Covers you need to listen to! Part 3

Hello everyone and welcome back!
Today, I'm going to be writing about some of my favourite covers of songs that are absolutely jaw-dropping. But because there are so many amazing covers that I wanted to include, I've decided to split this topic into three parts, this being Part 3. I hope you like these covers as much as I do!
Please Note: I have decided not to include songs that sample other songs (such as Wild Thoughts by DJ Khaled) because they only use a very small fraction of the other song, not enough to be considered a cover.
Also note: I have also decided not to include covers from talent shows (such as The Voice or X-Factor) or TV shows (such as Glee) because they deserve their own, separate lists. I'm also excluding Post Modern Jukebox from this list.


Stand By Me by Florence Welch (originally by Ben E. King)

This beautiful love ballad has been covered many times before, even by John Lennon, but none have brought the level of emotion to the song that Florance Welch does to her cover. Welch is known for her soaring vocals and emotional tone and this cover showcases both, as well as her natural vibrato. Originally by Ben E. King in the soul and blues genre, Welch's cover is more stripped back and takes on a folk waltz element. Up until the bridge, there are minimal instruments and Welch's voice leads the song. Once the bridge hits, Welch has full string accompaniment which really fills out and dramatizes the song. Play this cover at a wedding and there won't be a dry eye in the house.

Sound of Silence by Disturbed (originally by Simon and Garfunkel)

Originally by the masters of songwriting, Simon and Garfunkel, this song has been covered so many times that I was sure there could possibly be a new, unique cover of it. But that's exactly what heavy-metal band Disturbed have done. They took a traditionally folk song and layered lead-singer David Draiman's rasping vocals with intense but simple piano, acoustic guitar and string ensemble, all with a metal twist. The result is a breathtaking record packed with raw emotion and bravado. While not a song you'd expect to hear on the radio, the cover reached no.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Love is a Battlefield by Raining Jane (originally by Pat Benatar) 

This cover of Pat Benatar's 80's disco hit was featured on the soundtrack of the 2014 film 'The Other Woman'. Considering the original song's roots, the Raining Jane cover is very artistically bold and diverse. The track has an earthy, relaxed sound to it, in complete contrast to the original which is fundamentally electronic and up-tempo. The interesting thing about this cover is that while it has a very different feel to the original, you can still clearly hear the influence of the original track. What adds more to the atmosphere of the track is the vocal layering amongst the group's members, as they often echo lead singer Mai Bloomfield's. It's a timeless cover that really captures the essence of the song.

I'd Rather Go Blind by Paloma Faith and Dua Lipa (originally by Etta James)

Yes, this is two different covers of the same song, but I simply couldn't decide which one was better, so they both make the list. While neither cover strays too far from Etta James' classic soul ballad, they both bring something to the table that helps them stand out against the plethora of other covers of this song. Known for her girl-power pop vibe, Dua Lipa surprised fans with her acoustic live cover when she uploaded it to youtube in late 2017. As a newcomer to international music fame, Lipa had something to prove with this cover. Without an inch of autotune, she shows she not only has incredible vocal chops but also the ability to tackle the classics and cement herself as a true artist. Paloma Faith's live cover features the vocals of Ty Taylor, which balances out Faith's husky tones with R&B soul beautifully. Both artists put their heart and soul into the track and it comes off as one of Faith's best vocal performances, following the criticism she received for her unique singing style. Overall it is a truly compelling track that highlights the best of both artists.

That concludes this blog series on the best covers you need to listen to. Obviously, I couldn't include all the amazing covers out there, so if I missed your favourite cover, please comment down below and I might include it in a future post. Please comment and share this post if you would like to see more posts and series like this. Also, be sure to check out part 1 and part 2 of this post.