There are a lot of great songs out there, and there are a lot of covers of those songs that have been altered by the cover artist. This is a short list of those pieces accompanied with a brief review of some of the cover songs that stand out as more than a mere replica of the original.
She & Him- Sung by quirky actress Zooey Deschanel, this version of "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" is instrumentally similar to The Smiths' original. The factor that sets it apart is Deschanel's unique and distinct voice, which brings an indie folk sound to the alternative rock genre of The Smiths.
Cat Power - This song gives the autoharp a good name. Cat Power reinvents this love song to give it more of a longing, borderline regretful tone as opposed to the celebration of love heard in Phil Phillip's original version.
Morning Benders - Now, the Morning Benders have released an entire album dedicated to cover songs ("The Bedroom Covers"). But I've selected one of these that certainly tickles my fancy. The Cardigan's one hit wonder, "Lovefool," is re-done in a much more mellow manner sans the mainstream pop feel of the original. Like some of the other songs included here, the change in genre changes the meaning and reception.
Meaghan Smith - This Canadian singer-songwriter performs The Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man" in such a different way that the two songs are hardly comparable. Smith uses the lesser-known instrument the omnichord for her version and adds her own twist on it by employing the pop-like sounds with jazz undertones found in her original compositions.
Birdy - Her debut single is a cover of Bon Iver's resonating original "Skinny Love." While no one can out-do Bon Iver in my mind, this 15-year-old girl (14 when she released this single) comes pretty close. While Bon Iver's folk-fueled original offers passion with his lyrics, Birdy's haunting version is fused with raw sadness both instrumentally and vocally and really strikes a chord with the listener.
Adele - Adele can do no wrong in my book. She can even cover The Cure's "Lovesong". Just listen. (If you want more of a psycho-stalker perspective, check out Jack Off Jill's cover).
The Starting Line - Their version of J. Lo's "I'm Real" is satirical and therefore amusing, made so by combining Lopez's lyrics with rockin' beats. Note: If you appreciate the transition, check out the Pop Goes Punk albums with various covers with similar qualities.
Sydney Saunders - I'm a college student in my home state with an English major with minors in Spanish and music. I edit and write for different literary ...
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