May 312024
 
Bat for Lashes
Bambie Thug – Zombie (The Cranberries cover)

This month, Bambie Thug represented Ireland in Eurovision, coming in sixth (the country’s highest placement since 2000). Shortly before the finals, they released this cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie”amidst criticism of their outspokenness about the devastation in Gaza. The top YouTube comment puts it well: “The significance of Bambie choosing to cover this song will not be lost on anyone in Ireland or the UK, or many places outside them. It’s just about the most impactful call for peace an Irish person can give, and they’ve done it as well as anyone ever has.” Continue reading »

May 152024
 
skylar grey linkin park

Composer and producer Tommee Profitt released his newest collection of covers, titled Volume 2. And featured inside this second collection of covers was Skylar Grey’s compelling version of Linkin Park’s “Numb”. Skylar Grey (AKA Holly Brook Hafermann) is a singer, and record producer from Wisconsin. Her vocal delivery in this tune is both chilling and epic. Continue reading »

Jun 232023
 
tarja turunen numb

Ahead of the launch of her new album Rocking Heels: Live At Metal Church, former Nightwish lead singer Tarja Turunen has released a cover of Linkin Park’s classic “Numb.” Recorded in front of a small 300 person crowd in the Wacken Church in Germany, the song is, understandably, stripped back and understated, Turunen’s powerful voice accompanied only with a piano and string quartet. Continue reading »

May 012023
 
best cover songs
The Flowers of Hell – Atmosphere (Joy Division cover)

Toronto-London ensemble The Flowers of Hell first released this cover on their 2012 orchestral-pop covers album Odes, but, in honor of its first vinyl release on Record Store Day, it got a new music video. If you missed this wonderful Joy Division cover the first time around, it’s a perfect time to catch up. There’s a new “Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft” video too. Continue reading »

Dec 162022
 

Follow all our Best of 2022 coverage (along with previous year-end lists) here.

best cover songs 2022

The big story in 2022 covers came from a song that’s almost 40 years old: “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).” After Kate Bush’s classic had its Stranger Things moment, every week we got a half dozen new covers. It’s been six months since the show came out, and they’re still coming! This entire list could have been “Running Up That Hill” covers if we’d let it.

We didn’t, and it isn’t. The song makes one appearance, as do a number of other trendy 2022 items: Wet Leg, GAYLE, and Beabadoobee; the latest Cat Power covers project; posthumous releases (Dr. John, Levon Helm); songs that tie into coming out of pandemic isolation.

But, as always, a joy of our list is all the covers that tie into nothing, and that you won’t find anywhere else. Doom-metal Townes Van Zandt? Bluegrass Eminem? Ska Eddie Murphy? Folk Björk? Psych-rock Groucho Marx? Those are just five of the fifty killer covers on this year’s countdown. So run up that road, run up that hill, run up that building, and read on at the link below.

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Nov 022022
 
first to eleven crawling

Less than a week ago, rock cover group First to Eleven released an intimate cover of Linkin Park “Crawling.” While the intro remains true to the original with its distorted synth-like guitar, the group quickly put their own spin on the tune as the first verse set in. This version is expertly layered with acoustic guitar and cajon, a box drum that comes from Peru. The softness of these instruments is contrasted by electric bass, background synths, and lively snare.

We almost get hints of Taylor Swift in between the deep-seated angst. The lead singer’s voice is oh-so-pure in this iteration of “Crawling”.

For more great Linkin’ Park covers, be sure to crawl here.