I realized that “Every Breath You Take“ was about a stalker from the first time I heard it. And I heard it a lot when it was first released, it got some heavy airplay back in the days of radio. But I only recently realized that “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” is sort of creepy stalkerish as well. I can’t discern if he’s in a relationship of sorts with the woman he’s obsessed with in that song. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/5 "2020-05-19T12:10:52Z")
Doesn’t really work IMO; it messes up the chord progressions to a jarring degree. For example there’s a I-II chord progression that depends on an unexpected major chord to build and resolve tension. Yes it does sound a little creepy. Anything in a minor key sounds creepier to the western ear. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/6 "2020-05-19T12:44:04Z")
Interesting. I’ve always thought EBYT was rather downbeat and frankly, kind of dull. I won’t pretend I ever knew it was being sung from a stalker’s point of view(until I read about it) but it’s always sounded. . . off. I like the minor key version better but it doesn’t sound that much “darker” to me; just better. I have similar feelings about LMR. Can’t really make that song sound joyful, imo. On a side note, there’s another thread here positing that Midnight Oil lead singer Peter Garrett is the worst dancer in the business. I’d say Michael Stipe takes that (dis)honor. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/7 "2020-05-19T13:12:00Z")
Wow! The top comment under the video by somebody named Mattchester: “The major key version is what the stalker hears in his head. The minor key is how it sounds to everyone else.” That nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/8 "2020-05-19T13:18:26Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Wow! > > The top comment under the video by somebody named Mattchester: > “The major key version is what the stalker hears in his head. The minor key is how it sounds to everyone else.” > > That nailed it. That’s goooooood. This discussion is certainly going to add some enjoyment for me the next time I hear that song. Generally I just turn it off. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/9 "2020-05-19T13:26:19Z")
Is this a common thing for artists to record songs in different keys? ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/10 "2020-05-19T13:47:05Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > But I only recently realized that “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” is sort of creepy stalkerish as well. I can’t discern if he’s in a relationship of sorts with the woman he’s obsessed with in that song. He’s definitely not in a relationship with her. _“I resolved to call her up a thousand times a day And ask her if she’ll marry me in some old fashioned way But my silent fears have gripped me long before I reach the phone Long before my tongue has tripped me Must I always be alone?”_ I didn’t take it as stalkerish, more unrequited love. BTW, are there ANY Police songs that aren’t creepy/depressing? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/11 "2020-05-19T13:50:51Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > . . .when you pay attention to the lyrics you realize it’s about a stalker I always thought from the start that it was about an obsessively possessive boyfriend, rather than a stalker. That’s why the original already has some strategically placed minor chords–it doesn’t need to be so blatant as this remake. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/12 "2020-05-19T13:52:32Z")
Walking on the Moon? ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/13 "2020-05-19T14:31:13Z")
Major key [Smells Like Teen Spirit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVehv_LDWaE) is 100% a Weezer song. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/14 "2020-05-19T14:58:44Z")
> [@Asylum](#): > > He’s definitely not in a relationship with her. > > _“I resolved to call her up a thousand times a day > And ask her if she’ll marry me in some old fashioned way > But my silent fears have gripped me long before I reach the phone > Long before my tongue has tripped me > Must I always be alone?”_ > > I didn’t take it as stalkerish, more unrequited love. > > BTW, are there ANY Police songs that aren’t creepy/depressing? Well there’s. . . um . . ._Da Do Do_. That’s peppy (and kind of dumb). That’s all I can think of at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/15 "2020-05-19T17:26:18Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Is this a common thing for artists to record songs in different keys? This would seem to be the original recording, processed by a third party using software like [Melodyne](https://www.celemony.com/en/melodyne/what-is-melodyne). It’s pretty amazing what stuff like that can do! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/16 "2020-05-19T20:25:50Z")
> [@Asylum](#): > > BTW, are there ANY Police songs that aren’t creepy/depressing? Yeah, making a Police song sound disturbing isn’t exactly hitting one out of the park. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/17 "2020-05-19T20:34:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > “Every Breath You Take” by the Police is one of those deceptive songs that has a meaning that’s different than what a superficial listening would lead you to believe. It sounds like a typical love song Not to me it doesn’t; I’ve always heard it as dark and brooding and a little menacing. Maybe it helps that I’ve never known the song without also knowing the dark, artsy, noir-ish [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs) for it. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/18 "2020-05-19T23:31:17Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Not to me it doesn’t; I’ve always heard it as dark and brooding and a little menacing. > > Maybe it helps that I’ve never known the song without also knowing the dark, artsy, noir-ish [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs) for it. I think anyone over a certain age saw that video in tandem with the time it was a big radio hit. I always viewed it as classic “moody, arty, HAMMY Sting”😛 And what young girl doesn’t want to look at Sting,boring tune, and repetitive lyrics aside. I guess I always heard it as less menacing and more broody and longing. Because who broods and longs more than the Police? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/19 "2020-05-19T23:53:01Z")
Yeah, I never understood the people who used it as their ‘song’ in weddings. Really? This version doesn’t work for me, though. Maybe if an actual musician re-did it in a minor key, it would work better. Or this one slowed down a bit. . . I dunno, it sounds off to me. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092/20 "2020-05-20T00:18:53Z")
> [@Telperion](#): > > Major key [Smells Like Teen Spirit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVehv_LDWaE) is 100% a Weezer song. The intro, at least, sounds like a comedy show theme, like King of the Hill or Malcolm in the Middle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-breath-you-take-in-minor-key/854092.md?page=2)