Cover songs: copying or re-reading

There are increasingly rare artists like Evan Dando who simply know how to turn any other artist’s music into their own. A clear example of this is Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson”, which was as successful (or more) than the most celebrated album of the Lemonheads’ career, “It’s a shame about Ray”.

When it comes to the term “cover music”, there is also the old controversy raised around bands that exalt themselves by only playing the original band songs, trying to demonstrate the greatest possible fidelity. The obsession can reach such a level that many cover artists truly think they are original indeed. An identity crisis that would delight any psychologist out there.

Fortunately, this is not the case for the covers selected below. Each of them is bold enough not only to make an inventive exchange of musical genres, but also to allow their fans to open their minds to admire artists from other niches. With that, could you even imagine we have Paula Abdul alt.country, Rick Springfield pop, Katy Perry indie-rock and Blondie electro-pop?