3 Of The Week: (8/27/14)

Have you ever listened to a song and said ‘This song is so good, but why can’t a different artist be singing it?’ Well, you my friend are absolutely not alone in the never-ending frustration of whether or not you should like a particular song despite who is singing it. But that’s what covers are for and sometimes the other artist’s rendition is almost as good or even (*gasp*) better than the original. Here is a list of my favorite covers that I personally think are a million times better than the original versions.

1. “Lollipop” – Framing Hanley

I have no problem admitting that I’m not the biggest fan of Lil Wayne‘s nasally, lack-of-depth rapping voice and it’s what almost always turns me away from his songs. When a band like Framing Hanley takes ahold of his neurotic, overly-autotuned “Lollipop” it’s definitely hard not to be intrigued and I have to confess that their down-and-dirty rock version is by far my favorite cover to date. This might be the rocker chick in me saying this, but frontman Kenneth Nixon’s voice just turns each verse (no matter how ridiculous it is) into a big ball of musical sexiness. Plus, the music video is cheesy and fantastic all at the same time!

2. “Time After Time” – Quietdrive

If I had a dollar for every time I told someone to turn off Cyndi Lauper‘s eardrum shattering whiny voice I could probably pay for a sweet vacation. However, turn on Quietdrive‘s version of her hit “Time After Time” and I’d get this goofy grin on my face from how amazing this cover is. It’s the absolute perfect song to go back to when you want to feel all nostalgic (which will happen a lot after college) and will forever remind me of the king of all mid-2000s high school films – John Tucker Must Die (no shame). Lead singer Kevin Truckenmiller brings so much more life to the song than the original and turns it into a fun, lets-get-drunk-and-make-this-a-night-we’ll-never-forget track instead of a long, drawn out downer of a song.

3. “Your Love” – I See Stars

I personally think classic rock covers are the most interesting ones because, let’s be honest, they’re everyone’s go-to karaoke song and they’re so easy to tweak. I See Stars‘s rendition of The Outfield‘s 80s hit “Your Love” is excitingly unique on its own but still keeps the beauty of what made the original a hit in the first place. It successfully adds more of a pep in its step as well as tasteful-yet-not-overbearing screams weaved in between the last 2 choruses. The prominent young sound in Devin Oliver’s charismatic and playful vocals turns “Your Love” into a more believable account of a young guy falling for an older woman.

Bonus: Caleb Hyles’ rendition of “Let It Go” because it’s fantastic in every way possible!

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