If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
Encyclopedia
"If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" is the first single released from Sting's solo debut album The Dream of the Blue Turtles
. It is also the opening track of the album, and is featured on Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994
as well as The Very Best of Sting & The Police
. The song's title refers to an aphorism
by Richard Bach
.
influences, and was a major hit, peaking at number one on the US Album Rock Tracks chart for three weeks. On the US pop chart it peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100
, number 17 on the US R&B chart,, and number 26 on the UK Singles Chart
.
Live performances of the song are featured on the DVD edition of Bring On the Night
and on the CD and DVD editions of ...All This Time.
A portion of the song was later used for Sting's 1987 hit "We'll Be Together
" from ...Nothing Like the Sun
.
The song was also performed at The Brits in February 1995 with M People
. He duetted on the song with the band's lead singer, Heather Small
and this track was given the dance treatment by the band who were also backed by a 100-strong Gospel Choir at the Earls Court Arena during the annual music awards show.
Sting said that he wrote the song as an "antidote" to the Police's 1983 song "Every Breath You Take
." The song was also lampooned by the Dead Milkmen
in the song "If You Love Somebody, Set Them on Fire," from their 1990 album Metaphysical Graffiti.
, and the "Torch Mix" by William Orbit
of Torch Song
. It also contains one other song called "Another Day," which appeared on Sting's live album Bring On the Night
. The version of "Another Day" that appears on the live album is not the version which appears as the B-Side of "If Love Somebody Set Them Free". The B-Side version is a studio recording.
The video was shot in Paris.
The Dream of the Blue Turtles
The Dream of the Blue Turtles is the first solo album by British pop singer-songwriter Sting, released in the United States on 1 June 1985, a year after The Police had unofficially disbanded...
. It is also the opening track of the album, and is featured on Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994
Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994
Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994 is the first compilation issued by Sting. It features hit singles from his studio albums The Dream of the Blue Turtles, ...Nothing Like the Sun, The Soul Cages, and Ten Summoner's Tales. The album features two new songs, "When We Dance" and "This Cowboy...
as well as The Very Best of Sting & The Police
The Very Best of Sting & The Police
The Very Best of... Sting & The Police is a compilation album issued by Sting, and released by A&M Records. The album originally featured one new track, a remix of the 1978 song "Roxanne" by rap artist Sean "Puffy" Combs....
. The song's title refers to an aphorism
Aphorism
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...
by Richard Bach
Richard Bach
Richard David Bach is an American writer. He is widely known as the author of the hugely popular 1970s best-sellers Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, and others. His books espouse his philosophy that our apparent physical limits and mortality are merely...
.
Song information
Like much of the album, the song has heavy jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
influences, and was a major hit, peaking at number one on the US Album Rock Tracks chart for three weeks. On the US pop chart it peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, number 17 on the US R&B chart,, and number 26 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Live performances of the song are featured on the DVD edition of Bring On the Night
Bring On the Night
Bring on the Night is a 1986 live album by Sting recorded over the course of several live shows in 1985 and released in 1986. The title is taken from a song by The Police from their 1979 album Reggatta de Blanc. The songs performed include Sting's early solo material from the studio album The Dream...
and on the CD and DVD editions of ...All This Time.
A portion of the song was later used for Sting's 1987 hit "We'll Be Together
We'll Be Together (Sting song)
"We'll Be Together" is a song performed by Sting on his 1987 album Nothing Like the Sun. The song was also released as a single, and reached #7 and #41 on the U.S. and UK singles charts, respectively...
" from ...Nothing Like the Sun
...Nothing Like the Sun
…Nothing Like the Sun is a 1987 album by Sting. The title comes from Shakespeare's Sonnet #130 , which Sting used in the song "Sister Moon"...
.
The song was also performed at The Brits in February 1995 with M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
. He duetted on the song with the band's lead singer, Heather Small
Heather Small
Heather Small is a British soul singer, best known for being the lead singer in the Manchester based band M People. Her debut solo album was Proud in 2000...
and this track was given the dance treatment by the band who were also backed by a 100-strong Gospel Choir at the Earls Court Arena during the annual music awards show.
Sting said that he wrote the song as an "antidote" to the Police's 1983 song "Every Breath You Take
Every Breath You Take
"Every Breath You Take" is a song by The Police on the band's 1983 album Synchronicity, written by Sting and Andy Summers . The single was one of the biggest hits of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks and the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. It also topped the...
." The song was also lampooned by the Dead Milkmen
Dead Milkmen
The Dead Milkmen is an American satirical punk rock band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Rodney Linderman , guitarist and vocalist Joe Genaro , bassist Dave Schulthise and drummer Dean Sabatino .Beginning within the local underground...
in the song "If You Love Somebody, Set Them on Fire," from their 1990 album Metaphysical Graffiti.
Single release
The single contains two remixes of the song: the "Jellybean Mix" by John 'Jellybean' BenitezJohn Benitez
John Benitez, better known as "Jellybean Benitez" is an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, DJ, remixer and music producer of Puerto Rican descent...
, and the "Torch Mix" by William Orbit
William Orbit
William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
of Torch Song
Torch Song
Torch Song was a British synthpop and dance band of the early 1980s consisting of William Orbit, Laurie Mayer and Grant Gilbert. In 1985, Grant left to pursue other projects and long-time friend Rico Conning officially joined the group. After the release of 'Exhibit A' in 1987, Torch Song as a...
. It also contains one other song called "Another Day," which appeared on Sting's live album Bring On the Night
Bring On the Night
Bring on the Night is a 1986 live album by Sting recorded over the course of several live shows in 1985 and released in 1986. The title is taken from a song by The Police from their 1979 album Reggatta de Blanc. The songs performed include Sting's early solo material from the studio album The Dream...
. The version of "Another Day" that appears on the live album is not the version which appears as the B-Side of "If Love Somebody Set Them Free". The B-Side version is a studio recording.
The video was shot in Paris.