I have a love for all things music. I don't have one favorite song, nor a favorite band. Asking me to choose is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child; every song is great in its own unique way. With this philosophy in mind, I especially like to hear covers. With just a change of a few notes or by using a man's voice instead of a woman's, you can create something unique and creative. This week, my Spotify Discover playlist was full of great covers, so I was inspired to share some of the ones I really got into listening to this week.
1. "The Sound of Silence" by Disturbed
21-year-old Paul Simon penned this simple melody over the course of a few months between 1963 and 1964. Disturbed took it and gave it a modern facelift in 2015, complete with new twists in the melody and a spooky, ominous feel. With this song blowing up the Alternative charts, it definitely should be on your radar.
2. "Say Something" by James Harris
Originally penned by A Great Big World, James Harris takes his version of the song to whole new level. With the sounds of hospital machine beeping in the background, this rendition feels less like a ballad about unrequited love or a failing relationship and more like an ode to a sick loved one.
Warning: The beeping noises will scare you if you're not prepared. I thought I had set the fire alarm off with my cooking.
3. "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by Young the Giant
Purely agonized emotion, Young the Giant's lead singer, Sameer Gadhia, has a voice that will give you chills. His voice and the musical skills of the rest of the band are really showcased in the cover. They hit all the right notes in this rendition of James Brown's 1966 classic.
4. "Elastic Heart" by Longfellow
Longfellow brings a new, softer side to Sia's Top 40 hit "Elastic Heart." It doesn't have the same fierceness as the original, but their cover has a more sad "I don't want it to be this way" feel that is not in the original.
5. "Hello" by Stephen
Stephen—also, coincidentally, a singer that goes by their first name—covered the hit song of 2015: Adele's "Hello." Stephen still hits those impressive high notes that Adele is so famous for in this song, but with a man's voice.
6. "Hotline Bling" by SRNO
Sorry, friends, no dancing Drake in this cover version. This UK based artist, SRNO, remixed the viral hit "Hotline Bling" and used a woman's version. There's something so sad and so haunting about this version—I can't quite out my finger on it. Is it the use of a woman's voice? Is it beat SRNO created? I'm not sure, but maybe it says something to you.
7. "Say My Name/Cry Me a River" by Jake Barker
Is it #throwbackthursday? Jake Barker brought two of my favorite songs by my favorite artists to 2016. A Destiny's Child and Justin Timberlake mashup? Yes, please! Bonus, Jake Barker sounds just like JT.
Bonus: The Neighbourhood also did a version of this. I'm in love with both and can't decide which one I like better. Luckily for me, I don't have to choose.
8. "Paper Pools" by Smija
Probably the coolest mashup I've heard in a long time, Smija takes MIA's "Paper Planes" and Kendrick Lamar's "Swimming Pools" and throws them together. A "Paper Planes" melody with "Swimming Pool" lyrics sounds odd, I know, but it's probably one of the coolest things I've ever heard. You seriously can't help but dance in your seat when you hear this come on.
