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Cover Me Impressed
With a focus on the 60's-90's music scene, CMI is a Paradiso for Lovers Cover Songs! Each post focuses on a particular song and provides its original and most popular recordings as well as covers versions. Patrons of CMI vote on the most deserving cover version, which will then live to compete again, battling other cover songs in a future post.
Bands, musicians, troubadours, and their ilk, submit your cover songs for future CMI competitions.
CMI welcomes the opportunity to introduce new artists.
Contact RDubbs at RDubbsTunage@gmail.com
Music Genres?
We've Got 'em Covered ...
Rock / Alt-Rock / Rock 'n Roll / Rockabilly / Indie Pop / New Wave / Old Wave / Surf / Reggae / Ska / Punk Rock / Psychobilly / Cowpunk / Alt-Country / Bluegrass / Folk / Croon-Tunes / A Cappella / Motown / Gospel / Blues / Rhythm & Blues / Jazz / Big Band / Lounge / Classical / Celtic / Bossa Nova / Worldbeat / Show Tunes / Cartoons / Bizarro / Musical Calamities
Concert Commemorating the Opening of The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame Museum: 9/2/1995
Lou Reed and Soul Asylum:
Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Show: 10/30/2009
Lou Reed and Metallica:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Mott the Hoople vs. R.E.M. and Gang of Four vs. Jesse Welles feat. Matt Quinn
Mott the Hoople:
R.E.M. and Gang of Four:
Jesse Welles feat. Matt Quinn (a.k.a. Mount Joy):
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
So many great ones to consider but this is my All-Time Favorite R.E.M. song!
The Original
R.E.M.:
Unplugged:
Huh! Michael Stipe agrees with me!!!
There’s also an a cappella version of this song. Usually I would include something like that in the post. But I don’t like it much so, considering it is my blog, I have chosen not to include it.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Death Cab for Cutie vs. The Pickin’ On Players vs. Cry Cry Cry vs. Furthermore
Death Cab for Cutie:
The Pickin’ On Players:
Cry Cry Cry:
Furthermore:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
While “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” is my favorite Richard and Linda Thompson song, this one might be the pair’s greatest musical accomplishment …
The Original
Richard and Linda Thompson:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
The Wrockers vs. R.E.M. vs. Redhill Rats vs. Pete and Maura Kennedy
The Wrockers:
R.E.M.:
Redhill Rats:
Pete and Maura Kennedy:
Pete and Maura slightly edged out Nanci Griffith for the final slot, due almost solely to Maura’s unabashed enthusiasm at the song’s outset!
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
I hated the disco years as mush as anyone. Yet I have always liked this song …
The Original
Gloria Gaynor:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
R.E.M. vs. John Otway vs. Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sara Niemietz
R.E.M.:
John Otway:
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sara Niemietz:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Did I Ask for Too Much? More Than a Lot … You Gave Me a Carrot Guitar Now That’s All I’ve Got
The Original
U2:
R.E.M. with Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.:
A damn shame. This one could have been a contender. But you just can’t slip the original band’s bass player and drummer into the mix and call it your own. Well … at least not on CMI you can’t!!! (Yeah, we’re a bunch of badasses around here, deal with it!)
Johnny Cash:
I know, technically, this is a cover and should be down below battling among other contenders. The problem is this cover is perfect. The song absolutely cannot be performed any better. As such, I feel to include it in the competition would be disrespectful to the memory of the Man in Black, as well as unfair to the poor bastards below who so desperately covet the industry accolades that come with a CMI victory.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Cowboy Junkies vs. Dami Im vs. Joe Cocker
Cowboy Junkies:
Dami Im:
Joe Cocker:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On?!!?
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Did I Ask for Too Much? More Than a Lot … You Gave Me a Carrot Guitar Now That’s All I’ve Got
The Original
U2:
R.E.M. with Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.:
A damn shame. This one could have been a contender. But you just can’t slip the original band’s bass player and drummer into the mix and call it your own. Well … at least not on CMI you can’t!!! (Yeah, we’re a bunch of badasses around here, deal with it!)
Johnny Cash:
I know, technically, this is a cover and should be down below battling among other contenders. The problem is this cover is perfect. The song absolutely cannot be performed any better. As such, I feel to include it in the competition would be disrespectful to the memory of the Man in Black, as well as unfair to the poor bastards below who so desperately covet the industry accolades that come with a CMI victory.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Elisa vs. Christian Kane & Mary Blige vs. Mike Masse with Jeff Hall
Elisa:
Christian Kane & Mary Blige:
Mike Masse with Jeff Hall:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On?!!?
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Tune du Jour: “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” – R.E.M.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Discount vs. Sugarland vs. The Suicide Machines
Everybody’s Dressin’ Funny … Cover Me Impressed!
“We urge Americans to be mindful of their leading role and international responsibilities as a great country and a great democracy when they go into the voting booths. Your mistake might spell a global disaster. There is no substitute for America as a pillar of world stability, and no one to contain an American Duce. Suddenly, browsing the world map, I recognize possible contours of the scenario described by George Orwell in the prophetic book he called simply 1984: three autocratic powers dominating the international landscape, each seized by fear, bigotry, and nationalism and controlled by the one and only strong leader or a politburo. Did Orwell simply make a 32-year mistake in timing?”
Former Russian Minister Andrei Kozyrev
The Original
R.E.M.:
40 Watt Revival
Considering Stipe, Buck and Mills are somewhere on the crowded stage, this version of “It’s the End of the World …” is precluded from CMI competition. However, since I’ve enjoyed 5-8 many, many times over the past couple of decades and love the spectacle of so many Athens/Atlanta musicians on stage yucking it up with Athens Royalty, well, this gem from the past well deserves a seat at the table.
Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, 5-8, Patterson Hood, Clay Leverett, Bain Mattox, Amanda Kapousouz, Vanessa Hay and a veritable basket of other adorables:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Discount vs. Sugarland with Matt Nathanson & Little Big Town vs. The Suicide Machines
Discount:
Sugarland with Matt Nathanson & Little Big Town:
The Suicide Machines:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On?!!?
And In My Hour of Need, I Truly Am Indeed, Alone Again, Broccoli …
For every music-lover there are a few inherently bad songs that they inexplicably enjoy. For many these guilty pleasures are kept well-hidden, never to be disclosed, lest the humiliation would be too much to bear. But I have no guilty pleasures, only pleasures. Or, as others who know me might put it, I simply know no shame. For example, I will now proclaim to the world (or at least the multitudes of CMI patrons) that I really like this song. I’ve liked it from the first time I heard it and it still brings me a smile hearing it today. Gloria throws it down as if she’s in the midst of a real-time heated encounter. But who can blame her when some no-good cad returns from outer space to taunt her anew. You tell ’em Gloria!
The Original
Gloria Gaynor:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
R.E.M. vs. John Otway vs. Snuff
R.E.M.:
John Otway:
Sadly, the audio is poor on this particular clip. Yet it is well worth a viewing just to sample some of Otway’s maniacal genius at its best.
Snuff:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On?!!?
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On?!!?
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Gardening at Night Gardening at Night Gardening at Night
The Original
R.E.M.:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Dashboard Confessional vs. Ingrid Michaelson vs. Pickin’ On Players
Dashboard Confessional:
Ingrid Michaelson:
Pickin’ On Players:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On?!!?
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 