My Favorite Cover Songs

Some cover songs stay true to the original and some totally reinvent the song. There are some that are far better than the original and some are much worse. Here are ten that stood out to me.

10. Pour Some Sugar on Me, Cover by Emm Gryner. Original by Def Leppard. Emm Gryner is a Canadian signer-songwriter, but on her album Girl Versions she covers a variety of rock and heavy metal songs. Pour Some Sugar On Me never sounded so sexy as she slows it down and sings it accompanied by a piano. It is probably the most interesting and different cover on the list.

9. Like a Rolling Stone. Cover by the Rolling Stones. Original by Bob Dylan. It was fate that The Rolling Stones would eventually cover this song. Although I also love Bob Dylan’s original version of this classic, I also like how the Stones liven it up. Mick Jagger sings through the songs many lyrics very well.

8. Turn the Page. Cover by Metallica. Original by Bob Segar. Not too different than the original, but the guitars are more powerful. The song is about the frustrations from being on the road, and Metallica makes it sound angrier, as it should. I can feel the emotion more from this cover version.

7. Signs, Cover by Tesla. Original by Five Man Electrical Band. I have fond memories of this song and the album it came from, Five Man Acoustical Jam. I recall being a teenager playing this one often on my old acoustic guitar while everyone else sang along. I definitely liked Tesla’s version better than the original.

6. Rock On. Cover by Def Leppard. Original by David Essex. I don’t like the original version of this song. And I didn’t like Michael Damian’s version of this song in the 80’s. I shuddered when I heard Def Leppard were adding this one to their cover album. However, this version of the song finally won me over. About half way through the guitars hit loud and heavy and I think it finally sounds like it should. This song went over well and sounded fantastic at a recent Def Leppard concert I attended.

5. Smooth Criminal. Cover by Alien Ant Farm. Original by Michael Jackson. A Michael Jackson song never sounded so cool. I found this cover hard to resist and fun to listen to every time.

4. Whiskey in the Jar. Cover by Metallica. The original is an old Irish song but probably best known by Thin Lizzy who made it famous in the 70’s. Metallica’s version of this song is not overly heavy for them, but it is the heaviest version of the song I ever heard. Coming from the east coast of Canada, it is common to hear this song sung as a sea shanty, so I loved the change in pace with the heavy metal version.

3. The Zoo. Cover by Bruce Dickinson. Original by The Scorpions. These two versions are not overly different. Bruce Dickinson makes it sound fantastic. Come to think of it, he makes everything sound great. Have I ever mentioned I love Iron Maiden?

2. Boys of Summer. Cover by The Ataris. Original by Don Henley. I enjoyed Don Henley’s original version of this hit in the 80’s and remember it well when it came out. However, add some powerful guitar to suit my taste and I like this one even more than the original.

1. Hurt. Cover by Johnny Cash. Original by Nine Inch Nails. Occasionally, I like to step outside the world of rock. This Nine Inch Nails cover was truly haunting. The rest of the album, American IV: The Man Comes Around was great too.

You know I am sure there are many great covers over the years that I am forgetting. What are your favorites? Or what was worst cover version of a song you ever heard?

The Rolling Stones Shine a Light

I finally got around to watching Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones’ movie Shine a Light this summer. I misunderstood the gist of this film. For some reason I thought this was more of a documentary with a behind the scenes look at a recent string of Rolling Stones concerts, with some live footage throughout. However, this is basically just a concert film, shot over two nights in New York City’s Beacon Theater.

At the beginning, this movie does look like a documentary. There is some footage of the designing of the set, a meet and greet before the show with Bill Clinton and company, and lot of Scorsese desperately trying to get a set list from the band before he begins filming the concert. But once the first song of the night is played, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, it turns almost exclusively into a concert film. There is some old interview footage throughout, mostly with members of the band commenting on how long they think they will be doing this. The old footage contains some humorous moments, but nothing really new.

The Stones performance is impressive. Mick Jagger is his usual energetic self as he dances and struts around the stage and the rest of the band also sound just fine. A lot of the Rolling Stone staples are there and a few lesser known numbers as well. One of my favourite parts of the performance is when Keith Richards takes lead vocals for a couple of numbers. Addressing the crowd while smoking a cigarette he proclaims “It’s good to see you…it’s good to see anyone really”. The concert also contains three duets with Buddy Guy, Jack White and Christina Aguilera.

The Stones, now in their 60’s, continue to impress. One might think they should not be doing this at this point in their lives, let alone doing it so well as they do. They strut around the stage, smoke cigarettes, and dirty dance with Aguilera. Jack Black’s character from School of Rock would be proud. They are probably the ultimate “stick it to the man” band.

As a movie however, this by no means a definitive rock film. I didn’t love it, but I did like it. The concert itself is worth watching. Scorsese does a great job capturing a great performance by a great band.