Me And Bobby McGee [Deep Cover]

While this song is pretty much Janis Joplin's signature song, yes, it's a Deep Cover. Originally written by Kris Kristofferson and originally recorded by Rodger Miller (Who?). Yes, Bobbi had a sex change and became Bobby for Janis. The song was actually covered by Kenny Rogers, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Gordon Lightfoot, Bill Haley and The Comets, Sam Sham and the Pharaohs and Jerry Lee Lewis before Ms. Joplin ever got her mitts on it.

It's been covered by like a million other people since then as well, including a surprisingly good take by Jennifer Love Hewitt. Let's face it, this song is like the town floozy. Everyone takes a turn at it, but everyone only talks about the one who did it best.

Firework

I worry about Katy Perry. She has projectiles from her mommy melons way too often. Perhaps if she heard this R&B take on Firework by Ahmir she'd call down a bit and stop shooting things from her nipples. Then again maybe not.

Need You Now

Okay, I'll admit that I'm not a fan of country pop. But some how I like this Lady Antebellum song. I love however this soulful R&B take by Ahmir of "I Need You Now." It makes me feel kinda funny, like when I used to climb the rope in gym class.

Rock and Roll All Night

Here's a cover genre I'm going to bet you've never heard of before. It's called dictionaraoke.

"This site features parodies of popular songs using karaoke-style backing music with vocals provided by audio pronunciation samples from online dictionaries." So it's 100% electronic, especially the vocals. There's a 100 or so of these, all free for the downloading. Interesting, if not good. Here's a cover by Ball2000 doing Kiss. You wanted the best, you got something else entirely!

Girl You Want

In 1985 Emmett Brown asked "Why are things so heavy in the future?" Why? Because in the future SoundGarden will cover Devo, that's why!

Little Red Corvette

Ever wonder what Little Red Corvette would sound like as a folk song instead of sung by the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince? Here's Paul Kelly doing his version.

Also I always knew Prince wrote some damn dirty lyrics, but I didn't realize how dirty they were until I actually could understand them in this cover. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, the Little Red Corvette is a metaphor for a girl's HooHaa. I know I just ruined your childhood memories of this song. But don't shoot the messenger. Okay?

Angel Of Harlem

I honestly expected this to suck, but ... Uhm, well it's U2 being covered by the Wiggles. With no tongue in cheek. 

Tainted Love [Deep Cover]

Yes, Tainted Love is a very Deep Cover. Best known as the signature song of Soft Cell in the 1980's, it was originally recorded by Motown singer Gloria Jones in 1964 and failed to chart in the both the US and UK. Listening to the original it sounds more akin to "I Will Survive" than the Soft Cell version of the same song. Even the trademark "BUM BUM" is barely noticeable. 

The Final Count Down

It's the final count down! Do doodt doot do! Do doodt doot do! Admit it, it's a guilty pleasure song for everyone alive in the 80's. So here's a new version of the Europe song by Furillo from the Metalliska compilation Cover CD.

Don't Stop The Sandman [Rock Sugar / Journey & Metallica]

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If you listen to just one cover this year, make it this one. My second featured cover by Rock Sugar, lyrics by Journey, music by Metallica, lead vocals by Wakko Warner. Sounds like an April Fool's joke but it's not.

Friday

Okay first if you haven't heard the original version if Friday by Rebecca Black, you're not missing anything. In fact you're most likely better off for never having heard it.

Having seen the video only once, I felt my IQ actually lower while watching it. It's like Winnie Cooper's 13 year old daughter, with the voice of the robot from Small Wonder, is singing lyrics half written by the guy from LFO, who's now on Ritalin and has become a pedophile and the other half of the lyrics are by Ralph Wiggum. "We so excited" Really?!? "Me Fail English, that's unpossible!" On top of that, the so called "Hot Video Babes" are 12 and have braces and ... AND ... AND! There's a rap break down 3/4 of the way through the song. I've never wanted Miley Cyrus to kick someones ass so badly before.

One of the seven signs of the Apocalypse I swear. Anyhoot, out of the wreckage, comes Kyle Puccia (AKA Epic Mullet Guy) who turns it into a emo piano ballad. You can download it for free at http://kylepuccia.com/

Istanbul (Not Constantinople) [Deep Cover]

A Deep Cover is a cover song so well known, most people don't know it's a cover. Such is the case for this This Might Be Giants classic. Originally done by the Four Lads, Istanbul (Not Constantinople) has become popular enough to get it's own segement in a Tiny Toons Adventure. If that's not big time, I don't know what is.

If you're not familiar with the Four Lads, not worries. I have no idea who they are either, other than Candian Music Hall Of Famers, eh?

Something I Can Never Have

Some chick fronted Christian band covering Nine Inch Nails? Blasphemy! No wait, actually FlyLeaf does a pretty good job. Surprised me too.

I Believe In a Thing Called Love

Hayseed Dixie (Pronounced AC/DC with a severe southern accent) is simply one of my favorite cover bands, putting a bluegrass spin on rock classics. This time they went with a little something more modern covering The Darkness. No falsetto here folks, just banjo pickin's goodness.

Don't You Want Me

Normally I hide the videos, but this one is so fulled with creamy 80's Nougat, I just had to. I'm sure the video is ten times more entertaining than the movie it comes from, Take Me Home Tonight. Did anyone actually see that movie? Anyway after seeing this video, as much as I hate Topher Grace,  if they ever decide to remake Back To the Future, he's allowed to be in it. Okay maybe not Back to the Future, but Teen Wolf.

So here's Atomic Tom covering the Human League.