Cover Songs

Cover Song: The Interrupters (Billie Eilish)- Bad Guy

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Billie Eilish is the talk of most of the music world yet, I’m just not into it. Maybe it’s me getting older or maybe it’s just that I really don’t dig it. Either way though, her song “Bad Guy” has been played everywhere and it’s in my head, and I can’t get it out. While I was looking up live videos of Billie live, to see what all the hype is about, I came across this really fun and cool cover of “Bad Guy” by the ska-punk band The Interrupters. They made this song quite fun and enjoyable and now it’s the only way I can listen to that song. So here you go!

The Interrupters- Bad Guy:

 

Cover Song: Placebo (Depeche Mode)- I Feel You

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This post is quite awesome as it features two of the best UK bands of all time as well as two huge favorites of mine. Back in 1999, Placebo released a cover they did of the great Depeche Mode song “I Feel You.” Originally the song was released as a fan club-only cassette in 1999, as well as a bonus track on the American edition of Placebo’s album, Black Market Music. Later on in 2003 as part of a bonus disc for Sleeping With Ghosts, it was released again. Depeche Mode is not an easy band to cover and do it well but, Placebo did it justice and the way Brian Molko sings, he really made it his own. I thoroughly enjoy both versions and each has their own vibe. I think you’ll enjoy this.

Placebo- I Feel You:

 

 
Depeche Mode- I Feel You:

 

Cover Songs: Rancid does Operation Ivy

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Operation Ivy is one of those bands that has long played a crucial role in influencing and inspiring countless punk bands. They are also one of those bands that if they were to reunite, it would be beyond welcomed with open arms. After the break up of Operation Ivy, two of the members (Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman) would go on to form Rancid. Sadly though, a full fledged reunion probably won’t ever take place. The group has stated a number of times that Operation Ivy reunion is unlikely to happen. Singer Jesse Michaels addressed reunion issues in a Myspace blog many years ago citing the legal and logistic difficulties in getting the four members together for a reunion, as well as the fact that the band “never belonged in a big rock club in a one to two thousand seat joint.” He concluded the post with the following: “[Will] it happen? The most honest answer is probably not.” Luckily though, during Rancid’s US tour in 2006, Armstrong and Freeman played select tracks from their previous band’s catalog. At a performance at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on December 17, 2006, Michaels reunited with Armstrong and Freeman to perform the tracks “Unity” as well as “Sound System”. It was his first time on stage with the two in over 15 years

 

Unity:

 

 
Knowledge:

 

 
Sound System:

 

 
Green Day and Tim Armstrong- Knowledge:

 

Cover Song: Weezer (Black Sabbath)- Paranoid

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I came across this the other day and was totally taken aback by it. I didn’t expect it to be this good. Earlier this year, Weezer released the Teal Album, which is all covers. On the record, they covered bands like Tears For Fears, Toto, The Turtles and Black Sabbath. Interestingly, this cover is not sung by Rivers Cuomo. Instead guitarist Brian Bell takes on lead vocals and knocks it out of the park.

Weezer (Black Sabbath)- Paranoid:

 

Cover Song: Miley Cyrus (Nine Inch Nails)- Head Like A Hole

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So this is one of those odd, out of left field things. Miley Cyrus did a cover of  the classic Nine Inch Nails track “Head Like A Hole.” On the new season of Black Mirror, in the episode “Rachel, Jack And Ashley Too,” Miley performs the song. The chorus lyrics were changed from the original anthemic verse of “Head like a hole / Black as your soul / I’d rather die than give you control / Bow down before the one you serve,” Cyrus, who plays fictional pop star Ashley O in the episode, can be heard singing “Hey there, whoa-ho, I’m on a roll / Riding so high, achieving my goals / I’m so stoked on ambition and verve / I’m gonna get what I deserve.” Additionally, the Nine Inch Nails track “Right Where It Belongs” was also featured in the episode, which is available now on Netflix.

 
I will say, I actually like this. It’s not amazing by any means but, it’s not bad at all. A lot of people will hate on it but, at least it’s not as bad as Buckcherry’s cover of the song. Miley actually has a good voice. She’s got a good “ROCK” voice that I’d like to hear her use more.

Miley Cyrus- Head Like A Hole:

 

 

 

Cover Song: David Bowie (The Velvet Underground)- White Light/White Heat

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David Bowie was a huge fan of The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed. So much so that Bowie often tried to emulate Lou. The Lou Reed album TRANSFORMER, was also “produced” by David Bowie. The classic Velvet Underground song “White Light/White Heat” had been part of Bowie’s live repertoire since 1971.  The Velvet Underground originally released the song in 1968 on their second album, White Light/White Heat. Bowie’s version wasn’t released officially until 1983, on the Ziggy Stardust – The Motion Picture soundtrack. Interestingly, Bowie’s version was supposed to be released on Pin Ups. Anyhow, enjoy David Bowie’s take on one of my all time favorite bands songs.

David Bowie- White Light/White Heat:

 

 

The Velvet Underground- White Light/White Heat:

 

 

Cover Song: Mastodon (Led Zeppelin)- Stairway To Heaven

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Mastodon recently released a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven.” They did this as a tribute to their late manager Nick John, who passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Mastodon was asked by Nick’s wife to play the song at his funeral. Gojira’s Joe Duplantier (who Nick John also managed),  was at the funeral and recorded the band performing the song on his phone. The band afterwards, went and recorded a full studio version of the song. When the song was released, side A featured the studio version while side B featured the phone recording. Mastodon did a phenomenal job of taking this gem of a classic on. They didn’t stray too far from the original but they definitely knocked it out of the park. Brann Dailor is seriously one of the best singers in rock music. That guys got one hell of a voice.

Mastodon- Stairway To Heaven:

 

Cover Song: John 5 w/ Corey Taylor, Michael Anthony & Fred Coury- Van Halen Covers

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A couple weeks back during John 5’s tour stop in Los Angeles at the Whisky A Go Go, John brought out Slipknot/Stone Sour singer Corey Taylor, former Van Halen bassist (and the band’s secret weapon) Michael Anthony, and former Cinderella drummer now film/tv composer Fred Coury to play a couple Van Halen songs. They ripped through “Running With The Devil” as well as Van Halen’s version of The Kinks classic “You Really Got Me” and in prime fashion too.

John 5 w/ Corey Taylor, Michael Anthony & Fred Coury- Running With The Devil:

 

 

 

John 5 w/ Corey Taylor, Michael Anthony & Fred Coury- You Really Got Me:

 

Cover Song: Stephen Brodsky & Marissa Nadler- (Guns N Roses)- Estranged

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Cave In and Mutoid Man’s Stephen Brodsky is quite the busy guy. In addition to the two bands I just mentioned, he’s got a project with vocalist Marissa Nadler. Their collaborative album entitled Droneflower will be released April 26th via Sacred Bones Records. They have released a couple songs from the album. The first was an original song called “For The Sun,” which is quite a haunting introduction to the band. The second though is a cover of Guns N Roses’ “Estranged.” This is one of the best cover songs I’ve ever heard. “Estranged” happens to be my favorite GnR song of all time, so I was a tad skeptical before listening but, within seconds, I knew that this was amazing. Everything about this cover is perfect. It’s a totally different take on the GnR classic and it’s just beautiful.

Stephen Brodsky & Marissa Nadler- Estranged:

 


Stephen Brodsky & Marissa Nadler- Droneflower:

 

 

Cover Song: Meg Myers (Kate Bush)- Running Up That Hill

MEG_MYERS_RUTH_FINAL-1024x1024.jpgMeg Myers is one hell of a talent. She’s got a very cool and unique voice and vibe. I’ve written about her a few times and really enjoy what she brings to the music world of today. Recently, Meg released a cover of the Kate Bush classic “Running Up That Hill.” Her version is unique to her and does what you should do with a cover, make it your own. This isn’t the first cover of this song that I’ve come to enjoy. Placebo did a cover of this song many years ago that has always been stuck out to me and many others as well. On this version, Meg  gives it a bit more energy and an optimistic vibe. Enjoy!

Meg Myers- Running Up That Hill:

 

 

Placebo- Running Up That Hill: