MusicMike Portnoy playing Taylor Swift on drums is the best thing you’ll see today

One of the coolest music channels on the internet is Drum. Linked to a learning tool, the project publishes videos focused on drums — including challenges involving famous musicians, such as Mike Portnoy.

In participation, the member of the Dream Theater he played a game where he had to play a song that he had never heard of before. Portnoy was able to hear the song without the drum line, so he could create his own version on the instrument.

The track in question was “Shake It Off”big hit by Taylor Swiftone of the most popular singers today. The composition made available in 2014 served as the first single from 1989, the American artist’s fifth studio album.

Notorious for his great skill with the sticks in hand, Mike Portnoy offered a curious reinterpretation. As he had gotten into the spirit of the game, he preferred to perform a very complex drum line, in the style that fans are already used to hearing. A separate show.

Even the musician’s reaction upon discovering who was responsible for the song was amusing. When told it was Taylor Swift, he said (via Igor Miranda website):

“Oh my god, is that Taylor Swift?! Like, just the biggest artist in the world. The biggest artist in the world and I don’t know any of her songs. My daughter will love this. Taylor, I’m so sorry. I would still play with you in a heartbeat. I promise I wouldn’t do that [que foi feito no vídeo].”

The full video is available on YouTube. Below, you can see a preview published on Instagram.

Other Drumeo challenges — with Mike Portnoy and others

Also check out other challenges promoted by Drumeo. They all follow the same model: a drummer hears a song for the first time, has no access to the drum line and is challenged to create his own version. The full recordings can be accessed on YouTube.

Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) performs Thirty Seconds to Mars

🥁 Chad Smith had never heard 30 Seconds to Mars. The Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer asked him to play “The Kill (Bury Me)” as he salted it the first time and ended up doing this:

📹 Drum pic.twitter.com/bZNVkzqNHE

— Pogopedia (@Pogopedia) September 22, 2023

Stewart Copeland (The Police) plays Limp Bizkit

The Police’s Stewart Copeland Hears Limp Bizkit For The First Time https://t.co/szU2xu6q1Cpic.twitter.com/PfIJwdXqEc

— Limp Bizkit Japan (@limpbizkitjapan) January 3, 2025

Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth) plays The Killers

🥁Dirk Verbeuren, metal drummer for the band Megadeth, heard the song Mr. Brightside, by The Killers, for the first time, without the drums.

Upon listening, he quickly learned the structure of the song. Then he created a version, with a progressive feel.pic.twitter.com/R9j9p4YDvW

— Moodgate ⚡️ (@Moodgate_) October 23, 2023

Mike Portnoy plays Tool

Beliau dengerin lagunya be,
sembari bikin partitur nya.
Sekalinya maen langsung bener gak ada salahnya. #Pro

Sementara para fans ribut kek bocah; debate siapa yg lebih baik, Tool atau Dream Theater.

Mike Portnoy – Pneuma (Tool drum cover)pic.twitter.com/UcuYXNmqxw

— Wasted Rockers (@wastedrockers1) May 28, 2024