Episode 653

Written By Ashley Park

Emily Nussbaum and Pink Martini

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Emily Nussbaum (The New Yorker) unpacks her book Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV, which explores our obsession and distaste for what she calls "dirty documentary;" pianist Thomas Lauderdale and vocalist China Forbes of Pink Martini chat about their 30-year journey with the genre-bending musical group, before performing "Una Notte a Napoli" from their album Hang on Little Tomato. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello hear from our audience members about an imaginary reality TV show they'd like to see.

 

Emily Nussbaum

Author and Television Critic

Emily Nussbaum is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she’s worked since 2011, originally as the magazine’s television critic. In 2016, she won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism. Previously, she was the culture editor for New York, where she created the Approval Matrix. She is the author of I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution, which was a finalist for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Clive Thompson, and their two children. Website • Instagram

 
 

Pink Martini

Portland's "Little Orchestra" and International Musical Sensations

Now in its 30th year, the "little orchestra" Pink Martini was founded by Thomas Lauderdale in Portland, Oregon in 1994. Drawing inspiration from around the globe and crossing genres like classical, jazz and vintage pop, their breakthrough 1997 hit "Sympathique" became an overnight sensation in France. Featuring a dozen multilingual musicians and songs in 25 languages, they've performed worldwide with more than 70 orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London. Notable appearances include The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. On their indie label Heinz Records, Pink Martini has released nine studio albums selling over 3 million copies globally. The genre-defying band's unique sound transcends generations and cultures, blending global musical influences with a modern, exuberant spirit. Website • Instagram

 
 

Show Notes

Best News

Emily Nussbaum

Pink Martini

  • While explaining how he started Pink Martini, Thomas Lauderdale mentions the 1994 Oregon Ballot Measure 19, the Oregon Citizens Alliance, Pee-Wee Herman’s Christmas Special (Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse), and doing a series of concerts with the Del Rubio triplets.

  • More information about Pink Martini can be found on their website: pinkmartini.com/about

  • Thomas also mentions Mammoth Records, his admiration for the band Squirrel Nut Zippers, and how the label was ultimately sold to Disney in 1997.

  • Pink Martini has performed and collaborated with Iranian singer Googoosh, who Thomas Lauderdale calls the “Taylor Swift” of Iran during the 1970s.

  • Speaking of collaborations, China Forbes tells us how the band serendipitously encountered Henri Salvador in the streets of Paris, France, as he stepped out of a cab they had hailed while looking for cigarettes for Thomas. They all later went on to perform at the Hollywood Bowl together in 2007.

  • The song performed by Pink Martini in this episode is called “Una Notte A Napoli,” which they wrote with Italian actress and songwriter Alba Clemente and DJ Johnny Dynell. Lyrics can be found here.

Station Location Identification Examination (SLIE)

  • This week’s station shoutout goes to KIDS-FM 88.1 in Grants, New Mexico.

  • Fun facts about the city were found here, including a reference to the Louis L’Amour novel, Flint.

 

  • The transcript is still being generated. Please check back later.

Ashley Park
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Episode 652