Some people love them. Some people hate them. I've always been pretty solidly in column A. I think a well-chosen cover can be a nice endcap to an album, or a good energy builder at a live show. I like hearing a new take on an old theme. Some covers are very faithful. Some take so many liberties you can barely recognize the original song. And some are hilarious send-ups of the source material. But I'm guaranteed to give a band a shot if I see they've covered a song I love. It shows at the very least that they might have similar taste in music, so that common gruond may lead to appreciation for the band itself.
So, here is my top 5 (of the moment) cover songs.
1. Jimmy Eat World - New Religion (Duran Duran)
This song was on the Duran Duran tribute album, released in 1997. This is one of my favorite tribute albums, consisting mainly of punk, emo, and ska bands doing renditions of the most popular Duran Duran songs. As Duran Duran was my favorite band when I was a kid, and because I've always loved a cover song, I picked this CD up the moment I discovered it. It led me to quite a few bands: Home Grown, Riverfenix (later renamed Fenix TX), and the Wrens. But the best thing it did for me was introduce me to the band that remains a favorite to this day. Jimmy Eat World became an obsession after hearing their dramatic interpretation of one of my favorite Duran Duran songs. This one definitely falls into the category of "taking liberties", as the song is barely recognizable. Some of the lyrics are there, and a few intonations of the melody, but that's about it. JEW's version is an emo masterpiece, back when emo was about raw emotion, rather than mewling schoolchildren cutting themselves for attention. I still get chills at the screaming, emotional crescendo of the song. Brilliant.
This song led me to search everywhere for a full album from the band. I placed special orders, asked my friends, and pestered the record stores for any information until I finally had "Static Prevails" in my hands. I figured, anyone who could grab me with a cover had to have engaging original material as well. And I wasn't disappointed. "Static Prevails" remains one of my favorite albums of all time.
2. sELF - What A Fool Believes (The Doobie Brothers)
This is a remarkably faithful cover, considering it was recorded entirely with toy instruments. From sELF's fourth album, Gizmodgery (2000), this song is a quirky, fun interpretation of a classic Doobie Brothers tune. The song is actually very straightforward, lacking a lot of the wacky interludes for which sELF is known. Matt Mahaffey (the primary creative force behind the band) stays very true to the source material. But he still puts his individual stamp on the song, with his quirky, jangly keyboards, and the arrangement of toy instruments injects the song with childlike fascination and exuberance. sELF is known for wearing their influences on their sleeve, and they proudly declare their influences in the form of covers. They've reinterpreted songs from Liz Phair, Prince, They Might Be Giants, Depeche Mode, and Failure. But this one is absolutely my favorite.
3. Reel Big Fish - Take On Me (a-ha)
For me this was a real dilemma. I knew I wanted Reel Big Fish on this list. But would I choose this song, or their lounge version of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf?" In the end I chose this song, because the latter was funny, but lacked substance beyond the novelty of the song. "Take On Me" is another faithful interpretation of the original, but it's injected with the humor that RBF deliver on their original material. Singer Aaron Barrett can deliver a comic twist simply by changing the inflection of his voice, and he does so frequently with this song. The song appeared in the movie BASEketball (1998), and despite how seriously a-ha took the song, it's delivered with a manic energy and humor that fits right in with the movie.
4. The Sundays - Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)
I've always felt that the Rolling Stones wrote some great songs, but I never liked the way they performed them. Weird, I know, and I'm sure purists and fanatics would have something to say about that. But I just prefer their songs when other bands are performing them. I was down to two choices here. I almost went with Jane's Addiction's take on "Sympathy," but in the end, Harriet Wheeler's angelic voice won out. Jangly, sugary guitars and ethereal vocals combine to make this one of the most beautiful renditions of a Stones song, ever. It's from the Sunday's second album, Blind, and it perfectly rounds out an altogether beautiful album.
5. Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Eurhythmics)
I know this one would probably draw plenty of sneers and scoffing from the music snobs and industry elite, but Mr. Manson has taken an iconic song of the 80s and turned it into a creepy, evil fantasmagoria. From the "Smells Like Children" ep, the song sounds as if it was lifted directly from his own nightmares, replete with hellish moaning and wailing, discordant guitars, and sinister growls. Yet, through it all the integrity of the original remains intact. Despite all the trappings, it's a pretty faithful interpretation.
4. The Sundays - Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)
I've always felt that the Rolling Stones wrote some great songs, but I never liked the way they performed them. Weird, I know, and I'm sure purists and fanatics would have something to say about that. But I just prefer their songs when other bands are performing them. I was down to two choices here. I almost went with Jane's Addiction's take on "Sympathy," but in the end, Harriet Wheeler's angelic voice won out. Jangly, sugary guitars and ethereal vocals combine to make this one of the most beautiful renditions of a Stones song, ever. It's from the Sunday's second album, Blind, and it perfectly rounds out an altogether beautiful album.
5. Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Eurhythmics)
I know this one would probably draw plenty of sneers and scoffing from the music snobs and industry elite, but Mr. Manson has taken an iconic song of the 80s and turned it into a creepy, evil fantasmagoria. From the "Smells Like Children" ep, the song sounds as if it was lifted directly from his own nightmares, replete with hellish moaning and wailing, discordant guitars, and sinister growls. Yet, through it all the integrity of the original remains intact. Despite all the trappings, it's a pretty faithful interpretation.
