Arlene & The Vantastix might sound like a new group, but it’s actually Dick Van Dyke’s barbershop quartet. The name is a play on his last name, and the group was formed back in 2000.
Dick Van Dyke, known for decades in the US from movies, TV, and stage, is joined by his wife Arlene Silver in their latest video. People outside the US mostly know him from his film work, but he’s been everywhere for over 65 years.
Van Dyke and Silver met in 2006 when she was working as a makeup artist at the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards. He later hired her again for work, but their relationship didn’t turn romantic until after his second wife passed away.
They’ve always shared a love of music and dancing, and that really shows in the video. It’s playful and fun, and you can tell they’re enjoying themselves.
The song they perform is “Everybody Loves a Lover”, written by Richard Adler and Robert Allen, originally recorded by Doris Day. While the 1962 version by The Shirelles is more widely copied, Arlene and the group go with the Doris Day original.
The arrangement opens with a light groove, and Arlene comes in sounding energetic and sharp. It’s a solid performance that holds its own.
But the real shift comes about 36 seconds in, when a deeper voice starts scatting in the background. That’s Dick Van Dyke, and his voice still has that same warmth and style fans remember.
Soon after, he sings a full verse, and then the Vantastix jump in with harmonies. Trumpeter Tony Guerrero enters too, rounding it out.
Van Dyke’s voice brings a lot of nostalgia to the performance, and at 97 years old, it’s honestly impressive how strong he sounds. The whole thing feels like a celebration more than a performance.
