Postmodern Jukebox ft Von Smith - Shake It Off (Taylor Swift cover)

Buy this version on iTunes here
Pre-order the Postmodern Jukebox Christmas album here

Taylor Swift's ubiquitous anthem, Shake it Off, has lingered in the UK top ten for nigh on two months now with no sign of exiting politely anytime soon. You can't enter a Hollister without it blaring out at you while a ridiculously good looking fella in jeans and a half tucked in shirt enquires how your day is. Go into any gay club in the provinces of England at a weekend and you'll find gals and guys galore twerking, daggering and slut dropping to their heart's content to it's infectious rhythms and grooves. It's all getting a bit too much. So excuse me while I squeal with excitement at the prospect of the song being completely reinvented by the talented folk of Postmodern Jukebox, breathing new life into the catchy tune and making it fresh & exciting all over again. For those of you not in the know, Postmodern Jukebox are the invigorating brain child of jazz pianist Scott Bradlee who likes to take his modern pop obsessions back in time, recreating them in the styles of yesteryear. With Shake it Off they've re=envisaged the song as a Motown era classic and bought in the gloriously engaging pipes of one Mr. Von Smith, a chappy who certainly knows a thing or two about bringing his own sense of personality and style to the proceedings. It's all gloriously slick and deliciously evocative thanks to an effusive horn section, seductive bass, rollicking piano licks and those serendipitous backing vocals, dripping over the track like manna from heaven. Von Smith switches effortlessly from playful regret to gleeful celebration at his celebration, allowing the music to infuse every fibre of his being - it makes for fascinating viewing of the video (above) and ensures that the joy radiates from every note played, every word sung. For surely, this is a group collaboration with each person giving their all - let's not forget the playful shimmy of the fit dude on the tambourine or the compelling beats from the percussion. Everything is designed to layer the song as an all consuming wall of sound that makes you feel glad to be alive. It feels like you can absolutely play it alongside evergreen classics such as Superstition or Stop! In The Name of Love without it feeling forced or laboured. Absolutely essential purchase - and as a lover of all things festive, I'm uber excited to learn a Christmas set is forthcoming too. I'll be back to check that out as soon as it's released. In the meantime, you'll find me Shaking It Off Von Smith style in a tux, euphorically liberated by the score of the Postmodern Jukebox...

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Wrathschild, Angeles
20 ~ MAX, Shot of Pure Gold
19 ~ Walk The Moon, Shut Up And Dance (NE)
18 ~ Erasure, Elevation
17 ~ Bleachers, Rollercoaster
16 ~ Take That, These Days(NE)
15 ~ Auryn, Puppeteer
14 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, The Deer and The Hound
13 ~ McBusted, Air Guitar (NE)
12 ~ Satin Circus, Dreamgirl
11 ~ Jason Mraz, Hello You Beautiful Thing
10 ~ Mary Lambert, Secrets
09 ~ One Direction, Steal My Girl
08 ~ Marit Larsen, I Don't Want To Talk About It
07 ~ Taylor Swift, Shake It Off
06 ~ Olly Murs, Wrapped Up
05 ~ Kylie, Kiss Me Once
04 ~ Bright Light x2, Lust for Life
03 ~ GRL, Ugly Heart
02 ~ Maroon 5, Animals
01 ~ Auryn, Pillow Talk (2 weeks)