Covered

A cover song can go one of two ways. It can either bring a band respect, or the band can infamously go down as the band who attempted an impossible cover (see: Cartel “Wonderwall” and any Panic! at the Disco cover.) However, when a band does justice to the original song they are performing while adding their own unique style and flavor, a cover song can in turn become more memorable than the original work.

Its often important to look at why a band covers a song. The most logical reason a band covers a song is because they respect the original artist, love the original song, or were inspired by the original artist or song. But there are a variety of other reasons a band covers a song. Compilations are often made of various covers, such as the “Punk Goes” series. Bands will also pay respect to a particular artist by participating in a tribute album.  And some artists even put out entire albums of covers based on a theme, such as New Found Glory or Steel Train. And sometimes a band just does a cover for humor.

Whether the cover is a live bootleg or a studio recording, a cover can often become a fan’s favorite recording by an artist. So if you have the desire to cover a song, be sure to think through the do’s and don’ts of covers and make it memorable.

Here are some of our staff’s favorite cover songs:

• Foo Fighters - “Darling Nikki” by Prince
• Taking Back Sunday - “Message in a Bottle” by The Police
• Jesse Lacey - “Web in Front” by Archers of Loaf
• Lucero -”Kiss the Bottle” by Jawbreaker
• The Format - “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For the Both of Us” by Sparks
• The Format - “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” by Billy Joel
• Ben Lee - The entire album New Wave by Against Me!
• Alanis Morissette - “My Humps” by the Black Eyed Peas
• Dashboard Confessional - “Better” by Regina Spektor
• Further Seems Forever - “Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer
• Horse the Band - “T.M.N.T” (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme)
• Jack’s Mannequin - “American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Rage Against the Machine - “The Ghost of Tom Joad” by Bruce Springsteen
• Save Ferris - “Come on Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners
• Dweezil Zappa - “Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears

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