Musician Sting's iconic 1985 lyric, 'If you love somebody set them free,' challenges possessiveness in relationships by advocating for trust, choice, and freedom over control. This philosophy contrasts with obsession, promoting healthy autonomy and suggesting genuine love does not require force to survive. Sting's song offered an alternative to his earlier, darker hit 'Every Breath You Take,' which he described as rooted in surveillance and obsession.