Cowboy Junkies to Blondie
The Clash2 to Cellos
R.E.M. to Talking Heads
R.E.M. – (covering) “First We Take Manhattan”
The band improved on Cohen’s beautiful, lyrical song about a crazed fanatic.
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"First We Take Manhattan"
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Blondie – (covering) “Ring of Fire”
The song describes the experience of falling in love … or the lure of an erogenous zone … or the agony of a different fiery and painful “ring.”
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"Ring of Fire"
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Rod Stewart – (covering) “Tom Traubert’s Blues (Waltzing Matilda)”
His raspy vocals make each of these versions interesting and very listenable.
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"Tom Traubert’s Blues (Waltzing Matilda)"
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Talking Heads – (covering) “Take Me to The River”
This pulsating, rhythmic, funky, idiosyncratic rendition by Talking Heads stands far above most other versions.
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"Take Me to The River"
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The Commitments – (covering) “Take Me to The River”
This band, derived from fictional musicians, returned the song to its roots of joyous soul.
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"Take Me to The River"
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Reina del Cid – (covering) “Harvest Moon”
We know where the music's playin', Let's go out and feel the night.
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"Harvest Moon"
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George Thorogood and The Destroyers – (covering) “Who Do You Love?”
Backed by a propulsive beat and fiery guitar playing, this rendition has become one of the most popular versions.
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"Who Do You Love?"
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Elise LeGrow – (covering) “Who Do You Love”
A slow stew of bluesy guitar and piano, along with a sultry delivery.
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"Who Do You Love"
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Marianne Faithfull – (covering) “The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan”
Her voice perfectly reflected the sordid and sorry subject matter of the songs.
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"The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan"
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Maryell Finisterre – (covering) “Strangers in The Night”
She’s a modern-day minstrel, coming from a “very ancient and very human tradition.”
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"Strangers in The Night"
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Grace Jones – (covering) “She’s Lost Control”
She reworked this classic song by Joy Division, and made it even more disturbing.
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"She’s Lost Control"
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Spoek Mathambo – (covering) “Control” (aka “She’s Lost Control”)
When comparing late ‘70s UK music with contemporary South African music, he noted a similar “sense of angst and darkness.”
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"Control"
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Connie Talbot – (covering) “Three Little Birds”
Connie became the youngest musician to make the UK Album charts, as well as the youngest musician to have a gold record.
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"Three Little Birds"
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Rammstein – (covering) “Das Modell”
This model moves in a very different world, and probably a more realistic one.
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"Das Modell"
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The Clash – (covering) “Police and Thieves”
This song became an anthem of sorts when riots broke out in London.
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"Police and Thieves"
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2Cellos – (covering) “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
This music will make you jump out of your plush seat, and start pogoing in the aisles.
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"Smells Like Teen Spirit"
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Hillbilly Moon Explosion – (covering) “Call Me”
Her vocals sound as robust and dynamic as those in the original.
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"Call Me"
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Sinead O'Connor – (covering) “Rainy Night in Soho”
She sings like an angel, or like a person who found the measure of her dreams on a rainy night.
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"Rainy Night in Soho"
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Cowboy Junkies – (covering) “I'll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive”
It’s as sparse and beautiful as John Lee Hooker’s original, but maybe a bit moodier.
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"I'll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive"
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Tulsi Gabbard – (covering) “Imagine”
Maybe Lennon would have advised the US to give Tulsi a chance.
I would.
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"Imagine"
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(Image source)
The following are links to all previous posts in this series:
Cover Versions – Music to Your Ears – "Posts 1~20"
Cover Versions – Music to Your Ears – "Posts 21~40"
