Interesting Cover Versions and Reinterpretations of Songs

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Cover versions of songs are the lifeblood of many beginning artists. They need to fill up a set list and only have a few originals, so covers are the go-to. That and a crowd knows these songs and so get into it. Now, most cover versions, therefore, are just straight-ahead re-interpretations of the songs, following the mood, tone and speed of the original. But sometimes an artist steps it out of the square…


Image from https://pixabay.com/photos/band-rock-show-2812392/

This is a list of eleven songs and twelve cover versions that have been reinterpreted by another artist (or, in one case, a member of the original band) in a different style. This is not just a list of songs done in a different genre, or slowed down versions, and I have avoided anything from the MTV Unplugged series. No parodies or samples here, either. This is the song with the original lyrics just done in a different style.

The only rules here are that I need to like the song. In one case, I am not a huge fan of the original, but love the cover version, but the rest I like both. Twisted Sister appears more than is healthy, by the way…

Here are 12 Interesting Cover Versions And Reinterpretations Of Songs!


’Bizarre Love Triangle’
Original by New Order (1986)

Cover version by Frente! (1992)

The original is a bit of synth-pop from the 1980s, one of the better tracks in that genre, and a staple at Blue Light Discos of the time. The cover becomes a piece of breezy Australian pop that turns it into a sweet piece. Such a great difference to start this list.


’Desolation Row’
Original by Bob Dylan (1965)

Cover version by My Chemical Romance (2009)

The original is an epic song by Dylan, a series of little vignettes about various people. It is very long, but once you get lost in the lyrics, it flies by. The cover comes from the soundtrack of the film Watchmen, where it plays over the closing credits. It is a third of the length and rocks it up incredibly. Stunning version of a classic.


’Help!’
Original by The Beatles (1965)

Cover version by John Farnham (1980)

The original is the title track to The Beatles’ second film and is a cry of help from John Lennon couched in the sort of pop-rock the band were known for. Then John Farnham came along and made it into a genuine cry for help, a glorious piece that is just stunning.


’Hurt’
Original by Nine Inch Nails (1994)

Cover version by Johnny Cash (2002)

Okay, the cover is only a little different to the original, but where the original finishes with the industrial sound of Nine Inch Nails, the Cash version finishes with a piano crescendo and a sigh. But Cash’s voice makes the difference – his world-weary delivery changes the whole feel of the track. Just superb.


’Iron Man’
Original by Black Sabbath (1970)

Cover version by The Cardigans (1996)

The original is one of the first true heavy metal songs, a song that pounds and drives into the back of your mind like all good heavy metal does. The cover is a breezy bit of Euro-pop. Same speed, but turning the song into this was an interesting – and successful – choice.


’My Way’
Definitive version by Frank Sinatra (1969)

Cover version by Christopher Lee (2013)

Frank Sinatra released the first English-language version of this song and it is amazing. In my opinion, his best. The cover is by Christopher Lee (yes, the actor) who released a string of heavy metal albums in the 2010s, and this song was on one of them. Almost more spoken word than sung, it is so different it is whiplash-inducing.


’O Come All Ye Faithful’
Straight forward version by Air Supply (1987)

Cover version by Twisted Sister (2006)

I am not a fan of the carol (this is the song I mentioned at the start), but Air Supply do a fine job singing it straight ahead, as it has been heard for years. And then Twisted Sister came along and turned it into a pastiche of ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ and is the best version of this song I have heard.


’Stairway To Heaven’
Original by Led Zeppelin (1971)

Cover version by Beatnix (1995)

The original is one of the staples of classic rock, a song often voted the best song of all time. The cover is done in the style of The Beatles. The TV show The Money Or The Gun featured a different version in a different style of this song every programme, and released the whole lot on a CD. Picking one was tough, but I went for my favourite in the end. Perfect mix of Beatles and LedZep.


’Thunderstruck’
Original by AC/DC (1990)

Cover version by 2Cellos (2015)

Cover version by Steve’N’Seagulls (2015)

I decided to go two-fer here, as opposed to ‘Stairway…’. The original is one of AC/DC’s most recognisable songs, one which will get people in pubs here in Australia screaming along. The first cover turns it into a classical piece. The second cover turns it into a bluesgrass piece. I decided to put the two covers for this song because they are so different and show just how incredible the song really is.


’We’re Not Gonna Take It’
Original by Twisted Sister (1984)

Stripped down version by Dee Snider (2016)

The original is a teenage anthem from the height of 1980s poodle rock. It is fun and does not take itself seriously. Then Dee Snider, the band’s lead singer, released a stripped-back version to support a cancer charity and it becomes a fight song for a different audience. Just shows how good the song is written, really.


’Wildest Dreams’
Original by Taylor Swift (2014)

Cover version by Dragonforce (2024)

Taylor Swift’s original is a bit of decent pop, one of the better songs from the 1989 album. So Dragonforce turned it into one of their patented speed metal tracks, closing out their most recent album (which was awesome), and makes for the perfect juxtaposition way to close out this column.


There are, of course, a lot of country and western and heavy metal versions of songs out there, but I wanted this list to be filled with as many different genres as possible to show that reinterpretation and cover versions can be absolutely anything.

Hope you found something to enjoy here!



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