Today we’re gonna do something a little bit different. I’m gonna look at five of my current favourite Cover Song. I’m gonna be honest, narrowing this list down to just five was -really- freaking hard to do. There are just so many covers out there and so many amazing ones that it is just hard to really narrow it down to five but I am going to give it a go. That said, I’m going to give a few honourable mentions before getting into the heart of my list.
Cover Song Honorable Mentions:
- Bad Wolves: Zombie
- Lacuna Coil: Enjoy the Silence/Losing My Religion
- Follow the Cipher: Carolus Rex
- Wake Me: Kiss From a Rose
- Jorn: Hotel California
- Dropkick Murphys: Fortunate Son
- Five Finger Death Punch: Bad Company
- Killswitch Engage: Holy Diver
- All That Remains: The Thunder Rolls
- Nonpoint: In the Air Tonight
- In This Moment: We Will Rock You (ft Lzzy Hale, Maria Brink & Taylor Momsen)
- Drowning Pool: Rebel Yell
- Orgy: Blue Monday
- Alien Ant Farm: Smooth Criminal
- Halestorm: Shoot to Thrill
- Trivium: Master of Puppets
- Social Distortion: Ring of Fire
- Fall Out Boy: Beat It
- Toothgrinder: The Chain.
That’s a lot of Honorable Mentions, isn’t it? So, if there are that many that I -didn’t- pick, just which covers did I choose? Well, let’s get into it and wait no more.
Metallica – Turn the Page
Originally made famous by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, number five belongs to the Kings of Rock, Metallica, for their cover of Turn the Page. Metallica has made numerous covers during its long career and even released an entire album of covers titled Garage Inc. For Turn the Page, they take the song and add their own power and talents to it, making this version truly unforgettable. The video follows an adult entertainer who tries to make the best of her life and raise her daughter as best she can. It’s a hard-hitting video to match an equally powerful rendition of a truly classic song. If this song is your cup of tea, check out Garage Inc for two discs worth of unparalleled covers by one of the best metal bands of all time.
Weezer – Africa
Up next is a song made famous by the band Toto. Africa is arguably their greatest hit and Weezer did a phenomenal capturing the spirit of the original while also adding their own twist to it. My favorite thing about their cover is that the music video features the one and only Weird Al Yankovic. Honest to god, I could listen to their version of Africa over and over again without ever getting tired of it. Hell, every time I listen to it, I have a hand in the air and my eyes closed just singing along. Good thing I don’t smoke or I’d have a lighter in it and I may just set my own home on fire on accident. It just hits differently and it speaks to my soul in a way that few songs can replicate.
Evanescence – The Chain
We’re moving on to number three and that belongs to Evanescence for their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain. I’ve heard a few covers of this song and honestly, this one is my favourite. Amy Lee has a powerful voice and it just commands you to enjoy on a subconscious level. The way she sings the chorus alone makes this song amazing. Released for the Gears 5 soundtrack, The Chain is a deep and emotional ride thanks to the vocals and music Evanescence brings to their version. God, every time I hear this song I can just envision the video with Amy Lee giving it her all on the chorus and I can’t help but sing along. The Chain cuts deep and doesn’t want to release its hold on your soul. Embrace it and love it.
State of Mine (feat. No Resolve & Brandon Davis) – The Thunder Rolls (The Long Version)
Originally recorded by country music legend Garth Brooks, The Thunder Rolls is a powerful song about a lovers betrayal and it is perhaps one of his best songs. That said, State of Mine’s version with No Resolve and Brandon Davis captures the very heart and soul of the original and adds a metal twist to it that just fits perfectly. This is a very new cover song too, released on March 5th of this year, but since I’ve discovered it I’ve had it on repeat for hours at a time. I cannot get enough of this version of the song and I want you all to love it as much as I do. It’s without a doubt one of my favourite covers ever recorded. Prepare your ears for the awesome that will come if you check this out. I wouldn’t steer you wrong.
Disturbed – The Sound of Silence
What may be the most powerful and emotional cover I have ever had the pleasure of listening to, Disturbed’s cover of The Sound of Silence is just iconic. The Sound of Silence was originally recorded and released by Simon and Garfunkle, who have gone on to say that David Draiman and Disturbed now own this song. Honest to god, this may just be the performance of Draiman’s career. He shows his range and delivers a gut-punch of emotion on the roller coaster of emotions this song makes you feel. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a cover song that was as powerful as this one is, or as vastly different from the original. I’m sure the majority of you have heard this song before, and if you haven’t… do yourself the favor of checking it out.