Postmodern Jukebox is known for their vintage style takes on modern songs. They bring class, poise, and elegance to all of their covers. However, they went for something a little bit different when they invited Puddles Pity Party onto their YouTube channel to sing a cover of Royals by Lorde. Puddles is a 6’8” clown, best known for his sad persona and his impressive baritone voice that emerges during his downbeat covers of pop songs.
Puddles, portrayed by 57-year-old Michael Geier, was created as part of a clown band in Atlanta in 1998. When the band broke up, Puddles continued to perform solo in theaters and bars across the US. When he teamed up with Postmodern Jukebox in 2013, he was catapulted into global fame when the video went viral, garnering over 34M views to date. Viewers adored the performance. One commenter enthused, “This guy is impossibly talented.” Even Lorde weighed in to call it her favorite cover of her song.
After his success with Royals, Puddles went on to collaborate with Postmodern Jukebox a number of times. He recorded various covers, including Chandelier by Sia in 2014, Mad World by Tears For Fears in 2015, and Stressed Out by Twenty One Pilots in 2016. Alongside this, he also recorded a number of his own solo albums and toured across the US and Europe. A video of his cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah on tour brought the singer even more success as it reached over 9.6 million views on YouTube.
Puddles took his act to a whole new audience yet again when he participated in America’s Got Talent 2017. He entered the stage in his classic downbeat persona, with the audience and judges sharing looks of bemusement, but he soon won everyone over. After receiving a standing ovation, he progressed all the way to the quarterfinals, where he repeated his version of Royals. Despite Simon pressing his buzzer, Puddles was met with cheers from the audience for his performance.
Since then, Michael Geier has found success, both as himself and as Puddles Pity Party. Michael has taken his own songwriting skills to Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, with his music appearing in shows such as iCarly and Victorious. As Puddles, he has continued to entertain the masses, beginning a headline residency act at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas in 2019. With a US tour in 2023 and theatrical shows in London’s West End in 2024, Puddles continues to take his Pity Party across the world. Attendees are just as enthusiastic today as they were when they heard him sing Royals ten years ago.
If you’re intrigued by the uniquely captivating talent of Puddles Pity Party, be sure to follow his melancholic tunes on his YouTube Channel. You can also keep up with Puddles’ performances and travels on his Facebook and Instagram pages. To find out more about Puddles’ story, tour dates and merchandise, check out his website.