In a recent interview, Sting delved into the discussion surrounding Police’s chart-topping hit “Every Breath You Take” from their 1983 album Synchronicity and its connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs.
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During an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Sting addressed the allegations against Combs, who sampled the song on 1997’s “I’ll Be Missing You,” asserting that the iconic song still remains his own.
When questioned about whether the controversy surrounding Combs had altered his perception of the Eighties classic, Sting replied, “No. I mean, I don’t know what went on [with Diddy]. But it doesn’t taint the song at all for me. It’s still my song.” Sting emphasized that fans continue to “absolutely” enjoy hearing the track performed.
The Bad Boy mogul is currently entangled in a sex trafficking and racketeering case, along with a slew of new civil lawsuits filed against Combs following his September arrest. Recently, Combs’ legal team submitted a motion urging the court to “immediately restrain extrajudicial statements by potential witnesses and their counsel” while the court evaluates the arguments from both sides.
Combs previously claimed to have paid Sting $5,000 per day for using the song as a sample on “I’ll Be Missing You,” although the disgraced musician later clarified that he was “being facetious.”
“Me and @OfficialSting have been friends for a long time! He never charged me $3K or $5K a day for ‘Missing You,'” Combs wrote on X in April 2023. “He probably makes more than $5K a day from one of the biggest songs in history.”
“I’ll Be Missing You,” featuring Faith Hill in 1997, served as a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. and became a hit for Diddy. The rapper sought Sting’s permission for the sample only after the song had been released. Both Diddy and Sting have previously addressed the situation.
In an interview with Rolling Stone back in 2003, Sting confirmed that the uncleared sample had generated a substantial amount of money for him.
“Those guys just take your stuff, put it on a record, and deal with the legalities later,” Sting remarked at the time. “Elton John told me, ‘You gotta hear [‘I’ll Be Missing You’], you’re gonna be a millionaire!’ I said, ‘I am a millionaire!’ He said, ‘You’re gonna be a millionaire twice over!’ I put a couple of my kids through college with the proceeds, and me and P. Diddy are still good friends.”
FAQs
Is Sting still friends with Diddy despite the legal issues surrounding the song?
Yes, Sting and Diddy have maintained their friendship despite the legal issues surrounding the song.
Did Diddy ask for permission to sample the song before its release?
No, Diddy only sought Sting’s permission to sample the song after “I’ll Be Missing You” had been released.
Credit: www.rollingstone.com
