Your Cover's Blown: Bruno Mars Vs. Katy Perry
Katy Perry and Bruno Mars will both perform at this year's Grammy Awards, and since a portion of Mars' fame comes from writing "Billionaire" for Perry's ex-boyfriend Travie McCoy, Mars has attempted to ease any potential backstage awkwardness by covering "California Gurls" for BBC Radio. (That's our theory behind the cover, at least. Maybe Mars just really likes the song.) So, does "California Gurls" sound hot enough to melt your popsicle from a male perspective?
Yes!
In addition to his own hits and B.o.B's "Nothin' On You," Mars is also the man behind Cee Lo Green's Grammy-nominated, Pazz & Jop-topping "F--- You," an homage to the Motown glory days, so Mars has proven he has an ear for multiple genres. On "California Gurls," Mars converts Perry's candy pop classic almost into a smoky jazz ballet. We almost want to call this rendition "Walking in Memphis With California Gurls."
We personally weren't huge fans of Perry's original -- we much preferred "Teenage Dream" and "Firework" -- but we actually enjoy Mars' version. Whether it's because of the juxtaposition between the sunny lyrics and the mournful piano or the unexpected gospel breakdown at the end singing "California" like it was "Hallelujah," it's refreshing that Mars put some thought into his version.
No!
No Snoop Dogg.
It's not "Teenage Dream" or "Firework."
Mars is a talented guy and probably 2010's breakout songwriter, so he shouldn't be wasting time covering Katy Perry, especially when there's already a million versions of "California Gurls" on YouTube. We want to hear Mars flex his musical muscles on something less predictable.
Would Shazam Recognize It?
It would probably register as either Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis" or something off Prince's "Parade," but definitely not as Katy Perry's "California Gurls."
Is There a Better Version?
Here's one, courtesy of David Lee Roth...
Just kidding. Mars wins.
Source
This is an interesting cover. I like Bruno's cover better than the original but NGL Katy Perry's music is catchy. I love "Hot N Cold."
(I posted this in the Bruno Mars thread but I thought Katy Perry fans would like to hear this cover as well.

)