Can't Stand Losing You

"Can't Stand Losing You" is a song by English rock band The Police, released from their debut album Outlandos d'Amour, both in 1978. The song also was released as the follow-up single to "Roxanne", reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart on a re-release in 1979. It was written by the band's lead singer and bassist Sting as a song about suicide.

The song also gained controversy for its single cover art, featuring Stewart Copeland hanging himself.

Background

"Can't Stand Losing You" features lyrics which, according to Sting, is "about a teenage suicide, which is always a bit of a joke." Sting also claimed that the lyrics took him only five minutes to write.^[5]

The original single was banned by the BBC because of the controversial cover (an alternative cover was released in some places). As Sting described: "The reason they [the BBC] had a problem with "Can't Stand Losing You" was because the photo on the cover of the single had Stewart standing on a block of ice with a noose around his neck, waiting for the ice to melt."^[6] Despite this, or perhaps because of the extra attention from the controversy, it became the group's first single to break the charts,^[7] and has held a spot in their live sets ever since it was written. The photography on the controversial cover was by Peter Gravelle.

The original single capped at number 42 in late 1978,^[7] but the June 1979 reissue nearly topped the UK Singles charts, held off only by "I Don't Like Mondays" by The Boomtown Rats.^[8] "Can't Stand Losing You" also appeared on the UK singles charts in 1980, as part of the Six Pack singles compilation set. The package (consisting of six 7" vinyl singles) peaked at number 17 on the UK charts in June 1980. In 1995, a live version of the song was released as a single and reached number 27 in the charts.^[7]

"Dead End Job", the B-side of "Can't Stand Losing You", is based on a riff Copeland wrote in high school.^[9] Sting's lyrics mention being a teacher as a dead-end job, which was his job before joining The Police. The song was only available on vinyl until the release of 1993's Message in a Box.

The instrumental track "Reggatta de Blanc" from the album of the same name originated from an improvisational stage jam played during live performances of "Can't Stand Losing You". This instrumental track went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1981.

The Police performed the song on the BBC2 television show The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978, which was their first performance on television. Sting wore a pair of oversized sunglasses as a result of a mishap with a can of hairspray during makeup, which required a trip to the hospital.^[10]

Two music videos exist for the song. One features the group playing the song on a stage with Sting wearing huge glasses. Slow motion shots of the group live appear as well. The second features the group performing the song in front of a red backdrop. This was filmed on the same day as the red backdropped version of "Roxanne".

Composition

"Can't Stand Losing You" is very similar musically to "Roxanne", both bearing a reggae influence and a rock chorus. The song also makes use of the Echoplex. Sting sings lead vocals on the song, which he described as "up and down, strange, high-pitched singing."^[5]

Personnel

Sting – bass, lead and backing vocals
Andy Summers – guitar
Stewart Copeland – drums

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[7]	42

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[11]	98
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[12]	15
Ireland (IRMA)^[13]	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[14]	9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[15]	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[16]	48
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[8]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1979)	Rank
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[17]	75
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[18]	94

Cover versions and appearances

In 1999, Novastar covered the song on The Best Is Yet to Come.
Feeder covered the track on their 2001 single Just a Day E.P., and it was later included on the compilation Picture of Perfect Youth in 2004.
In 2007, Mika and Armand Van Helden collaborated on a cover version of the song for the Radio 1 Established 1967 CD, which was issued to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of BBC Radio One.
In 2013, Rx Bandits covered the track on their release, Covers.
"Can't Stand Losing You" has appeared as downloadable content in the music video game series Rock Band as in a 3-song pack along with The Police's other songs "Synchronicity II" and "Roxanne".

References

↑ Sutcliffe, Phil; Fielder, Hugh (1981). L'Historia Bandido. London and New York: Proteus Books. p. 58. ISBN 0-906071-66-6.
↑ Prato, Greg. "The Police – Outlandos d'Amour". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
↑ "Dramarama : The 50 Most Scandalous Love Songs". Vibe. Vol. 9 no. 2. February 2001. p. 89. ISSN 1070-4701.
↑ "Certified Awards". BPI. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
1 2 "THE POLICE: Can't Stand Losing You, 7". Sting.com.
↑ Garbarini, Vic (Spring 2000). "I think if we came back...". Revolver. Rogier van der Gugten. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
1 2 3 4 "Archive Chart: 1978-10-15" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
1 2 "Archive Chart: 1979-08-04" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
↑ Sutcliffe, Phil (1993). "The B-sides and Other Obscure Releases". Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings (Boxed set booklet). A&M Records Ltd. pp. 57–59.
↑ Nightingale, Anne (2003). The Old Grey Whistle Test (DVD). Warner Home Video.
↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
↑ "Ultratop.be – The Police – Can't Stand Losing You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Can't Stand Losing You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Police - Can't Stand Losing You search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Police – Can't Stand Losing You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
↑ "Charts.org.nz – The Police – Can't Stand Losing You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1979" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

The Police

Stewart Copeland Sting Andy Summers Henry Padovani

Studio albums	Outlandos d'Amour Reggatta de Blanc Zenyatta Mondatta Ghost in the Machine Synchronicity

Live albums	Live! Certifiable: Live in Buenos Aires

Compilations	Every Breath You Take: The Singles Greatest Hits Every Breath You Take: The Classics The Very Best of Sting & The Police The Police

Boxed sets	Six Pack Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings

Singles	"Fall Out" "Roxanne" "Can't Stand Losing You" "So Lonely" "Message in a Bottle" "Walking on the Moon" "Bring on the Night" "The Bed's Too Big Without You" "Don't Stand So Close to Me" "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" "Invisible Sun" "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" "Spirits in the Material World" "Secret Journey" "Every Breath You Take" "Wrapped Around Your Finger" "Synchronicity II" "King of Pain" "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" "When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around" (Different Gear vs. The Police)

Other songs	"Next to You" "Reggatta de Blanc" "Driven to Tears" "Behind My Camel" "Demolition Man" "Synchronicity I" "Tea in the Sahara" "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da '86"

Tours	The Police Around the World Tour Zenyatta Mondatta Tour Ghost in the Machine Tour Synchronicity Tour A Conspiracy of Hope Tour The Police Reunion Tour

Related articles	Discography Strontium 90 Strontium 90: Police Academy Brimstone & Treacle ¡Policia!: A Tribute to the Police Everyone Stares

Book Category

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