The Colorado Symphony's Horny Take on "Don't Stand So Close to Me"

Modeling good social distancing, the horn players of the Colorado Symphony take on "Don't Stand So Close to Me."

March 25, 2020

Image: The Colorado Symphony does it again. Top left is Michael Thornton, top right is Carolyn Kunicki, bottom left is Kolio Plachkov, and bottom right is Matthew Eckenhoff.

The Colorado Symphony does it again. Top left is Michael Thornton, top right is Carolyn Kunicki, bottom left is Kolio Plachkov, and bottom right is Matthew Eckenhoff. Colorado Symphony / Youtube

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Nothing can stop the musicians of the Colorado Symphony from playing — and charming the pants off Denver (which is totally acceptable when we're shut in and can Porky Pig it as much as we like).

The nonprofit orchestra had already released a moving online rendition of Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." Now four of its horn players — Michael Thornton, Carolyn Kunicki, Kolio Plachkov and Matthew Eckenhoff — have joined forces (from an appropriate distance) to play a hilarious, and dare we say "horny," version of "Don't Stand So Close to Me," by the Police.

The message is on point: Indeed, don't stand so close to each other. But do watch this. It's incredibly comforting.

The two online performances — "Ode to Joy" and "Don't Stand So Close to Me" — are both branded under the hashtag #PlayOn. That raises a question: What song will be next?

Will it be more pop fodder? Something joyful? Something morose?

Whatever the musicians choose to play, these videos are some of the most anxiety-reducing things being made right now, and we can't wait for the next one.

There is another one coming, right?

Kyle Harris has been Westword’s Culture Editor since 2016, writing about the arts, music and film.

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