The art of the Cover

With the growing popularity of Radio One’s Live Lounge, and the chart dominance of Glee: the cover version has become something of a phenomenon. You need only look to Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson’s version of Valerie, or Florence and the Machine’s cover of You’ve Got the Love to see how big a good cover version can become.  

Far from being a lame countdown of the best cover versions ever, this is just a selection of some of my favourites.

Amy Winehouse- Cupid

Original by Sam Cooke.

Winehouse makes a departure from achingly beautiful love songs and gives this soul classic a reggae referb’. Complete with drawling vocals and a steady bass, she may have been better known for the previously mentioned Valerie but I prefer this track because it shows a more playful side to her. Plus the reggae reggae beat is superb.

Tainted Love –Soft Cell

Original by Gloria Jones

If you’ve never heard of Soft Cell before they’re an 80’s synth band who write albums that are like soundtracks to gay sci fi musicals. Tainted Love seems like it was made in a Soft Cell shaped jelly mould it fits them so well. Featuring a fairground sounding organ and Marc Almond’s sultry vocal talents, Tainted Love is by all means an 80’s classic. 

Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling- Joleane

Original by Dolly Parton

In what appears to be a poorly lit barn, the Gods of Parton and folk came together to bring us this foot stompingly magnificent cover of Dolly Parton’s Joleane. Far from drowning in the crescendos of the Mumford’s slide guitar and banjo, Marling’s style of vocal lends itself to country music. The concoction made all the more potent by Mumford and Marling’s onstage chemistry. If only to have been there...

Lady Gaga –Viva La Vida

Original by Coldplay

Taken from the best of all lounges: The Live Lounge, Lady Gaga takes us back to her roots and performs a cabaret rendition of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. There’s no onstage orgies, or costumes made out of UN. Secretaries, it’s just Gaga and her piano. Its stripped back like this that Gaga reminds us all that she really can sing. She may have fluffed her lines, but she makes up for that my improvising lyrics like “be my Chris and I’ll be your Gweneth” and “I know Yves Saint Laurent no he won’t call my name”. It’s still very much a Gaga performance with dramatic pauses (Presumably where she’s forgotten the words) and “oh ah oh” poker face type noises. To paraphrase Leona Lewis Its at moments like this make you realise what a marvellous creation the Live Lounge really is. 

The Future Heads- Hounds of Love

Original by Kate Bush

I always think the sign of a good cover version is when it’s so different to the original that you are only vaguely aware that you might have heard the song before. Hounds of Love is a good example of this. The two versions are on the opposite end of the spectrum, Kate Bush’s atmospheric masterpiece is transformed into an indie pop song. Nevertheless the Futureheads deliver a punchy version that lives up to the originals daunting standards. 

Under my Thumb- La Roux

Original by The Rolling Stones

Featured on the band’s Sidetracked album, what was a Stones song about “tellin’ yer’ bird what to wear” now becomes a track about venerability and conformity in relationships. With Jackson’s trademark falsetto vocals and a tapestry of funky beats, the rendition is the stuff of 80’s house music. The sound of Jackson’s fragile voice being wrapped in the stronghold of the hook tugs at the heart strings. *Waves fist at Mick Jagger*

A Case of You- James Bake

Original by Joni Mitchell

James Blake performed this cover on a session for Zane Lowe. His album was mercury nominated and is likened to a robotic version of The XX. Despite being stripped back of synths and dub step making machines, it follows Blake’s style of delicacy. The vocal so fragile you feel it will be blown away in a gust of wind, so you savour every moment. The sentiment, “I could drink a case of you” is a touching one, and it’s easy to draw parallels with Mitchell and Blake’s wavering voices. Utterly spellbinding.

 Concrete Jungle- The Specials

Originally by Bob Marley and The Wailers

Released by The Specials when Britain was going through recession and the streets of Coventry were lined with members of the National Front. Much like the rest of The Specials work this cover version still has resonance today. The chilled back reggae beats of Bob Marley are switched to a frantic ska induced panic “the animals are after me” by The Specials.  It’s interesting to see the progression in racial relationships represented so fervently by the reggae and later on ska community.

Florence and The Machine- Halo

Originally by Beyonce

Another product of The Live Lounge here, and in my opinion one of those rare occasions when the cover is better than the original. You can hear that Florence is sounding pretty nervous, but the song is perfect allowing her to stretch her voice and seems to draw the emotion out. The accompanying harps and violins creating a kaleidoscope of sounds that put Florence’s voice centre stage.