{"id":9847,"date":"2019-05-24T18:14:09","date_gmt":"2019-05-25T00:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jasonbennion.com\/?p=9847"},"modified":"2019-05-24T18:14:09","modified_gmt":"2019-05-25T00:14:09","slug":"friday-evening-videos-kristina-orchestral-version","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jasonbennion.com\/index.php\/2019\/05\/24\/friday-evening-videos-kristina-orchestral-version\/","title":{"rendered":"Friday Evening Videos: “Kristina” (Orchestral Version)"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, my main man Rick Springfield has a new album out that I’ve really been enjoying for the past couple weeks. It’s called Orchestrating My Life<\/em>, a collection of 10 hits, two beloved album cuts, and a new song Rick wrote when his mom passed away, all of them recorded with a symphony orchestra accompanying Rick’s band. The cynical might sniff that the symphony thing is just a gimmicky way to repackage the same old tunes, but I’m finding that the symphonic accompaniment lends a great deal of depth and freshness to some very familiar material.<\/p>\n

Consider “Kristina,” for example, a cut from his 1982 album Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet<\/em>. Although it was never released as a single, it’s become a fan favorite over the years and is always a highlight of Rick’s live performances. It’s one of my personal favorites as well, with its infectious guitar hook, a throbbing bass line that encourages you to nod your head and pump your fist, and lyrics that play with two of my favorite subjects, cars and sex. As much as I love it, though, it’s… well, it’s familiar. Adding the symphony takes a straight-ahead rocker of which I know every note and fills it with sheer unadulterated joy<\/em>. This version of the song is just plain fun to listen to.<\/p>\n

Turn it up loud, kids, and have a great holiday weekend…<\/p>\n

(The original recording is here<\/a>, if you want to compare.)<\/p>\n