# I just discovered Postmodern Jukebox **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012 "2016-05-17T17:41:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/1 "2016-05-17T17:41:33Z")
They cover modern pop music in early 20th century styles like swing and jazz. The artists vary so it’s not really a band. It’s more like a production company I suppose. I really like them. Some examples that I like: Mad World: [Mad World - Vintage Vaudeville - Style Cover ft. Puddles Pity Party & Haley Reinhart - YouTube](https://youtu.be/aVevvbFNKiY) Royals: [Royals - ("Sad Clown With The Golden Voice") - Postmodern Jukebox Lorde Cover ft. Puddles Pity Party - YouTube](https://youtu.be/VBmCJEehYtU) Seven Nation Army: [Seven Nation Army - Vintage New Orleans Dirge White Stripes Cover ft. Haley Reinhart - YouTube](https://youtu.be/sB6HY8r983c) Creep: [Creep - Vintage Postmodern Jukebox Radiohead Cover ft. Haley Reinhart - YouTube](https://youtu.be/m3lF2qEA2cw) > **[Postmodern Jukebox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodern_Jukebox)** > > Postmodern Jukebox, originally known as Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, is a rotating musical collective founded by New York based pianist Scott Bradlee in 2011. Postmodern Jukebox is known for reworking popular modern music into different vintage genres, especially early 20th century forms such as swing and jazz. They have toured North America, Europe, and Australia; often simultaneously due to the extensive discography and the numerous artists and performers involved in the project. Postmod... ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/2 "2016-05-17T17:48:58Z")
I’ve enjoyed these too for a while – my favorite is “Royals”, sung by the giant clown. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/3 "2016-05-17T17:59:58Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’ve enjoyed these too for a while – my favorite is “Royals”, sung by the giant clown. I like that one but, of those I’ve seen so far, my favorite is Mad World. I love the showmanship. I like the way Haley appears on stage and the difference in their sizes is striking. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/4 "2016-05-17T17:59:59Z")
They’re currently on an International tour. I think it’s their third. The Christmas album was good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/5 "2016-05-17T18:00:22Z")
They’ve done a couple Kesha songs pretty well (Die Young and Timber). ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/6 "2016-05-17T18:01:29Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > They cover modern pop music in early 20th century styles like swing and jazz. How does the clown getup fit into that? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/7 "2016-05-17T18:08:12Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > How does the clown getup fit into that? That’s Puddles from “Puddles Pity Party”. [http://www.puddlespityparty.com/](http://www.puddlespityparty.com/) That’s apparently his shtick. PMJ has rotating vocalists and he’s one of them and I guess he wanted to maintain his persona. It doesn’t really fit the format but I think it somehow adds something to it by it’s weirdness. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/8 "2016-05-17T18:26:59Z")
Blurred Lines [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz-OMn1o22Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz-OMn1o22Y) works surprisingly well as a bluegrass tune. “You’re the hottest gal in this barn”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/9 "2016-05-19T07:34:57Z")
My wife and I caught them life when they came through the Atlanta area. They put up a great live show. Subscribe to their youtube channel. I think they were coming out with a new song cover every week. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/10 "2016-05-19T09:55:35Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > That’s Puddles from “Puddles Pity Party”. > [http://www.puddlespityparty.com/](http://www.puddlespityparty.com/) > > That’s apparently his shtick. PMJ has rotating vocalists and he’s one of them and I guess he wanted to maintain his persona. It doesn’t really fit the format but I think it somehow adds something to it by it’s weirdness. We saw Puddles live about a month ago. Incredible voice and excellent clowning, with audience participation. I was invited on stage for the Invocation of Kevin. ---
**Author:** ![cwniles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@cwniles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwniles)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/11 "2016-05-19T12:12:06Z")
There is a pretty cool internet radio station that features almost exclusively Postmodern Jukebox stuff mixed with some other interesting stuff like Zaz. It’s a stagnant station with a playlist that repeats and the announcements are circa 2012 if I remember correctly but still, it’s an easily accessible source of content. I access it through the Internet Radio app on my home stereo so I don’t have a specific location but it’s called “Radio Prahova - RPH Vintage Lounge” and should be available via a wide variety of devices/apps/services. ---
**Author:** ![Arizona\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Arizona\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arizona_Mike)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/12 "2016-05-19T14:52:35Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > That’s Puddles from “Puddles Pity Party”. > [http://www.puddlespityparty.com/](http://www.puddlespityparty.com/) > > That’s apparently his shtick. PMJ has rotating vocalists and he’s one of them and I guess he wanted to maintain his persona. It doesn’t really fit the format but I think it somehow adds something to it by it’s weirdness. Really good voice on Puddles. And that’s coming from someone with a clown phobia. His “Royals” cover is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/13 "2016-05-19T15:09:37Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > We saw Puddles live about a month ago. Incredible voice and excellent clowning, with audience participation. > > I was invited on stage for the Invocation of Kevin. So he does an actual clown act in addition to singing? Interesting. I applaud his creativity. Was that invocation for Kevin Costner? [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04vfHbt42Gs) ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/14 "2016-05-20T02:25:57Z")
I found PMJ after playing _Bioshock Infinite_. They’re a bit hit or miss–which I think is inevitable when you do such a variety of music–but when they hit, they really hit. They’re consistently worth a listen, even if they’re doing a song you don’t much care for. I think my favorite is the [Sweet Child O’ Mine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ3BAF_15yQ) cover with Miche Brady, a diva in the best possible sense of the word. And yes, Puddles has a glorious voice. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/15 "2016-05-20T03:37:15Z")
Puddles has his own thing, its worth checking him out on youtube as he has a quite a few videos of him dropping in on an open mic night or some such and just crushing whatever song hes singing ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/16 "2016-05-20T09:52:03Z")
[quote=“davidm, post:13, topic:755012”] So he does an actual clown act in addition to singing? Interesting. I applaud his creativity. Was that invocation for Kevin Costner? [/QUOTE] Yes. I haven’t found much of his clowning on line so I was pleasantly surprised at his pantomime skills. I must have done the invocation wrong the first time because I summoned Kevin Bacon, but Puddles gave me a second chance and Costner appeared. Puddles then sang"We Don’t Need Another Hero" while scenes from Waterworld played. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/17 "2016-05-20T11:35:02Z")
Goodness! Haley Reinhart has got the voice of an angel! She reminds me of Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/18 "2016-05-20T23:58:41Z")
I love the PMJ version of [“My Heart Will Go On”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyiWQ3l66Nk). And Puddles Pity Party has an interesting take on [that song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ5yyw8xKh8) as well. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/19 "2016-05-21T02:20:24Z")
For anyone who likes Talking Heads, I thought this one transcended well-done novelty status about halfway through. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6qWJPglDkB0/maxresdefault.jpg "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) - Vintage 1940s Swing Talking Heads Cover ft. Sara Niemietz") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qWJPglDkB0) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-postmodern-jukebox/755012/20 "2016-05-28T21:10:41Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > That’s Puddles from “Puddles Pity Party”. > [http://www.puddlespityparty.com/](http://www.puddlespityparty.com/) > > That’s apparently his shtick. PMJ has rotating vocalists and he’s one of them and I guess he wanted to maintain his persona. It doesn’t really fit the format but I think it somehow adds something to it by it’s weirdness. And now I’VE discovered Postmodern Jukebox. Thanks. So far, ROYALS by Puddles is my favorite. Quite the voice, and quite the character, literally.