Most covers of classic modern-era songs practically announce themselves — you know, like when Diddy erases Sting's "Every Breath You Take" vocal and grafts his own rap atop the existing track. Some artists, happily, are a bit more subtle about it. Hence our list of songs you didn't know were covers — hope we're not spoiling any secrets here.
By Larry Dobrow
Blender.com, April 2007
"Jersey Girl" (popularized by Bruce Springsteen; originally performed by Tom Waits): They're not saying "boooooooo"; they're saying "Bruuuuuuuuuuuuce's reinterpretation is an appropriate pairing of artist and sentiment, even though Waits's gravelly yowl better captures the narrator's mix of sincerity and melancholic gloooooooom."
"Always on My Mind" (Brenda Lee; Elvis Presley/Willie Nelson/Pet Shop Boys): We were gonna get all "Yo, it was an Elvis song first, man" on you here, but then somebody across the office got all like, "No, dude, it's totally Brenda Lee, and she totally rocks it out." Lesson learned: Coworkers are occasionally good for something other than small talk and head colds.
"Bette Davis Eyes" (Kim Carnes; Jackie DeShannon): Come to think of it, it didn't make a lot of sense when Carnes — a longtime Kenny Rogers consort — started warbling in her female–Rod Stewart growl about Hollywood starlets from a bygone era. Knowing that the song was inked in 1974 unravels that particular mystery.
"Barbara Ann" (The Beach Boys; The Regents): This one's hard to accept. Is it possible that the Beach Boys's shtick wasn't entirely authentic, that perhaps they didn't like surfboards, Chevrolets, or jailbait as much as they let on? That's a question for the ethicists, we suppose. Separately, the Beach Boys's cover was recorded only four years after the original, and yet tsk-tsking sociologists continue to claim that we are the ADD generation. Go figure.
"I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston; Dolly Parton): Indeed. Doesn't learning this make you want to run to the ol' Victrola, pull out your well-worn LP copy of The Bodyguard soundtrack, and croon along with Whitney as tears streak down your cheek? No? Well, then.
By Larry Dobrow
Blender.com, April 2007
"Jersey Girl" (popularized by Bruce Springsteen; originally performed by Tom Waits): They're not saying "boooooooo"; they're saying "Bruuuuuuuuuuuuce's reinterpretation is an appropriate pairing of artist and sentiment, even though Waits's gravelly yowl better captures the narrator's mix of sincerity and melancholic gloooooooom."
"Always on My Mind" (Brenda Lee; Elvis Presley/Willie Nelson/Pet Shop Boys): We were gonna get all "Yo, it was an Elvis song first, man" on you here, but then somebody across the office got all like, "No, dude, it's totally Brenda Lee, and she totally rocks it out." Lesson learned: Coworkers are occasionally good for something other than small talk and head colds.
"Bette Davis Eyes" (Kim Carnes; Jackie DeShannon): Come to think of it, it didn't make a lot of sense when Carnes — a longtime Kenny Rogers consort — started warbling in her female–Rod Stewart growl about Hollywood starlets from a bygone era. Knowing that the song was inked in 1974 unravels that particular mystery.
"Barbara Ann" (The Beach Boys; The Regents): This one's hard to accept. Is it possible that the Beach Boys's shtick wasn't entirely authentic, that perhaps they didn't like surfboards, Chevrolets, or jailbait as much as they let on? That's a question for the ethicists, we suppose. Separately, the Beach Boys's cover was recorded only four years after the original, and yet tsk-tsking sociologists continue to claim that we are the ADD generation. Go figure.
"I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston; Dolly Parton): Indeed. Doesn't learning this make you want to run to the ol' Victrola, pull out your well-worn LP copy of The Bodyguard soundtrack, and croon along with Whitney as tears streak down your cheek? No? Well, then.
