Sometimes you have to admit that cover versions are really impressive as with their new grandeur they help you look at new perceptions of the originals that you have never done before. It does not make you love the original less, but appreciate them more. In this post, I will choose 4 cover songs that I indeed admire and loyal readers, please note that, this post is written out of my respect for the originals since I am a huge fan of them.
#4. You know I’m no good – Ash Riser
I came to know that Amy Winehouse song in high school but it was until I got to university that I started being into it. Actually you can find this song quite often in singing competitions like The Voice, X factor or [Insert nationality] Idols, so that means if you want to listen to a cover, there are a lot for you to browse through. I did not have any problems picking up Ash Riser version to this list because of its brilliance. You know that the song’s creator before she died had a troubled life and that comes as no surprise that her music which reflects her own life has darkness, bitterness and heartbreak. With a bass voice of a hip hop artist, Ash Riser introduces us a “drunk” version of “You know I’m no good”. This cover is so hypnotising that I can imagine myself in a corner of an old bar in 1960s with a glass of whiskey in hand (I do not know how to drink, I have no problem trying to act like I can though). When first listening to it, I found the guitar part not really interesting and quite irrelevant, I mean it was too modern for slow and classic feels that the song brought all along but I do realise that it intensifies darkness in Amy Winehouse’s original: chaos, confusion and deep-inside sadness.
Staying faithful to the spirit of the original, Ash Riser has successfully brought us a hauntingly beautiful cover. In other words, it is a nice tribute to Amy Winehouse. One little surprise for my loyal readers, click on Setting and change the speed to 1.25 or 1.5, you see another magic.
The original:
#3. She will be loved – The Flying Pickets
“Just another cover of Maroon 5 “She will be loved” – You may think. It cannot be denied that there is a huge maze of Maroon 5 hit’s covers available on Youtube but Flying Pickets succeeded in bringing their own colour to differentiate themselves from others. With this English a-cappella band, I had hard time choosing my favourite song as they have many songs covered in a-cappella style. Believe me, “She will be loved” used to be my favourite song and I listened to it so many times that I am quite convinced that it was enough for my entire life. When I was 12 years old, I was crazy for the Maroon 5 hit and now when I am 26 years old, The Flying Pickets make me fall in love with the song again but in a very different way.
Leave alone the emotional vocal, the harmony that The Flying Pickets made is perfect that we feel so connected to the song. One of the most prominent points is the hook part which I highly appreciate for its smart arrangement. I cannot help wow-ing when hearing “She will be loved” from back vocals. This is a beautiful cover that I think I am so lucky to have found.
The original:
#2. The tide is high – Blondie
Oops. Perhaps some of my readers think that Blondie’s is the original of Atomic Kitten’s “The tide is high”. As a matter of fact, this Blondie’s US/UK number one hit is a cover of John Holt’s written in 1966. The older I get, the more reggae genre starts growing on me. So it came as no surprise when I quickly fell for the Blondie’s version in spite of the fact that I grew up with Atomic Kitten’s one.
It is said that reggae makes us feel happy that we really want to make some moves. Saxophone and strings were used “The tide is high” by Blondie, I am particularly fond of the instrument parts in the introduction and counter-melodies. They are really addicted and I cannot help shaking my shoulder.
The original:
#1. Believe – DMA
What should you expect from a man in his stripped T-shirt and beat up old cap? A deep and touching voice of typical rock punk genre? No way! Yes, you should because that man brought us a perfect cover of Cher’s “Believe”. With her goddess beauty and strong electronic beat, her signature auto-tuned hit makes you “believe in life after love again”. This song means so much to me. I have been in love with Cher’s super hit since I was 7 years so there is no way that I can take it easy and give low expectation for its version.
As a matter of fact, many covers experiment new takes on old songs for their person touch with completely different re-arrangements, for example: Dancing on my own (Original: Robyn, Cover: Calum Scott) but I never want to see my favourite song turned into super-ballad versions of other artists who over-sing it. Cher’s mega hit actually deals with different emotions; from anxiously waiting, confusion, heartbreak to moving on with your head held high. So I expect to see a cover that can project strength underneath vulnerability after a break up. Since I do not feel connected to it, “Believe” super ballad versions that reflect one only emotion aspect fail to bring me “belief” and that strong message from the original. I have nothing else to choose, except from continuing looking for the one I like.
With the cover of this Australian band, I can see it. This acoustic version, indeed, has no interfere with auto-tune technology but instruments, plus the slow-down melody does not make it lost in a thousands of conventional Believe ballad covers. It is nothing different from an oasis in desert. Admittedly a fan of Cher’s “Believe”, I could not help falling in love with this version though and I can listen to it forever. Sometimes, I even doubt myself “Am I listening to an original or just a cover?”
With silky smooth voice, DMA got a fan, and please release the mp3 of Believe. I feel like waiting forever for it.
Noted that when watching the video, you may notice the main vocalist is having chewing gum while singing.
Updated on October, 12th, 2017: I finally found the DMA’s Believe on Itunes.
The original:
Thank you for reading *bow head*
PS: I have just found out that my blog recently has no posts on movies but music and travelling. I need to write more movies posts. Please look forward to them.
