Cover Me

First of all, I have to thank you for the incredible response to the contest I’m running to promote the Motion Comics on behalf of my husband. He and I really, really appreciate your participation and your feedback. And if you haven’t entered yet, what are you waiting for? $50 SEPHORA GIFTCARD UP FOR GRABS.)

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I’m in a bit of a music rut lately, and I therefore solicited the guidance of all-knowing Twitter yesterday about people’s favorite cover songs. (I love cover songs. And making inconsequential decisions based upon information gleaned from Twitter. Whatever. I don’t care who knows it.) I subsequently fell down a crazy rabbit hole of iTunes purchases/YouTube video searches, as I listened to all the new stuff that was being suggested. I’m sharing my own favorites, and the responses I received with you here in the event that you, too, are looking for new music and/or share my unrepentant love of cover songs. Because really, it's too good not to share.

Here are ten covers that are in constant rotation on my iPod:

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" – Tori Amos (Nirvana)-- Sometimes, when I’m driving and this song pops up on shuffle, I try to sing along. I suspect that if anyone were ever to secretly record my yowling whisper-shrieks, I would become an instant YouTube sensation. I like to think my viral video would garner me a cool nickname like “Nirvana Singing Driving Banshee,” and maybe I’d get free Munchkins at Dunkin’ Donuts when the employees would recognize me, and perhaps I’d achieve a modicum of fame in portions of Europe. I mean, whatever. I haven’t put that much thought into this, so it’s no big deal. I’m breezy.

"Run" - Leona Lewis (Snow Patrol) - I loved the stripped-down original, but man, am I ever a sucker for a big ol’ backing choir.

"I Will Survive" – Cake (Gloria Gaynor) – The less said about the tragicomic tale of woe involving me repeatedly playing this after a breakup in college, the better. Except that I thought that it made it OKAY, and that I was SO not a GIANT WALKING CLICHÉ, because it was this version, instead of the original. Ugh. Shut up, Douchey College Me.

"Baby Got Back" - Jonathan Coulton (Sir Mix-a-lot) – I know the original by heart (I mean, really, who doesn’t?) but the first time I heard this, I was blown away by the clever cover. I like to think that wherever Sir Mix-A-Lot is right now, whether he’s rolling in his Mercedes, or expressing his displeasure with the beanpole dames in the magazines, he would approve.

"Hallelujah" – Jeff Buckley/Rufus Wainwright (Leonard Cohen) – Both are take-your-breath-away beautiful.

"Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright" - Ted Lennon and Brett Dennen (Bob Dylan) – Just gorgeous. I’m one of those assholes who, for the most part, enjoys Bob Dylan’s music more when other people are playing/singing it. I am okay with that.

"O Holy Night" - Kelly Clarkson (?????) – Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP. I like her, okay?

"Only You" –Joshua Radin feat. Ingrid Michaelson - (Yaz) As much as I’d like to say I closely followed Mr. Radin’s musical career, I, uh…(sigh) heard this song in a J.C. Penney commercial a while back, and did a mad scramble to find the cover artist.

"Long Black Veil" – Dave Matthews Band (Johnny Cash) - I usually loathe most Dave Matthews covers for the singular reason that they’re inevitably live from some random concert, and there’s like, a forty-seven minute guitar solo intro in which I lose the will to live, and it’s like “We GET IT, Dave, you are JAMMING. Because everyone’s high on THE AMAZING CONCERT OF WONDER. AND ALSO A LOT OF WEED. And you and the band are just LOST IN THE MUSIC. And together with the assembled audience, you have evolved into a glorious, scintillating entity of ONENESS AND MUSICALITY.” This cover, though, is somehow different. It’s under 87 minutes (always a plus!), doesn’t meander too much, and has gorgeous backing vocals from the Lovely Ladies. Also, the way he sings it is subdued and heartbreaking in a hurts-so-good type of way.

"Proud Mary" – Ike and Tina Turner (Creedence Clearwater Revival) – Best. Cover. Ever.

And here were the responses from my Twitter friends:

Because the Night -10,000 Maniacs (Patti Smith)
Billy Jean -Jason Mraz (Michael Jackson)
Careless Whisper - Seethers (Wham!)
Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards (Thelma Houston)
Fields of Gold -Eva Cassidy (Sting)
Float On – Ben Lee (Modest Mouse)
Free Fallin’ – John Mayer (Tom Petty)
Friend of the Devil – Counting Crows (Grateful Dead)
Heatwave - Bronski Beat (Bing Crosby )
Heartless – Kris Allen (Kanye West)
Hey Ya –Obadia Parker (Outkast)
High and Dry – Jamie Cullum (Radiohead)
Hit Me Baby, One More Time - Travis (Britney Spears)
How Deep is Your Love - The Bird and the Bee (BeeGees)
Keep Your Hands to Yourself – Sawyer Brown (Georgia Satellites)
Landslide – Smashing Pumpkins (Fleetwood Mac)
Lover, You Should’ve Come Over – Jamie Cullum (Jeff Buckley)
Mad World - Nick Cave (Tears for Fears)
Mahna Mahna - Cake (old skool Sesame Street)
No Rain – Jane’s Addiction (Blind Melon)
Question – Ben Lee (Old 97s)
Scarlet Begonias - Jimmy Buffett (Grateful Dead)
Sea of Love - The Honeydrippers (Phil Phillips)
Tangled Up in Blue – Indigo Girls (Bob Dylan)
Toxic – Yael Naim (it’s Britney, bitch)
What Are You Waiting For – Franz Ferdinand (Gwen Stefani)
Wonderwall – Ryan Adams (Oasis)
Word Up! - Korn (Cameo)
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - Eddie Vedder (Beatles)

Tell me, what songs are we missing? Because, you know, I haven't spent enough money on iTunes this week. (And by the way, the "Hey Ya" cover is AMAZING.)

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Finally, I have two posts up elsewhere this week, if you’re interested. My final “Potty Ambassador” post is up on my other blog (spoiler alert: I have a potty-trained kid!) and over at BeautyHacks, I discuss bespoke fashion, and try on some of my old bridesmaid dresses for you. (I designed those suckers myself, people! Be nice!)

Have a great weekend!