Favorite Covers

Source of inspiration: "Hearbeats" by Jose Gonzalez (The Knife).

Classic/recent runner up: "Such Great Heights" by Iron and Wine (Postal Service). How Sam Beam went from Postal Service to his version still blows my mind.

Other favorites:
"Wonderwall" by Ryan Adams (Oasis)
(For the record, I've been grabbing links from youtube just for your ears and I came across a Cat Power version that I quickly learned on the guitar and will now revere for years to come. God, I love her. And just to help you guitar players out...capo on 3rd fret...Em, G, D, C)

"All Along the Watchtower" by Dave Matthews/Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)...definitely.

"Mad World" by Gary Jules (Tears for Fears). Please watch the Gary Jules video, it's amazing.

"Sweet Jane" by Cowboy Junkes (Velvet Underground/Lou Reed)...Sweet Jane was my DJ moniker from college at the radio station I worked at, I loved both the tracks so much. And that goes without showing that...

"Wild Horses" by The Sundays (Rolling Stones) would also be one for me as well. Don't pay attention to The Sunday video..it's awful.

"Hurt" by Johnny Cash (Trent Reznor).

aaaaaand..."Song for the Siren" by Cocteau Twins (Tim Buckley). Although sometimes I prefer the Tim Buckley version. The lyrics are potent and penetrating either way.

The Ultimate Winner:
"Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen) for obvious reason. (You also get the actual video from his recording too. 9 millions hits, what?! I actually watched this whole video all the way through and on the full screen setting.) Jeff Buckley also made the Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list with this one, coming in at 259; which I think is also his only appearance on the list. Damn shame, but at least he's on there.

Live Covers:
Although there are too many out there, I will always remember watching Christina Aguilera cover Nina Simone's "I Love You, Porgy" on the Grammy Nomination show. I wasn't personally there, but if I was, I would have cried. And I know she didn't remake it, but it just needs to be heard more often.


What are yours???