PINK MARTINI – Hey Eugene!

MUSIC Having a bad day? Did traffic suck and cause you to throw a tantrum? Then sit down, pour yourself a stiff one and listen to Pink Martini’s third and latest album called Hey Eugene! It’s sure to take you to that happy place.
From the sound of the harp introducing the first track titled “Everywhere” you feel as if you’re being transported over the rainbow and you’ll agree with the lyrics “your bliss is this.” From there you’re on an international journey with a light mix of musical styles from track two’s salsa flavored “Tempo Perdido” originally recorded by Carmen Miranda to the mysterious and soothing Japanese-language track “Taya Tan.” The title song was inspired when lead vocalist China Forbes was asked for her phone number by a guy she clicked with at a party, never to hear from him again.
Expanding on themes from their wildly popular debut album, Sympathique, Pink Martini has gone from performing well-known covers (like "Qué Será Será" and "Never on Sunday") to taking fresh variations on familiar tunes, recording mostly original songs in a variety of languages, like Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and English as they did with their fabulous follow-up Hang on Little Tomato. Hey Eugene! goes even further, combining many global pop genres, with PM describing themselves as using melodies from the “golden-era Hollywood… to the French cabaret”.
China Forbes is like a mixologist, deliciously pouring out vocals for the 12-piece ensemble, led by pianist Thomas Lauderdale, to create an appetizing mood that will accompany the cocktail of your choice and swirl you into a stress-free zone.

Live performance of “Hey Eugene!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vf4X6WKPtk