"Wrapped Around Your Finger" by Empiires

 

Dallas, Texas hard rock band Empiires heavy up the relatively slow 1983 single "Wrapped Around Your Finger," originally by London, UK new wave band The Police.

Their laser light show isn't half bad, either.

"Fight the Power" by Deerhoof

 

Perhaps you've been keeping yourself awake late at night, pondering what Flavor Flav from Long Island, New York hip hop band Public Enemy would sound like if he were less male and more Japanese born.

You can now get yourself some much needed rest, as San Francisco, California experimental noise pop band Deerhoof have solved that mystery with their remake of 1989 defiant political loopfest "Fight the Power."

"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by The Alphabet Zero

 

In true Pavlov-was-right fashion, I can't hear Vancouver, Washington retrowave band The Alphabet Zero's version of Starship's 1987 power ballad "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" without instantaneously thinking about making out with Kim Cattrall in a department store window.

"Before You Go" by Madilyn Bailey

 

Close to ten million folks have subscribed to the YouTube channel of Boyceville, Wisconsin native and "America's Got Talent" alumnus Madilyn Bailey.

Here, the oft Streamy (yes, there's an award called a Streamy) nominated singer shows off her powerful vocals on this version of Glaswegian blue-eyed soul singer Lewis Capaldi's 2019 tearjerker "Before You Go."

"Just Like Heaven" by Goldfinger

 

Los Angeles, California skate punks Goldfinger show us, show us, show us how they play that song, that 1987 Goth rock song "Just Like Heaven" from West Sussex post punk band The Cure.

The lyrics "Daylight whipped me into shape/I must have been asleep for days" show that unlike James Bond's martini in the movie "Goldfinger," the band was both shaken AND stirred.

For another cover of The Cure, Yo La Tengo's version of "Friday, I'm in Love" can be found here.

"Hella Good" by Izzy Reign

 

Grand Rapids, Michigan solo artist Izzy Reign does a hella good job on her version of "Hella Good," the 2001 electro funk song from Anaheim, California band No Doubt.

So let's just keep on dancing.

For more No Doubt covers, Four Year Strong's version of "Spiderwebs" can be found here, and Florence and the Machine's cover of "Just a Girl" can be found here.

"As It Was" by Arcade Fire

 

Montreal, Canada music critics' favorite....er.....favoUrite art rock band Arcade Fire show how they earned their reputation on this studio session cover of "As It Was," the catchy 2022 synth driven pop single from One Direction defector Harry Styles.

For a cover of Arcade Fire, Ladies' version of "Tunnels (Neighborhood #1)" can be found here.

For a cover of One Direction, Cimorelli's version of "What Makes You Beautiful" can be found here.

And, for another cover of Harry Styles, Bard to the Core's version of "Watermelon Sugar" can be found here.

"Miss You" by The Concretes

 

Stockholm, Sweden eight-piece indie pop band The Concretes cover The Rolling Stones' 1978 brief foray into disco "Miss You."  It's weird and wonderful, and the perfect music to listen to while eating gravy smothered meatballs off of a toothpick.

For another Rolling Stones cover, Rage Against the Machine's version of "Street Fighting Man" can be found here.

"Lose Yourself" by Saliva

 

Memphis, Tennessee nu metal band Saliva lose themselves in the music, the moment, they own it, they never let it go on their souped-up performance of Warren, Michigan by way of Missouri slim shady rapper and record executive Eminem's 2002 single "Lose Yourself," the Oscar winning original song from the movie "8 Mile."

"Under the Boardwalk" by Tom Tom Club

 

In 1981, Talking Heads offshoot Tom Tom Club covered the 1964 seaside tryst ditty "Under the Boardwalk," originally by New York City doo wop group The Drifters.

"Orinoco Flow" by Violara

 Frankfurt, Germany artist Violara sails away, sails away, sails away on this reboot of the 1988 single "Orinoco Flow" by Irish new age singer and composer Enya.

"Dust in the Wind" by Damned Anthem

 

Los Angeles, California duo Damned Anthem reimagine a variety of originals as sweeping cinematic trailer fodder, like this intense version of "Dust in the Wind," originally by Topeka, Kansas soft rockers Kansas on their 1978 album "Point of Know Return."

"Drops of Jupiter" by Go Go Gadjet

 

Reading, Pennsylvania cover band Go Go Gadjet perform a version of San Francisco, California roots rock band Train's 2001 award winning single "Drops of Jupiter" that sounds like it was composed in part by Luigi and Samus Aran.

"The Beautiful People" by The Lounge Kittens

 

Southampton, UK trio The Lounge Kittens jazz up "The Beautiful People," the 1996 industrial goth rock single from controversial and oft disturbing Fort Lauderdale, Florida rocker Marilyn Manson.

"Never There" by Redstock

 

Sao Paulo, Brazil area quartet Redstock cover "Never There," the 1998 experimental country song from Sacramento, California band Cake.

I suspect some cheating, though.

From their Youtube video description, we have a guy on voz y baixo.  That's vocals and bass. A guy on voz y guitarra.  Another guy on guitarra with no voz.  And, last guy on bateria. (had to look that up.  That's drums.)

So, where's that trumpet sound coming from?  

For a cover by Cake, their version of "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" can be found here.

"Light My Fire" by Episode Six

 

Episode Six were a band formed in London, UK during the mid 1960's, and, according to this article, never got around to releasing an official album.

Luckily, their psychedelic art rock was preserved and finally made public on the album "Cornflakes and Crazyfoam."

The album had a release date of 2002, so their version of "Light My Fire," the 1967 single from acid blues rockers The Doors, was 34 years young upon its translation to CD.  

For more Doors covers, Skald's version of "Riders on the Storm" can be found here, and Blues Travelers' version of "Roadhouse Blues" can be found here.

"New Age Girl" by The Falling Devices

 

The Falling Devices wonder without knowing where do we begin on their remake of the 1994 alternative single "New Age Girl" from New Orleans, Louisiana trio Deadeye Dick, popularized on the soundtrack for "Dumb and Dumber."

As for the band The Falling Devices, I don't know where they're going and I don't know where they've been.  All I know is that this "Explosion Rock" compilation album featuring their cover was provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises, and they're based out of New York City.

"Incense and Peppermints" by Missing Persons

 

Los Angeles, California new wave band Missing Persons take a look at themselves, yeah, look at themselves, girl, look at themselves on this cover of 1967 psychedelic rock song "Incense and Peppermints" by Glendale, California acid rockers Strawberry Alarm Clock.

"Heaven Beside You" by Dirt Nap

 

Cleveland, Ohio quartet Dirt Nap embrace their inner grunge on this remake of "Heaven Beside You," the 1995 mainstream rock chart topper from Alice in Chains.

I'm trying hard not to rib them, but their YouTube biography concludes with "Through melodic progressions, deep and somewhat dark content, angry yet soulful vocal melodies, and vocal harmonies, Dirt Nap exercises their demons through song."

We all know that song isn't the best way to exercise demons. A more efficient means is to provide them with a little wheel in their cage.

Exorcise, fellas.

For another Alice in Chains cover, Queens of Dogtown's version of "Would?" can be found here.

"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Retrofoguetes

 

Brazilian surf rock band Retrofoguetes hang ten on this gnarly remake of the 1966 pop single "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Jersey City, New Jersey chanteuse Nancy Sinatra.

"I Ran (So Far Away)" by Rotation

 

Detroit, Michigan alt goth band Rotation cover "I Ran (So Far Away)," a 1982 single for UK new wave group A Flock of Seagulls.

According to the interwebs, the line about the girl with auburn hair and tawny eyes could be referencing actress Bella Thorne, though she was born 15 years after the song was initially released, so that seems fairly unlikely.  

"Los Angeles" by Dog Party

 

"Los Angeles," a 1980 release from influential proto punk band X was remade in 2013 by two Sacramento, California sisters calling themselves Dog Party.

I don't know what dogs would do at a dog party.  My guess is that they'd end up playing poker.

"Flagpole Sitta" by Venice Sunlight

 

"Flagpole Sitta," the boisterous 1998 pop punk single from Seattle, Washington band Harvey Danger was remade by Venice Sunlight.

The cover is fairly straightforward.  

But, Venice Sunlight?

They are in the running for the Phillyest Philly band that ever Phillyed.

Take the photo of them on their Sonicbids profile.  They're posing in front of an iconic sign that adorned the walls of now defunct Northern Liberties cocktail bar Emmanuelle.

And, their self-penned bio on Spotify uses the word "jawn" in reference to their album that was in the works during the quarantine years.  

Would not be at all surprised if the stage name of their drummer is Hoagie McSchmitter

For a cover by Harvey Danger, their version of "Save it for Later" can be found here.

"Runaway Train" by Sixth Finger

 

Hollywood, Florida (I assume, based on the Facebook feed from one of their members) bossa duo Sixth Finger go down tempo mellow on "Runaway Train," the 1993 country-tinged milk carton portrait laden ballad from Minneapolis, Minnesota alt rockers Soul Asylum.  

Sixth finger's chill vibe make them a favorite band of famed polydactyl Count Rugen.

For a cover by Soul Asylum, their version of "School's Out" can be found here.

"Burn" by The Beef Seeds

 

Welsh pop bluegrass band The Beef Seeds strike the match, play it loud, and give love to the world on their cover of British singer songwriter Ellie Goulding's catchy 2013 number "Burn."

For another Ellie Goulding cover, Sandaru Sathsara's version of "Love Me Like You Do" can be found here.

"Unholy" by Belle Sisoski

 

Belle Sisoski is an internet starlet out of East Malaysia.  

Here, she covers the 2022 electro dance pop Sam Smith and Kim Petras duet "Unholy."

She engineered and produced the track.  She played all of the instruments, including ethnic jobbers like the tapi lute and the keluri.

Oh, and she's only 17 years old.

For another Sam Smith cover, Skywalker's version of "How Do You Sleep?" can be found here.

"Dance Hall Days" by Imperial Mammoth

 

Los Angeles, California electro pop duo Imperial Mammoth are cool on craze with their cover of 1983 new wave hit "Dance Hall Days," originally from London, UK pop artists Wang Chung.

The tempo is slowed and the music more dreamlike, which makes the line about "playing on her darkest fears" even more disturbing.

In fact, this decade old article from Paste magazine gives the song a resounding 9.1 out of 10 on the ascending scale of horrifying lyrics.

"Sober" by Birdeatsbaby

 

Perhaps you thought that Los Angeles, California progressive metal band Tool's 1993 song and accompanying stop-action video "Sober" were the pinnacle of weirdness.

Along come British dark cabaret band Birdeatsbaby with their deer antler headpieces and electric violins. They ratchet up the strange to what I can only assume is the apex of bizarreness.

"...Baby, One More Time" by Fountains of Wayne

 

New York City power pop band Fountains of Wayne paid tribute to the 1999 teen pop anthem "...Baby, One More Time" from McComb, Mississippi princess of pop Britney Spears.

I couldn't find any videos of the band performing the song while donning Catholic school uniforms, and, truth told, that's a little disappointing.

"How You Remind Me" by Avril Lavigne

 

In late 2012, Ontario pop punk gal Avril Lavigne covered fellow Canadian post-grunge rockers Nickelback's 2001 audible lover's spat "How You Remind Me."

The recording was considered savage, as Lavigne and Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger divorced not long after its release.

Hopefully, their whirlwind marriage and subsequent disbanding will one day be immortalized in a Terrance and Phillip special, with the possible working title "We're Breaking Up, Buddy."

For a cover of Avril Lavigne, Cascada's version of "Sk8r Boi" can be found here.

"Chop Suey!" by August Burns Red

 

Happy first day of August!

Here's a cover by a Christian metalcore band called August Burns Red.

It's their take on Glendale, California by way of Armenia metal band System of a Down's 2001 signature song "Chop Suey!"

The song earned a Grammy nomination for best metal song that year.

Huh.  Well, it is a metal song.  Grammy nomination?  Hmmmm.... (scratches head) yeah.  I've got nothin'.

The original video also has over a BILLION views on YouTube.  

None of them are mine, and I'm 100% cool with that.