by Lori Voth

Created on: September 20, 2008

It takes a really creative and confident band or performing artist to cover another musician's song and do so in a way that doesn't repel the listeners. One performing a cover version of an existing song must not only tweak it stylistically to fit in with their own identity as a singer or band but they must do this so expertly that those who have actually heard the original version appreciate the changes the covering musician has brought to the piece.

The best case scenario would probably feature the covering artist singing the original lyrics with the same sort of emotion behind it as the first version so the fans who worship the original don't feel subconsciously offended by any attempts to alter it but along with that, they should introduce to the piece a unique style that marks clearly the difference between the two versions and maintains a sound that the covering artists fan base can easily recognize.

While I agree with many music enthusiasts that a cover song can rarely be pulled off as better than decent or tolerable, I have been fortunate to stumble across a few really great exceptions. Below is a list of some cover songs with covering artists that I like so much I listen to several times a day.

These cover versions are so well done and have so powerfully, carefully, adeptly been altered to fit in with the covering artists' styles that I must admit I now prefer the newer version over the originals. I realize that is quite a bold thing to say and I give all due respect to the original writers and performers but something about these renditions of other artists' songs seem to really intensely touch my emotions and soul.

And now, for the list of my favorite cover songs and the artists who have adapted them and performed (and/or recorded) them in such a way that fits with their own personal musician's style while staying true to the magic that made the original version so wonderful.

I have selected my top five favorite cover versions, read below for details:

BEST COVER VERSION EXAMPLE ONE
Cover Song: "Dancing in the Dark"
Originally By: Bruce Springsteen
Fabulous Cover Version By: Tegan and Sara

BEST COVER VERSION EXAMPLE TWO
Cover Song: "Famous Blue Raincoat"
Originally By: Leonard Cohen
Awesome Cover Version By: Tori Amos

BEST COVER VERSION EXAMPLE THREE
Cover Song: "Masters of War"
Originally By: Bob Dylan
Intense and Tear-Jerking Cover Version By: Pearl Jam

BEST COVER VERSION EXAMPLE FOUR
Cover Song: The Mercy Seat
Originally By: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Slower, Less Dark and Foreboding Cover Version By: Johnny Cash

BEST COVER VERSION EXAMPLE FIVE
Cover Song: Crazy
Originally By: Seal
A More Groovy, Seductive and Rocking Cover Version By: Alanis Morissette

BEST COVER VERSION EXAMPLE SIX
Cover Song: Dance Me to the End of Love
Originally By: Leonard Cohen
A rendition w/ odd, enchanting and deep female vocals Cover Version By the Dresden Dolls (Amanda Palmer).

BEST COVER VERSION EXAMPLE SEVEN
Cover Song: Use Me
Originally By: Bill Withers
Sultry, sappy and powerful cover version by Fiona Apple

BEST COVER VERSION EXAMPLE EIGHT
Cover Song: I Me Mine
Originally By: The Beatles
A new catchy style brought to the cover version by Elliott Smith

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