Friday Night Soundtrack – Nov. 8th, 2013

This weeks edition of the FNS is brought to you by the cover song.  Covers are and will always be an important aspect in the world of music.  From on stage performances to backyard camp fires, when someone breaks out a cover song it is immediately heard, compared and judged.  Sometimes covers are done so well that nobody realizes that it was a song prior to that version (Girls Just Want To Have Fun) and sometimes they completely bomb (U2’s version of Fortunate Son).   

The following are five cover songs that could fall into a couple of different categories for you.

  • You knew it was a cover and knew the original version
  • You might have heard that it was a cover but didn’t know who did the original performance
  • You had no idea that this song was a cover at all.

 

Lovers In A Dangerous Time – One Canadian act hits the charts with a 80’s pop/rock rendition while another Canadian act recreate the song acoustically and introduce it to an entirely different age group of music fans.

Original Artist – Bruce Cockburn

 

 

Why You Might Know it – Barenaked Ladies

 

 

Mad World – New Wave Brits vs American Piano folk.  Both versions work at particular times all depending on your mood.

Original Artist – Tears For Fears

 

 

Why You Might Know It – Gary Jules

 

 

Hallelujah – Canadian artist Leonard Cohen pens what is considered to be one of the greatest songs ever written.  American guitar wizard, Jeff Buckley, takes the song and does what we assumed couldn’t be done…made it even greater.

Origianl Artist – Leonard Cohen

 

 

Why You Might Know It – Jeff Buckley

 

 

Whisky In The Jar – You hear this song every time you walk into an Irish pub in any city, only you really had no idea what the song was.  Metallica turn around and change this song into an entirely different beast.

Original Artist – The Dubliners

 

 

Why You Might Know It – Metallica

 

 

All Along The Watchtower – There’s nothing to say here other than Dylan and Hendrix.  Take your pick you can’t go wrong either way.

Original Artist – Bob Dylan

 

 

Why You Might Know It – Jimi Hendrix

 

About the author

Jeff

Jeff is one-fourth of the group that makes up HAFILAX. His usual ramblings can be read right here on the website. If reading isn't your thing, he also hosts the Basement Tapes podcast.

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