Postmodern Jukebox - An Alternate History of of Pop Music

Postmodern Jukebox.com ^ | Scott Bradlee

[Hotlanta Mike]

I have long had a love/hate relationship with pop music.

Growing up as an aspiring jazz pianist, I wasn’t interested in listening to anything that might appeal to those that I deemed to possess a less than refined palette of musical taste. This willful ignorance continued for some time; it was not until I began making YouTube videos (and subsequently receiving requests for modern pop songs) that I decided to drop my preconceived notions and examine contemporary pop with an open mind.

What I found is that, despite my initial aversion to the stuff I was hearing, I was unable to truly categorize this as “bad music” without first defining a set of arbitrary, culturally-defined criteria. Furthermore, the fact that such a rigorous vetting process exists for the output of major labels indicated that these songs and artists certainly RESONATED with the culture of our times–no easy feat, in and of itself. As a relentless devil’s advocate, I then found that by simply altering the context of such songs, I could find quite a bit of artistic merit inside of them.

My goal with Postmodern Jukebox is to get my audience to think of songs not as rigid, ephemeral objects, but like malleable globs of silly putty. Songs can be twisted, shaped, and altered without losing their identities–just as we grow, age, and expire without losing ours–and it is through this exploration that the gap between “high” and “low” art can be bridged most readily.

I want to contribute to the pop music lexicon in the best way that I can.

I want to encourage others to push the boundaries of genres, and give them the tools to do so.

Together, I want to create an alternate universe of popular song.

-SCB

(aka ScottBradleeLovesYa on YouTube)

[Hotlanta Mike]

I found a number of his videos on youtube the other day taking pop music hits and changing them around to campy visual but interesting alternatives to the original. Watch all Postmodern Jukebox Videos at link or go to ScottBradleeLovesYa on youtube.

[Hotlanta Mike]

Web link

http://www.postmodernjukebox.com/watch-postmodern-jukebox-videos/

[x1stcav]

Awfully enlightened of him.

[Brother Cracker]

Burn - Vintage ‘60s Girl Group Ellie Goulding Cover with Flame-O-Phone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZY9_Xr5XPA#t=26

[ClearCase_guy]

I’ll shorten that to just “awful”.

[P-Marlowe]

Weird All has made a career out of this.

Most of his versions are way better than the originals; both in musical rendition and lyrics

[P-Marlowe]

Sometimes I just hate the self correction software on my phone.

[Henry Hnyellar]

He should consider stamp collecting.

[bramps]

Burn - Vintage ‘60s Girl Group Ellie Goulding Cover with Flame-O-Phone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZY9_Xr5XPA#t=26

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In the world of cool, you either get it or you don’t.

A simple test is what you think of this video. It’s fantastic. I’ve seen it many times (as well as others from this very entertaining band) after being alerted from a previous post.
Thanks.

[Misterioso]

Misuse of the term “postmodern.”

[Hotlanta Mike]

Wiggle - Vintage 1920s Broadway Jason Derulo / Snoop Dogg Cover

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDl9SDd1FJY

“Sweet Child O’ Mine” - New Orleans Style Guns N’ Roses Cover ft. Miche Braden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ3BAF_15yQ

Royals - (”Sad Clown With The Golden Voice” Version) - Lorde Cover

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmCJEehYtU

Timber - Vintage 1950’s Doo Wop Pitbull / Ke$ha Cover

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZQJrM09jbU#t=23

Blurred Lines - Vintage “Bluegrass Barn Dance” Robin Thicke Cover

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz-OMn1o22Y

Thrift Shop (Vintage “Grandpa Style” Macklemore Cover)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cnm0tdkJEU

It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World - Orchestral Funk James Brown Cover ft. Morgan James

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPimt0Zu_To

Call Me Maybe - Vintage Carly Rae Jepsen Cover [The Original Video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5meWI3iX1sE#t=10

We Can’t Stop - Vintage 1950’s Doo Wop Miley Cyrus Cover ft. The Tee - Tones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXYWDtXbBB0#t=31

[GBA]

the output of major labels indicated that these songs and artists certainly RESONATED with the culture of our times

Been thinking about this for a long time. Does music reflect the times or shape the times? Which comes first? Which is the mover and which is the shaker?

I think the music comes first. More specifically that sound comes first. For example, some say it all began with the Big Bang.

I think sound is a powerful "force" and can shape, arrange or even destroy matter's form, just as it can shape our thoughts and emotions.

The same is true for music and society. Therefore, look at the music first to determine the nature and health of a society. One leads to the other.

I think of the power of music and then of Nero fiddling while Rome burned, of the Sirens' song and those who followed it to ruin and death, of Clinton playing his sax on the Tonight show, of the goat god Pan and his flute and of the Pied Piper...and then I'm damn glad obama is a hack golfer and NOT a musician!

[wbill]

Have you seen Al's video for "Word Crimes"?

Genius at work.

[Rodamala]

The Mike Flowers Pops - Wonderwall

[MV=PY]

Thanks! They’re fun.

[bigbob]

Very Cool! Although I think it took him about half the song to the the amazing Flame-O-Phone working right ;-)

Should have suspected something was up when I saw the fire extinguisher on the piano...

[Brother Cracker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I

[dmz]

Yawn.

Richard Thompson did a tour a number of years ago called 1000 Years of Popular Music.

HIs solo acoustic version of Britney Spears ‘oops i did it again’ amply demonstrates that is often the singer not the song (both positive and negative).