Sep 292023
 
best cover songs
Al Green — Perfect Day (Lou Reed cover)

It’s been 15 years since the last Al Green album. Does “Perfect Day” signal the beginning of his comeback? Unclear — I thought so after his last single, another cover, and that was five years ago. But we can hope. “I loved Lou’s original ‘Perfect Day’—the song immediately puts you in a good mood,” Green explained. “We wanted to preserve that spirit, while adding our own sauce and style.” Continue reading »

Jul 022018
 
cover songs june
Andrew Combs – Reptila (The Strokes cover)


The Strokes’ Is This It songs have been covered to death, so musicians are digging deeper. We heard a killer Angles cover in April from Billie Eilish (more on her in a minute), and now singer-songwriter Andrew Combs takes on this Room on Fire track. His own music leans Nashville Americana, but from the crazy horns here, sounds like he’s been spending time in New Orleans. Continue reading »

Apr 172018
 
rock and roll hall of fame 2018 covers

This past weekend’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony featured great performances by Bon Jovi, The Cars, and The Moody Blues. Equally worthy were the phenomenal covers highlighting both musical greats taken from us too soon – Tom Petty and Chris Cornell – and tributes to the two artists inducted posthumously, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe (inducted as an “Early Influence”).

We rank the three best covers below. That’s judging from the circulation YouTube footage at least; Lauryn Hill’s Nina Simone tribute may come off better when the HBO version airs next month, but the current videos are hard to watch. Continue reading »

Jun 062012
 

Beginning a 10-day fundraising effort called (RED) RUSH TO ZERO, experimental afro-beat pop artist tUnE-yArDs and The Roots’ ?uestlove have joined forces. Offering up a high energy cover of Fela Kuti’s “Lady” featuring rapper Akua Naru and African singer Angélique Kidjo, the track was recorded for an upcoming tribute called Red Hot + FELA. The album which is scheduled for release in the Fall will include songs paying tribute to Nigerian musician/singer and social activist Fela Kuti. Continue reading »

Jun 202011
 

“Weird Al” Yankovic drops by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight in support of his new album Alpocalypse, but not just as the musical guest. No, the entire episode, he’ll be sitting in with the Roots! From the sound of it, the parody-hop dream team have been having some fun preparing. During soundcheck, they jammed on an instrumental cover of, appropriately enough, Madvillain’s “Accordion” and it’s worth a listen. Continue reading »

Jun 022011
 

Boston duo Karmin has become one of 2011’s breakout cover stars, thanks to a cover of Chris Brown’s “Look at Me Now” and a follow-up Lil Wayne cover. You want proof that they’re getting huge? Check out their latest video. It’s a version of new Nicki Minaj single “Super Bass.”

At first, it features all the hallmarks of a classic Karmin cover. Amy Heidemann strums a guitar while quasi-rapping Minaj’s lyrics while Nick Noonan plays plaintive piano chords. After a minute or so, though, the camera slowly zooms out to reveal Questlove and Owen Biddle of the Roots jamming along, on drums and bass respectively. It’s just another feather in the cap of a duo who is having quite a year. Check it out below. Continue reading »