uncovered

[eleanorjane]

I'm sitting here listening to one of my favourite playlists, and it strikes me just how much I love a really good cover version of a classic song. Great covers bring so much new context to a song; much like a good mashup, I often enjoy a cover more than the original.

So, I figured I'd share a few of my favourites. In no particular order:

The Sound of Silence by Disturbed
(Comparison: the original The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel.)

Running Up That Hill by Placebo
(Comparison: the original Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush.)

Fiddle and the Drum by A Perfect Circle
(Comparison: the original Fiddle and the Drum by Joni Mitchell.)

Mother by Lissie
(Comparison: the original Mother by Danzig.)

Paint it Black by Hidden Citizens
(Comparison: the original Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones. Also a good cover by The Tea Party.)

We Can't Stop by Bastille
(This is a fascinating take on the Miley Cyrus original, turning a party anthem into a reflection of a desperate and unhealthy life.)

Hurt by Johnny Cash
(Comparison: the original Hurt by Nine Inch Nails, a very different but equally poignant song.)

The Needle and the Damage Done by Our Lady Peace
(Comparison: the original The Needle and the Damage Done by Neil Young. Also a neat live cover by The Pretenders, and one by Pearl Jam.)

This post is brought to you by the fact that I have 38 cover versions of Hallelujah in my iTunes library. (Rufus Wainwright's version is better than Jeff Buckley's, fight me.) Some songs, just everyone wants to sing them.