Brain Bending Covers That (Actually) Don’t Suck
Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck! I’m Mark, and this week we are hopping into the Wayback Machine to explore a segment that has always been one of my favorites: Brain Bending Covers.+1
I love a good cover, but I have boundaries. It shouldn’t be a note-for-note carbon copy, but it also shouldn’t be so avant-garde that it becomes unlistenable. We’re looking for that sweet spot where an artist truly imprints their DNA on a classic.
A Brief (and Slightly Shady) History of the Cover Song
Did you know the term “cover” didn’t even exist until around 1950? Before the mid-20th century, music was dominated by songwriters and sheet music rather than one “definitive” artist recording.
The term actually has a darker origin. In the 1950s, major labels used “covers” to describe rival versions of songs. If a Black artist had a hit on the R&B charts, labels would often hire a white artist to record a “sanitized” version to get airplay on white-owned stations. Effectively, they covered up the original artist’s success.
Icons Who Made It Their Own
Eventually, covers evolved into a form of tribute and transformation. Some became even more iconic than the originals:
- Aretha Franklin: Flipped Otis Redding’s “Respect” into a global feminist anthem.
- Jimi Hendrix: His version of “All Along the Watchtower” is so good that even the original writer, Bob Dylan, now performs it in Hendrix’s style.
- Johnny Cash: His cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” was so powerful that Trent Reznor famously said the song doesn’t belong to him anymore.
- Nirvana: Their take on David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World” was so popular that young fans used to tell Bowie it was cool he was “covering” Nirvana.
The Playlist: 5 Covers You Need to Hear Right Now
1. “Let’s Go Crazy” – Dirty Honey (Prince Cover)
Covering Prince is a massive risk because he is so iconic. Dirty Honey—a band carrying the modern rock and roll flag—painstakingly made this their own. They slowed the tempo down, giving it a “swampy cool” feel that lets the vocals soar while keeping that legendary guitar solo intact.
2. “War Pigs” – Cake (Black Sabbath Cover)
You wouldn’t think a deadpan vocal delivery would work for Black Sabbath, but Cake nailed it. They added an air-raid siren and a driving bassline that fills the space found in the original. It takes a “large amount of sack” to cover Sabbath, and they delivered.
3. “Moving Right Along” – Alkaline Trio (The Muppets Cover)
In 2011, there was a compilation of Muppet songs, and this track absolutely kills it. Alkaline Trio leans into the fun without trying to be “too cool”. The double-time outro and the old-timey piano at the end make this a mandatory addition to your next road trip playlist.
4. “Carry On My Wayward Son” – Anthrax (Kansas Cover)
These thrash masters delivered a version that is almost note-for-note, yet 100% Anthrax. Between Charlie Benante’s driving drums and Scott Ian’s “heavy chunk” guitar tone, they brought a weight to this classic that the original never had.
5. “My Heart Will Go On” – Dragonforce (Celine Dion Cover)
We’re going out on a high note! Imagine taking a slow, tragic love song from Titanic and turning it into extreme power metal. It is over-the-top, ridiculous, and an absolute treat. It’s my “Roman Empire” of cover songs.
🤘 Check Out the Full Playlist
Want more “Brain Bending” goodness? I maintain a massive Spotify playlist of covers that don’t suck. You can find the link directly on our website: songsthatdontsuck.net.
What’s your favorite cover song? If you have one I might have missed, head over to the website and send it my way!
Until next time, keep searching for and listening to songs that don’t suck
