Late Night Music Part 13............Did They Really Just Cover THAT?

You know, as long as music has been recorded, there have been cover songs. You know, the band trying to redo to their own style a song from years past in an effort to use that song's already established chart power to put themselves on the map. We also see the "album fillers" by mainstream artists to simply put another song on an unfinished album. Some of these covers are fantastic, some are bad. Some, no matter their various degrees of excellence simply leaving you scratching your head. Either it's creativity, or they are just crazy. Either way, you be the judge. Also receiving votes in this category were- Razorlight "With a Little Help From My Friends", Prince "Betcha By Golly Wow", Smashing Pumpkins "Landslide", Almost all the songs on the "Two Rooms" Elton John/Bernie Taupin tribute album, Aerosmith "Come Together", Musiq Soulchild "Something" and Sara Evans "I Could Not Ask For More".

Save Ferris- "I Want You to Want Me" and "Come on Eileen". This ska punk band from Orange County made a living off of opening for big time groups and using their sexy lead singer Monique Powell as drawing power to go along with their bizarre antics. Before breaking up in 2002, they turned two smash 80's hits into their signature songs (along with recording "build me up buttercup"). I am sure Cheap Trick and Dexy's Midnight Runners are so glad they have been turned into ska punchlines. However, both of these aren't bad, just a little odd coming from this band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLGncmMv2bA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCzWPBR30Nk

Oleta Adams- "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Featured on the aforementioned "Two Rooms" album, Oleta Adams added her soulful voice to the album with this cover of the Elton John classic. She has flown under the radar most of her career, but is surprisingly huge in South America, Brazil in particular. You may remember her version of "Get Here" being featured on some FedEx commercials in the early 90's. While this version is great, this video is rather confusing. I think I could have done a better job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_M0hY0GhNI

Mandy Moore and Michael Stipe- "God Only Knows". This song, featured in the movie "Saved!" is peculiar for a few reasons. First, if you saw the movie, it would really make more sense. Don't get your panties in a wad either, this movie, while slightly sac-religious, is in my opinion, a very real and almost horrifying example of how Christians push people away everyday by looking down their nose at people who aren't as "holy" as they are. They just put it in a teen comedy movie. The movie also marked the return of Maculay Culkin to Hollywood. Anyway, when Mandy Moore was known for nothing as a poor man's Brittney Spears as far as talent goes, and with Michael Stipe being the lead singer of one of the most innovative bands ever, this combo is strange in itself. Also, taking Mandy Moore seriously enough to sing such a legendary song by the Beach Boys was kind of hard to stomach. Not a bad effort though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGSyPlctIxE

Reel Big Fish and MXPX- "Take On Me".This Ah-Ha song seems to be a cover favorite. While no band will ever catch the novelty flow that our Norwegian friends did in the 80's, this song is still lots of fun. Interesting to hear it in two completely different styles here. Also, two very different bands here. I really like both of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ4S-UiNmzo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDmKWVyKXHA

Boyce Avenue- "Make Love In This Club". Don't laugh, these guys are really really good. These Ecuadorian brothers from Miami have a rare knack for covering songs that aren't really acoustic/piano songs. I'm really quickly becoming a pretty big fan of these guys. However, even I scratched my head and did a double take when I caught the video of this song which has become a hot hit on the internet. I like Usher and all, but for some reason, this guy is a little bit easier to understand when he sings the lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRNceFXQmdQ

Alien Ant Farm- "Smooth Criminal". These knuckleheads, which actually scored a semi-big radio hit with this Michael Jackson cover, aren't anything close to what I would call talented. However, there is a GREAT big ironic fact here. While they cannot TOUCH MJ as far as talent, I have an easier time understanding them sing this song than Michael Jackson. Disagree? Video is hilarious- I think they just hung out at a middle school for about a week and thought of everything that a group of 12-14 year olds would laugh at and put it in a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhfv_kjrvrM&feature=related

India Arie- "Heart of the Matter". I LOVE this song, and I LOVE India Arie. She never would have struck me as a person to cover this Don Henley mega hit. She showed just how diverse she is on this one. I don't know if it is as good as the original, but when you cover a song 20 years after it comes out, the bar is set kind of high after it's been imprinted in music listener's minds. Enjoy this live performance of her doing that song as well as Rihanna's "Umbrella" at the 2007 North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Germany. Truly an incredible performer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJb_Sq7_jjo

The Gourds- "Gin and Juice". Ok this bluegrass band from Austin, Texas is just silly on this one. How many people take a Snoop Dogg song and turn it into an all out Bluegrass jam session? However, this song has caught on and has become The Gourds signature even appearing on "Austin City Limits" as well as other country music shows. I can't find an edited version of the song, but try to listen to this song and not laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ytZCSw2-ps

Marie Digby- "Umbrella". An acoustic version of the Rihanna song mentioned above. Marie Digby reminds me alot of Nora Jones in alot of respects and if you listen to her other songs, you really don't think of her as a person to a version of an R/B smash hit. All that being said, not a bad cover here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67-rIC0Mn_s

Phil Collins- "True Colors". Look at Cyndi Lauper. Look at Phil Collins. Enough said. Great live version from European television here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmfqLOLCNi8

Tori Amos- "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Tori Amos is one weird individual. She picked Nirvana's smash hit and sang it like it was a serious song. Tori Amos actually does this alot covering such songs as Eminem's "Bonnie and Clyde", Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide", 10cc's "I'm Not In Love", and even "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Hey, whatever works. However, I picked this one because I have to give Tori credit here. Did any of you actually know the words to this song? Yeah, I thought so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcHNZVrxEts&feature=related

Mark Wills- "Back At One". Mark Wills rode Brian McKnight's coat tails of this R/B mega hit to turn it into a country top 10 hit. One positive is that his video isn't nearly as depressing as Brian McKnight's post-apocalyptic feeling plane crash video which even featured him in an out of body experience. Thanks for keeping it positive, Mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HyrlT8OdjQ

Ben Folds- "B---es ain't S--t". I'll just let you watch this one, however, if you are offended by profanity, this might be a good one for you to skip, just wanted to give you a heads up. For those West Coast gangstas out there, you might remember this Dr. Dre song from "The Chronic". Peace out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3C4N6p78io&feature=related

Bonus Videos- Mariah Carey has had some great cover hits- we all remember her rendition of "I'll Be There", but she also covered Phil Collins "Against All Odds" and Journey's "Open Arms". Those two are featured here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqJSYjRERE8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1zbAqmwJgc