Today’s NY Post has an article listing the Top 100 Cover Song of All Time, and the list contains some classics, some bombs, and some unknown doozies. While I would argue that Guns N’ Roses’ “Live and Let Die” should be waaay higher than #85, for the most part, the list is pretty dead on. But the great thing about covering this article on the internet? Added Youtube clips for your listening pleasure. Here is a Top 10 Cover Song Countdown with accompanying video — take a look, you might be surprised!
10. “Tainted Love,” Soft Cell (Gloria Jones)
This “Tainted Love” cover is great, but if you’ve heard the original, you know it’s clearly the better song of the two. Here is the uber-80’s music video for the song, where we discover that the lead singer of Soft Cell looks an awful lot like Project Runway’s Jeffrey Sebelia.
9. “Easy (Like Sunday Morning),” Faith No More (the Commodores)
This quaint and sweet cover version of “Easy” is made even more so with the help of some finger-snapping trannies.
After the jump, we bring you videos of the NY Post’s Top 8 Cover Songs Ever… then tell us if you agree or disagree, and what they left off the list!
8. “Against All Odds,” the Postal Service (Phil Collins)
Now, if only they would cover the Genesis song “Jesus He Knows Me”… Also, we wish more indie vids would feature Josh Hartnett, even if it involved clips from the worst movie ever.
7. “Personal Jesus,” Johnny Cash (Depeche Mode)
Yes… just yes. If ever I was to become a secret cutter, this is the song I would be listening to while doing the deed.
6. “Smooth Criminal,” Alien Ant Farm (Michael Jackson)
What do you get when you combine Smashmouth with Linkin’ Park? This:
Admittedly, I do like it.
5. “Showroom Dummies,” Señor Coconut & His Orchestra (Kraftwerk)
Apologies for the shaky hand cam, but this was all Youtube had to offer. In case you don’t know the original — which is almost as scary as A Clockwork Orange — you can check that out here.
4. “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Sinead O’Connor (Prince)
So many memories! Remember Sinead before she became a crazy Pope picture-tearer threat? If not, check out this vid, where Sinead does her best impression of Giambi from Pee Wee’s Playhouse
3. “Hazy Shade of Winter,” the Bangles (Simon and Garfunkel)
While I had no idea this song was a cover, I did have some idea that I was simultaneously in love with Andrew McCarthy and Robert Downy Jr., both featured in this video.
2. “Baby Got Back,” Jonathan Coulton (Sir Mix-A-Lot)
Finally — an adorable indie singer who likes back! But let’s be serious… #2 Best Cover of All Time?! Why, the Gilbert and Sullivan version of this song is nearly as good and not even included on the list at all. Sounds like the authors of this article rank somewhere high on Coulton’s Top 8 Myspace Friends. No, but seriously, it’s pretty cute.
1. “Stairway to Heaven,” Dolly Parton (Led Zeppelin)
So we couldn’t actually find a music video for the song the Post is calling the “Best Cover of All Time” (SCOFF!), but we did find something almost as good if not better: Dolly Parton’s “Stairway to Heaven” set to pictures of Paris Hilton. This video is literally mesmerizing.
