OUR FAVORITE COVER SONGS
7 Hits Recreated by Post Malone, Nirvana +
Cover versions of songs, you may love them or hate them, but it’s a time-honored tradition. Sometimes the reimagined version is what makes it a hit. Other times, an artist uses them to pay homage to a friend or an inspiration. Whether you’re a fan of covers that mimic the originals or prefer unique takes on old classics, there’s a wide world of recreated songs to explore.
Here are seven of our favorite cover songs from some of the artists we admire the most:
Nirvana’s cover of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World”
Nirvana’s 1994 session on MTV Unplugged is a legendary live recording. That 5x platinum, Grammy-winning album, was the band’s first release following Kurt Cobain’s death. The setlist included many of the band’s lesser-known tracks and several covers, including this one of the David Bowie classic. Cobain’s gravelly croon gave “The Man Who Sold the World,” a new grittiness, but the guitar playing stayed true to the iconic original melody.
John Mayer’s cover of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'”
In 2007, John Mayer released Where the Light Is, a compilation of recordings from his concert at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater. This cover of the Tom Petty classic “Free Fallin'” appears on the tracklist. Mayer’s stripped-down acoustic version elevates the emotion of the melancholy ballad. And with all respect to Petty, Mayer’s delicate guitar playing and stellar vocals make this cover rival the original.
Jimi Hendrix’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”
We confess we might occasionally get a little mixed up about which version came first. Nonetheless, Jimi Hendrix’s version of “All Along the Watchtower” is a cover of the Bob Dylan original and impossible to exclude from our list of favorites. In true Hendrix fashion, the guitar-driven melody is magical. His incomparable instrumentation transforms Dylan’s mellow folk tune into a rock and roll hit for the ages.
Jeff Buckley’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is perhaps one of the most popular songs to cover. Dozens of artists have recorded their interpretations of the timeless track, but none live up to Jeff Buckley’s performance. His emotional deliverance of the heavy lyrics continues to resonate deeply with listeners. The track reached number one on Billboard’s Hot Digital Songs chart more than a decade after his untimely death.
The White Stripes’ cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”
A classic by country queen Dolly Parton got a rock revamp by the White Stripes in 2004. The duo surprised the crowd at two concerts in Blackpool, England, with several fresh takes on well-loved favorites. They later released a DVD of the performances and dropped the“Jolene” cover as a single. Jack White’s rough and rowdy growl turns Parton’s sweet and sappy Southern ballad into a mosh-pit favorite.
Adele’s cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong”
Adele has the kind of voice that can make any song sound good and she’s released her fair share of covers. We especially enjoy her performance of The Cure’s “Lovesong,” which appeared on her sophomore album 21. Her softer interpretation of the track has a distinct Latin beat that gives it a more passionate, romantic feel. It fits her emotive style perfectly.
Post Malone’s cover of Nirvana’s “In Bloom”
For our final cover, we circle back to Nirvana. In April, Post Malone performed an entire set of Nirvana songs via live stream on his Youtube channel. The money raised went to COVID-19 relief efforts. The young rapper stayed faithful to the sacred punk rock originals. Although it was difficult to choose just one, we picked his performance of “In Bloom,” to include in our list of favorites.