Lizzo appears in a new song but it’s probably not what you expected.
The singer, known for hits such as “Good as Hell” and “About Damn Time”, is featured playing the flute alongside Sir James Galway in a new version of the late Henry Mancini’s iconic film theme. Pink Panther”.
This song is part of a tribute album to the legendary composer marking his 100th birthday titled Henry Mancini’s 100th Session — Henry Has Companyreleased by Primary Wave Music on June 21.
“Pink Panter” follows the previous album preview track “Peter Gunn”, which featured Quincy Jones, John Williams, Herbie Hancock and Arturo Sandoval. That song has special significance for this writer, as it was the theme of a late ’50s television show starring Craig Steven, for whom I am named. The song was also a hit twice for Duane Eddy, a recently deceased Rock and Roll Hall of Famer – first his version in 1960 and then in 1986 with British duo Art of Noise .
Music by Peter Gunn also Mancini’s chart-topping album having spent 10 weeks at number 1 starting in February 1959. In an interview for Billboard book of number one albumsMancini explained the inspiration behind the song.
With much of the show originating from a jazz club called Mother’s, the main sound of the series is jazz, with the exception of the throbbing, rhythmic beat of the famous theme song. “I just feel that when you say ‘Peter Gunn,’ the name is very strong with an exclamation point,” Mancini said. “It never even occurred to me that it wasn’t jazz.”
Although RCA Victor financed the album, the company was not initially fully behind it. “They didn’t have much faith in it at all,” Mancini recalls. “They don’t know me from Adam.” In fact, RCA tried to get trumpeter/arranger Shorty Rogers, who was signed to the label, to join the project. “I went to lunch with Shorty and he said, ‘This is your music. I have no business coming here to record it. Why don’t you do it?’ And that’s what he told the people at RCA so I did it,” Mancini said.
Mancini will also have the honor of giving a special concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, marking the opening of the venue’s 2024 season on June 23. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Wilkins, will performing Mancini’s music with special guests Michael Bublé, Cynthia Erivo and Monica Mancini.
Meanwhile, Lizzo was recently parodied in an episode South Park. “My worst fear came true… I was mentioned in one South Park episode. I was very scared,” she said.
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