Graham Reid | | <1 min read
Popular culture being what it is, a group that can enchant one week is but a faded memory within months: anyone remember Polyphonic Spree?
Pink Martini out of Portland were a bit like that.
They were the project of the rather wonderful Thomas Lauderdale who founded the ensemble in the late Nineties to deliver his singular vision of Hollywood orchestral music from the romantic Forties, nightclub chic, Doris Day, Havana clubs in the late Fifties and classical music. In a very contemporary way.
The songs were often in French or Spanish.
This song was a particular favourite around Elsewhere's house: he takes the melody of Lalo Schifrin's Burning Bridges (the theme to Kelly's Heroes) and writes new lyrics then adds in Tchaikovsky's Piano Concert No 1 in B flat.
The guitarist is Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols and the singer China Forbes.
Allow yourself 3.40 of quality listening. It will delight and surprise.
For more one-offs, oddities or songs with an interesting backstory see From the Vaults.
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