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 greenYou 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.
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