Latest Cover Posts

Active Child – His Eye Is On The Sparrow (Hymn Cover)

Posted by michelleg - January 7, 2013

Often referred to as having a pristine indie “choir-like” voice, it’s both surprising and not to see Active Child taking on this classic Gospel hymn “His Eye Is On the Sparrow”. The song has seen many incarnations; it’s been covered by Whitney Houston and Jessica Simpson, but it might actually be most familiar to those fans of Whoopi Goldberg’s Sister Act 2. In the film, it’s performed by Lauryn Hill and Tanya Blount. Active Child makes it his own, but at the same time stays true to the original’s purity and ethereal power. Bravo, here.

’His Eye Is On The Sparrow’

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AlunaGeorge – Thinkin Bout You (Frank Ocean Cover)

Posted by michelleg - January 7, 2013

Last week we brought you a taste of AlunaGeorge‘s new album, Body Music, in the form of the woozy and sensual track “Diver”. Today, we’ve got another treat from the UK duo: a live cover of Frank Ocean‘s “Thinkin Bout You”. Taken from BBC Radio’s 1Xtra’s Hot for 2013 Live Lounge special, their rendition is light, lovely and washed with reggae-tinged synths. Check it out below! For more music, including a live version of a new song, head over to BBC’s site.

’AlunaGeorge – Thinkin Bout You (Frank Ocean Cover for 1Xtra Live Lounge)’

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via SoulCulture

The xx – Last Christmas (Wham! Cover)

Posted by michelleg - December 17, 2012

In the time that we’ve known them, The xx have operated from behind a wall of shadows. Their music is dark, smoky, low-key and as much about the pauses and silences as the pain-tinged lyrics. The band revels in nondescript solitude. Because of this, when we heard that they covered Wham!‘s classic “Last Christmas” song for BBC 1’s Live Lounge, our ears perked up immediately. Granted the George Michael-written tune is a somber one, it’s still a holiday staple blared amongst all the seasonal good tidings. The xx take on the carol like we sort of expected them to. See for yourself below:

’The xx – Last Christmas (Live on BBC Radio 1s Live Lounge)’

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Tegan and Sara – Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper Cover) (Video)

Posted by michelleg - December 14, 2012

It’s been quite some time since I last watched Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. How great was that film? And that “Time After Time” scene with Alan Cumming? Even if you don’t recall it, there’s no forgetting that ’80s Cyndi Lauper hit. Tegan and Sara haven’t. The two sisters cover the song as part of Billboard’s Candid Covers series, and given that the duo are well-versed in pop (see “Closer,” “I’m Not Your Hero”), they tackle it pretty well. Check it out above (via Stereogum) and be sure to pick up Tegan and Sara’s new album Heartthrob, due out January 29th.

[Dope] Frank Ocean – Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead Cover) (Live Clip)

Posted by michelleg - December 11, 2012

Last week at a Spotify press conference in New York City, Frank Ocean played a short set. Before launching into his song “Voodoo,” he sang his own rendition of Radiohead‘s classic “Fake Plastic Trees”. The clip is only a little over a minute, but two tremendous artists incarnated in one song is just too newsworthy to pass up on. We’ve included the original version, off Radiohead’s The Bends, below.

’radiohead – fake plastic trees’

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Nite Jewel – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (Michael Jackson Cover)

Posted by michelleg - December 7, 2012

Ramona Gonzalez, aka Nite Jewel, has been making her brand of lo-fi electronica for a few years now, with her latest album called One Second Of Love being released back in March to many critics’ praise. Here the Los Angeles artist tackles the disco-esque Michael Jackson track “P.Y.T.” (Pretty Young Thing), taking it down a couple of notches and setting it to a much more lax, drawn-out pace. It’s got solid ’80s vibes, but it’s the syrupy stride that gives it some real late-night sensuality, making it the perfect sizzling slow jam.

’Nite Jewel – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)’

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One Second Of Love is out via Secretly Canadian.

[Folk] The Staves – Songbird (Fleetwood Mac Cover)

Posted by michelleg - December 6, 2012

As a music fan, it’s important not only to hunger for new artists and songs, but to also appreciate the classics because let’s face it: without people like the Beach Boys, Janis Joplin or Bob Dylan, what would rock sound like today? I actually wouldn’t want to know. This year, legendary rock band Fleetwood Mac celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of their hit album Rumours. To pay tribute to that record and the longstanding influence of that band, a number of modern day acts such as Yeasayer, Liars and Julia Holter have come together to put out a covers album called Rumours Revisited.

Today, I wanted to spotlight one of its tracks done by English folk trio The Staves. Their rendition of “Songbird” is simply lovely and enchanting, one to unwind to and one that certainly does its original justice. Check it out below and grab a free download:

’The Staves
Songbird’

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Folk