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.
