Last night I was rifling through my CD collection looking for some music I hadn’t heard in a while and came across 311’s cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong“.  Listening to it I thought to myself, ya, this is pretty good…it has it’s own take and still manages to leave the original unblemished.  This then got me thinking about cover songs in general and what are some of the best, and undoubtedly worst i’ve come across.

Practically every artist has done a cover song now and then, and at times actually gone on to produce a bigger hit than the original.  The greatest like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and U2 have all had hits as covers while others have had rather forgettable moments.  Actually, SERIOUSLY forgettable moments. Think William Shatner’s “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.

You don’t believe me? Check out Celine Dion’s cover of AC/DC’s “You shook me all night long” or Jessica Simpson’s version of Nancy Sinatra’s “Boots”:

Do you see what i’m talking about now? That list goes on and on…but to show that i’m not entirely cruel, let me remove some of that aftertaste by showing you two of my favorite cover songs that I think you’ll enjoy.  Johnny Cash’s version of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” and the Tori Amos cover of Nirvana’s “Smells like teen spirit”.

What about you?  What are your favorite cover songs or what suggestions do you have for WORST COVER SONG EVER??