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The art of covering a song is complex. Just singing the same song is boring, you have to make it yours. Here are some of my favorite covers, (parentheticals show the original artist).

These five covers I like better than the version from the original artist.

Cake – I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
The original version of this song is just so… boring. Cake’s rendition is catchy, and though it is pretty much word-for-word the same, changing one little word in there totally gives this cover so much more emotion than Gloria Gaynor did. If I’m in this situation, I’m not gonna change the “stupid lock”, I’m gonna change the “Fucking lock” (with a capital F).

Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love (Soft Cell)
When I first heard this cover, coupled with the music video, I was totally sold on it. I’m not a huge Marilyn Manson fan – I like Sweet Dreams, The Beautiful People, and Disposable Teens – but this cover really makes the song so much more _real_. In the same way that Cake sells I Will Survive, I really believe that Marilyn Manson knows all about Tainted Love.

Guns ‘n Roses – Knocking on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan)
Let Bob Dylan write the songs and GnR can perform them, if you ask me. Even if you have issues with Axl’s whining voice, you have to admit that it works here (and also on Civil War). Not to mention that this song is pefect for arena-rock sing-alongs. “Knock-Knock-Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, yea-ah-ahahaa”

Jack Black – Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
High Fidelity was a great movie. This song, performed by Jack Black, was the perfect ending. Jack Black has that ability to be both unctuous and charming at the same time. Kind of like how John Travolta can play a bad guy who everyone loves. So yeah, this cover makes my top five list every time.

Johnny Cash – Hurt (Nine Inch Nails)
This song confused me for a while. Johnny Cash covering Nine Inch Nails? whaaaa? But alas, it was true. Though I think that the subtext between the two artists is night and day. Reznor was singing about drugs, Cash was singing about the end of his life – looking back. It’s amazing how the same exact words from two different men are totally different. If this song doesn’t cause you chills, you’re not listening to it.

So what makes these five covers unique over all the others? In these covers, the cover artist really sells the song. I find this interesting because they didn’t write it. You’d think that the author of the lyrics and music would be the most in touch with it, but sometimes someone else’s poetry can reach out and touch you, and I assume that is what happened to these cover artists. They felt the need to record their version, and in my opinion, they were each hugely successful.