Top Five Cover Songs

Originally I was going to do a 'My New Favourite Song' post on Settling's brilliant cover of Beyonce's Single Ladies but then I started thinking about other cover songs that I like. I love cover versions that really play with the original, instead of straightforward renditions (although those can be great too) especially if that involves taking a upbeat happy song and making it mellow. Anyway, here are five of my favourite cover songs...

1. Chet Faker - No Diggity


I love hip-hop, I love singer-songwritery indie songs. Combine the two and it's just magical. Chet Faker's cover of Blackstreet's No Diggity turns 90s RnB into something really sexy and I can't get enough of his gravelly voice. (Listen to the original here.)

2. Bastille - No Angels (ft. Ella)


Staying with the 90s classics here, Bastille has fused TLC's No Scrubs with The xx's Angels and the result is remarkable. The 90s girl power vibe is gone and this version is angry and heart-wrenching. This is my favourite on Bastille's second mixtape Other People's Heartache Pt. 2, which is full of brilliant mashups like this one... (Listen to the original here.)

3. Angus & Julia Stone - You're The One That I Want


Who would have thought that Olivia Newton John and John Travolta's cheesy classic could be turned into something so beautiful? Points if you don't cry, this cover makes me tear up every time... (Listen to the original here.)

4. Settling. - Put A Ring On It


This is the only song on the list where I'm not a fan of the original (sorry Bey Bey) but I can't stop playing Settling.'s almost unrecognisable cover of Single Ladies. With it's soulful vocals and acoustic guitar, the Brisbane duo's song has had a huge response (rightly so) and I'm excited to hear more from them. (Listen to the original here.)

5. James Blake - A Case Of You


I've already talked about how much I love James Blake in a previous post, so I won't go on about him too much here. Needless to say this song is a beautiful rendition of Joni Mitchell's already beautiful song. No synths, no beat, just piano and Blake's gorgeously rich vocals. (Listen to the original here.)