Shoulda Kept It Undercover

Covers, covers, covers. Who doesn't love a cover? I'll tell you--just about no one. Look at how excited people get when they hear about compilations where surprising covers of mainstream hits played by alternative artists appear or oldsters cover new songs or jazz people cover pop anthems or Cat Power covers anything. People cannot get enough.

People also can't get enough of recording covers, even if it's a bad idea from the moment go. Nonetheless, these are committed to tape and I think I understand why: You play an instrument or sing. You also have a recording budget. There are songs you love so much that the idea of playing them is inescapable--of course with the addition of your own signature mark. The next thing you know you're cutting an acoustic version of "Brass Monkey." What you have on your hands is a cover that can't be kept down. Many, if not all, in this category are bad. But which are the worst? Here's what I think:

1. Knocking on Heaven's Door by Guns & Roses 
2. (Can't Get No) Satisfaction by Britney Spears 
3. Folsom Prison Blues by Everlast
4. Land of Confusion by Disturbed
5. When a Man Loves a Woman by Art Garfunkel
6. Whiter Shade of Pale by Willie Nelson
7. Light My Fire by Massive Attack
8. Take My Breath Away by Jessica Simpson
9. Something by Frank Sinatra
10. Bringing on the Heartbreak by Mariah Carey
11. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want by Hootie and the Blowfish
12. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Paul Young
13. Hey Jude by Elvis
14. Heroes by the Wallflowers
15. Purple Haze by Winger

Cue the previews:

And of course, this topic can't be closed without the ritual re-watching of the definitive Worst Cover Ever, "The Final Countdown" by band unknown:

Lastly, I give you the best cover song of all time:

Comments

[Cathy on May 02, 2009 at 12:50 AM]

Anyone who covers Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" should be on this list. That song is untouchable!

[Greg on April 15, 2009 at 10:38 PM]

Land of Confusion? I'm confused, that's one of the greatest covers of ALL TIME! WTF is wrong with you?

[Bri Nguyen on April 15, 2009 at 08:23 PM]

Speaking of Britney, her covers may be questionable at best, but people sure seem to love covering her. "Womanizer" has been covered by artists as diverse as Ladyhawke, Lily Allen, and Franz Ferdinand, and the All-American Rejects recently recorded a rather hilarious rendition of the song complete with a mini accordion and tambourine.

[Robert Arambel on April 15, 2009 at 10:54 AM]

Have you heard Barbra Streisand's cover of "Life on Mars"? I'm not sure how she was talked into that, but I can't help but think there was a gun involved.

Let's not forget Britney's harrowing cover of "I Love Rock n Roll", which she credited to Pat Benatar at one point.

[Gracehavenman on April 14, 2009 at 04:27 AM]

Have to add:
Lizz Wright doing Neil Young's "Old Man"
CSN doing the Beatle's "Blackbird"

[Alan Wiley on April 13, 2009 at 05:06 PM]

There's always the horrific, lifeless Miley Cyrus cover of "Girls Just Want To Have Fun."

[Mary on April 13, 2009 at 04:27 PM]

Um, what about a post on you company's collosal PR nightmare #amazonfail? Oh, wait, you have to pull your heads out of your colletive backsides first, right?