October’s Got You Covered

What makes a great cover song?

Some think it’s when a singer or band sings a song you would never expect them to like when Johnny Cash covered Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus. Others think its when an artist takes a song and just owns it — which is pretty much what Kelly Clarkson does on a regular basis.

Whatever the reason, there have been some truly great cover songs. I’m talking about the songs that are so good, most people don’t have a clue it was sung by someone else previously. Take a very young me, and the argument I had with my Mom back in the day, when Phil Collins released You Can’t Hurry Love. I couldn’t get enough of that song and was beside myself with anger at my Mom for even suggesting that it was sung by another group. Sure, I should have known not to question my Mom when it came to music. After all…she’s the one who taught me everything I know and love about music. But I was young…and foolish as we all once were.

Below is a sampling of some of the best cover songs. Scratch that. Below is a sampling of some of my favorite cover songs.

The list includes some true oldies that have been recently revived including Blue Velvet, Valerie, Midnight Train to Georgia, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow and Proud Mary. Natalie Merchant, Nirvana, Donna Summer, Cake, Alanis Morissette, Florence + The Machine, The Fugees and Amy Winehouse are just a few the artists below who have borrowed a song from someone else and made it their own.

Just so the list below is clear…

Song Title (Original Artist) – Cover Artist/Band. 

I know I’m going to get flooded with messages asking how could you forget this one…or this one…and I welcome those. Just remember, I’m not saying these are the best…they’re just some of my favorites.

If you’d like to hear the full list in it’s entirety, you’ll have to do so through Apple Music this month – October’s Got You Covered. You can also listen to 28 of the 30 songs on the playlist via Spotify – October’s Got You Covered.

So far….no thoughts on next month’s list, so send me some ideas!

In the meanwhile, thanks as always for reading and sharing your comments with me.

I hope you enjoy the list!

Midnight Train to Georgia (Gladys Night & The Pips) – Joan Osborne

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles) – Amy Winehouse

Blue Velvet (Bobby Vinton) – Lana Del Rey

The Crying Game (Dave Berry) – Boy George

Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) (Phil Collins) – The Postal Service

Somebody to Love (Queen) – George Michael

Hazy Shade of Winter (Simon and Garfunkel) – The Bangles

You Can’t Hurry Love (The Supremes) – Phil Collins

One Fine Day (The Chifons) – Natalie Merchant

The Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie) – Nirvana

MacArthur Park (Richard Harris) – Donna Summer

Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival) – Ike & Tina Turner

The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss) (Betty Everett) – Cher

I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) – Cake

Take me to the River (Al Green) – Talking Heads

Such Great Heights (The Postal Service) – Iron & Wine

Crazy (Seal) – Alanis Morissette

It’s My Life (Talk Talk) – No Doubt

Twist & Shout (The Isley Brothers) – The Beatles

I Drove All Night (Cyndi Lauper) – Celine Dion

A White Shade of Pale (Procol Harum) – Annie Lennox

Nothing Compares 2 U (Prince) – Sinead O’Connor

With a Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles) – Joe Cocker

Killing Me Softly With His Song (Roberta Flack) – The Fugees

Respect (Otis Redding) – Aretha Franklin

Valerie (The Zutons) – Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse

Tainted Love (Gloria Jones) – Soft Cell

Take A Chance on Me (Abba) – Erasure

Always on My Mind (Brenda Lee & Gwen McCrae) – Pet Shop Boys

You’ve Got the Love (Candi Staton) – Florence + the Machine