The Cover Mixtape
Because giving someone an album full of covers tells them…something.
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. So the countless amount of covers that exist isn't surprising given the fact most musicians are huge music fans themselves (who would have guessed?). It's pretty easy to just cover a song exactly like an artist, but what really takes a cover to the next level is when you tweak it just enough to make the song your own. Below is a list of songs retooled and revamped for your listening pleasure. (The original artist is in parenthesis).
Dear Nora & Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Hot Boyz - (Missy Elliott) - Nothing like a bunch of hipster white kids covering hip-hop. Amazingly though this track doesn't sound pretentious or ironic, just painfully cute.
Cat Power – I Can't Get No Satisfaction - (The Rolling Stones).
The Polyphonic Spree – Lithium - (Nirvana) - The Spree make Nirvana sound jubilant, but it makes me a little uncomfortable hearing the lead singer of the Polyphonic Spree utter the line, "I'm so horny."
William Shatner – Common People (Pulp) and The Kooks – All That She Wants (Ace of Base).
Mark Ronson with Ol' Dirty Bastard and Tiggers – Toxic - (Britney Spears) - It's possibly a bad sign when ODB makes a song a million times sexier than Britney Spears.
Ladytron – Oops Oh My (Tweet) and Tom Waits – Return of Jackie & Judie (The Ramones).
Ben Folds – Get Your Hands Off My Woman - (The Darkness) - Ben Folds has the uncanny ability to pick a song to cover that just seems such a ridiculous choice, but then he just tears it up. Both this and "Bitches Ain't Shit" are phenomenal.
Hanson – Optimistic - (Radiohead) - Yes, the former tween stars cover Radiohead, and I'm not afraid to admit that they do a very good job on it. If you can hear past the screaming fans (Hanson fans are terrifying), their harmonies and twang of an accent give this cover a nice smooth touch.
The Pipettes – I Think We're Alone Now - (Tiffany) - The Pipettes make Tiffany's face dancing mall tour anthem into an around the fire at camp sing-along. On a side note, I saw Tiffany the other week at Pride Fest here in Chicago, and face danced with a few hundred gay men. Was it the highlight of my week? I think so.
Dolly Parton – Shine - (Collective Soul) - Yes, the country star with a big rack covers Collective Soul. Dare I say I enjoy her bluegrass jam more than the original?
Iron & Wine – Such Great Heights - (The Postal Service) and Johnny Cash – Hurt - (Nine Inch Nails).
Ryan Adams – Wonderwall – (Oasis) - I get a lot of crap for liking this cover. It seems to be a love it or hate it cover, and I always appreciate how such simple changes to the song make it sound entirely different. It just makes me want to give Ryan Adams a hug and tell him life isn't so bad.
Posted by Lisa White on Jul 10, 2008 @ 7:48 am
