She Drives Me Crazy [Cover to Cover]

You know for a one hit wonder, Fine Young Cannibals sure has had a lot of covers of it's one hit. There of course is the previously posted Sharon Van Etten version.

 Then there's this punk version by Rhythm Collison ... 

Well of course there's an Acapella cover, by the Flying Pickets. 

Gotta have the metal version, here by Bliss.

And then there's this country version by Dolly Parton ...

I told you, I love me some banjo covers, and I totally blame that on Kermit the Frog. Who of course used no banjos when he covered the song with Ms. Piggy ...

I Walk The Line

Back in the day there was a big stink raised because Chris Daughtrywasn't original enough when he preformed Johnny Cash's "Walk The Line" on American Idol. What was the fuss? He covered the song in a fashion similar to Live. Really? Calling an American Idol unoriginal is like complaining there's too much bread in your toast. Anyway here is Live's take on the track.

Everywhere

Remember Vanessa Carlton? She was Will Smith's side kick on that TV show? No, that was a different Carlton. Well if you don't remember her either, you might vaguely remember this song, covered here by this years Warped Tour alumni, Yellowcard.

Under Pressure

If you even say "Hey this sounds a lot like that Vanilla Ice Song" I swear to god I will disembowel your favorite stuffed animal from when you were four and leave it's head on a pike and then light it on fire and then urinate on it to put it out, because seriously ... 

Here's The Used and My Chemical Romance covering the Queen classic "Under Pressure."

Love Rollercoaster [Red Hot Chili Peppers / Ohio Players]

---

The Acadamy Awards occasionally overlooks cinematic brilliance. Such was the case with "Beavis and Butthead Do America." It had all sorts of cool stuff, including one dude who looked and sounded suspiciously like Hank Hill. There was also this Ohio Players cover by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the soundtrack, back when movie soundtracks used to mean something.

Bangarang

Dubstep covered Acapella, in dutch. Sure ... why the heck not? It's just refreshing to hear Skrillex and not wonder if 2, twenty year old fax machines are making sweet, sweet love.

 So here's Dario Fo Choir covering Skrillex.

 

I Will Always Love You

Texas Chainsaw Orchestra is an Orchestra from Texas that play chainsaws as musical instruments. Same days these just write themselves you know? Anyway covering the Polly Parton original, "I Will Always Love You" here ... dammit Now I forgot their name.

Baby Got Back [Johnathan Coulton / Sir Mix-A-Lot]

---

You know what? I have to admit it. Every freaking time someone covers a rap song with Banjos, I think it's like ... an LA Face with an Oakland booty. 

So here's internet nerd alt-folk TMBG opening act Jonathan Colton covering Sir Mix A Lot.

Wait and Bleed

Slipknot ... covered by Hanson?!?

Is this some kinda of April Fool's gag? Oh ... yes, kinda of course it totally is. In 2011 Hanson pulled one over on their fans leading them to believe they were releasing an entire album of Slipknot covers. As proof they offered grainy leaked cellphone video on YouTube of them covering "Wait and Bleed."

Not the greatest audio quality here, but still ... rubber duckin' weird in an awesome kinda way.

Pour Some Sugar On Me

It's not a secret. Every actor secretly wants to be a rock star. Remember The Bacon Brothers? 30 Odd Foot Of Grunt?  That album Eddie Murphy released in the 80's? Anyway when the chance to play a rock star in a movie comes along, it must be hard to say no. That's my theory on how "Rock of Ages" got made because I've heard nothing but shitty reviews about it. 

The review over at IndieWire states "'Rock of Ages' will make you want to raise your arms...and then immediately plunge your fingers into your eyeballs for salvation (you can go back for seconds to rescue your ears)." 

Alas I'll let you judge for yourself.  So here's Tom Cruise giving his take on the Def Leopard classic, "Pour Some Sugar On Me."  I mean I'm not going to tell you he sounds like Mickey Mouse with Nasal congestion on a poorly mixed track. 

Hard To Handle [Deep Cover]

It's amazing how many bands' "signature" songs are actually covers. For example Aretha Franklin's "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." was originally by Otis Redding. Today's Deep Cover is also an Otis Redding original, covered here by the Black Crows, "Hard to Handle" originally recorded by Redding in 1968 reached #38 on the Billboard R&B charts and #51 on the pop charts. And you thought he was just the "Shitting on the Dock of The Bay" guy. Sitting! I meant Sitting!

 

Lovers In a Dangerous Time

Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers In A Dangerous Time" was ranked by CBC radio as the 11th greatest Canadian single of all time. This cover was also the first top 40 hit, all the way back in 1992, for Canadian band Barenaked Ladies. So if you get a slight maple taste listening to this track, that's why.

Do You Really Want To Hurt Me

Last year I went to the Rock and Roll all of Fame when they had their special "Women Who Rock" exhibit. It wasn't bad I suppose, but they over looked some obvious choices ... Like Alice Cooper, Marylin Manson, Twisted Sister, Catherine Wheel and Alice in Chains.

Also over looked, Violent Femmes. Here they are covering the Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?"

She Don't Use Jelly

Remember the 90's? When excess was judged in palooza's? Those were magical times. Lollapalooza, HomerPalooza, and of course Lounge-A-Palooza, a CD of Lounge style covers and other songs. 

From that album, here's the trio known as the Ben Folds Five covering the Flaming Lips' "She Don't Use Jelly."

Born This Way

Country band, Little Big Town apparently has an on going series on their YouTube channel called "Scattered Smoothered and Covered" an obvious riff on the Hootie and the Blowfish album of all covers with the exact same name, which obviously lifted it's name from the Waffle Hizzy menu.

Anyway, banjos. Every song can be made better with banjos. Here's "Born this Way" sounding less Lady Gaga and more Lady Antebellum.

Christine Sixteen

Once upon a time it was kinda okay for songs to be about sex with girls under the age of consent. Winger's "Seventeen", Motorhead's "Jailbait", Sam Cooke "Only 16", The Beatles "I Saw Her Standing There," DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince "Parent's Just Don't Understand"  and well pretty much every song by Chuck Berry.

The Knights In Satan's Service (AKA KISS) contributed with "Christine Sixteen." Here's that Chris Hanson favorite as covered by the Gin Blossoms.

Beast of Burden

If you ever just wanna make out with some one for an entire afternoon, you need to have a Big Head Todd and The Monsters playlist in your iTunes library for the soundtrack. Slow jam band goodness, without getting firsky enough to want to bump uglies. Love this group. Here they are tackling the Rolling Stones' Beast of Burden.

 

Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right ... a hall of fame caliber recording artist finds himself with out a hit record so he releases a album of contemporary covers ... Johnny Cash's "American I - V", Paul Anka's "Rock Swings," Pat Boone's "In Metal Mood" and of course Glen Cambpell's "Meet Glen Campbell."

Here's the Rhinestone Cowboy covering those American Idiots, Green Day.

Call Me, Maybe

Did I get ahead of that whole youtube cover of Goyte "Somebody I Used to Know" Facebook trend or what? Seems like I get a new one in my feed every 6.3 hours. I'm tired of the song and I've only heard the original like once.

So I'm hoping to stay ahead of the curve here, and here's the first cover of your next earworm, Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" covered by Alex Goot, Dave Days and Chad Sugg.

Billie Jean

The Civil Wars are the other duo with a member last named White with terrible hair and early 80's porn star 'stache. They are not married and they are not brother or sister. As far as I can tell they're not siblings married to each other either. They're a country group, I felt mentioning that last part was important. Here they are covering the King Of Pop ... and Foghat.

Hotel Califonia

I swear there's like a never ending battle between Dave Grohl, Jack White, and Chris Cornell to release music under as many different band names as possible. It's prolly a $1 bet too, like in that Eddie Murphy movie before he started churning out crap on a stick.

Anyway here's Mr. Cornell solo preforming under his own name, which is entirely different than when he proformed solo as the Nightwatchman. He covers the Eagles classic Hotel California, which is not to be confused with the Nerf Herder song, Motel California. 

Complicated

Why write a snarky intro when the artist covering Avril's "Complicated," Josh Woodward (aka CheEsy) has already done it for me?

"Ten years ago today, the deepest and most beautiful song in the history of Western civilization was unleashed onto an unsuspecting world. Herein, I attempt to pay tribute to this work of art, in the most respectful and heartfelt way I can."

One More Night

I'm a lyrics guy myself, hence my love of covers. Of course the music matters too, but good gut wrenching lyrics can make up for lack of musical talent. This, to me, is how Bob Dylan had a career. I know I'll get lynched for saying that, but it's true he's a mediocre musician at best, but lyricly, he's the bomb. I'd also throw Phil Collins into that group. I know I'll get lynched for that too. But he's a good song writer, and a half way decent musician.

Case in point, here's former Verucca Salt lead singer Nina Gordon covering Phil Collins's lite FM hit, one more night. It's no where near as good as her cover of Straight Out Of Compton, but still, good none the less.

Oh, no wait I have to redact my opinion on Phil Collins's musical abilities. He's one of the most bad ass musicians on the planet, but only because of that drum thing from "In The Air Tonight." I mean seriously, those 5 seconds of music or so should have it's own display in the rock Hall of Fame.

Fix You

I actually thought I posted this one many moons ago, because it's one of two songs I've ever heard, cover or not, that has ever evoked genuine tears from me without other stimulus. And the richer the sound system I hear it on, the more likely I am to have that response again. Here's Street Corner Symphony covering Coldplay.

 

Fight For Your Right (To Party)

"Mom busted in and said 'what's that noise?' I said mom 'you're just jealous it's Coldplay covering the Beastie Boys!'"


RIP MCA. You fought the good fight, which was, of course, was for the right to party.