“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: 'It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to.'" ~Jim Jarmusch
I've always had a thing for a good cover tune. Sometimes I just love hearing a new take on an old favorite. Sometimes a cover makes me fall in love with a song I didn't even like before. Making mix tapes (now cds) has always been a hobby/obsession of mine, and I've been working on the perfect mix of covers for awhile now. Recently a friend blogged about his ten favorite cover tunes. After reading his post I immediately had to sit down and make a list of MY favorites. It was a difficult task....there are so many good ones to pick from. Slowly I eliminated songs from the list, focusing on the ones I think are at least as good as the original song, if not better. I finally whittled it down to ten, painful though it was. These artists have all borrowed another artist's song and made it their own. Here's my list, in no particular order:
1. You're So Vain ~ Marilyn Manson covers Carly Simon
Written and performed by Carly Simon, released in 1972, it remains her biggest hit and her signature song. I grew up hearing it and always liked it well enough. Many people have covered it since, but I find the dark intensity of Manson's 2012 cover even more appealing than the original.
2. Hazy Shade of Winter ~The Bangles cover Simon & Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel released this single in 1966, and although I grew up listening to them I wasn't that familiar with this tune...that is UNTIL The Bangles covered it in 1987 for the soundtrack to the film Less Than Zero. This is one of those instances in which I find the cover version superior to the original recording. Much love to Simon & Garfunkel for their rhapsodic songwriting, but The Bangles bring this song to life.
3. Immigrant Song ~ Trent Reznor covers Led Zeppelin
Let me say right up front that I don't think this cover is necessarily better than the original (released in 1970)...but I do think it comes pretty darn close to being just as good. To be fair, it's hard to beat Zeppelin. This version recorded by Trent Reznor, along with Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, for the soundtrack of the 2011 film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo adds a frenetic edginess to the intensity of the original.
4. The Power of the Heart ~ Peter Gabriel covers Lou Reed
Quite honestly, I find the original, released by Reed in 2008, to be a dissonant mess and completely forgettable. But when Peter Gabriel recorded it for his all-cover album Scratch My Back in 2010, he elevated it to a haunting and achingly tender love song.
5. Love, Reign O'er Me ~ Pearl Jam covers The Who
Released by the Who in 1973 as part of their rock opera Quadrophenia, this song has always been a favorite of mine. It takes me to another place...it's transcendent...it's sublime. I never would have thought that anyone could do a cover that would do it justice. Eddie Vedder evidently felt the same way because he refused to record it for the soundtrack to the 2007 film Reign Over Me until he had Roger Daltry's blessing. I think he must have made Daltry proud.
6. Never My Love ~ Pete Yorn covers The Association
Though not written by them, the song is best known as a 1967 hit of The Association, a "soft-rock" band that made a career of singing cheesy breezy ballads. I never liked any of their music, including their rendition of this tune. It was recorded by many other easy-listening groups and pop artists over the years, none of whom did anything to improve it. Then a couple of years ago I discovered Pete Yorn's version (recorded for his Westerns EP in 2007) and it suddenly became one of my favorite love songs.
7. Big Yellow Taxi ~ The Counting Crows cover Joni Mitchell
My parents were teens in the 60's and huge folk music fans. They even spent their honeymoon (at the ages of 17 and 18) at the 1966 Newport Folk Festival. So I grew up listening to Joni, and I love her. I also grew up a nature girl...and this song in particular spoke to my love for all things wild and green and growing. Her original, recorded in 1970, is wonderful, but I actually prefer the 2002 funky yet soulful version by The Counting Crows.
8. When You Were Mine ~ Cyndi Lauper covers Prince
Written by Prince and released on his 1980 album Dirty Mind, the original is fast tempo, catchy classic early Prince...funky pop rock layered with his sexy falsetto. Cyndi Lauper recorded her cover for the release of her 1983 debut album She's So Unusual. The tempo is a bit slower, it's heavier on the synth, but I find it much more passionate than the original. I also love that she didn't change the gender of the lyrics, but left them as is.
9. Mad World ~ Gary Jules covers Tears for Fears
The new wave group Tears for Fears wrote this song and released it on their 1982 album The Hurting. It's up-tempo pop, heavy on the synthesizers and percussion. I didn't take much notice of it at the time. In 2002 Gary Jules covered it on the soundtrack for the film Donnie Darko. This version was slowed down and stripped down, darker, with just a piano and cello backing up the melancholy vocals...a style which is much more befitting of the lyrics than the original.
10. Hurt ~ Johnny Cash covers Nine Inch Nails
Written by Trent Reznor and recorded by Nine Inch Nails in 1995, the original sounds like a downward mental spiral set to music, which I find darkly beautiful. Evidently when Reznor was asked if Cash could cover the song, he was skeptical but gave his blessing. When he heard it though, he got goosebumps and cried...which is what happens to me whenever I hear it. Cash's version, and the accompanying video, enhance the feeling of loneliness and isolation and make it all the more poignant.
I hope you enjoyed my selections...maybe you discovered something new! I'd love to hear what your favorite covers are.
