Ziggy Stardust

David Bowie, Bauhaus

All Apologies

Nirvana lyrics are not to be understood by the words; they are meant to create the mood, rather than a meaning. That’s what the experts say. I have a different theory though. The absurdity, or abstractness, of the lyrics is the result of a commonsensical insight Cobain had. Which he penned down for the song In Bloom. This time, very explicit.

He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he don't know what it means
Don't know what it means
And I say... yeaahh

All apologies, what else should he say after that. And when Sinead O’ Connor sings that to you strumming a lone guitar, what else can you say, than to accept that unconditionally!

The Nurse Who Loved Me

Failure, A Perfect Circle

The 'Nurse Who Loved Me' features in Failure's album Fantastic Planet. APC's rendering of the song feels more 'drowsy' compared to its original. Both the versions are a good listen.

When Doves Cry

Prince, Ani DiFranco

The one I have access to and have heard is a live version. And, DiFranco has definitely done a good job.

Pink Moon

Nick Drake, Sebadoh

Another one of Nick Drake covers. Nick Drake rules! Click on the artist names to listen to samples from Amazon.com

Simple Twist of Fate

May be, this song has nothing to do with Joan Baez. But in her own words, Bob Dylan is one who is so good with words, and at keeping things vague. And when Baez covers a Dylan song, it’s also about making it a little less vague. The same year Dylan released this song, he was also touring with Baez for his Rolling Thunder Revue. Baez covered Simple Twist of Fate soon after that tour. Baez didn’t interchange every he and she in the song, but changed the last verse almost completely. And that seems to complete the blame on the simple twist of fate.

Black Eyed Dog

Nick Drake, Gomez

Incidentally, I discovered Nick Drake through Gomez when they covered this song in their 2005 album - Out West. Ofcourse, I would vote Nick Drake's version any day compared to the cover by Gomez. However, Gomez have done a decent job and also it was interesting the way they have fused this song with one of their own compositions - Free to Run.

Here's an attempt to document various cover versions of Nick Drake (it does not seem to be completely updated!)

तू इस तरहसे मेरे ज़िंदगी में शामिल है

Tu is tarah se mere zindagi mein shaamil hai....
Mohd. Rafi. Manhar Udhas.

Billie Jean

Michael Jackson. Chris Cornell.
Yeah. That one wonly.

Stairway to Heaven

There’s nothing much to talk about songs that are carbon-copied than covered. This song is an exception – even playing it exactly as Led Zeppelin did is a feat of its own. In such a case, improvisations can only be an excuse for ineptitude, or exhibiting mere lack of perfection. Well, you have an exception for that too – the one by Jimi Hendrix. May be because, when he covered the song, he was pretty close to heaven. Or, may be because, he is actually a few steps above Jimmy Page as Rolling Stones has placed him.

Hush

Deep Purple made their studio debut with this track. It was an almost instant hit. It’s one of the most played tracks in their live concerts, unaffected by their lineup changes. Probably, performed live by the band more number of times than any other of their songs. It was celebrated by a rerecording with Gilian and Glover, on the 20th Anniversary of the band. Thin Lizzy, as Funky Junction, covered the song in their Tribute to Deep Purple album. It was after many years of listening to Deep Purple, I came to know that Hush was a cover version. The original song was written and produced by Joe South for the country singer Billy Joe Royal, which was only a moderate success. A couple of years later, South recorded the song himself, which is, technically, another cover of the song.

Enter Sandman

With horns. Pat Boone’s cover of Metallica’s monster hit is almost a mockery – intentional or not, that I’m not very sure. This lulled version of the big boy's lullaby comes from Pat Boone's album titled In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy. Not very nice, I agree. At the end of the song, after singing ‘We're off to never never land’, Boone adds, ‘Let’s go!’. And that! It cracked me up.

Imagine

John Lennon, A Perfect Circle

Enjoy the Silence

Depeche Mode, Tori Amos

People are People

Depeche Mode, A Perfect Circle

Sound of Silence

Simon & Garfunkel, Nevermore