Covers That Beat the Original This may be controversial to say, but sometimes, the cover really DOES beat the original. Here’s a few of our favourite covers that just might have stolen the spotlight from their predecessors.
Meg Myers - ‘Running Up That Hill’ Sam Pegg It feels wrong to say that anyone could sing Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)’ better than Kate Bush could. Yet, the truth is, Meg Myers elevates this song to a whole new level, keeping the original intact while imbuing it with her impeccable vocals and keeping it nostalgically rooted to the 80s. The thing is, on your first listen, I don’t even think you realise it’s not Kate Bush singing because the vocals are just that strong. Everything about it, from the backing track to its producing is simply flawless, only bolstered further by the deeper and breathier voice that is Meg Myers. In a song that always felt like it teemed with something deeper and personal, Meg Myers just brings a depth to it that no cover of the song has come close to before. It respects the original source material while exploiting its weaknesses (if we could really call them that) and turning them into something fresh but just as enthralling as the original. Seriously, go listen to it and fall in love with everything Meg Myers, one of this generation’s most underrated singers!
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes - ‘Nothing Breaks Like a Heart’ Katie Evans ‘Nothing Breaks Like a Heart’ must be one of the most covered songs at the moment, with artists such as Sea Girls, Clea and Ten Fé all doing beautiful covers of Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus’ captivating original track. However, whilst all these covers are stunning, it is punk rockers Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes take on the tune that truly gripped me when I first heard it. Not only does it give the original more pace, Frank Carter’s cover also brings in a wealth of musical layers such as edgy guitar riffs and drum beats to overhaul the original, motivating you as you listen. The grit of Carter’s voice works so well with Cyrus’ lyrics it’s unbelievable, making you feel like Cyrus wrote this song just for the band to play. The build-up to the final bridge lets the momentum build, and you can just envisage a mosh pit being built up in a sweaty crowd of rock fans. Cyrus has always written rock-influenced tracks, her latest album Plastic Hearts (2020) is evidence of that, yet it’s ‘Nothing Breaks Like a Heart’ whose rocky vibes feel hand-made for the Rattlesnakes.
Eva Cassidy - ‘Songbird’ Alice Fortt Eva Cassidy’s version of a Fleetwood Mac classic is beautiful, to put it franky. Even Though I’m a diehard Fleetwood fan, it clearly beats the original, perhaps partly due to the context of the song’s release; Cassidy passed away a year before the song was released, having not achieved nearly the success she deserved in life. The cover is breathtaking, with the beauty of Cassidy’s voice being seemingly effortless, rising from the softest whisper to astounding perfect notes. There’s an undeniably heartbreaking beauty about a onceunknown artist singing perhaps one of the most poignant love songs in music, with the knowledge that she’ll be parted from her own loved ones very soon sitting at the front of her mind. It’s hard to listen to this song without getting emotional, because you can just feel the utter devotion that Cassidy is pouring into her words. Not to mention, the singers talent is undeniable, and the song is transformed into something just so much more poignant under her care. ‘Songbird’ takes on a whole new meaning in Cassidy’s version. 11
Image courtesy of RCA
