Song covers: some people love them, and others believe them to be blasphemous to some of the most iconic, multigenerational bangers. I think song covers are a polarizing art that doesn’t deserve immense hate. I don’t love many covers of Livin’ On A Prayer or I Wanna Dance With Somebody, but I can appreciate when artists and bands want to approach a popular song with their own flair. Without further ado, here are some of my personal favorite covers that deserve their flowers for being just as good as the original songs!
Fall Out Boy’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
You know how I said I don’t love most covers of I Wanna Dance With Somebody? Well, Fall Out Boy happens to be an extraordinary exception to this. During this time, the band had released their polarizing experimental project, MANIA, returning to their pop-punk roots with a rendition of a Whitney Houston classic was a good move. Minus some pronoun changes, the song remains faithful to the original while showing that Fall Out Boy still has a roaring rock edge. Not only are the guitars in this poppy and melodic, but lead singer Patrick Stump stuns with an impressive range to match. If you’re a fan of rock renditions of pop hits, then I would highly recommend this banger! On a similar note, maybe check out the band’s cover of I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book – it’s wickedly catchy!
Lana Del Rey’s Doin’ Time
Sublime’s original Doin’ Time is a saucy ska classic about infidelity and feeling jailed in a relationship; so, who better to cover this song than the ever-enchanting Lana Del Rey? Del Rey’s version is the perfect fusion of smokey and sexy, finessing with a seductive alternative style that gracefully reworks the original. This song cover fits perfectly within her catalog of feminine mystique anthems and semi-controversial topics. With her supple contralto vocals, she makes this cover unquestionably hers, and no one can ever convince me otherwise.
Frank Ocean’s “Moon River”
Growing up, I would always hear my mom singing Moon River from Breakfast At Tiffany’s. After watching the film and being graced with Audrey Hepburn’s soft crooning, it swiftly became one of my favorite classics. For a song so intimate and wistful, I’m so glad that the Frank Ocean did a cover of it. My mom didn’t care for it – as a “back in my day” type of person – but I think it is a beautifully intimate R&B rendition from one of my generation’s most versatile singers. Ocean’s heart-shattering vocal inflections mixed with lone guitars really create a soft space. There’s something so ethereal and otherworldly about hearing him sing about drifting through the world and chasing dreams past a river. Ocean’s sentimental brand works wonders for such a saccharine cover.
Weezer and Hayley Williams’ “Rainbow Connection”
I think it’s a shame that many people don’t even know that this Weezer-Hayley Williams cover of Rainbow Connection existed, but thank goodness I’m here to tell you about it! While it does lack Kermit the Frog’s iconic banjo playing, it more than makes up for it with luscious harp strings and an iconic duet from rock royalty. Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo and Hayley Williams harmonize wonderfully, playing to their alternative rock strengths while adapting such a nostalgic anthem from our childhoods. It transforms into a waltz rock banger that any former alt or scene kid (like myself) can appreciate. And, I am confident that Kermit loves this cover just as much as I do!
