"Don't Stand So Close to Me" by The Police

Top 10 Alert!

Grammy Alert!

Song#:  0489
Date:  02/07/1981
Debut:  78
Peak:  10
Weeks:  18
Genre:  Rock, New Wave



Pop Bits:  The Police just had their first Top 10 hit in the US with "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" (#10) when this second single from their "Zenyatta Mondatta" LP peaked at the same spot. The story of a schoolgirl's crush on her teacher ended up topping the charts in the UK becoming their third to do so. The song also won the group the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group.

ReduxReview:  I've always loved how the song starts out so dark and mysterious. It's actually one of the rare songs where I prefer the verse over the chorus. Usually, the chorus is your hook and what folks tend to remember and love about a song. The chorus here was always a bit clunky to me, but overall it is still a great song.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In addition to the Grammy for Rock Performance, the group also won one for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for Andy Summers' composition "Behind My Camel." It was a sort of vindication for Summers as it was the first song he fully wrote himself and the other two band members didn't like it. Sting has even said he hated the song and refused to even play on it. I doubt winning a Grammy would change their minds, but I'm sure it gave Summers something to rub in their faces.

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