[Updated on May 21, 2008] Doing a good cover is an artform. Arguments abound on what should and should not be done in a cover. When Hole covered Fleetwood Mac, for example, with their own noise polluted version of Gold Dust Woman I thought Stevie Nicks would die of mortification right on the spot. Of all the gall! But that's just the point. Some liked it. Others didn't.  Well, here's a list of some covers that I ... [+]

[Updated on May 21, 2008] Doing a good cover is an artform. Arguments abound on what should and should not be done in a cover. When Hole covered Fleetwood Mac, for example, with their own noise polluted version of Gold Dust Woman I thought Stevie Nicks would die of mortification right on the spot. Of all the gall! But that's just the point. Some liked it. Others didn't.

Well, here's a list of some covers that I found absolutely astounding - and for a lot of different reasons. For the most part, I look for difference in music - and intensity. I tend to like the bands that say it with feeling. Mind you, I don't mean a Phil Collins sort of bland ho-hum repeat yourself with melodrama feeling. Listen to this list and you'll know exactly what I do mean.

What follows is a song by song rundown of why these popped for me...

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Marylin Manson covering The Eurythmics.
A lot of people don't like this cover - and they don't like it with a passion. That alone speaks volumes for it. But I would argue that it has merit beyond the somewhat schocking departure from the original. Manson essentially redefined this pop culture classic in a way that will make us unable to ever listen to the original the same again. This means he essentially inserted himself into the pop cannon by adding his own statement on something already there. You can mange to dismiss the bulk of Manson's music while still acknowledging that he has a deserving place in rock history on the merit of this song alone.

Undone - The Sweater Song - Sonic Youth covering Weezer
I was in college when Weezer's sweater song hit the radio, and I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Here was a contemporary post-punk alternative band poking fun at "cool" people. But Weezer was cool, especially if you were an undergrad in Southern California at this time, so it just didn't hit with quite as much impact as when Sonic Youth put their edgy sense of humor to the task. I can no longer appreciate the original because the cover was so much better - that's how good it is.

Hello I Love You - The Cure covering The Doors
The original is a little on the goofy side, but that's not unusual for The Doors. It's still a catchy song though, and Jim Morrison's voice makes all his music sound like poetry no matter how simple or repetitious the lyrics. When The Cure takes it on, the song is already ground into pop culture familiarity. From the opening guitar riff, even with it's signature cure-ness, you know exactly what song is being sung - and you know that it's The Cure doing the singing. I admit though, I have trouble dismissing anything by The Cure. I've been tainted from decades of listening.

Shake the Disease - Hooverphonic covering Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode is a tough band to cover well. Their sound is so distinct that covers tend to veer too close to the original, so you find yourself wondering why bother listening to the cover band. But Hooverphonic also has managed to create a distinct sound very much their own. In this cover they attempt to blend the two. I wouldn't say it's totally successful, the final result doesn't sound entirely like either band, but the result is a great song to listen to none the less.

Losing My Religion - Tori Amos covering REM
Any fan of Tori's knows too well that she is not the least bit shy of covers (Over the Rainbow being an example of her willingness to go places few others will tread), so she's got a lot to chose from when one tries to consider a favorite. When I first heard this song I was a big fan of REM (they since blended into the radio-pop background for me, and there is little left of theirs that stands out enough for replay) so I had that uncomfortable sensation of re-hearing a well known song, a well-liked song, with a completely different tempo and attitude. I had to listen to it a few times (nothing unusual for Tori's work), but it stuck. It stuck a lot more solid than the original. I'm actually surprised that this song isn't more well known.

Proud Mary - Tina Turner covering Creedence Clearwater Revival
The version I have of this has Tina doing the song in two completely different genres. The first is with a classic rock approach, "soft" is how she describes it. Then she goes into overdrive and turns up the tempo a notch. The second half sounds more like gospel rock, intense and fast paced with some fun instrumental support. Neither of these fall into the "typical" styles of music I listen to, but Tina has that intensity that makes this song work. This is the sort of cover that Jazz and Blues bands became famous for - working within traditional and well known rhythms to create fresh and exhilarating improvised sounds.

Faith - Limp Bizkit covering George Michael
Let me just say up front that I can't stand Limp Bizkit. They exemplify exactly what I don't like about their category of music. And, yet, this cover is pure genius. It's no secret that George Michael is stuck on himself (which made his tiff with Elton John all the more entertaining - a regular Clash of the Titans those two). The original version implies it, but just doesn't go far enough. What Limp Bizkit did with this song was make it honest. Hearing it the first time I felt like I finally understood George Michael - as described by his own music - with just a little bit of tweaking...

Strange Fruit - Siouxsie and the Banshees covering Billie Holiday
I have a confession to make: I've never heard the original version of this song. I've heard about 10 different covers, but never the original. And, yet, I'm a huge Billie Holiday fan. 'Taint Nobody's Business and Crazy He Calls Me are two of my favorite songs. But Siouxsie Sioux is the original source of this song for me, and I haven't felt all that motivated to go and hunt down the original. Siouxsie's version is haunting to the extreme (something she excells at) and somehow soothing at the same time. I don't include this one because it's a great cover job. I include it because it's a great song and only after acknowledging that did I learn later it was a cover (after hearing it covered again and again by others).

Hungry Like the Wolf - Deftones covering Duran Duran
If you've never heard this cover, and if you're at all familiar with the Deftones (of course it doesn't occur to me to question your familiarity with Duran Duran or their ridiculously over-played pop hit) then you simply won't believe this song the first time you hear it. It's absolutely hysterical. Now if that were all that qualified it, then this would be a list of Weird Al's greatest hits. But the cover stands on its own amazingly well. In fact, I'm stupified that this song didn't hit the radio big time and become an instant cult classic. But, of course, there's no accounting for taste (not even my own).

Sinking - The Shroud covering The Cure
I can't help myself - I have to include a Cure original in here. It's simply not enough that I've already listed The Cure covering someone else, it's imperative that something written by Robert Smith make the cut (did he write it? I could be wrong on that). It's a great cover though. There's a whole album of Cleopatra bands from the late 90s doing covers of The Cure called, aptly, 100 Tears. In fact, this playlist originally listed Bell Book & Candle's version of Primary. But The Shroud covering Sinking has both a better band (more polished, more haunting, more gothic) and a better song (debatable, yes). Having a female voice cover Robert Smith, considering my own relationship with that band (all in my head, of course, as I've never seen them live), touches me in places better not mentioned. Still, besides all the talk about me, it really is a great cover.

Ziggy Stardust - Bauhaus covering David Bowie
Someone once told me that Bowie himself preferred Bauhaus' version of this song to his own. Whether that's true or not, nobody can play this song the way they do. I love Bowie, and I do love the original, but Bauhaus was on the top of their act when they did this cover - and for this band that's saying a lot.

Wonderwall - Cat Power covering Oasis
I can't stand Oasis. This is an exageration - I listen to them, sometimes even put them on playlists, but to me they typify where Alternative started to go bad. Whinier, more self-centered - too serious and therefor too often bordering on ridiculous. It's ok to be serious if you can play good music - but Oasis can't. Cat Power, however, does serious as well as anybody. Minimalist, rough, simple, but powerful and overwhelming. If you're not familiar with this band, then I highly recommend you pick up one of their albums. Chan Marshall's voice is just plain amazing.

Moonlight Sonata - Depeche Mode covering Frederic Chopin
Perhaps including this is just a little bit cheeky, but I couldn't help it. Think about it: one of the best gothic bands, from the very heart of the gothic movement, covering one of the darkest piano sonatas in all of history. And they nail it. It's beautiful. And it's vintage Depeche Mode. If you're one of those who doesn't "get" classical music, who doesn't understand how something can move you without some obvious lyrics to sing along with, listen to this cover. This is a band that gets it.

These are a few of my favorites. There are, of course, many more. But, please, share your thoughts. Share your own favorites. And while you're at it, if you're into covers, there's a great website that has made looking them up easy. It's called The Covers Project at www.coversproject.com

Enjoy...

--nyn [-]