Couch Choir - (They Long To Be) Close To You 

I’d like to think that Karen Carpenter is watching this from heaven and smiling. 😇

Smiling through tears. This is what humanity is. Coming together while staying apart. Lovely voices, beautiful arrangement. The Carpenters would be happy to bring such solidarity in these difficult days

I've been self-isolating for six days and this broke me. I am sobbing. Bravo everyone.

Why can't we be like this all the time? Why can't we like each other - love each other - and agree to disagree when we can't on a topic? Why can't we help each other not fight each other? Why can't we discuss things in civil tones and not scream at each other? I'm so sick of division. I'm so sick of "triggers." I'm so sick of some of us not caring about the old, the babies, the displaced, the lonely, the forgotten, the terrified, the hopeless, the helpless, the downtrodden, the sick, the widows, the orphans. My faith says that "as you've done it for. other's you've done it for me." We can't change everything but we can change one thing. We can't change another person but we can change ourselves. We can't change the whole world but we can change our little corner of the world. We have to stop waiting for "someone else" to fix things. We have to act for ourselves and if we all did that then we WOULD change the world.

I'm a grown man sitting alone for days and partly from sadness and partly from joy and hope I wept all the way through this.

one of my mum's favourite songs.... we played it to her in her last moments. Thank you for your humanity.

I loved the whole clip, but especially the toilet paper shuffle. Smiling and singing in adversity.

My mom was listening to the radio when she found out she was pregnant with me. This was the song it was playing. She pased away on May 30st. This will always be our special song. I miss you mom

This is awesome Pub Choir, PLEASE DO IT AGAIN!!!!!!!

Smiling through the tears for Karen Carpenter

Going through my RU-vid favorites and came back to this one. Tears rolling down while watching this. Warmth, love, compassion and just the thing we humans are made for: being there for each other. The world can use this right now. Thank you Pub Choir team, I can't wait for another worldwide Pub Choir to show the world we support each other.

Another one in tears right here. I sure KC is looking down from heaven, and singing right along with you. Thank you to the one who came up with this idea.

Very pleasant, well done....RIP Karen.....would love this, I'm sure...

This made me cry, shows you at end of day we are all the same, this virus does not care whether your black white brown rich poor it dosnt matter we all come together like this we can change the world thankyou to all beautiful

I've liked every single one of these videos but this one tops them all. This one made me cry. Stay safe everyone ❤️🇦🇺

Thank you. You, all of you taking part in this pub choir, have filled my heart with joy and, dare i say, awe. Human beings at their best.

Who's the one person that clicked the dislike button? Shame on you! This is the very definition of heart-warming. Lovely.

I’m so glad Karen’s voice is being heard by the younger generations. She was a gem and I agree... she’s looking down at this and smiling and yes maybe a tear or two. We miss you Karen, RIP

Thanks for this lovely reminder that we are all in this together. And looking forward to once agin being close.

Karen Carpenter must be smilng down on us from heaven right now as she looks at this.Simply beautiful

I shared my voice to this and I can't even find myself in video but its wonderful to be a part of this beautiful project! Thank you for making it happen!

Such a beautiful way to keep Pub Choir going in times like these, when it's needed most. Thank you for this, and stay safe everyone!

I found this video because it was shared on ABC nightly news. This was my Mom's favorite song to me of all time. I was just wondering what my Mom would have thought about this whole pandemic and this comes on the TV. THANK YOU EVERYONE who participated. It told me my Mom is watching over me.

This is the most uplifting & creative response I’ve seen to the restrictions we’re all under due to COVID-19. My Mum & I have been watching this over and over. It’s so beautiful and I’m sure we will be singing “Close to You” for weeks to come!

This is such a joyful response to counter the anxiety of these times. Loved the expressions of the many singers, the babies, children, dogs and cats, birds, hamsters, teddy bears and hand puppets with the contemporary addition of toilet roll distribution. I play this recording at least once a day and have distributed it to many friends here in Australia and in UK. Lovely! Thank you to Astrid and her team.

I don’t know how much effort this was to put together but if this continues can you do another one of these please. This was lovely to watch and listen to.

The entire human race needs to watch this video. In these darkest of times, we only need positivity ! We need to virtually hug each other and virtually stand close to each other. This too shall pass. In the future, when something bad happens, we could just look back and think of resilience of the human race.

Beautiful! Karen Carpenter is surely smiling from above! God Bless all and stay safe !

What an amazing, heart-warming, and beautiful thing you all have done. I was just searching for uplifting videos to send our 90+ families who support us as we serve overseas. This video will be included. May Our Lord, God bless each and everyone of you for sharing this message of encouragement and love!!!

Everyone is singing so beautifully. I hope there will be more of these...maybe monthly through the isolating era?

Oh my. Not only one of my favourite songs of all time, the beauty of this... tears of comfort and happiness all the way through!

This is truly the silver lining that would never have had an opportunity to show without the specter of this dark cloud. Thank you for showing how good can find inspiration amid and rise above evil. 🙏🏻

This is the Australia I love, thank you!... damn, I just got tears in my keyboard

Hello from Brooklyn! I'm so sad that you had to cancel (yet again!) and I missed this experience in person. Please do more Couch Choirs so I can be... close to you...

Thank you, thank you, thank you Astrid & co. I'm sitting at my desk with tears streaming down my face. A celebration of the human spirit in the midst of this deeply disorienting crisis. Thanks for providing a light at the end of this deep dark tunnel.

It is glorious! Paris Owen (Sleepy Mountain), you are a WIZARD ✨

I saw a clip of this on the nightly news and spent 30 minutes trying to find it online. Finally, I did and this is absolutely one of the most beautiful moments ever. People from 18 countries coming together in the midst of the virus. Can't get any better than that. I'm looking forward to the next song.

Simply beautiful, wonderful and exciting !! congratulations!!!

Kisses 😘 From Brazil 🇧🇷 Omg I love the video 🥰 Amazing Job ❤️ I love the carpenters ❤️ And the choir Incredible 😁

*Why make me cry when there is a shortage on tissues!? (Just beautiful.)* 😥😭😢💖🌎

Astrid and her crew are super human super creatures and we are all blessed for their creativity. Thank you from my HeeeaaaarRRrrGggggHHHHHHtttTtt

....and for the next song, ‘DONT stand so close to me’

LOVE! LUV! A wonderful collection of voices to create the MAGIC OF MUSIC. Thanks for taking the time to share 😍😍😍😍

I used to sing this song to my son sitting in a rocking chair when he was born. I actually dedicated the original version of the song to him last year on his 25th bday. I can't wait to share this with him on his upcoming birthday on April 22nd (Earth Day). I'm sure he's going to love it as much as I did! Thank you for the arrangement. Everyone take a bow!

Loved it !!!! Thank you !! Good job everyone!!!⚘

Couldn't stop crying. The world coming together during a great tragedy. This is such a beautiful thing that you have done for us. Please be safe everyone!

I just shared this with my daughter and family in Chicago. You made my day, even through tears, while listening and watching. Thanks a million. I saw The Carpenters in concert at Southern Illinois University in 1971. You did them proud.

Wonderful. I agree with everyone’s positive comments. The world is wonderful. I’ve had my own private trauma. I have been in hospital for four months with a botched hip replacement and have been in a wheel chair. I’m scheduled for surgery to replace the hip on April 8th. Can you guys keep me in your prayers that it’ll go ahead and not be cancelled because of the virus. Stay well everyone.

Pure magic! Thank you all so much for contributing to this exceptional, and much needed, performance.

This is so, so beautiful. I have watched it twice so far and have been moved to tears. The more joy we can share in this unsettling time the more settled and uplifted we'll all feel. A heartfelt thank you so much to all the wonderful singers and filmmakers :), sound and visual editors, producers, directors and the wonderful person/people who came up with this idea. Bless you all xxx

just beautful - smiling with tears!!

This is pure gold.so beautiful. When this terrible time is over, I want to be close to everyone!! Thank you for this. I'm sure the Angel's came out of heaven just to listen to you all.

I am Brazilian. This is very very beautiful. When I am sad, at difficult moments I listen to this songs and I get happy. May God be with all of us.🌻🌻🌻🦋

Beautiful, just beautiful

Absolutely amazing - I might have cried a little bit while watching this :)

Right. Of course, I'm crying. This touched my heart in so many ways. I grew up with the Carpenters. I'm so happy and fortunate I was there from the beginning. Now seeing SO many young people here in this video fills me with so much emotion. I love that entire new generations are discovering the Carpenters. Their music is literally timeless. Thank you Richard and Karen. We love you!!!

wow how wonderful!! Go Astrid & team. Your resilience & creativity during this testing time is to be admired. It was emotional viewing xx

Writing through tears of joy: A wonderfully relaxing and uplifting collaboration. My grateful thanks and admiration to the innovators, the participants and the engineers. Please keep up the great work and please let's have much more. Kind regards. Roy.

Bravo! Excellent job guys! You helped to brighten-up the World during this awful crisis. God love you all for helping us smile again. Stay safe. Stay home. Stay sane. Love your performance so much! 👍❤🇦🇺

If this doesn't bring a tear to your eye and a sense of longing for Richard and Karen's music, then you need to look into yourself and ask why not. This is such a beautiful tribute. Thank you all!

I am so happy I was able to be part of a couch choir video. I strongly recommend it. Kudos to the team that puts it together. What an awesome thing you re doing for the world!!! :)

Pub Choir....you're the grousest. Thanks for reminding us how enjoyable singing is.

Heart-warming voices and smiles brought me tears. What a great performance!

Oh my gosh! Please keep these coming!!! 😭 This video is an exact display of oneness in unity and represents what it means to be human! WE are ALL in this together and in times like these, desperately require each others' support. My only concern is, why does it take a pandemic to make something like this become so? I truly believe that compassion should be given AT ALL TIMES, and not simply when times are rough. Congratulations to a spectacular video! Please continue to create these videos whilst sharing the love!!!

I love that Queen Astrid conducted to an empty house. How I wish we all could have been there to sing together and follow her instructions. God bless and stay safe all!

Magnificent... Bravo, Love this, thank you for showing "Australia / the World" that individually we are only a whisper but together you can roar. In other words, in these times, we can be individual, but collectively make the necessary change. Try "We are the World" as your next challenge... thank you

This is very heartwarming and really needed in times like these!...I just wish that the channel owner's description had mentioned The Carpenters since this arrangement is based on theirs plus their version is THE definitive one and a timeless classic!!

This seems like a gift to humanity. This is how the world can join up together

I beg of you, please put this up on spotify!

Wow, all of a sudden I was crying. I'm so happy sad joyful delirious nostalgic lonely for myself and all of us. And I've always loved Karen Carpenter's rendition of this song. Sending a link to my lovely Mom.

Amazing! I think this is one of my favorite choir so far! And I want to join if there is next time.. May I request a song for the medical frontliners who sacrifice their life for the corona virus. I think that will uplift and inspire their spirits. God bless all of us and take care!

Brilliant. So very lovely. One of my very favorite songs. We still miss you Karen.

A really joyous moment in this current mad world - thank you and well done

The human spirit can be an amazing thing. Faith in humanity restored. Cheers to you all

If only there were a ‘love’ button and not just a like...just wonderful people. Thank you. As someone who has sung Close to You many times at gigs, you just cannot beat harmonies-which can only come with a number of voices ! Excellent, in these times of difficulty..

Thank you pub choir 😘

It's now April 15 and it's been more than a month since we were told to stay inside. People look apologetic as they run quick errands wearing homemade masks. This song, this performance, I guess I needed a good cry. I was born in '67 and the Carpenters Double Album was the first music I learned to sing. I'm positive that the reason I'm an Alto and seek out the harmonies in songs is because of the Carpenters. As a new Mom, I would sing "Close to You" to my colicky son, who is now 24 and isolated in their own apartment across town. This touched my heart.

Saw this on ABC TV Australia tonight, went to you tube to see it close up,. The back story was great & as my wife & I are under self isolation this was a great joy. Yes stop all the very negative thoughts. We need much more of the inspiration & as an ex Brit product of the 40’s the carpenters were a great part of my teenage years. Go again please

I love this. How wonderful. 18 Countries submitted a video. Very upliting. One of my favourite songs. Well done everyone. You sound great. Wish I could sing!

Bawling My eyes out. So much beauty in this . Thank You for this.

Brilliant! Well done everybody. Thank you Pub Choir.

Fabulous!! Brought a huge smile to my face!

Thank you , God Bless You all and Be Safe....made my day!!

this is so beautiful im gonna cry

Thank you so much everyone. Also smiling through tears at this beautiful work! Love it🌼💕

wish I knew this was happening as I would have loved to have been a part of it. It is so wonderful . Thankyou

Amazing everyone 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I think Karen would have loved this.

This is perfect. EXACTLY what I needed right now. Keep sharing those positive vibes. :D

Oh this made me so happy. Just beautiful thank you all ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻. Stay well stay safe we’re in this together ❤️💋

So beautiful. It made my cry. Peace and love everyone. Be well.❤❤

I’m old enough to remember WWII. I remember how everyone pulled together. From those that left school when they were juniors or seniors in high school to us in the lower grades that would separate the foil from the paper on a stick of chewing gum to be saved in support of the war effort. We all supported the President, Republican and Democrats. Didn’t matter, we were on the same team. Here we are again in a major war and it makes me sick to my stomach how divided this country is. So sad.

Thank you. This really made me smile. Sharing

Just saw this on ABC and had to come find it on youtube. Awesome arrangement and editing. You all did so well, I swear someone was cutting onions near me.

Just burst into tears of uplift. We are one world. I love you all.

I could watch this video for hours and every time I discover something new :)

My God....what a beautiful song. I am glad that the Carpenters are getting the worldwide recognition they always deserved.... This song moves me the same way it did many moons ago

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU....weeping happy tears and singing along

Love ❤️ this Choir of Hope!!! Very Inspiring!!! 😃🤗

From Manchester UK, you have made my Tuesday morning, thank you. Absolutely fantastic. X