Cover Songs of 1993

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Still in 1993. I am continuing to look back at this one year of music, thirty years ago now, that has really surprised me at how awesome it really was. So incredibly good. And, as a continuation from the songs of 1993 list , here are the cover songs from that year.

1993! 30 years ago!


Now, unlike the last list, very few of these tracks were night club tracks or ones I used for my aerobics classes. These are just songs that I really enjoyed that were covers of other artists' work, and done in such a way that I was really taken by it. Cover songs, if done well, can actually enhance the original. Do they surpass the first version? Three quarters of the time, no, but sometimes you do get lucky… as you will see. And here are the best of the cover songs of 1993.

Now, for a list of cover songs of a year, this is not usual, but here are some honourable mentions. Not many, but otherwise this list would have been of an insane length. 'Be-Bop-A-Lula' by The Stray Cats; 'Daydream' by Right Said Fred; 'Fire' by Nigel Kennedy; 'Gloria' by Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker; 'I Put A Spell On You' by Bryan Ferry; 'Joseph Mega-Mix' by David Dixon and The Australian Cast of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (yes, a mix, but still they were not the first to record these tracks, and this is really good); 'Love Is The Drug' by Divinyls; 'My Back Pages' by The Ramones; 'Purple Haze' by The Cure; 'The Weight' by Jimmy Barnes with The Badloves; 'Wild Thing' by Divinyls; 'You're So Vain' by Chocolate Starfish.

I said it last time, and I'll say it again: What a list already!

So, here are my favourite cover songs from 1993! As before, no live recordings, no re-releases, and all songs had to be released first, either as singles or on albums in 1993. In this list, one song per artist, I need to like the song, one version of each song. Standard rules. However, if an artist appeared on the first 1993 list, they can still appear on this one as well.
'As Time Goes By' by Joe Fagin

The theme song from the UK TV series of the same name, this version of this classic song is my favourite version, and, even away from the programme, stands up as a wonderful and loving cover.
'Bohemian Polka' by 'Weird Al' Yankovic

Queen's classic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' turned into a polka and, yes, it works so well. In someone else's hands, this could well have failed, but not here. Simply put, 'Weird Al' is great value no matter what he does.
'(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You' by UB40

The old Elvis Presley classic reimagined by UB40, in a very successful version. At times, UB40 really did seem to be more a cover band than originals band, if their charting success is anything to go by.
'Go West' by Pet Shop Boys

One of those rare covers that, in my opinion, is better than the original, in this case, done by the Village People. I think the more modern pop sound works better with it to my ear than the disco-lite of the original.
'If I Can't Have You' by Kim Wilde

Written by the Bee Gees for Yvonne Elliman (and later recorded by them), the cover is less disco and so suits my tastes much better. The pop/dance sound works with the song. Plus, I really like Kim Wilde.
'Keep On Loving You' by Lizard Train

REO Speedwagon as re-imagined by a band of Australian pub-rockers, a group very few remember today. I discovered this when I bought their CD Couch after a live show, and it quickly became my favourite song in that collection.
'Only Women Bleed' by John Farnham

John Farnham's smooth voice suits the Alice Cooper original, though it does lack some of that version's passion. Still, it is a fine cover of a great and poignant song.
'Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through' by Meat Loaf

Yes, my favourite song covered by one of my favourite singers. I do prefer the original, but there is nothing wrong with this cover from the classic album .
'Tears Of A Clown' by Caligula

I got this song on a compilation album, and it struck me straight away. What a great version of the old Smokey Robinson track, really upped in intensity.
'Wonderful Land' by Hank Marvin and Mark Knopfler

I am not counting this a re-recording of the Shadows' original, because while Hank Marvin was on that as well, adding Mark Knopfler just lifts this version up to such a good and different level. Of course, Jeff Lynne on production probably helps.
And there we are – 10 cover songs from the glorious year that was 1993. Over the two lists, I think I've covered a lot of musical ground, and it really shows how good a year 1993 was for music..

Hope you enjoyed this one as well!
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