In general, cover songs aren't nearly as good as the original. There are some exceptions, Johnny Cash's dreary rendition of Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt" and Aerosmith's version of the Beatles "Come Together" are a couple which most certainly do justice to the original song. However, don't get me started on Madonna's butchering of "American Pie" or the near blasphemous Sheryl Crow cover of "Sweet Child O' Mine". Today, I am going to discuss some really badass covers many of you likely have never heard.
"Baby One More Time" -- Ahmet and Dweezil Zappa
The sons of the late, legendary Frank Zappa take a cheesy song by nutjob poptart Britney Spears and turn it into something which is actually tolerable to your ears. (Not that it's difficult to improve a Britney Spears song, I mean, I could do that.) Featured on the soundtrack to the cult classic WCW film Ready to Rumble, the Zappa boys go all out, full gusto into this cover and without a doubt, improve upon the original. Dweezil Zappa is one of rock's most under-appreciated guitarists and he gets to display that talent here. Ahmet's raspy vocals compliment the hard rock instrumentation and work well on this tune.
"Bad Romance" -- Halestorm
Replace Lady Gaga's silly baby talk with hard rock guitar and her Autotune vocals with the pure talent of Lzzy Hale and you get what the song should have been in the first place: loud and badass. Lzzy's powerful vocals shred this song as her bandmates rock out behind her. The song can be found on the band's cover album, Reanimate (which by the way, has an HP Lovecraft inspired album cover). Lzzy is one talented and beautiful lady and this is truly a cover to go gaga over.
"Black Sabbath" (From the Satanic perspective) -- Type O Negative
This is the most unique of my selections as the lyrics have been completely rewritten. The late Peter Steele rewrote the lyrics to fit the perspective of Lucifer. No, he does not have the same compelling vocal style of Ozzy Osbourne, but his deep and brooding vocals fit this song, and its lyrical content, perfectly. It's not a traditional cover, but it is interesting take on the original, both musically and lyrically.
"Dream On" -- Ronnie James Dio ft. Yngwie Malmsteen
It's Ronnie James Dio. Need I say more? If there was one Aerosmith song for the late metal legend to cover, this was it. Just sit back and listen.
So now, get on iTunes and download these songs. You know you want to.
