What’s your favourite
WTF(!) cover song?
The right artist can take an old classic and turn it into something truly beautiful, but sometimes–when the alchemy is just right–an artist you would NEVER expect can take an old classic and turn it into something utterly sublime. Here are a few examples of my favourite WTF(!) cover songs:
Puddles Pity Party and Postmodern Jukebox covers Lorde’s “Team”
In case you haven’t figured it out watching the video, Puddles is the seven-foot tall clown with the golden voice. Though time will tell how Kiwi teen pop-wunderkind Lorde fares in the annals of music history, I have already personally elected this clown’s amazing cover of her work into my personal pantheon.
Divine covers Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons’ “Walk Like a Man”
Watching the recent documentary I Am Divine compelled me to pick up the collected musical works of its divine subject. It’s a decision that nicely coincided with my recent embrace of 70/80s dance music, of which Divine’s work is a surprisingly excellent example. The inherent humour of Divine covering this particular song got me in the door, but the gravelly catchiness of it all is what keeps me coming back for more.
The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain covers Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag”
Not gonna lie, if I’m in the right mood, the original can make me tear up. This one is even better.
Kesha covers Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”
It’s funny how just one song can completely change your perception of an artist. Like many people, I dismissed Kesha as something of a joke until I heard this achingly raw cover of a Dylan classic. Since then, it’s hard for me not to lash out at those who would so glibly dismiss her talent.
Jack Klugman and Tony Randall cover Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain”
I’ve gone on record about my obsession with Carly Simon’s biggest hit, but here’s where I admit I think I may like this novelty version starring Randall and Klugman’s The Odd Couple characters even more. Not only is it genuinely funny, but it’s also total earworm.
So those are my five picks. Do you have any to add? I didn’t mention some of the more obvious choices (coughWilliamShatercough), but there’s no reason why you can’t!
William Shatner’s spoken-word version of Pulp’s ‘Common People’ with Ben Folds on keyboards and Joe Jackson singing some of the singy bits. Awesome.
Bim Skala Bim did a righteous ska cover of Pink Floyd “Brain Damage”.
Alright there-
Some of my favorite covers would have to be of Nancy Sinatra’s title song for the James Bond movie “You Only Live Twice” –
You Only Live Twice by the Postmarks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv10zb8uiBY
You Only Live Twice by The Lost Patrol
-couldn’t find it on YouTube, but it’s there in iTunes
And then there’s also a cover of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” done by Senor X
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RouMrfjMnJ8
And I know it was never done, but I would have loved to hear David Bowie cover Duran Duran’s 80s song “Wild Boys”