What Makes a Good Cover

To listen to a cover of a song is a very fragile process. We tend to rank things in our mind naturally, trying to come up with 'Top 5' albums, songs, or even artists. With covers though, there is a direct comparison already in place - mostly, you will have a favourite version. Usually its the first version you hear, the one you are used to. So, how can covers even come close to the original? What makes a cover great?
For me, it has to be sufficiently different. It has to have something new to offer - something the last version didn't have. It could be a complete difference in direction, a genre change, or even just adding to the original set. Things that are too similar, with only one thing a little off, just throws me. First off - they are pointless. Why not just listen to the original anyway if this other version is exactly the same, with some minor changes? Secondly, theres something unsettling about a slight change to something I already know. It's like those creepy humanoid robots they made in Japan - very similar, but still not perfect. I thought I could list my top 5 covers, and why exactly they are great.

 1 - Feeling Good - Muse

So, you've probably guessed already that I love me some Muse. However, that isn't the only reason I chose this song. Countless people have actually covered this track (originally written for the musical The Smell of Greasepaint), and the most famous versions belong to either Nina Simone or Michael Buble. The reason I didn't chose either of these, although they are solid versions, is because they are too similar. Big band, soulful voices. Muse bring something very unique to the table, making it my favourite by far.

2 - Try a Little Tenderness - The Commitments

I am a huge soul fan, and it would take a lot to outdo Otis Reading. This crew, however, blew him right out of the water. Now, I can't talk about this version without mentioning Andrew Strong's fantastic voice - his gritty tone polar opposite to Reading's smooth croon. Also, they take it up a notch - bringing in a huge band and epic backing vocals as Strong gives his all into the mic. Truly a great cover to a great song.

3 - Let it Be - Timothy T and Carol Woods

I love the original. This is a perfect example of something that is so different, it gives a whole other vibe to the song. This means it makes it for a whole other mood, bringing a new dynamic to the table. The song seamlessly fits into the Gospel style, seeming as if it was written to be blared through a chapel. Also, the voices of the cast are spectacular.

4 - Wish You Were Here - Sparklehorse ft. Thom Yorke

The original is my favourite song of all time. Again, this serves a completely different purpose. The original is warm and homely, whereas this is perfect for when you are feeling distanced and lonely. This version is beautifully haunting, once again showing a different dimension to the track altogether.

5 - Jolene - The White Stripes

Almost everyone would have heard the original. This has a different feel to it altogether, and I definitely prefer it. With it being live, it should be a little shady - but it is a flawless cover that takes a country song and plants it firmly into rock territory. I love the Stripe's raw style as it is, but its just amplified tenfold with this track,