Better than the Original: My Favorite Cover Songs

January 15, 2020

Killer Queen – Queen

Cover by 5SOS

https://open.spotify.com/track/0SA903LGHxe4ExdRY2SqVH?si=inMId8dcQ_ukDdP3QXjzzQ

It's a tall order covering such an iconic band, but the boys of 5 Seconds of Summer pull it off. They keep Queen's same energy with powerful guitars and endless stacks of vocals, but still add some of their own flair with modern drum pads & bass lines.

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Stay – Post Malone

Cover by Cimorelli

https://open.spotify.com/track/6yPg0klvPMDKzEjWfO7DF9?si=0ENyLBH_Tuu5-ebfhemlBQ

This song is beautiful on its own, regardless of who performs it, but hearing it sung by some of YouTube's most prolific and talented cover artists takes it to a whole new level. The girls' lush, echoing harmonies add so much to the emotion of the song, and I can't even count how many times I've listened to this. The key change at the end?!? And the high ad libs?!? Please, just hear it for yourself.

Heart is Full – Mike Snow

Cover by Jon Bellion

https://open.spotify.com/track/6DvsjPkNcB4QoezDPtxsAB?si=OxSXO6djTiS6J_6ARRkMbA

Full disclosure, I had no idea what this song was before until Jon Bellion covered it for his Spotify Sessions this past year. As always, anything Jon makes is funky, fresh, and shows off his crazy vocal abilities. His flair and style is evident even in a stripped down, acoustic cover.

Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls

Cover by Sleeping with Sirens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyOqIKGbYkg

If you were an emo teenager in the early 2010's, as I was myself, you feel this one. I listened to this over and over when I first heard it, and I strongly hold to the belief that this version conveys the emotion and sweet meaning of the lyrics better than the Goo Goo Dolls' performance of it as a rock ballad. It's lovely!

Sign of the Times – Harry Styles

Cover by LANY

https://open.spotify.com/track/0830WmzxBqOp9C93j8m9sN?si=BmABkIEoRUmISNHI9NII3Q

LANY takes the grand, sweeping tune by Harry Styles down to their level of chill, lo-fi pop, and somehow it works. They even switch up the beat for the last bridge; it's an interesting re-imagination of the song.

Million Reasons – Lady Gaga

Cover by Lauren Cimorelli

https://open.spotify.com/track/6sd7i8En3xO76TjQDVdolw?si=ruvTIsq7Tt-S5amJJjTZmg

This homemade cover of Lady Gaga's vulnerable song really shines, with background harmonies, vocal effects, and bedroom-pop beats.

Drops of Jupiter – Train

Cover by Taylor Swift

https://open.spotify.com/track/0BSmbCIY36iw04azzJ3S0S?si=OFjD5IcsT5arimcbPrve7g

I don't know what it is about this one, but it's just got something special about it. We can all agree that Drops of Jupiter is a wonderfully timeless song, and Taylor Swift performed it on her Speak Now tour back in 2011 with only an acoustic guitar. It works perfectly with the change from a male vocalist to a female, and she just sounds great live.

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