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8:36 PM
There is a difference between covers and what Glee sings. Sorry, Gleektards for the brash comment - but a cover in a non-broadway with a story line sense counts as making your own sound with a much loved previous song. You will receive hate for it but at the same time you will gain a whole new following and respect depending on how good the cover is. Behold my top 10. (and in no particular order)
Mr. Bright Side
Original by The Killers
Cover by Le Kid
A common denominator in song covers, I find, is the closeness of the melody to the actual accompaniment, if a song can become sing-songy to a more complicated accompaniment or vice versa, that is a just cause in making it sound more original for the cover band. Le Kid succeeds with Mr. Brightside because of the more rocker sound to a, as a friend said, a more "DDR sound." Plus, I'm just obsessed with the song - gender switching is another one of my favorite cover denominators.
Womanizer
Original by Britney Spears
Cover by Lily Allen
It's the same case with this, a more rhythmic note to note by Lily Allen seems more effective to be sing-songy versus the danceable, yet always fun and classic, Britney Spears. Lily's version is slightly down a few beats and her tone of voice definitely sounds more wry and a little sarcastic than Britney's seductive delivers. It's so good I'm posting it a second time!
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Original by Beyonce Knowles
Cover by Mr. Little Jeans
As if I need to plug Ms. Birkenes any further on this blog with almost under ten songs under her belt, she has to go and make this epic, lo-fi version of Beyonce. Lowering the beat doesn't so much make it more singable than it already is, but gives the song more of a chill sound than the hectic sound of the original.
Street Spirit
Original by Radiohead
Cover by Eliza Lumley
Sometimes all it takes is a really trained ear and great taste to cover something 90s emo and Tim Burton-ify it. That's what Eliza Lumley's goal was, somewhat, when she made the album "She Talks in Maths: Interpretations of Radiohead." "I was a choral scholar at Cambridge, doing Palestrina, Tallis and Byrd, and I think that style suits the Radiohead material really well. The lyrics are so fantastic; quite hard and angular - and the music is so beautiful when it's stripped bare. I think I've discovered other sides to the songs in the process." This is me not complaining considering her voice just soars during the "And fade out again" which feels like wind versus Thom Yorke's (as much as I have loved his musical contributions to Velvet Goldmine) angst. Is angst something that makes the soul slightly soar or grounds you in your misery? It's all personal choice. And according to my friends, this cover is even better than the original.
Toxic
Original by Britney Spears
Cover by CallMeKat
Again, this is so good it needs a repeat. Danish goddess Katrine Ottosen turns one of the most covered (and successful) Britney songs into a lo-fi tango. Every so often I need the maddening instrumentation of Britney, but the hipster simplicity of Katrine just feels right on a rainy day.
My Body is a Cage
Original by Arcade Fire
Cover by Sara Lov
Sara Lov's perfect dream pop, stripped down and airy, is the perfect contradiction to Arcade Fire's almost theatrical operatic angst of "My Body is a Cage." Sometimes all it takes is a pained singing voice and a piano versus massive accompaniment to get the point across. Oh, she gets the point across and if it made me a little scared and cry at first listen, it will make you cry.
Brand New Key
Original by Melanie
Cover by The Dollyrots
Kelly Ogden has a voice of summer, bad-assness and attitude ... blend that with a classic 70s single in Melanie's "Brand New Key" and yes, your face has indeed been imploded. There's not much else to say. IMPLOSION!
Plus: check out Kristine Tuna's cover of Tegan and Sara's "When I Get Up (I Want You)" free download at last.fm Such a beautiful voice is finally tackling the sometimes grating Quinn harmonies.
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