 | SOUNDTRACKING Cover Me - our favorite cover songs! Soundtracking is a weekly column featuring indie, alternative, and all around amazing music - published by music correspondent Laura Cushing on Gather.com. Soundtracking includes interviews, CD reviews, band and concert news, music trivia, playlists and much more!
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This week on Soundtracking: Cover Me - our favorite cover songs!
Some cover songs are truly awful - when Madonna covered 'American Pie,' I died a little inside. That lackluster disaster is a shining example of how very bad a cover song can be. But occasionally, there comes along a cover that's nearly as good as the original - or in some rare cases, even better! This week, Soundtracking presents a playlist of cover songs that really rock.
CLICK TO LOAD PLAYLIST - opens in a new window so you can listen while you read!
1. 99 Red Balloons - Goldfinger
Originally recorded by: Nena (99 Luftballoons)
You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons
With the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone
2. The Killers - Shadowplay
Originally recorded by: Joy Division
To the centre of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you
To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank, searching for you
Moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you
In a room with a window in the corner I found truth
Written and sung in 1979 by Ian Curtis of Joy Division, the lyrics reference suicide. Curtis hung himself a year later - he was only 23 years old at the time of his death. Many Joy Division songs have been covered by other artists since then. This one is a cover by the Killers that has been enjoying considerable airplay since its release.
3. I'm a Believer - Smash Mouth
Originally recorded by: The Monkees (written by Neil Diamond)
I thought love was
Only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else
But not for me
The Monkees had a number one hit in 1966 with their single I'm A Believer (the B-side of which was Steppin' Stone). This Smash Mouth cover appeared in the movie Shrek in 2001. It charted at number 25 in the Billboard Hot 100, but never rose any higher.
4. One Tin Soldier - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Originally recorded by: Original Caste (written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter)
Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley-folk below.
The most famous version of this song is the version recorded by Coven in 1971 for the film One Tin Soldier: The Legend of Billy Jack. Originally written as a protest song in the 60's, the height of popularity for this song was during the Vietnam War. This version is a cover by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, a punk cover band.
5. American Woman - Lenny Kravitz
Originally recorded by: The Guess WhoAmerican woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come hangin' around my door
I don't wanna see your face no more
This song began as a live jam at a 1970 show in Kitchener, Ontario. The Guess Who were about to play a second set, and inprovised some music to warm up the crowd. The lead singer added some lyrics and a song was born. The Lenny Kravitz version was recorded in 1999 for the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
6. Working Class Hero - Green Day
Originally recorded by: John Lennon / Plastic Ono BandAs soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
Written and recorded by John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Band, shortly after the breakup of the Beatles. This song is one of Lennon's most caustic political songs, exploring the isolation and hopelessness of the working class from childhood to adulthood. This Green Day cover appeared on the John Lennon tribute / benefit for Darfur called Instant Karma that was released in 2007. The song has been covered by many other famous artists, including Cyndi Lauper, Ozzy Osbourne, and Marilyn Manson.
7. Such Great Heights - Ben Folds
Originally recorded by: The Postal Service
I am thinking it's a sign that the freckles
In our eyes are mirror images and when
We kiss they're perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate that God himself
Did make us into corresponding shapes like
Puzzle pieces from the clay
This Postal Service song is still very popular among the indie crowd, and has made it into mainstream media via commericals (M & Ms) and movie soundtracks (Garden State). Ben Folds covered the song on Australian radio, using only a piano, forks, tin foil, and glass. He then went on to perform it live on his summer 2007 tour.
8. Hurt- Johnny Cash
Originally recorded by: Nine Inch Nails
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
"Hurt" was the final song released by Johnny Cash before his death in 2003. The video features images from Cash's life, and is a very moving epitaph. You can watch it here. The later recordings of Johnny Cash include many cover songs - and shouldn't be missed. "Hurt" was originally recorded by Nine Inch Nails in 1994.
9. Superstar - Sonic Youth
Originally recorded by: The Carpenters (written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett)
Long ago
and oh so far away
I fell in love with you
before the second show
This Sonic Youth cover appears on the Juno soundtrack, but was originally recorded on their Carpenters tribute album If I Were A Carpenter recorded in 1994. Normally I'm not a big Sonic Youth fan, but this cover's actually pretty decent. The song was originally titled 'Groupie Song', and was recorded under that title by Delaney and Bonnie in 1969. The Carpenters version was recorded in 1971, after they heard Bette Midler covering it on the Tonight show.
Orginially recorded by: The BeatlesLet me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields Forever is one of the classics of psychedelic rock. The 'Strawberry Fields' referenced in the song is a Salvation Army children's home in Liverpool where John Lennon used to go for garden parties as a boy. This cover version is from the Across the Universe movie soundtrack.
For More Cover Song Fun:
Cover vs Original - vote on which version is better!
Greatest (and worst) cover songs
Second Hand Songs - coversong database
20 Worst Cover Songs in Pop history - by Cracked
Wikipedia: Cover Songs - includes a 'most covered songs' section
What are your favorite cover songs? What is the worst cover song you've ever heard? Drop a comment and let us know!
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This Day In Music:
Be sure to join us every Monday-Friday for THIS DAY IN MUSIC, my new daily content series! Music history is very fascinating- join us for a daily look. Also includes a trivia question!
First Tracks Update:
Round two of First Tracks is currently underway! Be sure to vote for your favorites daily until March 31st!
CDs and promotional materials, interview and/or review requests can be sent to:
Soundtracking
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Email: Soundtracking@labarc.com / AIM: Lab Arc Designs
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| Laura Cushing, Music Correspondent - Soundtracking | ||||
Laura's column, 'Soundtracking' is published every Saturday in Gather Essentials:Music. Soundtracking is your guide to indie and alternative music -- featuring musician interviews, CD reviews, MP3 mixes, and discussions. Laura Cushing is a 37 year old writer from the New Jersey Pines. In addition to music journalism, she writes fiction and poetry. Keep up with Laura's music series by joining her network, or subscribing to her content. | ||||
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Comments: 41
American Pie is a song that should never be covered.
What did you think of the covers from the "I Am Sam" soundtrack. I was suprised that I liked so many of them as much as I did.
I'm pretty sure this should be Kitchener, Ontario.
I love the Hurt cover! I think Johnny Cash did a phenomenal job with this song and it just seems so real. My husband thinks the NIN version is better, but I debate that.
I also love the Sonic Youth cover of Superstar! They've really updated it. This is the first time I've heard it, but I'm sold.
I purchased the Across the Universe soundtrack a few weeks ago, and I'm pretty happy I did. I loved quite a few versions they produced. I love the "I Want to Hold Your Hand" TV Carpio sings on the album.
I haven't real cared for the Smash Mouth cover. My son really liked it because of Shrek, but I downloaded the original Monkees version.
Great article and I found some new music so that's a bonus!
Worst cover: William Shatner singing "Rocketman"
I nearly forgot about that Rocketman cover - wow, that was bad. Haha.. thanks for bringing back some (awful) memories!
--L
Here's An example
those are two of my favorite songs. i have to go check that out. Speaker Junkies did a great version of The Metro also. you can hear it on their myspace as well.
Will have to check out Speaker Junkies (makes a note), thanks!
I might have to check out the Sleepthief version.
As far as covers of Working Class Hero go i'm very fond of Marylin Manson's, though I don't know exactly what release it appears on.
Of things Ben Folds has touched I like the William Shatner cover of Pulp's Common People for which Folds served as Producer.
And Such Great Heights best refferenced its own title when covered by Iron and Wine for the Garden State soundtrack. And I'm even prepared to forgive and forget over its being used in an M&M commercial since his latest album was such a rich soiunding affair and some of that money must have been funneled into the studio for its recording.
But I think one of the best covers I've heard in the couple last years was System of a Down doing Berilin's Metro. Which I think you can find on the Lonely Day single.
great article, Laura
thanks!