God, I love a good cover song. I’ve loved cover songs for as long as I can remember. The best part is, they always pop up when you’re least expecting them. Though Pandora hasn’t really directed me to any great ones, the iTunes “just for you” feature (dangerous to the wallet, my friends) has picked up on this dear, long-standing love of mine.
Here’s the thing about covers: artists pay homage to their beloved influences and still make it their own. It’s a two-for! Of course, like any sane person, I only really enjoy the covers that do a song justice, but I even guiltily enjoy the ones that cock up the concept. It’s like seeing a movie based on a book you love. Even if it’s so terrible that the author refuses to let the filmmakers use the book’s actual name (cough cough Simon Bircb cough cough) it’s still interesting to see how someone who was at least in some way inspired by the original uses the material to make it their own.
Since I’ve been in DC, I’ve spent extensive quality time with my iPod. I keep those $7.99 headphones (I managed to leave the better, less painful-to-my-ears ones in Louisiana and refuse to buy an equivalent pair since I can reclaim the originals when I next visit the Bayou State) attached to my head and the music library on “shuffle” at all times of travel (I will often attempt to listen to pre-made playlists, but my iPod has a mind of its own and refuses to play my compilations in the order I intended, which annoys me), and I’ve learned over the past few weeks that, with public transportation — particularly the bus route, which I rely on heavily — it often takes thirty minutes to make a two-mile trip. Even when I’m not on the bus, I’m walking at least fifteen or twenty minutes at a time. The point of all this is to emphasize how much time I’ve spent listening to oft-forgotten music from the ever-growing library. In this process, I’ve come across some long-missed favorite cover tunes. For your enjoyment (and, for my convenience, in the order that iTunes lists them):
- Alison Kraus – When You Say Nothing At All Hands down, I prefer this version to the original. I appreciate Keith Whitley for all he was and did, but his voice is just a little too twangy for me to invest long-term enjoyment in this song as he performs it. However, Alison’s voice is perfect. Always.
- Amy Winehouse – Cupid God, I love Sam Cooke. I love-love-love Sam Cooke. And this is one of my favorites (though the ultimate prize is saved for A Change is Gonna Come). I came across this song in a batch of reggae covers my brother sent me; this one’s a beauty.
- Beck – Diamond Dogs This one came to me through a mix CD made for me by dear friends (whose music taste, incidentally, I will always, always trust). It’s a great song to begin with, and this version is just strange enough to surprise me every time. I guess that’s what Beck does best. Anyway, it’s about six months old in my repertoire and yet to get passe.
- Ben Taylor – I Try I was conditioned to love Ben Taylor; after all, I was raised on his dad’s music. This was the first of his songs I ever heard, and it took me a while before I realized it was that f-ing Macy Gray song. Did I mention that I can’t stand Macy Gray? Anyway, even though the song is really just a collection of cliche expressions, it somehow doesn’t sound nearly as trite when Ben sings it as it does when Macy does. In fact, it sounds quite earnest and pleading. And I love that.
- Billy Joel – This Night I suppose, technically, it’s not a cover. Or is it? I’m still undecided. The chorus of this song, which is otherwise very simple doo-wop, lifts its melody straight from Beethoven’s Pathétique, and does so in a really meaningful and eloquent way. And, God, I love Billy Joel any day of the week.
- Cary Brothers – If You Were Here Another where I altogether prefer the cover to the original. Really, the Thompson Twins version is only appropriate where we all recognize it — in the end scene of “Sixteen Candles” as Jake and Samantha kiss over her birthday cake. Any other time, it’s tedious and mega-80s. And I say that as someone who professes to adore the 80s. Cary Brothers’ (and it’s one person named Cary, not brothers with the last name of Cary) version gets the point across in a much better, less tedious way.
- Eric Clapton – Layla (unplugged) Again, like with Billy Joel, I think I might be cheating a little bit. I’ll take my justification for this one from the much-missed VH1 show “The List” (what a freaking fantastic show; I reminisce about it much more than I would like to admit publicly): this version is so very different from the original that it deserves the genre of “cover.” Plus, I was raised on the “Unplugged” album and, thus, this version rather than the original. I remember the first time I heard the original — it took me actual minutes to recognize it.
- The Futureheads – Hounds of Love I have to be honest here. I have never heard the Kate Bush original. I don’t care. I love this song that much.
- George Harrison – My Sweet Lord Due to the plagiarism controversy that surrounds this glorious song and The Chiffons’ He’s So Fine, I’m counting it. Again, it’s glorious. Enough said.
- Hotel Lights – The End of the Tour As a life-long They Might Be Giants fan (my first concert, boys and girls) I’m skeptical of any covers, and rightfully so: most of the tribute album from which this song comes is not worth a second listen. This project from Darren Jessee (you know I love that) takes an already-sad song and matches the instrumental to the lyric.
- Joe Anderson – Happiness is a Warm Gun From the movie “Across the Universe.” I could’ve picked many songs from this movie; I chose this one because It Still Gets Me. I’ve seen the movie more times than I can count (hell, I own it) and still, no matter how many times I listen, it brings me back to the emotion from the first viewing. Plus, I never really cared much about this song before the film, and the fact that it’s one of my favorites from the soundtrack has to say something about its wonder, right?
- Johnny Cash – Hurt Remember those friends whose musical taste I’ll always trust (refer to the Beck song)? I can thank them for this one, too.
- Joshua Radin – Only You I didn’t know this was a cover until I played it for a friend; after hearing both I can now say with certainty that I love the original but prefer this version. A little more pared-down. That seems to have been the theme of many of these choices.
- Kaiser Chiefs – I Heard it Through the Grapevine No one can argue that Marvin Gaye was (and continues to be) one of the best out there. This version takes it to a much different place, and though I’ll always prefer the original, I have lots of affection for this’un, too. Plus, it’s exactly five minutes long. You know I love that.
- Keller Williams – Another Brick in the Wall No use comparing it to the Floyd version, because they’re not at all comparable. Listen to it now. Thank me later.
- Lauryn Hill – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You I actually don’t really love the original version. It bores me. Lauryn Hill’s version, however, does it correctly and does it well. The pleading in her voice fits the lyric perfectly.
- The Mamas and the Papas – Dream a Little Dream of Me A Cole Porter original, Mama Cass nails it.
- Mark Ronson and Kenna – Amy Again, not even a little bit comparable to the Ryan Adams original. Listen to, and love, each. I did.
- Matt Ketteman and Cameron Mizzell – In Your Eyes Anyone who knows me knows that “Say Anything” is one of my perennial favorite films. So, of course I love this song. There’s no competing with the Peter Gabriel version, but this toned-down acoustic cover does it a fair amount of justice.
- Nirvana – The Man Who Sold the World (unplugged) Another Bowie cover, you say? He appears to lend himself nicely to these. I loved — from a young age — the “Nirvana Unplugged” album, and this was always, always the first song I would choose.
- Patsy Cline – Crazy Willie Nelson, I adore you, but you’re just too carefree to do this song justice. Thank you, greatly, for writing it. And thank you, greatly, for giving it to Miss Patsy.
- Presidents of the United States of America – Video Killed the Radio Star I heard this version first. Had no idea there was an early-80s version (that, you know, was the first music video on that famous cable music channel). I freaking loved it. I remember them playing this from atop Mount Rushmore for some MTV stunt or another in the mid-90s. Freaking catchy as hell. And well-done for a new generation.
- Seu Jorge – Rebel Rebel I didn’t love “The Life Aquatic.” But I did love the soundtrack. And yes, more Bowie.
- The Shins – We Will Become Silhouettes Nothing against that other Postal Service cover (oh, wait, and the other version by my all-time favorite musician) but this one is, in my own humble opinion, the most fun. (Ben, I still adore your version.)
- Stevie Wonder – We Can Work It Out Beatles covers are dangerous ground. The “Across the Universe” folks got kind of a pass, as the songs are intended to fit into a larger storyline, but even someone amazing like Stevie Wonder is treading thin ice by doing an all-out cover. That said, he nails it. It’s as if the song was written for him to eventually sing.
- Willie Nelson – All of Me Here, Willie, is where your light-hearted, beautiful voice does best. The entire “Stardust” album is fantastic — Mr. Willie covering old jazz standards, and covering them well. This one is my favorite.
