The 25 days of Christmas: Day 19
A classic song, made new
Pink Martini is a Portland, Oregon band that's been around since 1994 in various incarnations. Wikipedia says “Group members call it a little orchestra that crosses several styles, such as classical, latin, traditional pop, and jazz.”
We did The Drifters’ “White Christmas” yesterday. This time it's Pink Martini’s turn. Their 2010 album Joy to the World starts off with White Christmas twice, both versions being notable in different ways.
“Part 1” is the straightforward song, but they include the original prologue that’s almost always omitted nowadays:
The sun is shining, the grass is green
The orange and palm trees sway
There’s never been such a day
In Beverly Hills, LA.
But it's December the 24th
And I'm longing to be up north...
And then the familiar song starts.
It's not widely recognized as such now, but “White Christmas” was originally a California song. It’s from the perspective of a Northerner spending Christmas Eve in Los Angeles and feeling homesick for snowy Northern winters. (This particular species of nostalgia is easily cured by spending 20 minutes in a snowy Northern winter.)
And then Part 2 comes immediately afterward, ready to throw us off kilter a bit more. The first half is instrumental, and then suddenly, almost exactly at the halfway mark, there is a key change and an unfamiliar voice begins to sing. The melody is the same, but the words are unrecognizable. What is happening? And then we realize: This isn't English. This is “White Christmas” sung in Japanese. The singer, Saori Yuki, has had a long career in Japanese show business, and she's been brought in to lend her lovely voice to this song.
Notes:
In 2011 Saori Yuki and Pink Martini recorded a full-album collaboration called 1969. It’s probably not everyone’s bag but I dig it.
Pink Martini has 17 members. That’s crazy. Imagine trying to coordinate schedules. Imagine trying to arrange songs to make sure everyone has something to do and is audible.
My wife gave me the CD of Joy to the World back when we were first dating, and it continues to be a touchstone for us.
Three cheers for Pink Martini! Love this post -- and I didn't know the L.A. bit is an original prologue to the song! Did Bing or somebody sing that version?