Look, by the time the millennium turned I was well into grad school, and afterwards I never really got back into music to the extent of my youth. SAD but true. An actual 20 songs for me would be boring and incomplete. Maybe “FourFiveSeconds” or another Rihanna hit, a few Tool songs, "Rose Tattoo", something angry by Halestorm, something Evanescence where I can drool over Amy Lee, and I’d have to fill it in with covers, probably half of them by Chris Cornell.
So I just said fuck it
we’ll do it live I’ll just do 21 favorite covers from the last 21 years since the turn of the century.
And yes I know there was a cover thread a while back. I didn’t participate.
I’ll break them sorta into groups since 20 separate posts is like a month worth to me. It's what I like; hope you find something new to you, or re-find an old fave.
cheers--
In the spirit of the holidays, here’s an honorable mention first:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cUz-zAATNI
Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYMsd6pDSTc
I could have easily picked Ramin’s version of Heart-Shaped Box, (also from Westworld; please go find it if you haven’t heard it) but I wanted to limit to one Nirvana cover, and I’ve got a favorite right down…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bUPLRq54nY
… here. One of the few Teen Spirit covers I like. “Can I get the angst turned up just a little bit” makes me laugh every time. Go to at least 2:15 if you're in a hurry for the actual song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FH6NSPyj18
The relationship between metal and classical is well-documented, and I love when a classically trained pianist (lulz) tackles what I consider Metallica’s best song.
I adore pretty much everything Viktoriya plays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSykmpZcjqk
Gabriella is pretty and can really play. I am not pretty and cannot play. That is all.
Always relaxing listening to her. Almost picked her version of “Here Comes The Sun”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI
I feel a bit weird including this; it belongs on some kind of different list with Hendrix doing All Along The Watchtower, Buckley’s Hallelujah, etc.
Transcends the original song. The “Best” cover in the last couple decades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk7RVw3I8eg
I’m told @Swaye already picked this, but I don’t really read his stuff.
Disturbed played this on Conan the night after my wife died.
The more dramatic and dark take on the classic, and especially the way it starts soft and soulful, and keeps intensifying into this searing RAGE was perfect for how I was feeling at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfaOf70M4xs
Song starts at about 1 minute. Amazing version of a Sabbath ballad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VsCKbcSNZ8
Never the biggest Green Day fan, but they were always solid and I thought they nailed this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgFQ6WmxdMs
probably my favorite Skynyrd song, and this take gives me chills every tim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqPATbDhrb4
I really want to hate the guy for being good looking, not aging, AND an accomplished actor and singer.
And the flippant way he says “there you go” at the end kinda makes me want to punch him. But the fucker can sing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuUDRU9-HRk
Hat tip to Grundle who mentioned this one.
Ugh. I could pick more than 20 Cornell songs easily, and no other celebrity death has ever affected me like his.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFxOaDeJmXk
Is a Tribute a “Cover”…? – I don’t care; from Ann’s incredible voice, to Jason’s emotions, to Fontayne laying down that solo in front of Page himself, this is everything a tribute should be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtDgmqVs5Eg
if these were ranked by personal favorite this is my #1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04po7YBBCvw
Look, this song is fucking dumb. The singer sounds like a goblin from “Labyrinth.” Yet I listen to it all the time smiling all the way through. And I think a few of you need a laugh. When you got up this morning, did you know you needed a German AC/DC cover band performing an ABBA classic? Hopefully at least one other person appreciates this damn ear worm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUOuJJdjFHc
For fuck sake she took on the SLAYER classic, and created this dark, haunting, hopeless cover. I love it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSycSBYHitc
Thought I would hate their take on Neil Young. Very much the opposite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdTiZB0wjs0
2000 so it barely fits. I’d say second “best” cover of last 20-21 years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDJgwUeW7_k
Though I greatly prefer PIE, this cover by Cake is my jam. Yes, two Sabbath covers on this list, sorry not sorry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrbKvxGgFfg
not sure why I like this so much; can’t say that I was a big Joy Division fan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OTw5cbphzA
I have mixed feelings about The Cure ever being covered but greatly enjoyed this.
Tempted to pick her cover of "Teenage Dirtbag" for the lulz but decided it wasn't big enough to count here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaJCQo6aMtA
I’m a big fan. She has tons of great covers. Almost picked her cover of “I’ve been everywhere”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q50HZDu5Ck8
Similar, but different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbPQBkQigRI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ5VNXIiv1c