"Drive" by The Golden Filter

 

Experimental electronic art project The Golden Filter register on the darkwave spectrum with their reworking of 1984 adult contemporary ballad "Drive" from Boston, Massachusetts new wave pioneers The Cars.

According to the Secondhand Songs website, the Golden Filter are an American band formed in New York City.

Per their Bandcamp site, the duo hails from London, UK.

So, they're probably from the halfway point, which can't be determined using the website whatshalfway.com. They're from somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.  

For another Cars cover, Sister Hazel's "Just What I Needed" can be found here.

"Holly Holy" by UB40

 

Neil Diamond's 1969 gospel infused single "Holly Holy" was reworked in a dub reggae style by Birmingham, UK rags to riches group UB40.

UB40 derived their name from an unemployment benefits form used in England, as the eight founding members of the band were all state dependents prior to their meteoric rise to stardom.

They were aided in this journey to fame on the strength of a few cover songs.... the most popular being another from Neil Diamond, their 1983 version of "Red, Red Wine."

For a cover by Neil Diamond, his version of "Monday, Monday" can be found here.

"Little Lies" by Hilary Duff

 

"Little Lies" was a 1987 release from London, UK soft rock luminaries Fleetwood Mac.

1987 was also the year that frequent Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award nominee Hilary Duff was released in Houston, Texas.

So, it's oddly fitting that the teen idol performed a dance pop cover of this hit from her birth year.

For another Fleetwood Mac cover, The Cranberries' version of "Go Your Own Way" can be found here.

"No Easy Way Out" by The Protomen

 

Bayonne, New Jersey singer songwriter Robert Tepper's 1986 AOR single "No Easy Way Out" is best known for being the backbone of an Apollo Creed flashback montage in the film "Rocky IV".

If he dies, he dies.

In the hands of Murfreesboro, Tennessee Nintendocore band The Protomen, the song sounds like it could be used in a split screen montage of clips from both "Rocky IV" and "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."

"Hanging by a Moment" by Four Sexes

 

Bloomington, Indiana lounge act Four Sexes transform 2000 single "Hanging by a Moment" from Los Angeles, California post-grunge band Lifehouse into a retro-jazz arrangement.

Though there's little information on the interwebs regarding their band name, my working theory is that they took their moniker from the white-throated sparrow, a bird found to have four sexes according to research from a pair of scientists and professors out of Indiana State University.

If it's humans that we're talking about, Jewish texts dating back thousands of years recognize six distinct sexes.

Which is good to know, if Four Sexes ever decide that they need to add a couple of auxiliary band members.

"Hash Pipe" by Toto

 

Los Angeles, California geek rock band Weezer's 2001 single "Hash Pipe" was expertly recrafted by retro rockers Toto.

I'm happy to see that the band behind soft rock staples like "Hold the Line" and "Rosanna" wasn't averse to performing a song about a transvestite hooker.

For a cover of a Toto song, Love Canon's version of "Africa" can be found here.

For another cover of Weezer, Glowbug's version of "El Scorcho" can be found here.

"Maria" by Underclass

 

I was really stoked to find a band that I thought was from Turkey.

But, no.  Turku Rock Academy is in Finland, home of pop punk band Underclass.

This is their punchy rendition of "Maria," the 1999 release from New York City new wave band Blondie.

For another Blondie cover, Heartworms' version of "Sunday Girl" can be found here.

"Jumper" by Aftrhours

 

San Francisco, California group Third Eye Blind were inspired to write 1998 acoustic power pop hit "Jumper" as the death toll at the Golden Gate Bridge climbed. 

According to this LA Times article, most would-be suicide victims at the bridge have been intercepted by San Francisco law enforcement officers between 2020 and 2021, with 383 would-be jumpers persuaded to abandon their self-destructive plans.

No telling how many were coaxed back with the line "Wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend."

I'm telling you.... it works.

Here is a remake made in 2021 by a guy in Los Angeles named Matt, who goes by the moniker Aftrhours.

"All I Need Is a Miracle" by Lava Jade Sky

 

"All I Need Is a Miracle," the 1985 adult contemporary hit by Dover, UK soft rock band Mike and the Mechanics, was given a modern makeover on the 8 O S Tour by a trio of young ladies nicknamed Lava, Jade, and Sky.

Though I know almost nothing about the tour (except that you can still buy tickets for their show last year) or the group, their sound engineer's Myspace page (found with help from the Zoominfo website) shows that they are likely from or around New South Wales, Australia.

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" by James Taylor

 As all good things do, Sweets Week must come to an end.

So, to bid this year's pancreas killing festivities adieu, here's 2000 Rock Hall of Fame inductee James Taylor with his remake of "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," a 1965 Motown single for Marvin Gaye.

For another cover of Marvin Gaye, Hot Chip's version of "Sexual Healing" can be found here.

"Lips Like Sugar" by Error 404

 

For today's Sweets Week entry, Kaleidoscope School of Music alumni Error 404 took to the streets of Issaquah, Washington on their cover of 1980 neo psychedelia hit "Lips Like Sugar" from Liverpudlian new wave band Echo and the Bunnymen.

Just because lips are like sugar does NOT mean that you should eat them, as doing so could be grounds for an aggravated assault charge.

Also, Washington state band Error 404 are not affiliated with a similarly named UK based band. 

"(Bang a Gong) Get It On" by The Neanderthal Spongecake

 

"Well, you're dirty and sweet/Clad in black, don't look back and I love you/You're dirty and sweet, oh yeah."

Whenever I think of something that's both dirty and sweet, my first thought is of Neanderthal Spongecake.

So, here's New York City band The Neanderthal Spongecake with their dirty and sweet cover of "(Bang a Gong) Get It On," the 1971 single by British glam rock band T Rex, as Sweets Week continues.

"Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" by L7

 

Sweets Week continues with Los Angeles, California foxcore garage band L7 fuzzing out the 1968 novelty song "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy," originally from Mansfield, Ohio group Ohio Express.

"Sugar, Sugar" by Bob Marley

 

Drip, drop, drip drop.

The next installment during Sweets Week is a cover of fictional Riverdale bubblegum pop stars The Archies' 1969 gold record "Sugar, Sugar," rocked on steady by reggae legend (and one time Delawarean) Bob Marley.

For a cover of Bob Marley, Dresage's version of "Three Little Birds" can be found here.

"Just Like Honey" by The Submarines

 

Sweets Week continues with Los Angeles, California indie folktronica band The Submarines' cover of Scottish noise pop band The Jesus and Mary Chain's 1985 ode to cocaine "Just Like Honey."  

Contrary to what the lyrics may suggest, cocaine is NOT just like honey, which I found out while trying to sub crack into my baklava recipe.

For a cover by Jesus and Mary Chain, their version of The Temptations' "My Girl" can be found here.

"My Sweet Lord" by Bergendy

 

Sweets Week continues with Budapest, Hungary sibling group Bergendy covering "My Sweet Lord," a 1970 gospel single for Beatle gone solo George Harrison.

"Sweetness" by The Animal In Me

 

If you happen to be from Suffolk, Virginia...... HAPPY SWEETS WEEK!!!

According to this article, Suffolk Tourism are unleashing a smorgasbord of treats on the city starting this weekend that would be sure to draw the ire of Wilford Brimley.

“From Blueberry Empanadas, Tiramisu, and Cheescake Stuffed Waffle Cones to Chocolate Éclair Cake, Cinnamon Rolls, and Banana Pudding, there is something to satisfy your sugar cravings.”

Unfortunately, I am not in Suffolk this week.

BUT!

Daily Cover Song will have a Sweets Week of our own!

We'll start with Sacramento, California post hardcore band The Animal in Me, with their version of 2001 single "Sweetness," originally by Jimmy Eat World.

It's really enjoyable up to the 2:24 mark.  

Then, it's like biting into one of those blueberry empanadas and getting a mouthful of Crisco.  

For another Jimmy Eat World cover, Prince Fox's version of "The Middle" can be found here.

"Bootylicious" by Edith Whiskers

 

London, UK fictitious grandmother Edith Whiskers, the brainchild of musician Tom Rosenthal, works her jelly on this cover of 2001 R&B hit "Bootylicious" from Destiny's Child.

For a cover of Beyonce (can you handle this?), The Genuine Fakes' version of "Irreplaceable" can be found here.

"Volcano" by Kawaihae

 

Tokyo, Japan island band Kawaihae cover 1979 Gulf and Western country tune "Volcano" from Pascagoula, Mississippi entertainer Jimmy Buffett.

Though they don't know where they're a-gonna go when the volcano blow, chances are pretty good that they don't have to be overly concerned.  There have only been three volcanic eruptions in Japan over the past 25 years, with the only majorly destructive one in 2014.  That was the flare up of Mount Ontake, which is situated a couple hundred miles from Tokyo.

For a cover by Jimmy Buffett, his version of Crowded House's song "Weather With You" can be found here.

"Blue Jeans" by HelenaMaria

 

New Brunswick, New Jersey sisters HelenaMaria churn out a slow acoustic rendering of "Blue Jeans," the 2011 sadcore triphop hit by New York City artist Lana Del Rey.

Though this article indicates that genetics determine dominant hand, one of the identical twins is a righty, while the other's a southpaw.

For a Lana Del Rey cover, her version of Donovan's "Season of the Witch" can be found here.

"Trampoline" by Divided Minds

 

Phoenix, Arizona alternative band Divided Minds cover "Trampoline," the 2018 electropop single from Washington, DC area trio Shaed.

The song is about dying.  Or dreaming of dying.  And being on a trampoline.

So, if you're on a trampoline, what are your chances of dying?

According to this website, there were 22 deaths in the United States via trampoline mishaps in 2022, mostly from head and neck injuries.

"To Be With You" by Momoka Ariyasu

 

Kyoto, Japan J-pop starlet Momoka Ariyasu successfully leads an entire amphitheater to sing the chorus of Los Angeles, California hair metal band Mr Big's 1991 soft rock ballad "To Be With You," which is something that I'm pretty sure Mr Big themselves aren't even able to accomplish.

I wanted to pick a song that prominently features a key change, and this was the first one that I thought of.

Key change = right at the 2:28 mark.

"Mercy" by Burbank

 

Wiltshire, UK blokes Burbank beg for mercy on their remake of 2008 soul hit "Mercy," originally by Welsh singer Duffy.

"Come On Eileen" by Save Ferris

 

Toora, Loora, Toora, Loo Rye Ay!

Orange County, California ska punk band Save Ferris sing just like their fathers on this remake of the 1982 accelerando one hit wonder "Come On Eileen," originally by Birmingham, UK new wave band Dexys Midnight Runners.

The band's name was derived from the 1986 Matthew Broderick comedy "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Those words were emblazoned across a Northpoint, Illinois water tower during the film's production.  

"U Can't Touch This" by Los Colorados

 

Ternopil, Ukraine polka rock humorists Los Colorados let us know that they're too much and this is the beat that you can't touch on their Oktoberfest ready version of Oakland, California pop rapper MC Hammer's 1990 single "U Can't Touch This."

Будь ласка, Лос-Колорадос, не зашкодьте їм.

"Bad Reputation" by My Ugly Clementine

 

Vienna, Austria quartet My Ugly Clementine perform an acoustic cover of Los Angeles, California by way of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania rock and roll queen Joan Jett's 1980 punk song "Bad Reputation" while under the covers.

At least they're a quartet in theory.  

If this song were a high school science project, blonde gal on the right would be the one getting the same grade as everyone else in the group while putting in practically zero effort.  She just lays there, literally, until the song's roughly 87% of the way through. Like, grab a tambourine or something, sweetheart.

"I Got You" by Corvyx

 

New York City based indie performer Corvyx puts a Goth slant on the 2016 tropical house song "I Got You" from singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha.

"Firework" by Exit Eden

 

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Flushing, Michigan symphonic metal band Exit Eden let their colors burst and make them go "Aw! Aw! Aw!" on this remake of Katy Perry's 2010 dance pop single "Firework."

If you're in the States and wanted to celebrate Independence Day by watching explody sky things, here's a website that can help you locate some.

For more Katy Perry covers, Beauty is Betrayal's version of "Dark Horse" can be found here, and Bonefield's version of "Roar" can be found here.

"Kids in America" by Strawberry Slaughterhouse

 

Strawberry Slaughterhouse cover "Kids in America," the 1981 power pop single from Kim Wilde.

Both Wilde and Strawberry Slaughterhouse have Christopher Columbus syndrome, as they aren't in America, and, in fact, are nowhere close.

Wilde is from Middlesex, UK.  The closest city in America is St John's in Newfoundland, Canada, a whopping 2,317 miles away.

Strawberry Slaughterhouse hail from Copenhagen, Denmark.  They're further from being kids in America at 2,751 miles removed.... with St. John's again being the closest city.

"With Arms Wide Open" by Bleeding Heart Theory

 

Sydney, Australia band Bleeding Heart Theory take a welcome break from their usual death metal garbage to cover theology-steeped Tallahassee, Florida post grunge band Creed's 2001 Grammy winner for best rock song "With Arms Wide Open."

"July, July!" by Howard and the Hopeless

 

Happy July, July, Ju-ly-y-y-y! It never seemed so strange.

Here's a cover of Portland, Oregon storytellers The Decemberists' 2002 tale of alleyway murders and saucy tarts "July, July!" by Los Angeles, California solo indie rock artist Ian Logue, under the moniker Howard and the Hopeless.

For a cover by The Decemberists, their version of Bjork's "Human Behavior" can be found here.