Pink Martini and the von Trapps cover ABBA

The hills are alive with the sound of 'Fernando.'

Get a taste of the forthcoming album from Pink Martini and the von Trapps with their cover of Fernando, premiering at USA TODAY.
The version of ABBA's 1976 hit appears on Dream a Little Dream, our March 4 on Heinz Records. The album is a collaboration between the eclectic Portland, Ore., ensemble and the great-grandchildren of Capt. Georg and Maria von Trapp, the inspiration for The Sound of Music.
Dream a Little Dream features two tunes from the musical, The Lonely Goatherd and Edelweiss, along with guest appearances from Wayne Newton, The Chieftains, Jack Hanna and Charmian Carr, who played Liesl in the original film version of The Sound of Music.
"We are always on the search for upbeat party songs," says Amanda von Trapp says of Fernando. "This piece did not begin as a party but it certainly turned into one as we started including more and more instruments. The song went through quite a metamorphosis from when we first heard ABBA's original Swedish version to what it is now. It is so beautiful in Swedish, and it was one of the most difficult languages we ever had to learn for a song."
The von Trapps, who range in age from 19 to 25, met Pink Martini's Thomas Lauderdale two years ago at a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony and have since moved to Portland. The two groups will tour together for a month beginning Feb. 28 in Lexington, Ky.

Follow this link to hear 'Fernando':

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/02/19/pink-martini-von-trapps-abba-cover/5602461/