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Heba Mustafa

Professor Leonard

ENG-1201-507

13 February 2022

Every Breath You Take

“Every breath you take” by the police, was written in 1983. “I’ll be missing you” by P.

Diddy and Faith Evans ft. 112 was written in 1997. “I’ll be missing you” is not so much a remix

of “every breath you take” but rather uses an interpolation of its melody as well as a few of its

lyrics. What piqued my interest about these two songs is the contrast between the two. As well as

what they hold in common.

“Every breath you take” is about an obsessed ex-lover. This was not widely known at

first, people thought it was just a love song, some even had it played on their wedding day. But

if you listen to the lyrics closely you can hear it,

“Every breath you take

And every move you make

Every bond you break

Every step you take

I'll be watching you

Every single day

And every word you say

Every game you play

Every night you stay

I'll be watching you

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Oh, can't you see

You belong to me?

How my poor heart aches

With every step you take?”

The obsession seeps through. Despite the strong emotions demonstrated in the song the

video seems to be the opposite. There really isn’t anything in the video that represents the song

in any way, it’s just the band singing and playing their instruments. Possibly to keep the focus on

the lyrics of the song and have people connect to the song on a deeper level, through their

emotions. This song is relatable in the sense that its about a breakup and how sometimes one can

plunge into a downward spiral when they experience something so emotional. And how one can

lose control of themselves and their actions.

“I’ll be missing you” was a tribute to Notorious B.I.G, a rapper who was murdered on

March 9, 1997. The song is by the late artist’s wife, Faith Evans and good friend, P. Diddy. It is

very sad, and you can hear the heartbreak and loss in his wife’s voice, and the lyrics. When the

song was written there was no permission taken to use the melody of the police’s song, which led

to a lawsuit.

The video for this song shows both artists Evans, and P. Diddy, singing their tributes to

their lost loved one. As the video continues, it displays them gather at the end, possibly

celebrating and paying their respects to their loved one. Despite the video’s simplicity, you can

feel the emotion, heartbreak, and loss. The song is so relatable, everyone can relate to loss.

Everyone has experienced loss in some way. Everyone wishes that they could find a way to say

goodbye and let a loved one know they miss them.

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Both songs are about heartache. But the types of heartbreak differ. With “Every breath

you take” the heartbreak is intentionally inflicted. A partner leaves behind a broken, obsessive,

possessive lover. The lover is left powerless to their emotions which leads to an unhealthy

obsession. With “I’ll be missing you” the heartbreak is not anyone’s hands. Its out of their

control and inevitable as expected with loss of life. No one chooses to leave, there is no choice.

Fate played its hand.

I would say despite both videos being very simple and straight forward with no

distractions. One is about saying goodbye. The other was basically just a band playing and

singing some music. I felt like the video by P.Diddy and Faith Evans displayed more emotion

and feeling then the video by the Police.

With that said, there were a few things I found that the songs had in common. Both songs

express heartbreak and loss but in different ways. Where one is about death and the other about a

breakup, I feel that those struggling going through something relatable would be impacted the

most.

Now, if I had to choose between the two songs to relate to or connect with, I would say it

is I’ll Be Missing You by P. Diddy and Faith Evans. The reason for this is because I just recently

lost my grandfather. He was an important person in my life and played a big role. His loss

impacted me so much that it was difficult for me to listen to the song at first. Before him I never

experience losing someone close to me like that and hope and pray, I never have to experience

that kind of loss and heartbreak again.

As mentioned, both songs are different in many ways and resemble each other in many

ways. Though, it is fascinating how one of the common things between both songs is that they
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express loss but in different ways. With that said, depending on what the person listening is

experiencing reflects on how the song impacts them.