Countdown Friday! Cover Songs

We are at a period in music where a nationally televised karaoke contest is producing best selling artists. Twice a week (is that how often American Idol is on? I don't watch) the majority of television watching Americans watch hopefuls perform covers of our favorite songs. The sheer amount of material out there has made this the hardest countdown I've done so far, and that's out of four! So a quick disclaimer so all 10 of my readers don't get upset with me. I am not including songs that people associated with the coverer more than the coveree. That said, there is no "Proud Mary" by Ike and Tina (originally CCR), no "Respect" by Aretha Franklin (originally Otis Reading), and none of the many covers the Beatles performed. That said, here we go!

1. "Killing Me Softly", The Fugees. Lauryn Hill definitely did Robert Flak justice, and you will see her again on this list.

2. "Heartless", The Fray. The fact that this song has only been out for about two yeas and has been covered by so many people is a testament to the genius that is Kanye West. Just remember many geniuses are also lunatics, and I love the crazies. Also, for all those covers out there, Isaac Slade's voice blows them all out of the water.

3. "Hallelujah", Jeff Buckley. Everyone has covered this song, with two great new versions in the last month by Justin Timberlake, and another by K.D. Lang. Jeff Buckley's is still my favorite. Maybe it's because I don't know much of his other work so I don't associate it with other songs. Still it's haunting.

4. "All Along the Watchtower", Jimi Hendrix. It was a toss up between this great Bob Dylan orginal or "Star Spangled Banner", but since that song is covered every day at sports games, I decided to go with this one.

5."Can't Take My Eyes Off of You", Lauryn Hill. She raps, she sings, she makes amazing covers. She also popped up in Australia a couple weeks ago doing some shows. There she goes getting my hopes up again.

6. "Mrs. Robinson", The Lemonheads. This was one of my favorite bands in middle school. I wonder what happened to them? Anyway, if you've never heard their cover of Simon and Garfunkel's song made famouns by "The Graduate" please look for it now.

7. "The Man Who Sold the World", Nirvana. I could be wrong but I believe that the unplugged version of this is the only one Nirvana did. It's a great juxtapose to David Bowie's sorta of trippy 70s original. Also Cobain's scruffy voice fits the song so well and is so different from Bowie's soft almost whisper. I love both version.

8. "I Will Survive", Cake. I HATE the original of this song. The fact that I can even listen to it, let along enjoy it speaks volumes to Cake.

9. "Higher Ground", Red Hot Chili Peppers. RHCP has a thing for covers, which doesn't bother me because it shows respect for past work, and who wouldn't want to honor Stevei Wonder. Also Flea's bass line that opens the song is sick. Also, check out the band Atoms For Peace, it's Flea and Thom Yorke and the drummer from R.E.M. and some other dude. Sick.

10. "Whatever You Like" Anya Marina. This is just a fun entry, that I never would have known about it if it wasn't for one friend, and I think she first heard it on Gossip Girl. I bet T.I. likes it too. She has such a sweet voice and I love how she drags out "Patron on icccccccce".