Can cover songs be better than the originals?
After all, an artist has in the first instance conceived and written a song, and it belongs to that artist. Sure, that is one way to look at this dilemma.
Yet, there is more than one occasion when another artist/band picks up a song, gets into its original spirit, and then transforms it into something truly their own, maybe turning into something truly original solely for its sake.
Even a genius like Bob Dylan wrote a song/songs that another artist turned into something that was truly special on its own, free to say, better than the original.
Case in point, Dylan’s folky original ‘My Back Pages.’ In the hands (and voices) of The Byrds, it became practically a completely new song, while still keeping the spirit of the original lyrics, truly something quite special.
Whether any of the originals below will have such a fate is yet to be seen (heard).
Bailey Miller - Love Is Dying
Cincinnati singer-songwriter just might be on the right track here to come up with a ‘very coverable’ song, but whoever possibly goes for it, will have a tough time picking her emotional involvement here.
Jesse Kallen - The Knife
Kallen on the other hand doesn’t shy away from an electric guitar and rhythms section and does quite well with them, making lyrics like "the knife in my back is coming out clean," ring more clearly.
Ruen Brothers - The Fear
Ruen Brothers seem to be creating some intriguing musical atmospheres, here being no exception, making their upcoming album coming this summer an exciting prospect.
Louis VI - Orange Skies
Here, Louis VI poses a challenge to possible covers by asking a question do you just need to re-sample the beat in a hip-hop song or do you have to pick up something else? His sample/beat are great though.
Tobias Arbo - Within
Introspective singer-songwriters like Arbo don’t seem to go away, and, of course, there is no reason they should, particularly if they know their way around a good melody and can make a tasteful arrangement, as Arbo does here.
Spencer Cullum - Betwixt and Between
Guitarist Cullum has shown with his previous album that he is more than just a great guitar player, but that both songwriting and singing are on par with his guitar skills. This taste from his upcoming release just goes on to prove that.
Maggie Miles - Momentum
Is the nineties revival coming up? Whatever the case is, Maggie Miles, seems to initiate it here, by giving such a revival, with, hm, momentum by updating that sound for current trends.
Alex Mabey - Wait
You really have to have a voice and how to use it to put it up so up front as Mabey does here for the closing track from her latest album. With some truly tasteful strings in the background to boot.
Fast Romantics - Euphoria
Did the duo Fast Romantics get inspired by the eighties’ new romantics? Quite possibly, particularly judging by this track. And, actually, if so, they picked up all the tasteful elements anyway.
Cat Clyde - Everywhere I Go
When you go for that ‘roots’ sound, you have two choices - to replicate it in full or try to update that sound for here and now. Cat Clyde takes the latter route here and makes this one such a great cover material.