“Puttin’ On the Ritz” by Taco is a distinctive and highly stylized synthpop cover of the classic Irving Berlin song, originally written in 1927, first published in December 1929, and popularized in the early 1930s by performers like Harry Richman and Fred Astaire. Taco’s version, released in 1982, brought the vintage tune into the electronic age, transforming it into a global pop hit and giving the timeless song a new identity for the MTV era.
Born in Indonesia and raised in Germany and the Netherlands, Taco Ockerse—known simply as Taco—was a classically trained singer and dancer with a flair for theatrical performance. His version of “Puttin’ On the Ritz” was released as the lead single from his debut album After Eight, and it combined the elegance of 1930s cabaret with 1980s synthpop production, creating a unique, genre-blending sound that stood out immediately.
Taco’s take on the song retained the original melody and sophisticated lyrical wordplay but added a sharp, synthesized arrangement complete with drum machines, robotic rhythms, and vocal effects. The juxtaposition of old-fashioned lyrics about fashionable society with futuristic instrumentation gave the track a surreal, almost novelty-like charm. Taco’s polished baritone vocals and theatrical delivery contributed to the song’s retro-futurist aesthetic.
Visually, the music video played a major role in the song’s success, particularly in the United States where MTV had become a powerful force in music promotion. The video featured Taco in formal wear performing in an exaggerated vaudeville-meets-modern setting, complete with dancers, stylized choreography, and visual references to silent film-era glamour. It was slick, strange, and utterly unforgettable, helping the song achieve widespread exposure. The music video originally featured dancers in blackface, which was later edited out in re-releases.
“Puttin’ On the Ritz” became a surprise hit on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983, making Taco one of the few foreign synth-pop acts to crack the U.S. Top 10 at the time. It also performed well in countries across Europe and remains his best-known song by far.
Despite the massive success of the single, Taco struggled to replicate its impact. He continued to release music and perform, often returning to the retro style that had defined his breakthrough, but he is largely remembered today as a one-hit wonder, especially in the American market.
“Puttin’ On the Ritz” by Taco endures as a cult favorite—a quirky, campy, and strangely captivating artifact of early 1980s pop culture. It helped bridge the gap between vintage showbiz and modern pop, and its legacy continues through frequent appearances in compilations, retro playlists, and references in film and television. The song remains a perfect example of how old standards can be reimagined for new generations—with bold style and just the right amount of eccentricity.
