Cover songs - the good and the bad

For as long as music has been around, artists have covered other artists' stuff. Perhaps it's in our human nature to steal things, or perhaps (to cast humanity in a better light) we just want to experience other artists' emotions by playing their work. Whatever the reason for the existence of cover songs, for the most part, they are a worthwhile art form and they aren't going anywhere. Bands love performing cover material, people love hearing good songs performed by other bands, and sometimes, the cover version can be as successful as the original; in other words, it's also a quick way to make a buck, as some of the artists on this blog can attest to.

Personally, I think cover songs are great, but only if they reveal new depths and dimensions to the song that weren't already there.

An example would be Bill Withers "Ain't no Sunshine."



The original song is a great R&B classic, but transformed through Woven Hand's gothic power, you can really feel the lack of sunshine. And that haunting banjo in the background gives the song a mournful Southern touch.



There are some songs a band should never touch though, like Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal." Here's Alien Ant Farm's rockier take on the song. Sorry, I couldn't embed this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cJB2Z_aTEQ

Let us compare to the far superior MJ song (again, no embedding on this one):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WjOn5TNjBM

There's not much else to say about cover songs. Everyone has their favorites, and so I think I'll list mine in no particular order:

"Wonderwall" by Ryan Adams (originally performed by Oasis) - the original tune is alright, but the high British accents, courtesy of the Gallagher brothers, can be like nails on a chalkboard to me. Adams cuts the song down to the bare emotional core, with his tender voice and acoustic guitar. It surpasses the original in every way.

"Personal Jesus" by Johnny Cash (originally performed by Depeche Mode) - Cash's late career comeback rested a lot on his cover versions, in particularly Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt." For this cover, Cash transforms Depeche Mode's synth-drenched gothic hit, into an acoustic ballad about his own personal Savior, Jesus.

"Nobody 'Cept You" by 16 Horsepower (originally performed by Bob Dylan) - As any musician worth his salt can attest to, Dylan songs are a joy to cover. 16 Horsepower decided to pick an obscure Dylan song off of his box set "Biograph." The original is an interesting little carnival-esque ditty that highlights Dylan's country phase, but the cover gives it an epic, heartfelt power lacking in the original.

"The Ghost of Tom Joad" by Rage Against the Machine (originally performed by Bruce Springsteen) - It's a testament to a song's power when it can be reinterpreted any number of different ways. This song, as performed by Bruce Springsteen, is a quiet acoustic song about poverty and injustice in the world. While he performs it with quiet resignation, Rage performs it with righteous anger. Both versions are among both artist's best songs.

All of these songs can be found on www.youtube.com or www.lala.com if you're interested.

As for the worst, well, there's too many to choose. I'll just list three:

"Under Pressure" by The Used and My Chemical Romance (originally performed by David Bowie and Freddie Mercury) - This is how you destroy a perfectly good song: by replacing two world-renowned artists (and for good reason) with two sub-par bands that will be forgotten in five years.

"Just Like Heaven" by Goldfinger (originally performed by The Cure) - Again, who is Goldfinger? There's only one answer: they're not The Cure, nor should they try to be!

"Landslide" by The Dixie Chicks (originally performed by Fleetwood Mac) - The cover that nobody asked for is here! Seriously, this song has been covered to death, and by far better artists. This version adds nothing of worth to the original.

And now, for your listening/viewing pleasure, two worthwhile unique covers I just recently found:

Radiohead covering The Smiths' "Headmaster Ritual"



Antony and the Johnsons covering Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" (the video's OK, but the song's a trip)



Give me feedback, ya'll! What are some of your most/least liked cover songs? Looking forward to it!