What are your thoughts on covers? No, not the warm, cozy kind one might curl up under on a cold winter’s night… I think we probably all share a similar viewpoint on those! The covers I’m talking about are of the music variety, defined by Wikipedia as follows:
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a previously recorded, commercially released (or unreleased) song, by someone other than the original artist.
Whether in general terms or in reference to a specific song, a conversation among music lovers about covers is pretty much guaranteed to be jammed with fervent emotions and strong opinions. While there may be a few (very few!) covers whereby a yea or nay opinion is pretty much universal, for the most part I think it’s highly personal… and what speaks to one person may actually be a musical travesty to someone else.
So let’s share! I’ve come up with a selection of music covers I love – songs that reach in and tug at my heart, songs that make me want to jump up and dance, songs that bring a smile to my face – and I’d love to hear some of yours.
Music Covers I Love
♫ “Battle of Evermore” by The Lovemongers
♫ “Cat’s in the Cradle” by Ugly Kid Joe
♫ “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan
♫ “Hallelujah” by k.d. lang (I adore this live version)
♫ “Hazy Shade of Winter” by The Bangles
♫ “Hurt” by Johnny Cash
♫ “I Can See Clearly Now” by Holly Cole Trio AND
♫ “I Can See Clearly Now” by Hothouse Flowers
♫ “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Guns N’ Roses
♫ “Superstar” by Sonic Youth
♫ “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” by Barenaked Ladies
♫ “Mrs. Robinson” by The Lemonheads
♫ “You’re So Vain” by Faster Pussycat
So, where do you stand on my selections?
And what are some covers YOU love?
Please share!
{ 10 comments… add one }
I wholeheartedly agree with Lang’s version of hallelujah. I also like Jennifer Warnes’ version of pretty much any thing of Leonard Cohen’s.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 28, 2014
I remember seeing her perform that song on the Junos one year (in fact, I think the video I included was that very performance). Peter and I both got chills – it was like she owned the song. So powerful.
Laurel Regan recently posted… 100 Words: Not there yet
I love Jeff Buckley’s version of Hallelujah and Perla Betalla’s version of Coming Back To You, it’s hard to go wrong with Leonard Cohen. You’re Cheating Heart Ray Charles, Any version of You Don’t Know Me – but I really like Jan Arden’s. Mony Mony and Got To be a Lover – Billy Idol. And Avila’s All Shook Up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aGCaiiNglI
and I wanna Be Like You by Big VooDoo Daddy — any remake they do is awesome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ssCCHk_ifU
I could go on and on…
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 29, 2014
Oh, so many good choices! I may have to do a second blog post, LOL!
Laurel Regan recently posted… 100 Words: Not there yet
Twitter: RambinGarden
March 28, 2014
I’m listening to lang’s version of “Hallelujah” as I type this comment. With the best covers you get a totally new interpretation. I love the “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” cover by Guns N’ Roses for that reason. Another cover I adore for that reason is “Mad World” by Gary Jules. And one more, “The Letter” as sung by Joe Cocker. Sorry, Boxtops!
Alana recently posted… Haiku in Brooklyn
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 29, 2014
I love the Gary Jules version of “Mad World” – totally forgot about that one!
Laurel Regan recently posted… 100 Words: Not there yet
Twitter: BelowTheSalt
March 28, 2014
I got hooked on “Somebody I used to know” by Walk off the Earth – not realizing it was a cover (or what a cover was) until all kinds of other “cover” versions started popping up. After searching out the original by Goyte I got hooked on it for a while. Then it started playing on the radio everywhere in the US. When I heard an elevator music version of it I knew it had gone mainstream and just had to write a post about the creative chain. http://wp.me/p4cUNw-2s9
Battle of evermore by Nancy and Ann Wilson is awesome. Though Led Zeplin still did it best! will have to check out some of your others.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 29, 2014
I do like the Walk Off the Earth cover, but am in love with the original by Gotye. It was overplayed to death, but for whatever reason I never got sick of it! Some songs are odd that way.
Laurel Regan recently posted… 100 Words: Not there yet
I like the Bangles’ “Hazy Shade of Winter”, too. Also Richie Havens’ “Here Comes the Sun.” And speaking of Leonard Cohen, Judy Collins’ version of “Suzanne.” At one time I had four different versions of “Love Has No Pride”–by Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Rita Coolidge, and Eric Kaz, who wrote it, and liked them all. And the Gotye song was my absolute favorite of 2012, and I never got tired of it, either! Great topic–I know I’ll think of a lot more!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 29, 2014
Great list! And great to find another Gotye fan.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Claiming the Gift of Time
Trackbacks: