"I Want Candy" by Black Metal Box

 

It's Halloween, it's Halloween, it's time for scares, it's time for screams!

It's also nearly time to raid my son's pail for all of the Baby Ruths.

Here's an industrial EBM cover of "I Want Candy," a 1965 bubblegum pop song from New York City band The Strangeloves (with the definitive version released by London, UK worldbeat group Bow Wow Wow in 1982) from Black Metal Box.

An internet query showed that Black Metal Box was the name used by a Phoenix, Arizona hard rock band that made waves locally between 2008 and 2015... but this cover was released a full decade earlier.

By searching the compilation album's name, there was a crosslink to the proper Black Metal Box.

Though little information is found on BMB themselves, one member's previous band Freak Seed had a listing in the metal archives.  Our Black Metal Box is not from Phoenix, as it turns out, but from Morristown, New Jersey.

"Volcano Girls" by Cherri Bomb

 

The Warner Park Valley Cultural Center in Woodland Hills, California puts on free concerts and hosts outdoor movies throughout the summer.

And, they have been doing so for at least 14 years, as this footage of Cherri Bomb covering Chicago, Illinois alternative band Veruca Salt's 1997 alternative hit "Volcano Girls" was recorded in July of 2009.

This version is impressive to the nth degree, especially considering that the performers weren't even in high school yet.  

"My Love" by John Davidson

 

True or False?

Two decades before embarking on a career as a game show host, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native John Davidson was a singer who covered "My Love," the 1965 single from Surrey, UK stage performer Petula Clark.

If you guessed "true," then circle gets the square.

"The Number of the Beast" by Sinergy

 

Today's cover song is the 666th featured here on Daily Cover Song...  hence, Helsinki, Finland power metal band Sinergy's version of London, UK symphonic prog metal band Iron Maiden's 1982 single "The Number of the Beast."

"Happy Together" by Sinkane

 

Sudanese trip hop artist Sinkane loops and reverbs his way through "Happy Together," the 1967 psychedelic pop hit from Los Angeles, California folkies The Turtles.

"Brass in Pocket" by Kelis

 

New York City R&B artist Kelis's pockets bring all the boys to the yard.  And they're like "There's brass in there."  Damn right, there's brass in there. She uses the alloy for the transport of water through pipes and fittings.

Here is her version of the 1979 song "Brass in Pocket," originally by The Pretenders.

It's special.  So special.  It's gotta have some of your attention.

For a cover of Kelis, Buddy's version of "Milkshake" can be found here.

"Pablo Picasso" by The Tellers

 

Wishing a very happy 142nd birthday to short stuff cubist impressionist Pablo Picasso!

In his honor, here are The Tellers, an indie folk band from Belgium, with their rendition of the 1972 proto-punk song "Pablo Picasso" from Natick, Massachusetts band The Modern Lovers.

"Connection" by The Fantastic Plastics

 

You'll find this surprising, but I've never been cool enough to sign up for a Twitch account.

That's probably why it took so long to discover New York City retro new wave band The Fantastic Plastics.

Here, the duo cover "Connection," the 1994 single from British art punk band Elastica that contains, arguably, one of the catchiest riffs from that decade.

So catchy, in fact, that it makes anthropomorphic jars of peanut butter, Napoleon Dynamite, and Carlton Banks dance like crazy, while Vincent Vega stands around looking confused.

For a cover by Elastica, their version of "Da Da Da" can be found here.

"Don't Change" by Grinspoon

 

You know those picture filters that sharpen blurry photos a bit?

That's New South Wales rock band Grinspoon's cover of "Don't Change," the 1982 pub punk single from Sydney, Australia new wave group INXS.

The fuzzed out guitars are a bit fuzzier.  The drums a bit drummier.

Other than that, they don't change for you, and don't change a thing for me.

"Tightrope" by Chvrches

 

2010 psychedelic soul single "Tightrope," originally from Kansas City, Kansas singer Janelle Monae was c-c-c-covered by Glasgow, Scotland indietronica band Chvrches.

Life Hack: If you're ever cornered by someone at a party and want to reclaim your personal space, simply look them in the eye and say "Another word for a tightrope walker is a funambulist," and watch how quickly they leave you alone.

"Get the Party Started" by Cobra Verde

 

Cleveland, Ohio rock band Cobra Verde get this party started on a Saturday morning with their remake of "Get the Party Started," the 2001 dancepop single from Doylestown, Pennsylvania singer/songwriter P!nk.

For another P!nk cover, Sugarland's version of "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" can be found here.

"The Fear" by Abbey Walter

 

London, UK electropop singer/songwriter Lily Allen's scathing 2008 single "The Fear" was reimagined as a chill island song by Abbey Walter. 

I love, love, love the steel drums.  

This version is like 10,000 papaya-scented candles being simultaneously thrown through the living room window of a McMansion in order to set it ablaze.

"Chasing Cars" by Boyce Avenue

 

Sarasota, Florida brothers Boyce Avenue have established themselves as one of the internet's foremost cover bands, with multiple millions of subscribers racking up well over 6 billion views on the YouTube platform alone.  

Here, they breathe new life into "Chasing Cars," the 2006 release from Scottish post-Britpop band Snow Patrol.

"Killing Me Softly" by The Congress

 

Richmond, Virginia band The Congress don't appear to be out and about these days, with a Facebook feed that has lain dormant for several years.

They did have a solid run, there, though.... with their 2013 album "The Loft Tapes" including a cover of "Killing Me Softly (With His Song)," a 1972 song for Los Angeles, California multi-instrumentalist Lori Lieberman, which was made famous the following year by Black Mountain, North Carolina singer and songwriter Roberta Flack.

"Stuck on You" by Ekolu

 

Tuskegee, Alabama soft rock legend Lionel Richie had his 1984 hit "Stuck on You" transported off of the mainland by Maui, Hawaii boy band Ekolu.  

It's like adult contemporary drenched in pineapple smoothies.

"Your Woman" by Princess Chelsea

 

Auckland, New Zealand artist Princess Chelsea recruits a rhythm section that both vaguely and weirdly  resemble Michael Cera on her remake of "Your Woman," a 1997 one hit wonder from Indian born Britpop performer White Town.

I'm a little jealous of the xylophone setup.  She can play more than a single octave.  Well, whoop-de-do, Princess Chelsea.  

"Daydream Believer" by The Four Tops

 

The Four Tops, one of the definitive bands of the 1960's Motown era, brought some R&B flavor to "Daydream Believer," the catchy 1967 psychedelic pop song from made-for-TV band The Monkees.

For a Four Tops cover, Third World's version of "It's the Same Old Song" can be found here.

"Complicated" by Midnight Cereal

 

Bangkok, Thailand self-professed pop punk gang Midnight Cereal pour out a heaping bowlful of sugar-coated licks on their version of "Complicated," the hit single from Canadian songstress Avril Lavigne's 2002 debut album "Let Go."

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

For a cover by Avril Lavigne, her version of Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" can be found here.

"The Crystal Lake" by Piroshka

 

It's Friday the 13th!

So, now might be a good time to break out a cover of a song called "The Crystal Lake," originally released in 2000 by Modesto, California space rock band Grandaddy, covered here by UK supergroup Piroshka.

"If It Makes You Happy" by Screaming Females

 

Kennett, Missouri heartland rocker Sheryl Crow's 1996 top ten single "If It Makes You Happy" was done over by New Brunswick, New Jersey indie punk band Screaming Females.

One thing I can say about Screaming Females... their band name is in no way misleading.

For another Sheryl Crow cover, Judah and the Lion's version of "Soak Up the Sun" can be found here.

"867-5309/Jenny" by Bracket

 

Forestville, California melodic hardcore band Bracket cover 1981 new wave hit "867-5309/Jenny," originally by Tommy Tutone.

The song will forever be remembered as the ditty that launched a million trillion prank phone calls, prompting Lorene Burns of Brewton, Alabama to want to "get ahold of Tommy Tutone's neck and choke him," according to this article from the Lakeland, Florida Ledger in May of 1982.  

"Cry Me a River" by Alter Grey

 

Sofia, Bulgaria band Alter Grey cover Justin Timberlake's 2002 spitegala "Cry Me a River."

If you take the song's line about burning bridges literally, the city of Sofia offers a couple of options.

There's the Lion's Bridge over the Vladaya river, or the Eagles Bridge over the Perlovska river.

For more Justin Timberlake covers, Fame on Fire's version of "Can't Stop the Feeling" can be found here, and Boy Deluxe's version of "SexyBack" can be found here.

"Magic Carpet Ride" by The Chevelles

 

One of Canada's most widely known cover bands is The Chevelles.

This may not be 100% factual, as it's taken from the band's description on their own YouTube channel.

But, then, I only know of one Canadian cover band... and it's them... so they may be on to something.

Here they are covering "Magic Carpet Ride," the 1968 acid rock single from Los Angeles, California band Steppenwolf.

Not bad, but the timing of the video doesn't sync up with the music, and that bothers me more than it probably should.

The Chevelles hail from the city of Lethbridge in Alberta, famous for being the home of an old whiskey trading post known as Fort Whoop-Up.

Seriously.

"Grenade" by Within Temptation

 

Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation pull the pin and make things go kablooey with their version of "Grenade," the 2010 somber unreciprocated love song from Bruno Mars.

For more Bruno Mars covers, Future Sunsets + Pontea's version of "24K Magic" can be found here, and Jamie Cullum's version of "Uptown Funk" can be found here.

"Touch of Grey" by The War on Drugs

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania indie rock band The War on Drugs take on the 1987 single "Touch of Grey," originally by Palo Alto, California jam band Grateful Dead.

Not really feeling the Dylan-esque vocals, because, seriously... Bob Dylan tries not to sing like Bob Dylan.

Then the harmonica comes into play, and it makes up for the seeeeeenging voice.

'Cause it's alright.

"Way Down We Go" by Neoni

 

Nashville, Tennessee sisters Neoni perform a rooftop acoustic version of Icelandic export Kaleo's 2015 single "Way Down We Go."

Kaleo the band are not to be confused with Kaleo the 310 million dollar pharmaceutical company.... though both make me want to sing the blues after drinking heavily.

"She Don't Use Jelly" by Cavedoll

 

Eclectic Salt Lake City, Utah band Cavedoll don't use guitars, or violings.... or lyres or basses.... or nothing with strings, they use a sy-y-ynnnnnnnthesizer on their revision of fellow Midwestern US weirdos The Flaming Lips' nonsensical 1993 modern rock romp "She Don't Use Jelly."

"What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" by OCD

 

According to this article, today marks the 37th anniversary of television news anchor Dan Rather being accosted by two mentally ill assailants while walking along Park Avenue in New York City.  

The enigmatic question that they asked while throwing haymakers.... "What's the frequency, Kenneth?" was used as a song title on Athens, Georgia college rock band REM's album "Monster."

The 1994 single was revamped in 2015 by OCD for the compilation album "Humans & Synths."

For other REM covers, Black Needle Noise's version of "Losing My Religion" can be found here, and Discount's version of "It's the End of the World As We Know It" can be found here.

"Luka" by Kontrollverlust

 

German cover band Kontrollverlust (which translates to "Loss of Control," not "Lusting after Green Trolls") put their unique spin on "Luka," the 1987 child abuse awareness-raising folk single from Santa Monica, California singer songwriter Suzanne Vega.

Stick around after the video for an important announcement that you'll understand if you speak German. Something something something Spotify something streaming.

"Twilight Zone" by Bloody Hammers

 

You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead...

On this day in 1959, the fantasy horror series "The Twilight Zone" debuted on television.

To commemorate the premier of this landmark program, here's Asheville, North Carolina doom metal band Bloody Hammers covering "Twilight Zone," the 1982 single from Dutch rock/new wave band Golden Earring.

"Beautiful Sunday" by The October Cherries

 

It's the first day of October!

And, it's a Sunday!

Apropos on two fronts is this cover of Birmingham, UK bubblegum pop artist Daniel Boone's 1972 hit single "Beautiful Sunday" by Singapore based psychedelic rock band The October Cherries.