Cover Vs. Original

Beyond judging what's better-if the cover or the original song-the matter lies on "enjoying the song per se", what it says, and specially, how different and beautiful sounds the remake.

Covers are sometimes jokes but almost always, a tribute. So let's cut the mumbo-jumbo and start with our second session of Pirate This...


Pulp - Bad Cover Version This is not a cover but a bad cover version of love and it's not the real thing. Nice way to open the curtains.

Centro-Matic Vs. Beach Boys - Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) You know I grew-up listening to The Beach Boys with my father. I've seen Brian Wilson and he's my hero after my father so if I say that Centro-Matic's cover of "Don't Talk" is a great one, you have to believe me in this one. Will Johnson sings so passionately that you're gonna stop talking and looking for a shoulder. Everything is revived in this song.

Death Cab for Cutie Vs. The Smiths Vs. Stars - This Charming Man: This song is a classic and there's two bands fighting for the prize for best cover. Death Cab For Cutie's version is kinda fast and happier than the original one, while Stars' version is more mellow and naive, exchanging the guitars for a sweet electronic ambient with piano and dreamy voices (letting a guitar sample of the original song go from time to time). Who's more charming?

The Trashcan Sinatras Vs. The Smiths - I Know It's Over Francis Reader sings a lullaby... the background is cozy so let me suck my thumb.

The Shins Vs. The Postal Service - We Will Become Silhouettes Shine and leave behind the synths, robots are eating you... so grab your guitar and join The Shins in the picnic.

Ben Folds Five Vs. The Flaming Lips - She Don't Use Jelly This cover is perfect if you're waiting to be seated at a fancy restaurant. Do you want fries with your caviar?

The Flaming Lips Vs. Radiohead - Knives Out Wayne Coyne's voice gets better with the time. The guitar makes sound everything in this song distorted, even Wayne's vocals. It has suspense, so come and haunt me.

John Vanderslice Vs. Radiohead - Karma Police Electronic is the new Karma. The best song in Stereogum Presents... OKX: A Tribute To OK Computer.


Ben Lee Vs. Modest Mouse - Float On If you want to make a song "pop" even more, call Ben Lee. Girls dig him and you will (secretly).

Ian Brown Vs. Michael Jackson - Billy Jean It's like listening to The Stone Roses on acid.

Readymade Vs. My Bloody Valentine - What You Want What I want is more SHOEGAZE!!!

The Dandy Warhols Vs. Blondie - Call Me Could Courtney Taylor-Taylor be more queer? Yes. Listen to this song... I wish we could watch him sing and move...

Nick Cave Vs. Pulp - Disco 2000 Let William Shatner joins you Nicky, it's for the greater good.

Teenage Fanclub Vs. Pixies - Here Comes Your Man Almost the same, except that there's no girl voice... Still good because it sounds like a remastered song.

The Arcade Fire Vs. Ary Barroso - Aquarela Do Brasil Alexander used to love this song... Our mother should just named him Brazil. Old Classics in Modern Hands.


Sophie Ellis-Bextor Vs. Olivia Newton-John - Let's Get Physical They even share the dash. Definitely Sophie is fancier and prettier... oh! and she has a good voice.

The Detroit Cobras Vs. The Strokes - Last Night Last night I heard a cover but I can't remember who was singing... damn alcohol!!!

Spoon Vs. Yo La Tengo - Decora I don't know why Yo La Tengo stopped playing this song... then Spoon took it away from them and made it theirs, "Decora" now sounds like an original song by them.

The Decemberists Vs. Joanna Newsom - Bridges and Balloons I used to give new music to one of my teachers in Film School and I remember that one day he said something about Joanna Newsom, "I like her, but she sounds like Björk and sometimes I can't stand her at all, it happens the same with Mercury Rev, I can't stand his voice for too long..." So I know he loves The Decemberists, I asked Colin Meloy to sing "Bridges and Balloons" for him. (Just for the record, I'm not gay).

Ted Leo Vs. Kelly Clarkson Vs. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Since U Been Gone/Maps Since U Been Gone is one of those well produced songs that got stuck into your brain walls for days. If you add it a cool guy like Ted Leo, you got a great catchier acoustic version of it. He takes the "Maps'" riff rip-off from the original song to give it a nice twist.

The Arcade Fire Vs. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps Arcade Fire loves to sing good songs. This time a sadder version of "Maps". A quiet song with simple arrangements. We don't care if their voices sound all the time out of tune, that's the beauty in it!

Tv On The Radio Vs. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Modern Romance We just can't get enough YYY's. This cover sounds like Sigur Rós in black.

Seabear Vs. Undertones - Teenage Kicks This is a classic for every single generation. The good thing is that now Teenage Kicks with a sweet twist.

Scissor Sisters Vs. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out This band got it all wrong covering Pink Floyd, now they pulled it out... A decent "lounge cover".