Here it is, folks – the 2015 Postmodern Jukebox Holiday Video: “Last Christmas,” Andrews Sisters-style, featuring (l to r) Sara Niemietz, Cristina Gatti, Ariana Savalas, and tap dancer Melinda Sullivan. Watch here:
You can get the MP3 on iTunes by clicking here – just in time for that holiday playlist:)
If it looks like we had fun making this video (which we filmed just yesterday; I edited it on a plane today), your perception is correct. “Last Christmas” is a quintessentially ‘80s Christmas song, so taking it back to a less synthesized era opened up a ton of possibilities for rearrangement. Ultimately, I decided to feature some of our talented ladies of PMJ in an Andrews Sisters-inspired vocal trio, with a surprise tap dance solo for some added holiday magic.
Cristina, Ariana, and Sara all have rich, colorful voices that lend themselves so well to these kind of vintage remakes, as well as having a great onstage chemistry (Ariana and Cristina are even roommates). Although we didn’t have much time to rehearse, all three of them were quick to learn the arrangement, and Ariana – a massive Andrews Sisters fan – came up with a few of the vocal harmonies, as well.
As you can see, I played up the “sister” dynamic between the vocalists and Melinda a bit in this video. Melinda, who can also be seen in the PMJ remake of “Umbrella,” showed her acting chops by mastering the facial expressions of a sulking little sister, jealous of her older siblings that are constantly in the spotlight. Thanks to a bit of holiday kindness on the part of clarinetist Jacob Scesney, it becomes a “Cinderella” story by the video’s end.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Postmodern Jukebox! In all its forms, family is such a big part of the holiday season, and we want you all to know that we consider you family, too. After all, by watching our videos / telling your friends about us / coming to our live shows / sharing your creativity with us, you’ve helped Postmodern Jukebox grow from a few musicians jamming in a basement in Astoria, NY, to a diverse community of performers packing venues all over the world. We are so grateful for your support of #RealMusic, and excited to see what 2016 has store for the modern vintage universe that is Postmodern Jukebox.
Peace and Love,
Scott
@scottbradlee
P.s. You can get last Christmas’ (see what I did there?) “A Very Postmodern Christmas” on iTunes here.
P.p.s. You can get my solo piano Xmas album, “(It’s Beginning To Look) A Scott Like Christmas” here.