Watch Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy Drum Along to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”

In a new challenge from Drumeo, renowned Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy was tasked with learning how to play Tool’s “Pneuma” and creating his own parts for Nickelback’s “Burn It To The Ground.” But the fun didn’t stop there—Portnoy was also asked to take on Taylor Swift’s diamond-certified 2014 hit “Shake It Off,” a song he had never heard before.

Without prior knowledge of the track, Portnoy was played an instrumental version to give him the freedom to create his own percussion parts. As seen in the video below, his first playthrough showcased his metal influences, incorporating everything from double bass to gallops.

To add to the humor, Portnoy remained blissfully unaware of who the artist was until Drumeo finally revealed it—watch the video for his reaction:

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