Pink Martini got its start at political functions — not as the rallying war cry but as atmosphere.

"I was going to go into politics," said band leader Thomas Lauderdale, "and I would go to these political functions and participate in the music.

"I grew up loving the party sequences in films like 'La Dolce Vita' or 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' and that cozy, cha-cha, sexy, atmospheric, slightly Latin sound."

Mostly, he said, the band did benefits for public broadcasting, affordable housing, libraries and the environment.

The 14-member band does music in 12 languages, finding a common thread in musical styles from around the world. "It's like a 1940s Hollywood musical but with a global perspective. It sort of has the romance, sweep and lushness of an old-fashioned American musical."

Songs in all languages are very accessible, he said. "It's almost like a language lesson — except really upbeat and really friendly."

And as far as the politics go, Lauderdale jokes that the band has become "more a United Nations sort of model. It's really more about diplomacy and finding commonality as opposed to inciting riots."

Pink Martini's latest album, "Hey Eugene!" topped Amazon's best-sellers chart in May. The album, Lauderdale said, has taken on more of a pop sound than the first two releases.

In fact, he said the title song is probably the single most pop-style song that the band has ever released. "This album is more like a live show than the other two albums. It's a little livelier, peppier."

Naturally, the band maintains its signature sound and style, stretching the envelope in that direction with its first Arabic-language song, taken from an 1957 Egyptian film. "Especially right now in America, with the political climate, we thought it might be a good time to work on a song, which is actually a romantic song from the Middle East; actually Egypt is northern Africa.

"So we worked with a professor of Arabic at Portland State University on the pronunciation and the translation and the lyrics, and then recorded it. It's done really well."

When Pink Martini comes to Park City, it will be drawing from all three of its albums — plus material that has not yet been recorded.

He added that he's looking forward to returning. "Last time we were in Park City it was crazy. It was a great crowd, and I couldn't believe we sold out the hall."

If you go

What: Pink Martini

Where: Deer Valley Resort Amphitheater

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

How much: $28-$53

Phone: 435-655-3114

Web: www.deervalley.com or www.ecclescenter.org

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E-mail: rcline@desnews.com