Cover Girls, Vol. 1

It has always been amazing to me that an artist can cover another artist’s song and make it their own. The results are never guaranteed to be to your liking as much as the original, but their interpretations are usually very interesting.

So rather than focus on one particular artist this time, I figured I’d showcase some great cover songs by some great women. Maybe I’ll work this in where every month I’ll showcase another small handfull of covers. But for now, I present to you some classic cases of cloning.

You can always expect something sarcastic and bold to come from Jill Sobule’s lips. She’s spunky, clever and seems to have an arsenal of great songs. I suspect that she’s written off as something of a novelty act to some, but surely you can’t deny the smile that finds its way to your face while listening to ‘Survivor,’ Jill’s take on the hit performed by Beyonce and company.

This live version is taken from Jill’s performance at The Tin Angel in Philadelphia and the great thing about it is not only Jill’s interaction with her audience, but the appropriateness of the song’s title as it was performed just a month after the events of 9/11.

Folk singer Dar Williams recorded David Bowie’s ‘Starman’ back in 2000 after her fans chose it as the song they would most like for her to cover. Previously covered by bands such as 10,000 Maniacs and Culture Club, Dar’s version begins with a spoken word, tick-tock percussion gradually introducing guitars and the cello and soon jaunts its way into the story of the traveling spaceman.

In an interview Dar did with the E-zine Splendid, she briefly explained her take on the song.

“Starman” is the icon of anything that cuts through all the hypocrisy and corporate machismo and manipulation and I think hatred of kids that adults tend to show. And that really speaks to teenagers in a way that redeems their hopes and ideals, and so, even if their hopes and ideas are really shallow, they still glitter. And so I actually loved, really loved having a whack at ‘Starman’.”

I can’t think of anyone more perfect to cover ‘Is That All There Is?’ than Polly Jean Harvey. The song, made a classic by the late (and great) Peggy Lee was a huge hit back when it was first recorded in 1969.

Polly’s version, which has guitarist John Parish managing instrumentation, doesn’t stray far from the original which oozed with apathy and resignation. But with Polly, the eerieness is turned up a notch, almost as if Wednesday Addams herself were the storyteller. It can be found on 1996’s Dance Hall At Louse Point.

Lastly, but surely not least is Emm Gryner’s interesting take on Def Leppard’s ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me,’ one of rock’s most recognized sexed-up anthems of 80’s metal now magically transformed into a piano ballad by Ms Gryner. Emm’s version is taken from 2001’s Girl Versions, a small collection of strangely chosen cover songs she originally performed in front of a live audience and eventually recorded in the studio. Maybe it’s due to her honey-lined voice, but Emm manages to turn the song into something much more soft and dense, making sure that the sugar comes off more sweet than sour.

Girl Versions is available via Emm’s online store at MusicToday.com.

Downloads:

Jill Sobule - Survivor (live)
Dar Williams - Starman
PJ Harvey - Is That All There Is?
Emm Gryner - Pour Some Sugar On Me