- The songs translate to these styles perfectly.
- When you think there's nothing new under the Sun, somebody's got an idea.
♪ You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty ♪ - Oh, sweet voice!
♪ You know I try to... ♪ - Well, never heard of this song.
- See, this is more old school, I don't know what it is.
- It's almost like a big band era, this type of music.
♪ 'Cause I just need one more shot... ♪
- Well this is a real different spin on his stuff.
♪ Oh, is it too late now to say sorry? ♪
- Hmm, those words sound familiar.
♪ I'm missing more than just your body ♪
- It sounds great. Vocals are great, groove's great.
♪ ...sorry? ♪
♪ 'Cause I know that I let you down ♪
♪ Is it too late to say I'm sorry now? ♪
- Well, that was great I like to dance, so I could dance to that.
Sounds like from the 40s, copying some style of some grooves.
- Beautiful song, is that a remake?
- I heard a singer singing this—the part where "I know I let you down." That part right there.
Another singer. I can't think of who it was.
- The challenge when you do a cover is to make it your own.
You've got to do something different with it. So to change the whole genre of it is a good way.
♪ Ever since I left the city you ♪
♪ You and me we just don't get along ♪
- Even the hairstyle from, like, the 20s.
- Now I like this, I really like this.
- I like the music more than the lyrics. You don't hear this kind of music anymore.
♪ You used to call me on my cell phone ♪ - Did she say cell phone?
- Oh, uh, Drake?
- Again, this is like old school. I can always relate to this.
♪ I know when that hotline bling ♪
- Yeah.
♪ That can only mean one thing ♪
- Those weren't cell phones. This woman's amazing!
- I like this a lot. It's really comforting.
- It got a rap song that they're jazzin' up. That is such a unique idea!
♪ I want your ugly, I want your disease ♪
- Oh, this one I know too.
- Oh, the Lady Gaga song.
- The songs translate to these styles perfectly.
♪ Love, love, love, I want your love ♪
- I like how she has her own little dance floor here.
♪ You know that I want you... ♪ - Oh, she's tapping, that's fabulous!
- Almost like Charleston time, like, like, 20s, 30s!
- It has a roaring 20s twist to it, old style.
♪ You and me could write a bad romance ♪
- This is the best.
- I like that tap dancer, that's pretty fancy.
♪ You and me could write a bad romance ♪
- Got the girl dancing... This is unique!
♪ Oh, caught in a bad romance ♪
- She's good! It goes well, really. I even like this better.
- This doesn't work as well. It keeps making me want to hear the original, though.
- It's familiar, but it's different. That's very intriguing.
- Oh, baby! On a trombone!
- Oh man, she blows a horn!
- Oh, now see I play the trombone!
♪ Some boys kiss me, some boys hug me ♪
♪ I think they're ok ♪
- That... is that Madonna?
- Oh, it's Material Girl!
♪ ...proper credit, I just... ♪
- I would pay to go see them.
♪ Because we live in a material world ♪
♪ And I'm a material girl ♪
- Now this is old school. I mean, this is older than me.
♪ And I'm a material girl ♪
- Oh! Madonna!
- I like Madonna's original. That's hard to beat.
- It's great! It really translates well. I would never have thought of doing anything like that.
- That was great. That was worth the look.
And she played the trombone. How about that? I thought people—I thought nobody played that anymore.
♪ It's close to midnight ♪
- Oh, I love him, he's a comedian.
- Oh, he's the guy on the game show guy.
♪ ...lurking in the dark ♪
- Oh, Wayne Brady? (laughs)
♪ ...moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops... ♪
- It's almost big band.
♪ Oh, this is thriller ♪
- (laughs) I didn't get that.
♪ ...thriller ♪ - Oh, yeah! Michael Jackson. (laughs)
♪ I could thrill you more than any ghoul would ever try ♪ - (laughs)
♪ This is thriller... ♪
- When you think there's nothing new under the Sun, somebody's got an idea.
♪ killer... ♪
- Where's your moonwalking, baby?
♪ Thriller, killer, chiller ♪
♪ I fulfill ya ♪
♪ Girl, I'll be your thriller tonight ♪
♪ Let me be your thriller, baby ♪
- This is a good one. This is a keeper.
- Wayne did a good job on that.
- Some I like better than others. I like that. That works.
- Sounds very different. If they didn't say the word "thriller," I wouldn't know.
(FBE) So before we get into some questions, part of the reason we decided to cover this group now is because
the founder, arranger, and pianist for the group, Scott Bradley, actually tweeted about this show.
- He tweeted about Elders React?
- Thank you, Scott!
(FBE) Here it is.
- (reading off of tweet) "To be honest, I'm not sure if 'Kids React to Postmodern Jukebox' or
'Elders React to Postmodern Jukebox' would be the better reaction video."
- I'd like to see the kids watch it, too. I bet that'd be fun.
But kids are used to so much more flash.
- I think it's a natural for the elders, but it would be an unusual reaction from the kids.
I think the kids would be more interesting because it's so foreign to what they're listening to.
- I don't think the kids now a day would listen to that kind of a tempo music.
- Now, Scott, of course it would be better with elders because we can relate to all these different styles.
- It's great for us 'cause we kind of remember that—I remember those jazzy clubs. I mean they're still around.
So I like that whole genre. So yeah, no, I think it's great for the elders.
(FBE) So those are all videos by Postmodern Jukebox.
- Well good for them. I like them.
- I think it's fresh.
Getting a song and changing it to a different genre is not new.
But, they've made it into a brand. That's what's new and different and fresh.
(FBE) The group is incredibly popular with millions of YouTube subscribers.
Nearly 1 billion views on YouTube and have released 19 albums.
- My goodness.
(FBE) What do you think about how there is still interest in this genre of music these days? Or where a group like this can be popular?
- I think good music. Well played, well sung. You're always gonna have a market for it.
- That new social media platform that would allow them to launch in a much greater audience.
And I think it's a good thing for them. And I think that we need that.
- Maybe they're already tired of hearing the same old music. At least this one, it combines the old to the modern.
- It brings styles of music to younger people.
Well, they might not reach for the old original styles, but they would listen to this.
- It's a fabulous idea. I think more entertainers should do that, actually.
Because old school stuff like that actually shouldn't go away. It shouldn't die.
(FBE) For many people, as they get older, it's common to kind of think that
music was better when they were younger and that modern music is too repetitive.
Do you think that for people in your generation, like who have these complaints about modern music and pop music,
that listening to Postmodern Jukebox would kind of change their opinions on these songs?
- Definitely. I think, you know, older folks would be more inclined probably to dig this
because of their background and having grown up with jazz.
- I absolutely think that's what each they've hit here. This is cross generational.
Take a popular song by a popular artist, you can put it in any decade.
- I don't listen to Justin Bieber, but I hear this group do it, then I have a new appreciation for it.
- I think it might. I have friends who think Lady Gaga is kind of way out there.
This kind of makes her more relatable for my generation.
- I don't think so. They would still stick to their belief. That's how elderly people are.
(FBE) So finally, Postmodern Jukebox also does tours and live performances. So as elders, which would you rather attend:
a live performance of some of the original artists that you saw them cover, or would you rather see Postmodern Jukebox?
- I think right now, I'd like to go see Postmodern Jukebox.
'Cause I like everything that they should invite me. (laughs)
- I would prefer Postmodern Jukebox.
- Well I'd go with Postmodern Jukebox.
I can relate to it because it's got some of my original thoughts in there, my original experiences.
- I like the Postmodern.
- I would rather see Postmodern Jukebox because I—they're more fun looking to me.
- I would like to see some of their stuff but I, you know...
It's hard to beat a Madonna concert or a Lady Gaga concert.
- I'd like to see this group.
- I'd rather see the original one. Like Michael Jackson, I'd rather watch Michael Jackson.
- I wanna see this group! Yeah, I would buy a ticket to their concert in a minute!
Hey Scott, I would like for you to choose a song that you want to make into a blues and let me come on and sing it.
- Thanks for watching this episode of Elders React!
- Shout out to Lillian Davis and Carol Howard for leaving comments in the first 30 minutes.
- Bye!
- Hey, what's up guys? Ethan here from FBE.
Thank you so much for watching this episode of Elders React
and if you want to check out more from Postmodern Jukebox be sure to subscribe to their channel.
Click the button right over there.
Bye guys!