Cee-Lo Green
We're back with a new edition of The Weekend Playlist, our weekly mixtape for your listening and reading pleasure.
This week we're continuing our series looking at our 50 favourite cover songs, featuring the likes of Cee-Lo Green and Guns N' Roses.
While you're reading, check out the playlist right here, or have a listen to the Extended Version.
An archive of The Weekend Playlist can be found right here (or on the left hand side of your page) so you can see which covers we've already featured.
1. Faith - Limp Bizkit (originally by George Michael)
Okay, this is definitely an example of the original being a much better track, but this one is a huge guilty pleasure.
We all know Fred Durst isn't the best vocalist, and the aggressive vocals don't necessarily have the desired effect, but it somehow works - we can't help but enjoy it.
2. Beautiful Girls - Bayside (originally by Sean Kingston)
This was taken from the fantastic Punk Goes... series, which sees punk and alt-rock acts covering songs from a set genre on each compilation.
Taken from the second volume of Punk Goes Pop, Bayside showed that 'Beautiful Girls' is actually a damn good tune, taking away the slight reggae hint and replacing it with a great solo, awesome guitars and some real emotion.
3. (You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care - Cee-Lo Green (originally by Buddy Holly)
Earlier this year, we reviewed Rave On...Buddy Holly, a tribute album to the legendary forefather of rock n' roll.
One highlight on the record was this cheesy, up-beat and downright fun cover - it certainly sounds like Cee-Lo Green's having the time of his life on this song.
4. We Do The Ska - The King Blues (originally by Chris Murray Combo)
This version of Chris Murray Combo's reggae tribute to the ska genre was taken from The King Blues' 'My Boulder Single', and saw it stripped down to an acoustic guitar and gang vocals.
It has a real grassroots, DIY feel to it, and sees The King Blues paying homage to their ska roots.
5. Working Class Hero - Green Day (originally by John Lennon)
Green Day get a lot of unfair criticism from former diehard fans who feel they've lost their way, or punk purists who wrongly dismiss the influence of Dookie.
On Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur, the trio joined the likes of Black Eyed Peas, The Postal Service and Avril Lavigne, their contribution being this fantastic cover of Lennon's 'Working Class Hero'.
6. I Want It That Way - Steel Panther (originally by The Backstreet Boys)
We'll have our thoughts on Steel Panther's new album Balls Out early next week, but for now we'll get our Panther fix with this brilliantly-executed cover.
As with all of the glam-rock quartet's material, it's Spinal Tap for the 21st Century, and this tongue-in-cheek cover of Backstreet Boys (complete with key change) is hilarious whilst showing that the band actually have a lot of talent.
7. Kiss Me - New Found Glory (originally by Sixpence None The Richer)
New Found Glory are a band that helped influence the present of pop-punk, taking The Ramones' formula, polishing it and becoming one of the standard-bearers of the scene.
This cover is one of their best-known songs, and they tackle is surprisingly well, keeping the beauty of the original whilst retaining their own edge and energy.
8. Take On Me - Reel Big Fish (originally by A-Ha)
Without a doubt one of the best examples of making a cover entirely your own, Reel Big Fish struck gold with this glorious ska-core take on (no pun intended) A-Ha's infectious hit.
The original was an 80s, synth-heavy pop tune - here, it becomes a perfect ska-punk tune that helped define the third wave for many fans.
9. Live And Let Die - Guns N' Roses (originally by Paul McCartney & Wings)
Initially appearing as the main theme for the James Bond film of the same name, McCartney's original had just as much heaviness and edge as Guns N' Roses take.
As far as Axl Rose has let his reputation drop, it's undeniable that he has a great rock voice, and even on record he has an incredible energy, showcased perfectly on this huge number.
10. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley (originally by Leonard Cohen)
This song has been covered by everybody, from Il Divo, Bon Jovi and Alexandra Burke to Bob Dylan, Myles Kennedy and, of course, Jeff Buckley.
Buckley's tender version (featuring a clean electric guitar, giving it a raw level of emotion) is almost unrivalled by many takes on this classic song.
As we near the end of our mini-series, feel free to let us know what you think. Any songs we should've included? Got an idea for a future topic? Be sure to keep checking back - we have another Guest Playlist coming up, featuring California ska band Suburban Legends.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
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