:: thatsound :: music bits delivered … with a twist

10 Genre Defying Cover Songs

Covers have been a part of the music industry ever since the 1950's. More than just replays of one's songs, some covers take very different approaches towards the same lyrics and / or themes; be it the instruments that play the tune, the emphasis on parts of the lyrics ... Some covers even use different parts of the song as chorus, branding the song itself as a completely different thing. Here are some of them.

Cyndi Lauper / Russian Red - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Original song here.

The deeply emotional tune whispered by Lourdes Hernández sets a completely different mood around the original song, almost as if a plea, instead of a party shout.

ABBA / Steven Wilson - The Day Before You Came

Original song here.

Steven Wilson's version of this song was actually the reason why this article came to life. A most incredible lyric through the mind of a musical genius: it's hard to revamp a song so hard and still get it spot-on right like he did here.

Michael Jackson / Chris Cornell - Billie Jean

Original song here.

The widely popular MJ hit is struck with power in this overwhelming version from his never-released-but-broadly-downloaded Unplugged in Sweden 2006 bootleg.

50 Cent / Milow - Ayo Technology

Original song here.

Both very popular in the mainstream industry, but nevertheless it's quite interesting how the same song / lyrics can be made in two completely different themes.

Queen / Dream Theater - Tenement Funster / Flick of the Wrist / Lily of the Valley

Original song here.

A masterpiece medley, reinvented by Dream Theater with a progressive touch added. Both are mind-blowing.

Elton John / David Fonseca - Rocket Man

Original song here.

Portuguese showman David Fonseca switched the ballad to a full-blown energetic song about life abroad. Also, the video is very beautiful.

Radiohead / Stream Of Passion - Street Spirit

Original song here.

Another example of musical genre morphing - the classic eerie ballad turns into a symphonic metal anthem!

Gnarls Barkley / Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Crazy

Original song here.

The song responsible for sky-rocketing Gnarls' career in a beautiful live acoustic version by Nelly and Timbaland.

Leonard Cohen / Jeff Buckley - Hallellujah

Original song here.

Jeff Buckley's rendition of this classic became so well-known that many people never realized it was a cover song!

Failure / A Perfect Circle - The Nurse Who Loved Me

Original song here.

A very emotional song, supposedly about Failure's lead singer drug addiction issues. It also suffers of the cover-knowledge syndrome: not many fans of the cover song know that it actually is a cover song. Despite that, it's an amazingly fresh cover.