Wrapped Around Your Finger

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some groovy vibes as we spin "Wrapped Around Your Finger" by The Police from their iconic album Synchronicity here at THE ZOO! This track, released in 1983, is a deep cut with a spiteful edge. Sting, the band’s frontman, called it “a spiteful song about turning the tables on someone who had been in charge,” reflecting his personal turmoil during a tumultuous time in his life, including his divorce from actress Frances Tomelty. The song’s lyrics weave in mythological references, like Scylla and Charybdis from Greek mythology, symbolizing being caught between two perilous choices, and even nod to the legend of Faust, adding a layer of alchemical mystique. Sting himself hinted at its complexity, saying it’s “vaguely alchemical” and inspired by a psychic friend who tutored him in tarot, mixed with literary nods to Doctor Faustus and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Some fans even speculate it draws from the tale of Merlin and his apprentice Nimue, where the student traps the master, flipping the power dynamic.

The music video, directed by Godley & Creme, is a visual trip, with Sting weaving through a maze of tall candlesticks in a candle-lit, moody room, knocking them down in a dramatic finale. The band mimed the song at high speed, and when slowed to normal, their movements look dreamily surreal, enhancing the song’s ethereal vibe. Drummer Stewart Copeland wasn’t a fan, though, admitting he was “kind of pissed off” about the video’s concept and never loved the song itself, especially since Sting got the spotlight knocking over those candles. Fun fact: Miss Piggy parodied this candle labyrinth in a Muppets promotional video for The Muppets Take Manhattan! The song’s intricate rhythms and hypnotic feel made it a global hit, reaching the top 10 in the US and UK, and it still resonates with fans for its cerebral lyrics and new wave polish.

The Police started as a trio in London in 1977, born from the punk and new wave scene but blending reggae, jazz, and rock into a sound all their own. Sting, born Gordon Sumner, was a schoolteacher and part-time musician playing in jazz bands when he met drummer Stewart Copeland, who’d been gigging with progressive rock outfit Curved Air. Copeland convinced Sting to form a band, and they recruited guitarist Andy Summers, a seasoned player who’d worked with acts like The Animals and Soft Machine. Originally, they played gritty punk gigs under Sting’s early songs, but their chemistry clicked when Sting’s songwriting evolved into hits like “Roxanne” and “Message in a Bottle.” Their debut album, Outlandos d’Amour, dropped in 1978, and by the time Synchronicity hit in 1983, they were global superstars, though internal tensions led to their breakup after the album’s tour. Sting’s intellectual bent, Copeland’s energetic rhythms, and Summers’ textured guitar work made them one of the ’80s’ defining bands.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with The Police on their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share throwbacks, reissue news, and live clips. Fans are buzzing on sites like PoliceFans.org, a dedicated fan hub with forums and memorabilia, and the The Police Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can connect over setlists and rare vinyl finds. Spin this track loud and let its hypnotic groove wrap you up!