Favorite Cover Songs of 2021 - Songs 1-11

Here's the second half (or first half, depending on how you want to look at it) of my favorite 22 cover songs of 2021.

1. European Son by Matt Berninger (original by The Velvet Underground). 

"You made your wallpapers green

You want to make love to the scene

Your European son is gone

You'd better say so long

Your clowns bid you goodbye."

My favorite cover of the year - at least according to my ears and brain (my heart was with number two, which will become understandable when you read about and listen to it). This is an excellent example of what a cover can be - both reimagining the original and being true to it at the same time. The lyrics are admittedly not complex (the story behind it is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Son), but the sound, especially Matt's voice, the harmonica, and the horns, got into my head and wouldn't leave. Yes, that's an endorsement for Mr. Berninger's vocals over Lou Reed's (in this instance).

2. Champaign Corolla by Steve Earle and The Dukes (original by Justin Townes Earle). 

"I know every man think that he need

Some high tone woman

Something built for speed

But you can't trust a rich girl

No farther than you can throw her

Need a middle class queen

Riding by in a champagne Corolla."

Steve Earle and his band recorded an entire album of Justin Townes' songs shortly after the latter's death. Hence my heart going with this one as my favorite cover of the year. While the whole album is excellent, I chose this one over the others, turning JT's sly solo effort into a rollicking country stomp. I cannot bring myself to choose between the two performances.

3.  Sad But True by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (original by Metallica). 

"I'm your truth, telling lies

I'm your reason, alibis

I'm inside, open your eyes

I'm you

Sad but true."

You read that correctly. Metallica. I'm not by any stretch of the imagination a metal fan, so this is one of those that took me a while before I realized it was a cover. One of the comments on the cover's YouTube page is "there is an alternate reality where this is the original." Just so. And much preferred to the original as well, at least by this listener.

4. Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (original by Stevie Wonder).

"Oo wee baby, you set my soul on fire

That's why I know you're my heart's only desire

Ooo baby

Here I am

Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours."

One of my all-time favorite songs. While Ms. Jones certainly did it justice, you simply can't top Stevie's "Heyyyy hey, oh yeah baby" at the top. And to her credit, she didn't really try to.

5. Train in Vain by Rostam (original by The Clash).

"Now I got a job

But it don't pay

I need new clothes

Need somewhere to stay

But without all of these things

I can do

But without your love

I won't make it through."

Another song everyone should know. While I've already expressed my admiration for Rostam's voice, it's hard not to hear this one sung by Mick Jones in your head (even when it's Rostam instead).

6. I'm Waiting for My Man by Matt Berninger (original by The Velvet Underground).

"Baby don't you holler 

Darlin' don't you bawl and shout

I'm feeling good 

You know I'm gonna work it on out

I'm feeling good 

I'm feeling oh so fine

Until tomorrow 

But that's just some other time

I'm waiting for my man."

Hard to top one of my favorite artists covering one of my favorite artists (except, of course, for the five songs above, which include one of my favorite artists covering one of my favorite artists ...). While I think most would admit that Matt's voice is better than Lou Reed's, the latter's is perfect for a song about a junkie waiting for his dealer. Two very different, and very excellent, versions of the same song. Final score: Matt 1, Lou 1.

7. Summer's End by Phoebe Bridgers (original by John Prine).

"The moon and stars hang out in bars just talking

I still love that picture of us walking

Just like that ol' house we thought was haunted

Summer's end came faster than we wanted."

Another example of one of my favorite artists covering another. Love and respect to Mr. Prine, but Phoebe's vocals rule.

8. Harvest Moon by Lord Huron (original by Neil Young).

"Because I'm still in love with you

I want to see you dance again

Because I'm still in love with you

On this harvest moon."

A lovely, Latin-tinged cover of a classic (and quiet) Neil Young song. Another one that one could say could, in a different dimension could have been the original. And another that I would say the original vocals can't be topped.

9. For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound) by Jaguar Son (original by Buffalo Springfield).

"Paranoia strikes deep

Into your life it will creep

It starts when you're always afraid

Step out of line,

The man come and take you away."

Pretty much a perfect song for late 1966 (when the original was released) or August 2020 (when this cover was). As good as this version is, I give the nod to Stephen Stills' original vocals.

10. Waterfalls by Death Cab for Cutie (original by TLC).

"Don't go chasing waterfalls

Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to

I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all

But I think you're moving too fast."

Definitely a different feel to this version, as you would expect from a Death Cab take on a TLC song (and, of course, no rapping). Love Ben Gibbard and his voice, but not as much as T-Boz's on this song.

11. Manic Monday by Billie Joe Armstrong (of Green Day) (original by The Bangles, courtesy of songwriter Prince). 

"Have to catch an early train

Got to be to work by nine

And if I had an aeroplane

I still couldn't make it on time."

Call me tin-eared, shallow, whatever, I've always had a soft spot for '80's girl groups -- the GoGo's, Bananarama, and The Bangles. So Mr. Armstrong redoing a Bangles' song, with Susanna Hoffs on rhythm guitar and backing vocals? I couldn't resist. But I still prefer Ms. Hoffs' vocals on the original.

That's it for this year's covers. Stayed tuned for my favorite original songs of 2021.

Favorite Cover Songs of 2021 - Songs 12-22

The covers list is back after a year's hiatus, expanded to two separate posts. Most of the songs you will instantly recognize from past incarnations, others I didn't even know were covers until I delved a little deeper. All are, I believe, worthy of at least one listen. At the suggestion of a old friend, this time I'll let you know which version (and in particular, which vocals) I prefer - the original or the cover.

12. Drive by Soccer Mommy (original by The Cars).

"Who's gonna pay attention

To your dreams?

Who's gonna plug their ears

When you scream?"

A brilliant update of a classic '80's song. The original is truly a classic, but I prefer the cover both because of the lush production, and due to Sophia Regina Allison's (a.k.a., Soccer Mommy's) lovely voice.

13. Rescue Me by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (original by Fontella Bass). 

"Come on, baby, and rescue me

Come on, baby, and rescue me

'Cause I need you by my side

Can't you see that I'm lonely?"

No, not Aretha. Fontella Bass. And while her original is hard to top, I believe that Ms. Jones managed to do just that. Unlike my new song list the past few years, I feature multiple songs from one artist on this cover list. And, yes, that's a teaser for another from Sharon and the DKs in the next installment.

14. Under Control by Rostam (original by The Strokes).

"I don't want to change your mind,

I don't want to waste your time.

I just want to know you're alright.

I've got to know you're alright."

Instead of a "sounds like The Strokes" song that commonly appears on my other list, how about a Strokes cover instead? Much like "Drive" the production on this version is considerably more layered than the original. And despite my (frequent) profession to want to be like Julian Casablancas when I grow up, I prefer Rostam's vocals to his on this song.

15. That Funny Feeling by Phoebe Bridgers (original by Bo Burnham).

"Stunning 8K resolution meditation app

In honor of the revolution, it's half off at The Gap

Deadpool's self-awareness, loving parents, harmless fun

The backlash to the backlash to the thing that's just begun."

Not a '60's cover, or an '80's, or an aughts, but one of a song released in 2021. Hard to miss the COVID/social media dystopia feel to the lyrics, which seem spot on to me. As you might suspect, I prefer Phoebe's vocals to Bo's.

16. Rock and Roll All Nite by Green Day (original by Kiss). 

"You keep on sayin' you'll be mine for a while

You're lookin' fancy and I like your style.

You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy."

This cover doesn't really "reinvent" the original. But I think that's the point. As someone who was a high school senior in Michigan in the Fall of 1975, this song was something of an anthem for me (since it was supposedly dedicated to the city of Detroit) and its nostalgia suits me just fine. I prefer Billie Joe Armstrong's vocals to Gene Simmons' (and this version's guitar solos are better too, I believe).

17. In Your Eyes by Ben Abraham (original by Peter Gabriel).

"Love ... I don't like to see so much pain

So much wasted

and this moment keeps slipping away

I get so tired

working so hard for our survival

I look to the time with you

to keep me awake and alive."

A nice, quite update from the original. But it's missing the angst or urgency of Peter's vocals.

18. Bittersweet Symphony by The Knocks (featuring Foster the People) (original by The Verve). 

"Well I've never prayed, but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah

I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now."

Everyone knows this one, right? I like the vocals in the original a little more, but prefer the tempo of the cover.

19. Fix You by Ben Harper and the Soweto Gospel Choir (original by Coldplay).

"When you try your best, but you don't succeed

When you get what you want, but not what you need.

When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep

Stuck in reverse."

A prettier, but somehow less emotional, rendition of one of my favorite songs by The Band Everyone Loves to Hate. The addition of the choir leads me to declare this one better sung than the original.

20. I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Eddie Island (original by Death Cab for Cutie). 

"If Heaven and Hell decide

that they both are satisfied

Illuminate the 'No's'

on the Vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you

when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark."

One of my all-time favorite love songs. Apparently, Mr. Island was on American Idol at some point in the past; wouldn't know it by me ... I like his rendition very much, but nonetheless give the nod to Ben Gibbard's plaintive vocals when comparing the two.

21. Fast Car by Jamila Woods (original by Tracy Chapman).

"So I remember we were driving, driving in your car

Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk

City lights lay out before us

And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder

And I-yI had a feeling that I belonged

I-yI had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone."

A pretty update to a great song. Still prefer Tracy Chapman's rendition, however.

22. Take Me Home, Country Roads by Whitney (featuring Waxahatchee) (original by John Denver).

"Almost heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

Life is old there, older than the trees

Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze."

A nice rendition - perhaps a bit more country than John's (or Mike Doughty's version, on my earlier list). But it's hard to improve on the original.

Stay tuned for my Top 11.