I will admit that I have a weakness for cover tunes. I can appreciate ones that pay homage to the original, but my favourites are usually the ones that take a big leap away.
I laughed so hard the first time I heard ‘Amazing Grace‘ as done by the Dropkick Murphys, it is awesome, and Prince’s ‘Raspberry Beret‘ is surprisingly suited to bluegrass. I have songs that I later discovered were covers, like ‘Black Betty‘ as done by Ram Jam, that got another level of listening once I knew, and I had to listen to the original or as close to the original as I could get. There are songs that I like better than the original, like Johnny Cash covering Soundgarden’s ‘Rusty Cage‘, and Iron and Wine’s version of Going Postal’s ‘Such Great Heights‘. There are many covers that cannot touch the appeal of the original, which I don’t have ready examples of because why have them if you don’t like them. Then there are the songs that it is important to have more than one version of. Both Willie Nelson’s and Patsy Cline’s versions of ‘Crazy.’. I think I have three different, maybe four, artists singing ‘Route 66‘, but Nat King Cole’s version juxtaposed with Depech Mode’s is necessary. Hearing Tom Waits’ gravel, cigarettes, and gin voice rumble through ‘Jersey Girl‘, and then listening to Holly Cole’s smooth, jazzy execution. There is ‘I Don’t Want to Grow Up‘ also by Tom Waits, then later done by the Ramones (and who knew that Rod Stewart’s ‘Downtown Train‘ was penned and recorded by Tom Waits as well)… getting on a bit of a roll… Ooo, and ‘T.V. Set‘ by the Cramps, recently redone by Spoon (fabulous)… and ‘Sail‘ by AWOLNATION done by Devil Driver (caused a giggle)…both Prince and Tom Jones versions of ‘Kiss‘ are essential…and LCD Soundsystem and Joy Division’s ‘No Love Lost‘… and I am pretty sure you haven’t lived until you’ve heard ‘Low Rider‘ played on the bagpipes…
What started this mental journey was hearing ‘Mr. Brightside‘, originally by The Killers, by Run River North. If I hadn’t heard the lyrics I wouldn’t have recognized it as the same song. With only one listen to, I haven’t decided if I need to add it to the collection, but it did spark this thought tangent.
You need a radio show off your own!
That wouldn’t be a good idea. My ability to be articulate ends when vocalization is involved.
What stands out is when a songs transition music genres. One of the best has to be Hurt – Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails). What makes this cover so special is how the song reflects his life before his death. The song takes on new ownership as it’s transition to Johnny Cash.
I doubt that but the cover of my brightside is so much more beautiful than the original. Thank you for the musical inputs!
Another one I heard a couple of days ago, a cover of They Might be Giants ‘Istanbul’. ‘Istanbul pas Constantinople’ by Ayhan Sicimogul. Fun, catchy, novelty to electro swing.