Weird Covers of Well-Known Songs: Hit or Miss?
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Weird Covers of Well-Known Songs: Hit or Miss? · Source: imageBROKER.com / Alamy Stock Foto
These weird covers of chart hits will leave you questioning why they bothered. Are these new versions musical genius, or should they have left the original alone?
Weird Covers
Weird Covers: Faithful Recreations?
Whenever there is a great song, there is bound to be a cover. I wouldn’t call it jealousy, but it’s only natural for fellow artists to get involved in tracks that they didn’t compose.
Just about everyone has done it, and it’s where we all start. There’s a reason guitar players learn a bunch of classic rock riffs it’s because they’re good!
What’s potentially not so good, though, are certain covers. We’ve all seen singer-songwriters perform a slow, depressing cover of a once-great song. Then again, there’s also potential for a weird cover to totally reimagine a song. Here, we’ll be checking out five examples that both lend and subtract from the original recordings.
Help – The Carpenters
Our first look into weird covers sees us take a snippet from a wonderfully talented group, The Carpenters. Not only a beautiful singer, Karen Carpenter was also handy behind the drums.
This version of The Beatles’ Help was released 5 years after the original. The once upbeat, Liverpudlian pop-rock song has been turned into an emotional ballad-style piece. Arguably, lending a Sgt. Pepper kind of vibe to this iteration.
Changes include the change of key from the original A major to the higher key of C major. Moreover, the chorus has been tuned into a slower, middle-eight with a swung feel, providing a lot more depth and meaning to the title. There are also a bunch of inverted melodies and seamless vocal harmonies.
It’s certainly different, but is it better than the original? Well, that’s an unfair comparison, as the end goal is and was totally different.
Falling In Love With You – UB40
Next up, we’re time-travelling up into the early 1990s for this Reggae version of Elvis. Excuse me?
32 years after the initial release, this weird cover is now older than the original version was at the time of release. How scary is that? Anyway! UB40 took Elvis’s slow love song and turned it into a pop chart hit.
Reaching No.1 in both the UK and America, UB40 changed the time signature from the original 6/8, and gave it a 4/4 reggae groove. Emphasising beats 2 and 4 for that classic reggae feel. It sounds crazy, but it works. Did people buy this just to remember their never-forgotten King of Rock and Roll, or is this genuinely a good song?
I Think We’re Alone Now – Billie Joe Armstrong with His Sons
As far as weird covers go, this song has been rerecorded plenty of times over the years. It belongs to Tommy James and the Shondells from way back in 1966. But, I’m sure that you’d agree, the most notable version came from Tiffany in 1987.
Released as a morale boost during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, Billie Joe Armstrong took to one of his trusty Gibson guitars, laid down some power chords, and did what he does best. Along with his songs, which is a nice touch.
Here, this track lends itself more to the 1966 version. Along with the stops in the chorus with the bass fills, consider this as a faithful replica. With unmistakable Green Day vocals, I’d happily add this one to my music library.
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Toyah + Roberts’ Sunday Lunch
Have you ever spent too long online, come across a strange video and said to yourself, ‘that’s enough internet for today’? Well, that’s exactly what this is. As far as weird covers go, this should be the dictionary definition.
Toyah Willcox rose to fame in the 1980s and has continued with her pop career ever since. Likewise, this was a Covid lockdown project, along with her husband, Robert Fripp.
In fairness, the guitar work is pretty good, playing both the bass line and the guitar line to this Nirvana hit simultaneously. I’m not sure about using the middle position for the pickups. Toyah’s performance is both visually and mentally challenging. Musically proficient? Perhaps, odd, definitely.
If you’re brave, there’s more of this on her YouTube channel. Good luck.
Smoke On The Water – Rock Aid Armenia
I’ve reserved, what I think, the best until last. Back in 1989, a star-studded line-up of the world’s best rock musicians got together as part of a humanitarian effort to raise funds to help those affected by an earthquake in Armenia. The result speaks for itself. This shouldn’t be in our weird covers list, as it’s fantastic.
The Deep Purple classic is arguably one of the most played songs by beginner guitarists. It was the first song I ever learned. With the talents of Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Brian May, David Gilmour and many others, they all help to contribute to the ultimate version of this song.
Of course, there is an extended solo section to let the various guitarists stretch their legs. They only get a few bars each, but each artist lends their signature style and sound to the song. If you haven’t done so already, do have a listen.
Weird Covers: To Your Liking?
Overall, these takes on classic songs aren’t all that bad. Perhaps the execution is a little odd, and maybe a certain cover is too far removed from the first version.
However, as musicians, we strive to be creative, and that’s kind of the whole point! Are there any covers that you like, or maybe even despise? Be sure to let us know.
Honourable Mentions:
Further Information:
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