- [Jake] My name's Jake.

Making music with the Chardon Polka Band is my job.

You never know what's gonna happen next.

You never know who you might run into because this is "The World According to Polka."

(staccato tuba music) (van swooshing) (tires squealing) On today's episode of "The World According to Polka," we're going to be conducting some experimentation.

Specifically we're going to take a look at mixtures.

When you combine different elements to create something new, when you create a mixture, the results can be exciting and different, and that is called a chemical reaction.

Chemical reactions can be explosive, they can be fizzy, they can be fun, and most importantly for our show today, they can be musical.

Yes, we are creating musical mixtures with the help of some of our musical friends, combining different styles and genres to see what gets created.

And our opening number comes to us from the Chardon Polka Band, combining elements of hair metal with Slovenia style polka.

(lively polka music) ♪ We've got the right to choose ♪ ♪ And there ain't no way we'll lose it ♪ ♪ This is our life, this is our song ♪ ♪ We'll fight the powers that be just ♪ ♪ Don't pick our destiny 'cause ♪ ♪ You don't know us, you don't belong ♪ ♪ We're not gonna take it ♪ No, we're not gonna take it ♪ We're not gonna take it anymore ♪ ♪ Not no more ♪ We're not gonna take it ♪ No, we're not gonna take it ♪ We're not gonna take it anymore ♪ - [Jake] Buze-Cam!

(lively polka music continues) ♪ Oh, you're so condescending ♪ That gall is never ending ♪ We don't want nothing, not a thing from you ♪ ♪ Your life is trite and jaded, boring and confiscated ♪ ♪ If that's your best, it won't do ♪ ♪ Just not gonna take it (lively polka music) ♪ We're not gonna take it ♪ No, we're not gonna take it ♪ We're not gonna take it anymore ♪ ♪ We're not gonna take it ♪ No, we're not gonna take it ♪ We're not gonna take it anymore ♪ - We're just not gonna take it!

♪ We're not gonna take it ♪ No, we're not gonna take it ♪ We're not gonna take it anymore ♪ ♪ We're not gonna take it ♪ No, we're not gonna take it ♪ We're not gonna take it anymore ♪ (music ends) - We hope you enjoyed that musical amalgamation as we mixed up Twisted Sister's rebel anthem with a little polka pizazz and instrumentation.

But now the Chardon Polka Band is gonna take a backseat and we're gonna zero in on another musical entourage creating musical mixtures of their own.

They're called Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.

♪ I'm giving you everything ♪ All that joy can bring ♪ This I swear ♪ Last time that we had this conversation ♪ ♪ I decided we should be friends ♪ ♪ You know what I mean ♪ But now we are going round in circles ♪ ♪ Tell me, will this deja vu never end ♪ ♪ Now you tell me that you've fallen in love ♪ ♪ Well, I never ever thought that would be ♪ ♪ Who knew, not me ♪ This time you gotta take it easy ♪ ♪ Throwing far too much emotions at me ♪ ♪ But any fool can see they're falling ♪ ♪ I gotta make you understand ♪ Make you understand ♪ I'm giving you everything ♪ All that joy can bring ♪ This I swear ♪ And all that I want from you ♪ Is a promise you will be there, yeah ♪ ♪ I want you (lively music) - [Audience] Whoo!

(singer scatting) ♪ 'Cause any fool can see they're falling ♪ ♪ I gotta make you understand ♪ Oh, this I swear ♪ Just promise you'll always be there ♪ ♪ I'm giving you everything ♪ All that joy can bring ♪ I swear (singer scatting) ♪ All that I want from you ♪ Is a promise that you'll be there ♪ ♪ Oh, my darling ♪ Say you'll be there (audience applauding) - Whoa, now, anyone who knows me knows me, knows that I am a huge Lawrence Welk fan and I couldn't help but feel like I was watching a rerun of the "Welk Show" during that number.

Postmodern Jukebox took a 1990s hit from the Spice Girls and mixed it up with some 1950s vocal stylings reminiscent of the lovely Lennon Sisters.

And we're gonna hear more of their musical mixtures in a moment, but first, we've got Bobby Buze-Cam standing by for another segment that I think will make a lot of sense in this program about musical mixtures.

I'm sure you guys all know the old polka hit the "Beer Barrel Polka," you know, ♪ Roll out the barrel ♪ We'll have a barrel of fun - That one.

It's a great song.

It's a classic polka, but Bobby Buze-Cam's gonna take it and he's gonna make it a little more classical than polka.

Now, speaking of a barrel of fun, I'm quite thirsty, so if you do not mind... (musician gasping) - Hey, Jake.

I'm live here at Peppermint Studios with the baby grand piano at my disposal, so what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna take the classic polka song, "Roll Out the Barrel," and I'm gonna transform it into a Mozart sonata-type approach.

(gentle piano music) - Buze-Cam is keeping it classical and we're gonna keep it classic with Postmodern Jukebox.

And what could be more classic than Michael Jackson's 1983 hit "Thriller," brought to life and infused with some soulful jazz from the 1930s.

Hey, check this out.

♪ Hi-De-Hi-De-Ho ♪ Hi-De-Hi-De-Ho ♪ Hi-De-Hi-De-Hi-De-Hey ♪ Hi-De-Hi-De-Hi-De-Hey ♪ Hey, hey, hey, yeah ♪ Hey, hey, hey, yeah ♪ Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah (audience cheering) ("Thriller") (upbeat music) - I'm gonna tell ya, I'm not like all those other fellas.

Allow me to explain.

♪ It's close to midnight ♪ Something evil's lurking in the dark ♪ ♪ Under the moonlight ♪ You see a sight that almost stops your heart ♪ ♪ You try to scream ♪ But terror takes the sound before you make it ♪ ♪ You start to freeze ♪ As horror looks you right between the eyes ♪ ♪ You're paralyzed ♪ 'Cause this is thriller, thriller night ♪ ♪ And nothing's gonna save you ♪ From the beast about to strike ♪ ♪ You know it's thriller, thriller night ♪ ♪ You're fighting for your life ♪ ♪ Inside a killer, thriller tonight ♪ Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for (audience applauding drowns out speaker), Miss Demi Remick.

(audience cheering) ♪ You hear the door slam ♪ And realize there's nowhere left to run ♪ ♪ You feel the cold hand ♪ And wonder if you'll ever see the sun ♪ ♪ You close your eyes ♪ And hope that this is just imagination ♪ ♪ But all the while ♪ You hear a creature creeping up behind ♪ ♪ You're out of time ♪ 'Cause this is thriller, thriller night ♪ ♪ And nothing's gonna save you ♪ From the ghoul about to strike ♪ ♪ You know it's thriller, thriller night ♪ ♪ You're fighting for your life ♪ ♪ Inside a killer, thriller tonight ♪ ♪ Night creatures call ♪ And the dead start to walk in their masquerade ♪ ♪ There's no escaping the jaws of the alien tonight ♪ ♪ They're open wide ♪ This is the end of your life, oh ♪ (upbeat music) (audience cheering) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) ♪ Thriller, thriller night ♪ Oh, let me thrill me more ♪ Than any ghoul could ever try ♪ ♪ You know a thriller, thriller night ♪ ♪ So let me hold you tight ♪ And share a thriller, killer ♪ Killer, thriller, chiller ♪ Let me be your thriller tonight ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) - Scott Bradlee started making Postmodern Jukebox videos for YouTube in 2011, and from his work caught the ears of millions.

Scott Bradlee's vintage arrangements and vision are the backbone of this collection of musicians.

Not only did we get to catch one of their musical performances, we got to sit down with one of the band's stars and learn more about their unique blend of genres that create their own dynamic musical mixtures.

(bubbles gurgling) So we are here to watch Postmodern Jukebox tonight and I am here with Demi Remick.

- That's correct, yes.

- And what do you do with Postmodern Jukebox?

- I am the tap dancer with the band.

- You tap dance.

- Yeah, I take tap dance solos up to like 10 minutes in the show.

- That is intense.

All right, so for our viewers, what is Postmodern Jukebox?

- Postmodern Jukebox is a rotating collective of artists, singers, musicians, founded by Scott Bradlee.

We take new music and we put it in early 20th century styles like swing and jazz.

- Oh my goodness.

- Super nostalgic and fun.

We're kind of every age in our audience, so it's fun to see people react 'cause we hit kind of everyone's favorites, all the classics, yeah.

- So when you guys are taking a song back in time, you're doing that musically, but you're also doing that with the look, I mean we're looking at the stage here and it looks very vintage.

How do you guys bring that in?

How do you guys think about it?

- It's really collaborative, which is super fun and preferred, but we do have costume people.

They put stuff together for us to look and it'll be, whether it's a '20s look, '50s, '60s, I mean, we always open with like huge feather fans and like kind of like dapper like suit and tie looks, but we can go anywhere from like a '70s look to a rock look.

A lot of the singers can provide huge costumes if they have things they're willing to bring on tour and show off.

- [Jake] It's spectacle and music.

- [Demi] I'm a show girl and I'm gonna put on a show.

- I love it.

- The hair, the makeup, the costume, it's all part of it for me.

The people didn't come to see someone that looks normal day to day.

They came to see something spectacular and escapism.

That's what they want, especially with our show.

- All right, so we've got you here this evening and I see you have the shoes.

- Yeah, I happen to have the shoes on, the tap shoes.

- And you have the outfit.

I also have an outfit, and I brought my good friend Bobby Buze-Cam over there.

He has an outfit and his accordion.

Do you think that we could humbly, humbly request that you tap while we play the accordion?

- Let's do it.

- Musical history.

- It's happening today.

(lively accordion music) (tap shoes tapping) (lively accordion music) (tap shoes tapping) (lively accordion music) (tap shoes tapping) (lively accordion music) (tap shoes tapping) (lively accordion music) (tap shoes tapping) (lively accordion music) (tap shoes tapping) (accordion music stops) (scene swooshing) - What do you think it is about like this older style of music that draws people in?

- I think all around the world, all around the country, people really like it because it's nostalgic, family-friendly, so all ages can love it.

We're a comedy show, a variety show.

Some of it's improvised, so if you come over and over, it's gonna be different every time.

- Fantastic.

- We're a musical circus.

Yeah.

- A musical circus.

That's the kind of thing we like on our program.

- Yeah, that's what I like to be a part of.

- This has been literally a dream come true to hang out with you tonight.

You have graced us with your time and your experiences- - Love it.

- So thank you.

- Thank you.

- Thank you so much.

- I had a great time.

- Ladies and gentlemen, check out Demi with the Postmodern Jukebox.

- Check me out.

(laughing) - Demi used the phrase "musical circus," and that's definitely a concept we might know a little bit about.

Let's return to our own circus, the Chardon Polka Band for another musical mixture, blending a Meghan Trainor pop tune with a little bit of our own polka charm.

♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, no treble ♪ ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, no treble ♪ ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, no treble ♪ ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass ♪ ♪ My mama she told me don't worry about your size ♪ ♪ She says boys like a little more booty to hold at night ♪ ♪ I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll ♪ ♪ If that's what you're after ♪ Then go ahead and move along ♪ I said I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, no treble ♪ ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, no treble ♪ ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, no treble ♪ ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, hey ♪ (lively polka music) (lively polka music continues) (lively polka music continues) (lively polka music continues) ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, no treble ♪ ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, no treble ♪ ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass, no treble ♪ ♪ I'm all about the bass, 'bout the bass ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) - You never know what you're gonna get on this show because polka music has no boundaries.

But you do know one thing.

We're always gonna light it up and let her rip.

And speaking of which, here's another arrangement from Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.

They're transforming a synth pop song with a little classic doo-wop.

♪ We, we don't have to worry about nothing ♪ ♪ 'Cause we got the fire ♪ And we're burning one hell of a something, yes ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh they ♪ They all gonna see us from outer space ♪ ♪ Outer space, light it up ♪ Like we are the stars of the human race, human race ♪ ♪ When the light started out ♪ They don't know what they heard ♪ ♪ Strike the match, play it loud ♪ ♪ Giving love to the world ♪ We'll be raising our hands ♪ Shining up to the sky ♪ 'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire ♪ ♪ Yeah we got the fire, fire, fire ♪ (jazzy upbeat music) (jazzy upbeat music) (audience cheering) - Give it up for (indistinct).

(audience applauding) ♪ We can light it up, up, up ♪ So they can't put it out, out, out ♪ ♪ We need to light it up, up, up ♪ ♪ So they can never put it out, out, out ♪ ♪ We can light it up, up, up ♪ So they can't put it out, out, out ♪ ♪ We can light it up, up, up ♪ So they can't put it out ♪ When the light started out ♪ They don't know what they heard ♪ ♪ Strike the match, play it loud ♪ ♪ Giving love to the world ♪ We'll be raising our hands ♪ Shining up to the sky ♪ When the light started out ♪ We don't know what we heard ♪ Strike the match, play it loud ♪ ♪ Giving love to the world ♪ We'll be raising our hands ♪ Shining up to the sky ♪ 'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire ♪ ♪ Yeah we got the fire, fire (audience applauding and cheering) - Friends and neighbors, we truly hope that you've enjoyed the musical experimentation going on on tonight's program.

And we have been thrilled to showcase the talents and tunes of Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.

Their musical mixtures blend styles, eras, and genres to create something unique and special.

We hope you check them out for yourselves.

Now I know the show hasn't strictly focused on polka, and you know what?

That's all right because it's all an experiment, and when you experiment, you get to discover new things because whether it's ragtime, jazz, country, or even polka, music can cause some of the greatest chemical reactions you'll ever experience.

(liquid bubbling) - Live music has an amazing ability to unite people from all walks of life and remind us of our common humanity, through our struggles, our triumphs, and everything else in between.

I'd love to think that it's always been that way.

When the going gets tough, live music is a sound that can help heal our wounds and allow us to catch a glimpse of a brand new tomorrow.

♪ I have climbed the highest mountains ♪ ♪ I have run through the fields ♪ ♪ Only to be with you ♪ Only to be with ♪ I have run, I have crawled ♪ I have scaled these city walls ♪ ♪ These city walls ♪ Only to be with you ♪ But I still haven't found what I'm looking for ♪ ♪ I'm looking for ♪ I'm looking for ♪ No, I still haven't found what I'm looking for ♪ ♪ What I'm looking for - What about the rest?

♪ I have kissed honey lips ♪ Felt the healing of her fingertips ♪ ♪ It burned like fire ♪ This burning desire ♪ I have spoke with the tongue of angels ♪ ♪ I have held the hand of the devil ♪ ♪ It was warm in the night ♪ I was cold as a stone ♪ But I still haven't found what I'm looking for ♪ ♪ What I'm looking for ♪ What I'm looking for ♪ But I still haven't found what I'm looking for ♪ - Erie, make some noise.

(crowd cheering) (upbeat jazzy music) (upbeat jazzy music continues) ♪ I believe in Kingdom Come ♪ Then all the colors will bleed into one ♪ ♪ Bleed into one ♪ Oh, yes, I'm still running ♪ You broke those bonds ♪ You loosed those chains ♪ Carried the cross of my shame ♪ ♪ But I still haven't found ♪ But I still haven't found ♪ But I still (audience cheering and applauding) ♪ Haven't found [audience member] What I'm looking for (audience laughing and cheering) - Thank you so much for helping me with my solo.

(audience laughing) ♪ What I'm looking for (audience cheering) ♪ Yeah (audience cheering and applauding) - Beautiful people, we are Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox!

(audience cheering)