Top 5 Cover Songs

Someone recently reminded me that opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. With that in mind I put forth my Top 5 Cover Songs knowing that I am leaving a lot of great songs off my list and even personal favorites. This list is not based on album sales, popularity or even coolness. This is simply my favorite cover songs. But what makes a song a cover? If it was originally song and released by another artist and someone knew sings it, it's a cover. What makes a good cover song? Anything that not only captures the essence of the original but also adds to it and makes it something that can stand on it's own. Left off my list are some of my notable favorites such as The Beatles - Twist and Shout, The Beachboys - Sloop John B, Guns and Roses - Knockin on Heavens Door, UB40 - Red Red Wine, Greg Laswell - Girls Just Want To Have Fun, and Social Distortions - Ring of Fire.

#5 The Fugees - Killing Me Softly. What a great song. You have Lauren Hill singing vocals better then Roberta Flack's original and Wyclef and Pras backing up with the Hip Hop flair. The video is a classic as well. One time...

#4 Van Halen - You Really Got Me. Eddie Van Halen bringing screaming rifts on his guitar with David Lee Roth on vocals do justice to this Kinks song and really bring it to a new and younger audience.

#3 Ray Charles - America the Beautiful. You only have to watch the 4th of July scene in the movie the Sandlot to fall in love with this cover and the imagery it invokes. My favorite part is when Ray brings his own flair and claims "Now waitaminute"

#2 Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah. Such a haunting and spiritual cover of Leonard Cohen's classic song. The sadness comes in the story of Jeff Buckley and his tragically cut short career and life. Oddly both the #2 and #1 songs were covered by Jason Castro on American Idol last year.

#1 Iz - Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I guess #1 and #2 have something else in common as well. They both feature singers whose lives were cut short. Iz, a hawaiian singer known for his folksy island sound gives this song a modern sound while keeping the charm and innoncence of the original.