“When I find a cover song that I like, I’ll work away at it until I kind of believe that I wrote it.”

During the process of learning to play a new musical instrument the first thing that all of us do is pick songs that we like and learn them. If it wasn’t for cover versions none of us would actually play music at all, and as stated in the quote above by esteemed British composer and musician, Nick Lowe, the songs you choose to cover say a lot about you. If you choose to learn how to play a song it means that it has connected with you on a greater level than the others.

This is the definition of a lazy article, but how and ever, here are some of my favourite cover versions of all time.

José Gonzalez – Heartbeats (The Knife)

An example of a cover becoming better known than the original.

Matt Corby – Lonely Boy (The Black Keys)

A complete re-imagining of a popular song which is what a cover should strive to be, artists should try put their own mark on a song rather than just doing a karaoke version.

Elise Trouw – Foo Fighters Meets 70’s Bobby Caldwell

There’s something mesmerising about videos like this.

Youngr – Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)

Another incredibly imaginative cover.

Bon Iver – I Can’t Make You Love Me/Nick of Time (Bonnie Raitt)

Heartbreaking.

Paul & Sean – Somebody Else (The 1975)

Simple, and brilliant.

 

Gavin James – Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) x Can’t Feel My Face (The Weeknd)

This made me stop in my tracks the first time I heard it.

Mark Ronson, ft. Amy Winehouse – Valerie (The Zutons)

When two incredibly talented artists take an already excellent song and make it their own.

Henry Green – Electric Feel (MGMT)

A gorgeous reworking of the MGMT classic.

Orla Gartland – My Humps (Black Eyed Peas)

Making a truly awful song sound sophisticated and listenable.

Ellie Goulding – Black and Gold (Sam Sparro)

Quite simply my favourite cover of all time.

Ben Howard – Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen)

The good memories and people associated with this cover will keep bringing me back to it.

MK