General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Capital City Classic Edition Part 116................"Take Cover!"

Have you guys figured out how much I am obsessed with cover songs yet?

In a "Late Night Music" first, I did not limit the entries to recorded studio tracks. All cover songs of any time were given consideration. Also, all songs receiving votes were included in the list.

"Hey, Soul Sister"- Angel Taylor (originally by Train). Angel Taylor gives a great impromptu cover of this very hard to sing Train song. I have a hard time believing she's just 23! Just look at the way she carries herself! That's an awfully mature voice as well. I'm really looking forward to one day seeing Angel Taylor live, as now I know she does cover songs- bonus points for that. I'm also really looking forward to her follow up to her debut album "Love Travels". I'm gonna give her a bonus video just because I feel like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab5Rs4z4ZMk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVpv8-5XWOI

"Use Somebody"- Pixie Lott" (originally by Kings Of Leon). Here's another artist I literally just found tonight. Pixie Lott is a superstar across the pond, as her first two singles went straight to #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 2009. This track from her debut album "Turn It Up", actually peaked at #41 on the UK Singles Chart despite not being released as a single. I love the acoustic twist. It's always interesting to hear females do songs sung by males. I've enjoyed listening to Pixie Lott tonight, now if only the rest of the singers from the UK were as hot as her. For more of her, check her out at www.pixielott.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5o8L-Or0O4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnhXHvRoUd0

"Breathless"- Taylor Swift (originally by Better Than Ezra). I remember when Taylor Swift played this at the Haiti special (which is seen here), and I was super pumped that not only a BTE song, but my favorite ever was being covered by such a visible artist. I've always wished Better Than Ezra got more publicity than they do, and at least this track at least got their name out there a little bit. Unfortunately, Taylor Swift has yet to put this song on an album, but performs it lives quite often as well as BTE's song "Our Last Night"- that's awesome that she's such a huge fan! By the way, Better Than Ezra's album "Before The Robots" is not only a super cool concept, it's a super cool album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-V2FmQkmtU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA84qKxqEd8

"Message In A Bottle"- John Mayer (originally by The Police). It's actually quite surprising to see such a talented songwriter and performer cover any song, even if it is coming from a great band. Apparently, this first #1 single for the Police is a live favorite for John Mayer and is included on his live album "Any Given Thursday".

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

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

"Wonderwall"- Ryan Adams (originally by Oasis). Hey David Jennings- you have the best version of this song, so why don't you lay it down? Anyway, I seriously understand why Ryan Adams wanted to cover this song because in 1996, you seriously were not cool if you did not have Oasis's "(What's The Story) Morning Glory?" which featured this song. This version peaked at #27 on the UK Singles Chart, and was featured on Adams 2003 album "Love Is Hell". The former Whiskeytown front man is one of those anomalies who seems to be more popular in the UK than he is in his home here in the US- I never quite understand that one........but just look at Michael Jackson.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAPtTS0TYtU

"I Turn To You"- Christina Aguilera (originally by All-4-One). I hate that All-4-One never got any credit for originally doing this song for the "Space Jam" soundtrack. Now why was this song even on that album? I have no idea. There was even a video made for the song, but the track just never caught on. Then, you just look at All-4-One and you realize why. I know I use this a lot, but I'm serious when I say that All-4-One is the most ridiculous looking band of any sort in music. Nothing about them is believable despite their talent. Songwriter extraordinaire then pitched the song to Christina Aguilera where it peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 being featured on Christina's self-titled debut album. And you really expect me to believe it was because Christina Aguilera was that much better of a singer than them?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4q05resEvc

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

"Love Moves In Mysterious Ways"- Nina (originally by Julia Fordham). Ok, this one was even more obscure. Michael English was the biggest Christian act in the world in 1993 when his album "Hope" and him basically swept the Dove Awards in 1994 before his extramarital affair scandal derailed his career (and he still hasn't recovered). However, HE DID NOT ORIGINALLY DO THE SONG despite what people thought (including me). The song was actually originally done just a year before by British one hit wonder Julia Fordham who, in my opinion, gives the worst of all the peformances. This hidden gem of a song was later covered by Fillipino superstar Nina for her 2005 live album "Nina Live!" with the performance featured here. I'm gonna go ahead and include the Michael English version too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRK5IvxDyUw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWh4eHoRI2o

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

"What Goes Around"- Priscilla Renea (originally by Justin Timberlake). This is one talented chick. I featured her a few entries back, and I'm super glad I got to put her on here again. Before the release of her debut album "Jukebox", Priscilla Renea made a viral name for herself with videos just like this. Like Angel Taylor, Priscilla Renea is super talented at such a young age and so mature as a singer and a songwriter. She is on the verge of really becoming a well known talent in the music industry. For more on Priscilla Renea, check out www.priscillareneamusic.com or follow her on twitter @priscillarenea. Oh yeah, Justin Timberlake is a better actor than singer- just wanted to get that out of the way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsMXxBkJ7Vk

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

"I Go Blind"- Hootie and The Blowfish (originally by 54-40). Good grief the original version of this song by Canadian band 54-40 is so bad! Hootie did these guys a favor when they recorded this song for the soundtrack of the TV series "Friends" and for their compilation album "Scattered, Smothered, and Covered" in 2000. I'm gonna put this song in the early lead for greatest amount of a better song between the cover and the original, and it may wind up not being close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eeFHdL2FBM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZSSVt355I

"I Melt With You"- Bowling For Soup (originally by Modern English). Bonus for the lyrics change! Bowling For Soup recorded this song for the Disney Movie "Sky High" in 2005 (the soundtrack actually featured all 80's cover songs done by current artists). For a few years, Bowling For Soup made a living with songs like this, as this song was included on their compilation album "Bowling For Soup Goes To The Movies" which featured all tracks they had recorded for movies, TV shows, and video games. What a life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDOPlf0uAmM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuN6gs0AJls

"Sweet Child O'mine"- Sheryl Crow (originally by Guns N' Roses). I'm torn on this one, but I'm gonna give the slight edge to Sheryl Crow just because she's hot and because she had enough sense to leave a moron like Lance Armstrong. While the Guns N' Roses version from their 1988 album "Appetite for Destruction" reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, but the Sheryl Crow version for the Adam Sandler hit movie "Big Daddy" earned the Grammy for best Female Rock Peformance in 1999. Makes a valid argument.......just sayin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFU9qBEvEVw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w7OgIMMRc4

"Syndicate"- Taylor Willis (originally by The Fray). Here is a youtube video I discovered tonight, and boy what a pleasant surprise. I'm gonna go ahead and call youtube superstar Taylor Willis a genius just because she's a left handed guitar player. (Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain......um......um........ Babyface). Also, I love when someone goes opposite primary instrument on a song even if it is the same "genre". I'm super impressed that she took a piano song and does it so well on the piano. Check out some more of Taylor Willis's videos at www.youtube.com/eternalheartspeaks or follow her on twitter @tdubbsie.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSx5zNhmi3c

"Good Life"- Corey Gray (originally by OneRepublic). Corey Gray is another guy I just discovered tonight and I was instantly impressed by his intonation on a very difficult lyrical, but still catchy song. Covering songs like this that reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 (#8) and are played at exhaustion on commercials are very difficult, as you have to really do the song and the artist justice, and I really think he did! Check out more of Corey Gray at www.facebook.com/coreygraymusic or @coreygray1 on twitter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCUIpICRP-0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZhQOvvV45w

"A Day In The Life"- Mae (originally by The Beatles). This song got on back to back lists! That's a rare one. This track was added on the special edition of the 2005 Mae album "The Everglow" and has been a concert staple of the band, who actually tried to do the song exactly like the Beatles, and got freakishly close considering they were trying to cover the greatest band of all time. I freaking love Mae- they get a bonus video too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6vjSPDptrc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Q9D4dcYng

"Michael Jackson Medley"- Sam Tsui. Un. Freaking. Believable. I'll just let you watch this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R12QVtuB0_Q

BONUS VIDEOS- "Goodbye, Goodnight"- Mae. From their debut album "Destination: Beautiful".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip5Pw3uENEc

"Spinning Wheels"- Angel Taylor. Unreal song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=790DIbDaYqY

"Bacon And Eggs"- Priscilla Renea. Just because this song plays in Sprint all the time. From her debut album "Jukebox".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VmUZcU173E

"Turning Tables"- Taylor Willis (originally by Adele) this girl is on FIYA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu-8v5h8gZ4