Sting put out the hit single "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" in 1985.
The song was Sting’s first major solo single after his work with The Police and appeared on his debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles. Released in May 1985, it introduced a more jazz-influenced sound built around a prominent ensemble of musicians, including saxophonist Branford Marsalis and keyboardist Kenny Kirkland.
Sting described the song as an antidote to The Police’s darker 1983 hit "Every Breath You Take." Although the titles are sometimes mentally linked because both songs concern relationships and freedom, they present very different messages: this song argues against possessiveness and encourages emotional independence.
The single became a major success, reaching No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 26 in the United Kingdom. Its parent album launched Sting’s solo career while retaining the sophisticated rhythm-section and jazz elements that distinguished his 1980s work.