The other day, I was trying to think of the one cover song that I consistently love and put in all of my playlists. For some reason, I couldn’t place the name of the song that occupies the “favorite cover” place in my brain. As I tried to recall, I went through my mental rolodex of favorite covers.
Some try to respect the original and some completely change it up. Some of them I had to find out after the fact that they were covers because I hadn’t heard the original (you’ve heard that Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” is a cover, right? That’s not on this list, by the way.)
In my brainstorm, I also remembered some clunkers, so I’ve included them at the end.
So, let’s get into it. I’ve got to get two out of the way real quick.
Jimi Hendrix, “All Along The Watchtower” (Bob Dylan)
I can’t tell if this choice is basic or a no-brainer. It still contains one of my favorite guitar solos of all time.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Higher Ground” (Stevie Wonder)
I’m pretty sure that this choice qualifies as basic but it would be disingenuous not to include it. I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it (in middle school?). I’ll always love John Frusciante’s guitar work in this song.
Johnny Cash, “Hurt” (Nine Inch Nails)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt1Pwfnh5pc
This made a splash when it first came out. I never cared for NIN in the nineties (except when listening to “Wish” in Peter Merkel’s car on the way to soccer games). It took this version for me to listen to the lyrics. I can’t tell why this video is so moving but it is. Every time.
The Get Up Kids, “Regret” (New Order)
There are some emo bands that I still like despite having outgrown them. The Get Up Kids is one of those bands. They don’t alter the song much, it’s just less electronic with a bit more emo whiny twang but I dig it.
Frente, “Bizarre Love Triangle” (New Order)
This song, along with The State, is right in my Xennial wheelhouse. This song sounds like 1994/1995, driving around in the car of my one friend who had one, listening to WBER, either on the way to Taco Bell or nowhere in particular.
Ryan Adams, “Bad Blood” (Taylor Swift)
If it were “Style” the original would win, but I really like Adams’s cover of “Bad Blood,” despite no Kendrick Lemar.
Pavement, “The Classical” (The Fall)
This is one of those songs that I had no idea was a cover. In fact, after having listened to the original, I’m still not sure it is. But whatever, Malkmus brattily, ironically singing the chorus, “I never felt better in my life,” could be the soundtrack to my life.
Rage Against the Machine, “The Ghost of Tom Joad” (Bruce Springsteen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqnMrynpq9U
The preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag, he’s waitin’ for a time when the last shall be first and the first shall be last… The entire Renegades album is covers and they’re all pretty great. I wanted to include at least one. It was between this song, which I didn’t know was a Springsteen cover, and “Maggie’s Farm” but I already included a Dylan cover, so, Tom Joad it is.
Gary Jules, “Mad World” (aka the Donnie Darko song, Tears for Fears)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4
Frente’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” was earlier but I credit this song with the trend to try to give any song more meaning by slowing it down and making it sad. In this case, it actually works. I’m a Tears for Fears fan but the original just sounds inferior.
Smashing Pumpkins, “Landslide” (Fleetwood Mac)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReUq5B3XT8g
Speaking of whiny twangs, Billy Corgan does a pretty straight cover here but it just works.
Ben Folds, “Twin Falls” (Built to Spill)
Melancholy song about growing up that includes lyrics about thumbs up seven up? Yes please.
Built to Spill, “Some Things Last a Long Time” (Daniel Johnston)
The original is pretty moving on its own but Built to Spill’s version is the first one I heard.
Afghan Wigs, “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Baby” (Barry White)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_Apf-mpma8
From the soundtrack of the underrated movie Beautiful Girls. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with the original but I still like the different energy this one has.
Jose Gonzalez, “Heartbeats” (The Knife)
I don’t know where I discovered Jose Gonzalez but I’m a big fan of this album. Then, one day, I heard a very familiar song on an HBO show and discovered that this tune was actually a cover by a Swedish band called The Knife, also worth checking out.
Also, since you’ve made it this far, the song that I was thinking of was “Seconds” by Rogue Wave, originally by U2, which I can’t find on YouTube. I think it was an iTunes exclusive. If you can track it down, give it a listen. Sorry I can’t provide a link here.
And, As Promised, 5 Crappy Ones
Limp Bizkit, “Faith” (George Michael)
I never thought I’d say this but show George Michael some respect. I think everything you need to know about Limp Bizkit (setting Fred Durst aside entirely) can be summed up by the fact that Rage Against the Machine’s bassist Tim Commerford apologized for any role he had in inspiring such crap.
Alien Ant Farm, “Smooth Criminal” (Michael Jackson)
It’s weird to see a band that makes Sum 41 look like authentic musicians who’ve been ripped off. I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they did this out of love. I have to admit that this song was a guilty pleasure for me for a while. Very guilty. Man is it a bad sign when you’re first hit is a cover.
The Bangles, “Hazy Shade of Winter” (Simon and Garfunkel)
I think I might just not like this song at all. It’s not even that good when Simon and Garfunkel sing it. Sorry, Bangles, I’m kind of throwing you under the bus here. I might just dislike it because its connection to the Less Than Zero movie.
Guns ‘n Roses, “Live and Let Die” (Wings)
I’ll always remember riding in a car with my friend from college who heard the Wings version of this come on the radio.
“Oh, is this a cover of Guns ‘n Roses?”
“No, this is the original.”
“Because Guns ‘n Roses did this song.”
“Yeah, but this is the original.”
“Did you know that Guns ‘n Roses did this?”
“Yes. Yes I did. THAT was the cover. THIS is the original.”
“Right, but, like a few years ago, Guns ‘n Roses did this song.”
“Okay, who is more likely to cover whom? Do you think Paul McCartney covered Guns ‘n Roses? Or do you think maybe, just maybe, Guns ‘n Roses covered Paul McCartney?”
<pause>
“It was on the same album as November Rain…”
Ugly Kid Joe, “Cats in the Cradle” (Harry Chapin)
I think most people thought the thing that this nostalgia-porn song needed was more of hard rock edge to it. Man, it’s not a good sign when your second hit is a cover, either. I hate everything about this cover (see what I did there? That was an Ugly Kid Joe joke.)
