"Mickey" by Permahorn

 

London, UK based shoegaze/slowcore band Permahorn slog through the originally peppy cheerleader fodder "Mickey," the definitive version of which was released by Las Vegas, Nevada singer Toni Basil in 1981.

"SexyBack" by Boy Deluxe

 

Los Angeles, California based noise pop duo Boy Deluxe are bringing sexy back with their version of Mickey Mouse Club alumni Justin Timberlake's 2006 electro R&B single "SexyBack."

If you're looking for a cake with the song title piped onto it, a good place to start is the Vons supermarket chain in the Fullerton area, where 1/4 sheet cakes can be purchased for $28.99.  Rumor has it, that's where this one was bought.

Go 'head, be gone with it.

"Unwritten" by Settle Your Scores

 

Cincinnati, Ohio band Settle Your Scores goes pop punk on West Sussex, UK pop singer Natasha Bedingfield's 2006 single "Unwritten," which is apparently still a staple at wedding receptions.

"Come With Me Now" by Savannah Hope

 

Savannah Hope heaps some Tennessee influence onto the South African influenced 2012 single "Come With Me Now," originally by Austin, Texas by way of Pretoria kwaito band KONGOS.

Though it keeps a lot of rock elements, there's definitely a country undertone there, which can probably be expected from one of the headliners at the 2017 Pelham, TN Hogfest.

"Whoever You Are" by Boggess

 

Experimental Kentucky boom bap artists Boggess covered the 1996 single "Whoever You Are" by Pomona, California alternative band Geggy Tah on their album with a cover depicting a gaggle of maraschino cherries floating through the cosmos.

Because, of course they did.

"Puppy Love" by Saint Etienne

 

London, UK band Saint Etienne are known primarily for electronically fueled dance pop originals, but show that they can also play unnervingly sinister down tempo covers, like this take on 1960 top ten single "Puppy Love," originally by Ottawa, Canada crooner Paul Anka.

"Summertime" by Gym Class Heroes

 

In 2013, Twizzlers teamed up with Geneva, New York hip hop funk rock band Gym Class Heroes to release a promotional album called "Summer Twist List," where the group performed covers of summer themed songs.

Among them is their rendition of "Summertime," a gorgeous single by British alternative rock band The Sundays from their 1997 swan song "Static and Silence."

For another Sundays cover, Ben Hobbs' version of "Here's Where the Story Ends" can be found here.

"Youngblood" by Davina Michelle

 

Dutch singer and YouTube celebrity Davina Michelle covers "Youngblood," a 2018 song from Australian pop band 5 Seconds of Summer.

"Youngblood" the song is in no way connected with "Youngblood" the 1986 movie starring Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, and a practically unknown actor named Keanu Reeves.

Former Philadelphia Flyers center Peter Zezel had about three seconds of screen time, too.  Enough to get his own IMDb credit.  Go, Peter Zezel!

According to the Science Trends website, there are, on average, 92 days of Summer.  This equates to 7,948,800 seconds of Summer.  Five seconds of Summer can be evenly distributed throughout the summer 1,589,760 times.

"Summertime Blues" by Rush

 It's still summer!

Here's the woe-is-me 1958 song "Summertime Blues" from Minnesota rock and roll progenitor Eddie Cochran, following a 2004 prog metal facelift from Toronto, Canada band Rush.

Though there may not be a cure for the summertime blues, I would think that selling over 40 million albums might cut down on the doldrums a smidge.

"Suddenly Last Summer" by Elk City

 

Though school let out over a week ago, today marks the official kickoff of Summer 2023!

So, here's a cover of the 1983 hit "Suddenly Last Summer" by Berkeley, California new wave band The Motels, as performed by New York City art rockers Elk City.

"It's the Same Old Song" by Third World

 

Third World, a reggae soul disco fusion group from Kingston, Jamaica, cover the 1965 classic R&B single "It's the Same Old Song" by Motown artists The Four Tops.

And it's the same old song, but with a different meaning since steel drums are introduced.

"Bitch" by Ashland

 

Champaign, Illinois pop rock band Ashland tack on a heavier edge to "Bitch," the 1997 alt rock hit from Corvallis, Oregon singer songwriter Meredith Brooks.

I know you wouldn't want it any other way.

"Sister Christian" by Coheed and Cambria

 

I'm not sure what I expected when I heard that progessive metal band Coheed and Cambria performed a cover of 1984 arena rock hit "Sister Christian," originally by San Francisco, California glam rock band Night Ranger.

Certainly not this.

It's pretty far removed from what they usually do, but I don't consider that a bad thing at all.  Digging the chill acoustic sound and the tight harmonies.

"New Slang" by Vallis Alps

 

Sydney, Australia bleep and bloop band Vallis Alps cover Albuquerque, New Mexico indie icons Tibias'.... I mean, The Shins'.... 2001 folk pop tune "New Slang," which saw a massive surge in popularity after Natalie Portman recommended the life-changing song to Zach Braff in 2004 romantic dramedy "Garden State."

Speaking of new slang, the online dictionary at Merriam-Webster updated its database with many a new term last year, according to this news release.  This is great news for Scrabble players, as placing "janky" on a triple word score will earn you beaucoup points.

"You're the One that I Want" by Lo-Fang

 

On this day 45 years ago, Grease was the word, was the word that you heard.

The musical "Grease" starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John debuted in theaters, and one of the bright spots on the soundtrack was their duet "You're the One That I Want," a song that was added specifically for the movie.

On his 2014 album "Blue Film," Columbia, Maryland artist Lo-Fang covered the international hit.

While the original was more you're the one that I want in a romantic way, Lo-Fang's is more you're the one that I want displayed in my dimly lit foyer, encased in carbonite like Han Solo in "Return of the Jedi."

For a cover by Olivia Newton-John, her version of Meatloaf's "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" can be found here.

"Heat Waves" by Stranger Boy

 

Sometimes all I think about is you.... late nights in the middle of June....

It's not a late night here, but it IS the middle of June, so here's a cover of the 2020 indie pop song "Heat Waves" by Oxford, UK band Glass Animals, given that good ol' boy Southern twang by Nashville, Tennessee duo Stranger Boy.

"Close" by Courage My Love

 

I missed the memo from Alternative Press Magazine listing Ontario, Canada foursome Courage My Love as one of the 100 bands that you need to know.

Back in 2012.

So, I'm a mere decade overdue in checking them out.

This is their take on "Close," the 2016 sultry jam from Dallas, Texas singer Nick Jonas.

"Hey Jealousy" by Stay the Night

 

When possible, I like to find out a little something about the more obscure bands that I run across.  Something as simple as their home town.

Stay the Night are a band from.... the United States, according to their profile at Secondhand Songs.

There are no band member names listed.

So, very little is known about this enigmatic mystery group that tackled Tempe, Arizona new miserable jangle pop band The Gin Blossoms' 1992 breakthrough hit "Hey Jealousy."

I have a pretty decent speculation, though.  Based on the two five-star reviews of their self produced EP "Against the Tides" on the Amazon website from listeners in Southern California, I'm betting that they hail from there also.

"Cool Kids" by Fight the Fade

 

"Cool Kids" is the catchy af and all too relatable debut single from Chino, California sibling group Echosmith.

Tulsa, Oklahoma rockers Fight the Fade cover it in a more aggressive style, and, while the original is awesome, the cover registers slightly higher on the Banger-O-Meter.

For a cover by Echosmith, their version of Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" can be found here.

"Heartbreak Beat" by Feathermerchants

 

New York City alt pop band Feathermerchants covered London, UK post punk band The Psychedelic Furs' 1986 song "Heartbreak Beat." And it feels like love.

That band name, though.... I'm assuming that a feathermerchant sells feathers.

Who are they selling feathers to?  Mike Lindell?

For another Psychedelic Furs cover, Dresden Dolls' version of "Pretty in Pink" can be found here.

"Hold Me Now" by Duncan Sheik

 

Sheffield, UK new wave band Thompson Twins' 1983 synthpop ballad "Hold Me Now" was covered in 2011 by Duncan Sheik.

Duncan Sheik, as it turns out, is a singer/songwriter/composer from Montclair, New Jersey, and not an Arabian donut shop.

The caliphate runs on Dunkin'.

"My Humps" by Alanis Morissette

 

Emotive Ottawa, Canada mezzo-soprano Alanis Morissette transforms Los Angeles, California hip hop group Black Eyed Peas' 2005 hit "My Humps" into a heartfelt ballad about all of that junk, all that junk inside her trunk.

To her credit, she made it all the way through the video before breaking into fits of hysterical laughter.

For an Alanis cover, Pinky Dread's version of "Ironic" can be found here.

"Oh Mandy" by Krillington Zero

 

Maybe it's just my home state bias shining through, but, in my little opinion "Oh Mandy" by Wilmington, Delaware indie collective The Spinto Band was the best song released in 2005.  If you aren't familiar, do yourself a solid and check out the link above.

It was (supposedly) remade by an Akron, Ohio nu metal quintet called Krillington Zero, with a brief write-up appearing on the Nashville Scene website.

Turns out.... there is no Krillington Zero.  This cover can be found on the Bandcamp site for Philadelphia, PA group Sw!ms (labeled Spinto Band Cover Scumbag Version).

Sw!ms also have a song about Wawa hoagies, so I'll likely be shelling out a few bucks for their album.  

"Far Behind" by Smells Like Flannel

 

Smells Like Flannel specialize mainly in grunge and '90s alternative covers, entertaining the bar crowds around the Flint, Michigan area.

In this video, they grace the stage of Bachelor One Tavern with their rendition of 1993 single "Far Behind" from Seattle, Washington band Candlebox.

The bar boasts a largely unbeatable all-you-can-eat fish and chips special on Friday nights (at least, they did as of this Facebook post from September of 2020). 

"Time to Pretend" by Max Hedman

 Lakeland, Florida artist Max Hedman strips the synth-heavy 2005 single "Time to Pretend" -- originally by indie Middletown, Connecticut duo MGMT -- of its electric feel, opting for a minimalist guitar and vocal.

I do like his version, but find it funny when he sings, in straight monotone, "We've got the vision, now let's have some fun," as his idea of fun seems like watching reruns of "Nova" on a Betamax machine.

"Riptide" by Taylor Swift

 

Eleven-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift swaps her guitar for a piano while performing this chill acoustic studio rendition of Melbourne, Australia football player turned singer-songwriter Vance Joy's 2013 indie folk smash "Riptide."

For a cover of Taylor Swift, Against the Current's version of "Shake it Off" can be found here.

"I Love You Always Forever" by Jukebox the Ghost

 

Washington, DC trio Jukebox the Ghost power through their remake of Welsh singer Donna Lewis's 1996 debut single "I Love You Always Forever."

Little known fact that I just made up: The song title was shortened from "I Love You Always Forever Eternally Perpetually Constantly Continuously," but critics felt that a quintuple redundancy was just too much.

"Just a Girl" by Florence and the Machine

 

London, UK ensemble group Florence and the Machine take Anaheim, California ska punk band No Doubt's 1995 pouty feminist rocker "Just a Girl" and make it freaky as all hell.  This version was apparently used for the soundtrack of Showtime original series "Yellowjackets," because the uber disturbing story and visuals just weren't nightmare inducing enough.

For another No Doubt cover, Four Year Strong's version of "Spiderwebs" can be found here.

"Fancy" by Cambridge

 

Who that?  Who that?

No, it's not Sydney, Australia rapper Iggy Azalea.

It's fellow Sydney pop punk outfit Cambridge, with their version of her 2014 electrohop single "Fancy." 

Probably common knowledge, but the fast lane from LA to Tokyo does not exist.

If it did, the road would stretch for 5,477 miles, and, assuming that the trans-Pacific highway would adopt the maximum US speed limit of 85 MPH, would still take over two and a half full days of putting the pedal to the metal in order to traverse.

"In the Meantime" by Glass Cages

 

Columbia, Maryland area high schoolers Glass Cages closed out the summer of 2022 by rocking this song that was in heavy rotation during my summer of 1996, New York City neo-glam band Spacehog's ditty "In the Meantime."