What is it about a song that captures your attention?  Is it the melody?  The bass line? Or is it the way the vocalist takes the lyrics and melody and makes it their own?

Here are some songs where someone other than the original vocalist/band took the song and made it their own.  You might be surprised at some of them.  I know I was.

 

“Blinded by the Light”  – Manford Mann’s Earth Band

Original Artist – Bruce Springsteen

I’d heard Manford’s version many times before Springsteen’s and well, while Springteen’s has that certain “Bruce something”, eh, I prefer Mann’s version.

“I Love Rock and Roll” – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Original Artist – The Arrows

“Me and Bobby McGee” – Janis Joplin

Original Artist – Kris Kristofferson

“Blue Suede Shoes” – Elvis Presley

Original Artist – Carl Perkins

“I Heard it through the Grapevine” – Marvin Gaye

Original Artist – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

 

There are more, of course, Whitney Houston’s version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” and Sinead O’Connor’s version of Prince’s “Nothing Compares to You”, plus numerous others.  These are some that stood out to me.

 

Hope you enjoyed!  Leave your favorite cover song in the comments and maybe I’ll feature it in a future post!

 

Dahlia