Best Cover Songs of the Decade (2000-2010)
I love when one artist remakes a cover version of another artists songs. Usually they remake the song in a unique way and it provides a completely new perspective on the original song. Sometimes these cover songs are even better than the original version.
In this lens, I have compiled some of the great cover songs of the past decade with Youtube videos of the song for your listening pleasure. Many of these best song remakes are not available for purchase so you will have to enjoy them through the videos. In some cases the song covers are available on iTunes or Amazon and I have highlighted those for you.
I had two rules for inclusion on this list of great cover songs; first, the artist had to change the song in a way that made it completely unique from the original version and second, it had to be crazy good.
Don't forget to vote on the top cover songs at the end of the article.
In this lens, I have compiled some of the great cover songs of the past decade with Youtube videos of the song for your listening pleasure. Many of these best song remakes are not available for purchase so you will have to enjoy them through the videos. In some cases the song covers are available on iTunes or Amazon and I have highlighted those for you.
I had two rules for inclusion on this list of great cover songs; first, the artist had to change the song in a way that made it completely unique from the original version and second, it had to be crazy good.
Don't forget to vote on the top cover songs at the end of the article.
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9. Why Georgia Performed by Jess Delgado on Rawsessions
Great Song Remake of an Original John Mayer Song
John Mayer is an excellent songwriter and phenomenal guitarist. He has been invited to play with legends such as Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy. However, I think he would be the first to admit that his vocals are only average. His voice is unique so it works on his songs but it is not a particularly powerful or beautiful voice.
However, Jess Delgado has a beautiful, powerful voice and that is what really makes this song cover shine. Jess Delgado and her band infuse a bit of salsa stylings into this classic Mayer song and with Jess' vocals it really takes off. It compares favorably with John Mayer's original to create one of the best cover songs of the decade.
However, Jess Delgado has a beautiful, powerful voice and that is what really makes this song cover shine. Jess Delgado and her band infuse a bit of salsa stylings into this classic Mayer song and with Jess' vocals it really takes off. It compares favorably with John Mayer's original to create one of the best cover songs of the decade.
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Get one of the greatest song remakes on Amazon
This Jess Delgado remake of John Mayer's Why Georgia is available for immediate download on Amazon.
8. Whatever You Like by Rome
Song Cover of a T.I. Song
T.I.'s original rap version of Whatever You Like is a melodic rap song with raw lyrics. It is enjoyed both by hardcore rap fans as well as hip-hop fans. Rome Ramirez (known as Rome) started out remaking popular songs with his own blend of reggae, folk and rap. He has now joined the surviving members of Sublime to create a new group Sublime Rome.
In this cover song, Rome has infused reggae and jazzy stylings on this original T.I. classic to create a very good cover version of Whatever You Like.
Warning: There are a few explicit lyrics in the song.
In this cover song, Rome has infused reggae and jazzy stylings on this original T.I. classic to create a very good cover version of Whatever You Like.
Warning: There are a few explicit lyrics in the song.
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6. Baba O'Riley Performed by Guitarist Dirk Quinn
OMG, this great song cover will blow you away!!
Baba O'Riley is one of the greatest rock ballads of all time. It is a teenage anthem about breaking out, gaining independence and expressing yourself. When you hear The Who's original version you want to stand up and scream the lyrics as loud as you can.
So you wouldn't think that type of rock anthem would translate well to a instrumental remake with an acoustic guitar. Well that's where we are all wrong. You have to see this version of Baba O'Riley by guitarist Dirk Quinn. With one acoustic guitar and a multitude of foot pedals for looping and effects, Dirk creates a rich musical cover version of Baba O'Riley that is both beautiful and powerful at the same time. He is able to layer sounds that simulate vocals, drums, bass and electric guitars.
It truly is an amazing display of guitar playing ability and a great song remake.
So you wouldn't think that type of rock anthem would translate well to a instrumental remake with an acoustic guitar. Well that's where we are all wrong. You have to see this version of Baba O'Riley by guitarist Dirk Quinn. With one acoustic guitar and a multitude of foot pedals for looping and effects, Dirk creates a rich musical cover version of Baba O'Riley that is both beautiful and powerful at the same time. He is able to layer sounds that simulate vocals, drums, bass and electric guitars.
It truly is an amazing display of guitar playing ability and a great song remake.
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Buy the Best Cover Songs or the Originals from Amazon
Most of these top cover songs are not available for purchase from Amazon or iTunes. If they are not available, I have linked in the original version for you.
5. Big Yellow Taxi Performed by Counting Crows
Cover Version of a Joni Mitchell Song
Joni Mitchell was a legendary singer songwriters from the 60s and 70s. She wrote beautiful lyrics that were usually about political issues or love. She sang with a bit of a haunting folk rock sound. Big Yellow Taxi is one of my favorite of her songs. It is a very simple folk ballad with a catchy melody. It is extremely unique that its lyrics combine both an environmental message about urban sprawl with social statement about appreciating what you have before it is gone.
While I love this song, Joni Mitchell's true strength was in songwriting. The Counting Crows strength is performance. The Crows have created a more upbeat tempo for the song with a richer fuller band sound. They infuse a bit of reggae and a bit of country into all of their songs and it is this unique style that really takes this song to new heights. For me, this version is much better than the original and we are lucky that these two artists found each other to create this outstanding song.
The Crows actually published this song on their Hard Candy album so it is available for download both at Amazon and iTunes.
While I love this song, Joni Mitchell's true strength was in songwriting. The Counting Crows strength is performance. The Crows have created a more upbeat tempo for the song with a richer fuller band sound. They infuse a bit of reggae and a bit of country into all of their songs and it is this unique style that really takes this song to new heights. For me, this version is much better than the original and we are lucky that these two artists found each other to create this outstanding song.
The Crows actually published this song on their Hard Candy album so it is available for download both at Amazon and iTunes.
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4. Use Somebody Performed by Paramore
Cover Song of a Kings of Leon Song
One of Nashville's best musical groups, Kings of Leon, burst onto the scene in 2010 with their hit Use Somebody. It is a great rock anthem with a mix of blues and country infused. Nathan Followill's gritty voice and strong vocal stylings made this rock anthem a number #1 hit across the US.
However, by combining an acoustic version with Hayley Williams beautiful raw vocals, Paramore has created a cover version that is every bit as powerful as the original. I love Hayley's voice on this song. It is much more raw and real than their studio versions song and it gets inside you and really rocks your world.
This is one of my favorite cover sings of all time.
However, by combining an acoustic version with Hayley Williams beautiful raw vocals, Paramore has created a cover version that is every bit as powerful as the original. I love Hayley's voice on this song. It is much more raw and real than their studio versions song and it gets inside you and really rocks your world.
This is one of my favorite cover sings of all time.
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3. Viva La Vida Performed by The Dirtyheads on Rawsessions
Reggae Cover Version of a Coldplay Song
The Dirtyheads have a very unique musical styling that blends reggae, rock and rap genres. I am a fan of their original music so I was pleased to find this Rawsessions song remake of Viva La Vida by The Dirtyheads.
Make no mistake, the original Coldplay version of Viva La Vida is beautiful and clearly a masterpiece. However, this reggae infused cover version of the song by The Dirtyheads is also excellent. I couldn't say it is better than the original because the original is so amazing, but it is right up there as a classic and one of the best cover songs of this past decade.
Make no mistake, the original Coldplay version of Viva La Vida is beautiful and clearly a masterpiece. However, this reggae infused cover version of the song by The Dirtyheads is also excellent. I couldn't say it is better than the original because the original is so amazing, but it is right up there as a classic and one of the best cover songs of this past decade.
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Cool Albums of Great Cover Songs
Great Artists doing Great Song Covers
2. I Want You Back Performed by KT Tunstall
Cover Song of a Jackson 5 Song
There are a few people in the world that are just more talented than everyone else and KT Tunstall is one of them. This amazing song remake of the original song by the Jackson 5 is outstanding. While we all loved Michael's young voice belting out the lyrics on the original version of I Want You Back, KT has taken this song to a whole other level.
Her beautiful vocals infused with jazzy acoustic melodies are fantastic. Even more amazing is that there is no accompanying band, she creates this rich sound all alone on stage. It is even more engaging because we get to watch her create accompanying sounds with her acoustic guitar as she lays down the intrumental beat at the beginning of the song.
The live audience adds an electric atmosphere to make this one of the truly great cover songs.
Her beautiful vocals infused with jazzy acoustic melodies are fantastic. Even more amazing is that there is no accompanying band, she creates this rich sound all alone on stage. It is even more engaging because we get to watch her create accompanying sounds with her acoustic guitar as she lays down the intrumental beat at the beginning of the song.
The live audience adds an electric atmosphere to make this one of the truly great cover songs.
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Buy The Original Songs or Cover Songs on Amazon
1. Sunday Bloody Sunday Performed by Radiohead
Cover Version of a U2 Original Song
The original Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2 is an incredibly powerful song about the conflict between Ireland and England and the Catholics and Protestants in Ireland. However, as powerful as the original song is, Radiohead has made this classic song even more powerful in their acoustic cover song of Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Powerful lyrics infused with an acoustic styling and a live audience take this song to new heights and definitely makes this one of the greatest cover songs ever made.
Powerful lyrics infused with an acoustic styling and a live audience take this song to new heights and definitely makes this one of the greatest cover songs ever made.
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News on Cover Songs and Song Remakes from Google
Here are Some Other Sites to Find Great Cover Songs
If you like song remakes like me, you may want to check out these other sites to find the greatest cover songs. If you know of other sites on cover songs that we should check out then submit it here, but don't submit SPAM because it won't get published.
The Rawsessions Channel for Cover Versions of Great Songs
Rawsessions brings in great artists for unplugged more...0 points
The Best Cover Songs - The Covers Project
A site that is building a database of the best cov more...0 points
Let us know what you think about this Song Covers lens.
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MelonyVaughan
Feb 14, 2012 @ 10:10 am | delete
- Well researched and fun lens!
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Deadicated
Feb 5, 2012 @ 8:53 pm | delete
- The Grateful Dead did their fair share of covers; I loved when the covered a song, it spiced things up (they covered a lot of Beatles songs).
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Pangionedevelopers
Feb 5, 2012 @ 8:59 am | delete
- i liked this so much, I " liked" you 5x :)....return the favor would be appreciated
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WriterJanis
Jan 21, 2012 @ 4:12 am | delete
- I think I prefer the originals, especially with I Want You Back.
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jimmyworldstar
Jan 19, 2012 @ 3:33 pm | delete
- I like the KT Tunstall cover. I thought this would be more songs covered by known modern artists I haven't heard of 75% of them.
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by hornetsnest
hornetsnest
I have been a private equity investor and manager of businesses for over 20 years. I currently work in the consulting field but invest privately in pr... more »
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