Mikey Wax - All About That SHAKE

Download All About That SHAKE on iTunes here

He's a canny lad is our Mikey Wax. He knows a thing or two about composing his own effusive pop songs (see Counting On You and - as is nearly the season - And A Happy New Year) yet is equally comfortable in deconstructing the work of others to rebuild it in his own ebullient style. This time out he's taken two of the year's ubiquitous radio and dancefloor smashes (Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass and Taylor Swift's Shake It Off), tossed them in the air, skilfully blended the remains together and created them again as one monstrously good song. Thanks to what seems an effortlessly simple arrangement (though listen carefully and there's a complexity within creating the simplicity), the guitar strumming and buoyant percussion accentuate the doo-wop influences of the originals making it feel like it was meant for Motown all along. Mikey ensures that the song has an inherent joy to it - something that is all too often missing from today's pop music, that glee that comes from doing what you love. He's ably accompanied by his instrumentalists who provide some sweet harmonies and textured vocals, adding an endearing charm to the track that's all too hard to resist. And Mr Wax's vocals are a smooth engaging delight, wrapping themselves deliriously around the mellifluous melody & bringing a nuanced amusement to the proceedings. Add in a genuinely watchable video that's saturated with personality and it's a win for anyone who wisely takes the time to listen to this re-imagining. Oh and anytime that dude with dice around his neck wants to take his top off is A-OK by me ;)

(You'll want to be sure to check out Mikey's piano vocal version of Taylor's Welcome To New York - it showcases a more sensitive side of the likeable lad and I'm a sucker for a bloke playing piano. It's a highlight of many highlights on Taylor's 1989 album but once again - much like Shake It Off - it feels natural and cared for in Mikey's capable hands. Just lovely).