Foolery Gift Guide #2: Pink Martini's Joy to the World

The second installment of the FOOLHOGG (Fooleryland Holiday Gift Guide). Sick to death of the same old Christmas music over and over -- or, even worse, new versions by musical lightweights who add nothing of value to an old standard (and probably ruin it)? Well, I am. So I was very surprised to hear excerpts from a holiday album that I actually wanted to buy.

And no, when I write "holiday album," I'm not being politically correct. You should know me better than that -- shame on you for thinking that!

The eclectic band Pink Martini is all about variety, flexibility and uniqueness. Nothing is as you'd expect. They're a little campy, sometimes old-fashioned, often very multicultural, and always extremely musical.

This album has a very sacred feel to it, whatever your beliefs may be. There is a gorgeous Hebrew prayer put to music that just about stops my heart every time I hear it. There is a song for new years from China, sung in Chinese and quite catchy. There are lyrics sung in Japanese, Arabic, French, German, Ukrainian, and yes, even English. This is not a Christmas album, really -- it's a holiday album in the best sense of the word. I downloaded my version but you can buy it from all of the usual suspects, including at the band's web site.

(As a bonus to my fellow NPR junkies, Ari Shapiro sings as a guest on two of the songs. It turns out he has a beautiful voice.)

You can read and hear the NPR interview, and three songs, here.

Suddenly I'm craving a martini. And stay tuned for the next FOOLHOGG! Whatever it's gonna be . . .


  

Comments

[foolery]

Hope you like it as much as I do, MZ.

[MomZombie]

You've piqued my curiosity. I'm on the hunt for a new holiday album to add to the rotation. Gracias. Xie xie. Thanks.

[foolery]

Hope you love it, my friend! Theres a Verdi aria that will knock you out. Im a big sap and cry Every. Time.

[Audubon Ron]

Thanks for the tip. I ordered it.

[foolery]

Awesome.  : )

[Marcy Massura]

Downloading now.

[foolery]

Any time, Meggie.  : )

[Meg]

Whoa, who let Beej in? *lalalala I'm not listening to youuuuuu*

Ari Shapiro? Whoda thunkit? Off to download now! Thanks for the rec, Foolery!

[foolery]

Wonderful, Gramps! And just so you know -- no kick-backs here. This is in no way a promotion or anything. I just like them. Glad you do, too!

[gramps]

HOLY COW. Never heard of them before----now I just ordered two CDs
Thanks

[foolery]

Never heard the first one . . . know M.Steamroller . . . LOVE Karen Carpenters voice. Thanks boB!

[boB Cleveland]

My absolute all-time favorite Christmas album was "Ira Ironstrings Plays Christmas for People Who've Heard Everything" (along with Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas Album, and Karen Carpenter's). You can even still buy them, here ... http://www.amazon.com/Ira-Ironstrings-Plays-Santa-Claus/dp/B0000DG014 .. although I still have mine.

[foolery]

I loved that -- never even heard of it before last week.  : )

[sher]

having a wonderful flashback of The Girl from when she was in kindergarten and had to sing in concert "ochos kandelikas" in school :)

[foolery]

Aw, crud, Beej, now its in MY head.

[Bejewell]

Siiiiimply. Haaaaving. Awonderfulchristmastime. Siiiiimply. Haaaaving. Awonderfulchristmastime. Siiiiimply. Haaaaving. Awonderfulchristmastime.

Seriously. I can't stop it. Help me, Pink Martini! You're my only hope!

[foolery]

I am SO JEALOUS, Edie Kate. My favorite of their (non-holiday) songs is Hey Eugene, but I have a lot more to hear. Thanks for reading and commenting!

[Edie Kate]

I am from Portland (which this group hails from) and had the absolute pleasure of seeing them THREE TIMES live at very different venues more then 10-15 years ago as a teenager (OMG it's been that long???). They are FANTASTIC and I already snatched this up when I saw it at my local Starbucks up here in the Puget Sound area! Their album Sympathique (I think their first) is SO FUN! Go, GET IT! :-)