50 Awesome Cover Songs... Because This List Needs to Exist!

Alright, as several of you know, I have a deep and abiding love of cover songs. Not the crappy cover bands that dress up like Kiss or only sing Foreigner's greatest hits. I'm talking about really good re-interpretations of popular songs.

I was prowling Google the other night searching for new cover songs and was very disappointed. The only legitimate list I could find should have been titled "The No-Shit Cover Songs". They added songs that we all know. There was nothing new or interesting about it. Maybe a coma patient who'd slept for the last 40 years might have appreciated this list, but not me. So, I'm making my own list!

(I've added links so that you can see each song on YouTube... not all of them are visually interesting so just close your eyes and dive in.)


The Lennings - You're the One that I Want
This Austin band has covered one of the cheesiest songs from one of the cheesiest movies (Grease - which I LOVE) and has transformed it into an amazing ballad of love and devotion. (I'm totally jealous of my best friend who told me last night that she ran into them at the Austin airport a few weeks ago. They were performing this song!)


Ziggy Marley - Drive
Ziggy took an 80s staple and refined it in such a way that I want to lay in a hammock on a private beach every time I hear it. Come to think of it, I always want to lay on a hammock on a private beach somewhere.


Imogen Heap - Hallelujah
Never thought that anyone could surpass Jeff Buckley's depressing quality, but Imogen's version is even more haunting and beautiful. Then again, what Imogen song isn't haunting and beautiful.


Iron & Wine - Wild Horses
Iron & Wine stays pretty close to the original Rolling Stones track but its still fantastic.


Karl Wolf - Africa
Ignore the typical rap video ridiculousness... its a fun song.


Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby / Too Cold
Vanilla Ice did what few artists do and re-released his own one-hit-wonder in an entirely different style. Bonus: for a laugh and a trip down memory lane... Ice Ice Baby


Limp Bizkit - Behind Blues Eyes
Um... everyone has remade Behind Blue Eyes. It seems to be a rock concert favorite. I love this version mostly because its an unexpected departure from L.B. usual annoying craziness.


Linda Perry - Baby, It's a Wild World
LOVE all things Linda Perry!


Marilyn Manson - Personal Jesus
A totally rockin version of a Depeche Mode classic. Anyone want to discuss the vjazzling on his cheeks?


Marilyn Manson (again!) - Tainted Love
Another totally rockin version of an 80s song. Loving the "goth thug" in this very video that revisits the fantastic spoof "Not Another Teen Movie". This is definitely in my top 10 favorite videos.


And..... one more from Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams
If the Eurythmics and Ozzy Osbourne had a demon child, it'd be Marilyn Manson. Just as smart as Annie Lennox, just as fucked up as Ozzy and his whole family.


Natalie Merchant - One Fine Day
I have a special soft spot for covers of do-wop 50s groups. They sung most songs so happily, no matter what the subject matter. Natalie's version of The Chiffon's classic is heartfelt and honest. Simply wonderful.


Billy Corgan (of Smashing Pumpkins) - Never Let Me Down Again
Another cover of a Depeche Mode song. They must know how much I love Depeche Mode. Billy sings this one as if he is the one taking a ride with his best friend... if his best friend were heroin. Whatever.. no judgement. This one is great.


Wheatus - A Little Respect
These guys are the reason I have a playlist on my iPod lovingly called "Annoying Boy Music". They rock this 80s pop song! (RIP Britney Murphy. Clueless wouldn't have been the same without you.)


Taken By Trees - Sweet Child of Mine
This chick takes one of the most iconic songs and really makes it her own. Well done!


Lady Antebellum - Learning to Fly
Great cover of a Tom Petty classic. Bet their video has a lot less skateboards.... Ahhhh the 80s.


Wyclef Jean - Stayin' Alive
Ok, not a surprise but he rocks this. Plus, bonus points for his sweet disco-esque dance moves.


Radical Reinterpretations - Never Again
These people cover everything but this Kelly Clarkson cover is my favorite. I don't even like the original version but I stumbled across this one night and its been a favorite ever since.


Bina Mistry - Hot Hot Hot
Who even recorded the original? Doesn't matter - sometimes I watch Bend It Like Beckham just to jam out to this. I found the DVD extra video on YouTube.


Muse - Feeling Good
The name says it all!


Chris Cornell - Billie Jean
Awesome gravelly voiced Chris brings out the meaning of the lyrics in a whole new way.


The Donnas - Dancing With Myself
Yes, that is what the song is about. Yes, girls do it too. I heart The Donnas. Stay bitchy, ladies!


Rachel Stevens - Knock on Wood
Club anthem! I can frequently be found driving the highway and dancing to this one.


Dixie Chicks - Landslide
This song was my soundtrack for 2 years when I was living in the Blue Ridge Mountains. So heartfelt and amazing.


Alex Parks seems to only do covers yet she does them well so I'm not complaining. She was on Britain's Fame Academy and has recorded a lot of covers. These are my faves.
Mad World
Yellow


Save Ferris - Come on Eileen
Remember ska bands? Where did they go? Anyway, thank god someone covered the second most annoying  song produced in the 80s (right behind Walking in Sunshine, bleegghh).


The Birthday Massacre - I Think We're Alone Now
An ok cover of another, way more fantastic, cover - Tiffany's I Think We're Alone Now. Ladies, go ahead and sing along to Tiffany. You know you want to.


Ryan Adams - Wonderwall
Screw Oasis. They don't do the song justice. Ryan Adams does.


Ben Lee - Float On
I simply love this song.The fact that he left in the mistake towards the end just makes him, and the song, that much more endearing.  :-)


Wyclef Jean - Your Love
Yet another great remix of a fun 80s song. The 50 First Dates soundtrack is filled with cool reinterpretations of popular songs. Check them all out sometime. I won't add them all here but they are great. For now, have some fun and dance along.


311 - Love Song
I love the Cure's version and 311 stays pretty close to the original style, with a bit of island feel thrown in. Another great hammock song from 50 First Dates. Adele also did a very cool version.


Shiny Toy Guns - Stripped
Originally recorded by Depeche Mode (love it!), this version is more electronic and has more of a driving beat. Plus the addition of a female lead singer really pulls this version ahead of the original.


Cary Brothers - Something About You
Loving the Cary Brothers! They are great and their versions of some great 80s tunes are a welcome addition to my driving playlist.
If You Were Here This cover of the popular Thompson Twins hit makes me wanna cry from the moment the melancholy guitar opens. I love singing this at the top of my lungs when driving (alone of course. M wouldn't appreciate it).
As I was looking on Youtube for the video, I came across another cover they did... a cover of Duran Duran's fabulous Ordinary World. I'm now buying it on iTunes. :-)


Starfucker - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Ignore the name of the band.... this song is fucking great. The original was great and this boy-led version does Cindy Lauper proud. (p.s. got this version from M... love it when guys have great music!)


Cowboy Junkies - Blue Moon
Remember how I said that these 50s bands sung everything all happy? Yeah, that theory came from hearing this cover back in college. Thank you Cowboy Junkies! They also did a great Patsy Cline Walking After Midnight.


Audra Mae and the Forest Rangers - Forever Young
This cover is so amazingly beautiful, both the acapella and the full band version. The full band version is off the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack. The acapella is simply a gift from Ms. Mae. This is the song I want played at my funeral. Feel free to sing along.     <goosebumps>


The Gourds - Gin and Juice
I NEVER liked Snoop Doggs version, but this bluegrass one is infectious. Turn it up and enjoy this guilty pleasure.


Flo Rida - Right Round
We've all heard it. It rocks and it was the best part of The Hangover. Its on my workout mix.


Anberlin - Enjoy the Silence
One of my all-time favorite songs by Depeche Mode has been redone with a harder edge. Perfect for those driving playlists.


Bran Van 3000 - Cum On Feel the Noise
From the 90s, this cover of the lovingly cheesy 80s hair-metal anthem is a great electronic pop song.


Katie Melua - Just Like Heaven
The not-so-great chick flick Just Like Heaven did one great thing.... it introduced me to this sappy amazing girly version of one of my favorite songs by the Cure.


Matisyahu - Message in a Bottle
Another song for the Hammock playlist. Great reggae-ish version of the Police classic.


The Raincoats - Lola
As M says - this version of Lola is a bit of a gender-bending brilliance. The Raincoats keep that gritty quality that made the original Kinks version so great. A great song to end the list on.


Hope you enjoyed it. I didn't even cover the Frank Sinatra covers - Brian Setzer Orchestra, Michael Buble, Harry Connick, Jr. - they are all great but so common that they just don't fit this list.

I also didn't include the great punk rock bands like The Clash, The Ramones, and Cheap Trick.

Feel free to add your own favorite covers.

Please let someone cover anything by Garfunkel and Oates! I Don't Understand Job :-)