"It's Gonna Be Me" by Hopeful Sixteen

 

Quebec City, Canada metalcore band Hopeful Sixteen deliver a sonic assault on their remake of Orlando, Florida boy band NSYNC's  2000 teen pop single "It's Gonna Be Me."  

For another NSYNC cover, Vixxin's version of "Bye Bye Bye" can be found here.

"From Out of Nowhere" by The Birthday Massacre

 

Ontario, Canada darkwave band The Birthday Massacre, without warning and out of the blue, cover "From Out of Nowhere," the 1989 alt metal release from San Francisco, California experimental group Faith No More.

For another Faith No More cover, Shovels & Rope's version of "Epic" can be found here.

"How Do You Talk to an Angel" by Hackie Goes

 

Cebu City, Philippines melodic punk rockers Hackie Goes play a ska-tinged remake of "How Do You Talk to an Angel," the 1992 single from made for TV band The Heights.

So, how DO you talk to an angel?

Here are some examples as precedent.  Maybe they will give you some inspiration.

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”  (Luke 1:18)

How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34)

When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” (Judges 6:22)

"Cut Your Hair" by Luna Tango

 

Tokyo, Japan (I'm guessing here,,,, but, I'd say it's a strong guess based on their multiple appearances at the Hakumon Festival held annually on the Tama Campus of Chuo University) group Luna Tango cover "Cut Your Hair," the sarcastic 1994 indie hit from Stockton, California crooked band, crooked band Pavement.

Of all the videos of live performances featuring a stuffed monkey dressed like a bellhop that I've seen this year, this is probably my favorite.  

"The Luckiest" by Charlotte Littlehales

 

"What if I'd been born fifty years before you in a house on a street where you lived?"

Little Dell Music Studio instructor Charlotte Littlehales and I missed being contemporaries by a decade, as the apartment that I shared in Philly overlooked University of the Arts, where she studied.

Here is her rendition of "The Luckiest," the 2001 ballad from suburb rocker Ben Folds.

It's dedicated to Tom, and if the song isn't enough of a tear jerker, read the video description.  I'm not sobbing, you are.

Sixteen years of marriage later, and I'm still the luckiest.

For more versions of "The Luckiest," Sara Gazarek's version can be found here, and Stephanie Erin Brill's version can be found here.

"Hey Ya!" by Supersuckers

 

All right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all right now Tucson, Arizona cowpunk band Supersuckers cover 2003 Southern hip hop rave up "Hey Ya!," originally by Atlanta, Georgia duo OutKast.

"Move Your Feet" by The Distance

 

I slept on "Move Your Feet," a 2002 Eurodance release from Thisted, Denmark duo Junior Senior. My introduction to it was through a portion of a medley sung by Poppy in the 2016 animated adventure comedy "Trolls."

Manchester, UK pair The Distance (trio if you count the cat that makes a cameo in their video, but contributes absolutely nothing other than cuteness) practice what they preach on their remake.  

Of course, due to their incorporation of a multi-channel pedal operated looper, they had no choice but to move their feet, or their rendition would have sounded like skid marks.

With their feet and their hands and possibly their foreheads in constant motion, they pulled off a genuinely impressive one-take cover.

"Dancing in the Street" by Atomic Kitten

 

Liverpool, UK vocal trio Atomic Kitten pump a healthy dose of adrenaline into their teen pop remake of "Dancing in the Street," a 1964 Hitsville song from Motown artists Martha and the Vandellas.

If you're wondering what the atomic number of a kitten is, it's 26.  Same as the atomic number for Iron.

This is because if you place several iron bars end to end, it makes a Fe line.

Please put that knife down.  

"Meant to Live" by Coastline 95

 

Coastline 95 were a pop punk band from the Tidewater area.... presumably around Virginia Beach, Virginia, based on this video of them performing a full set at Wing King Rosemont in early 2022.

Here, they cover "Meant to Live," a 2003 radio single from San Diego, California post-grunge band Switchfoot.

All of the links to their social media accounts lead to dead ends, so it's a safe assumption that somewhere between 2022 and 2024, they called it quits.

That's a shame.... because they were meant to play for so much longer.

"I Feel the Earth Move" by Eternal

 

London, UK Soul R&B vocal group Eternal cover "I Feel the Earth Move," a 1971 piano fueled pop rock single from New York City songstress Carole King.

According to a seismology report from the British Geographical Survey, it's unlikely that the band truly felt the Earth move under their feet, unless they're referring to the 2018 quake that hit the lowland meadows around Cwmllynfell and Ystalyfera

"Insane in the Brain" by Cherry Stone

 

It's 4/20.... so here's a cover of "Insane in the Brain," the 1993 crossover single from South Gate, California hip hop group Cypress Hill by Milano, Italy nu metal band Cherry Stone.

"Apologize" by Trippynova

 

Miami, Florida mystic groove artists Trippynova ain't got time for your regrets on their cover of 2007 R&B collaboration "Apologize" from Norfolk, Virginia rapper Timbaland and Colorado Springs, Colorado pop band OneRepublic.

For another OneRepublic cover, Alice Lamb's version of "Counting Stars" can be found here.

"Cold as Ice" by Sunshine on Mars

 

Sunshine on Mars collaborated virtually, recording an album of cover songs in 2012 without having ever met the other members in person.

Here's their version of New York City based rock band Foreigner's 1977 synth driven single "Cold As Ice."

Oddly, the first clear visual of sunshine on Mars was in 2023 according to this article, long after Sunshine on Mars stopped playing together separately.

"Let's Go Crazy" by Burn the Jukebox

 

Writing about a cover song every day is one thing.

Actually PERFORMING a different cover song each and every day is quite another.

And, Northeastern Pennsylvania schoolkids Burn the Jukebox have been doing just that.

Their cover of "Let's Go Crazy," the funky 1984 opening track from his purpleness Prince's film "Purple Rain" was recorded a couple of years before their own daily cover song sojourn.... back when they were all 13-14 years old.

For more Prince covers, Sons of Serendip's version of "Purple Rain" can be found here, and The Be Good Tanyas' version of "When Doves Cry" can be found here.

"Viva la Vida" by Girl Named Tom

 

Pettisville, Ohio sibling band Girl Named Tom wowed the audience of reality competition show The Voice with their rendition of "Viva la Vida," a 2008 orchestral pop release from London, UK Britpop band Coldplay.

If you find yourself in Pettisville, you should probably check out their meat shop. Over 10,000 people like it, and that's a lot of carnivore love for a small unincorporated city's butcher.

"Talking in Your Sleep" by The Movement in Codes

 

San Jose, Costa Rica punk band The Movement in Codes perform their version of 1983 new wave single "Talking in Your Sleep" by Detroit, Michigan hard edged pop band The Romantics.

According to WebMD, somniloquy is a fairly common sleep disorder among children, but tapers off to about one adult in 20 carrying on snoozeversations.

"Ever Fallen in Love" by Nouvelle Vague

 

Parisian lounge cover band Nouvelle Vague add a bossa twist to "Ever Fallen in Love," a 1978 power pop single from Manchester, UK punk band Buzzcocks.

"Hold My Hand" by Landa

 

UK cover artist Landa performs "Hold My Hand," a 2015 chart topper from North London, UK singer songwriter Jess Glynne.

You'll recognize the song if you've ever watched a video on TikTok, as it's EVERYWHERE on that platform.

If playing this song were an Olympic event. I'd give Landa a solid 7.4.  Deductions for not even attempting that "ooooh...ooh....ooh" part, which is undeniably the hook of the original.  

"Sha La-La-La-La" by Modesta Pastiche

 

Danish glam rock band The Walkers had their 1973 single "Sha La-La-La-La" covered by Polish ensemble Modesta Pastiche.

As enjoyable as this video is, I can't shake the feeling that it would probably be a whole 'nother level of fun with some serious hallucinogens.

Like, copious, copious amounts of drugs.

"Helplessly Hoping" by I Fight Dragons

 

There's a fine line between cover songs and karaoke.

Skirting that line are Chicago, Illinois Nintendocore band I Fight Dragons on their GameBoy and vocals version of "Helplessly Hoping," a 1969 release from Los Angeles, California based folk roots artists Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

Though the "instrumental" portion of this version is preprogrammed, it was done so by band member Brian Mazzaferri, so I'd consider it a true, albeit unconventional, cover.

A really friggin' cool, one, too.

"Fly Away" by Vella

 

Tampa, Florida chanteuse Vella belts out "Fly Away," a 1998 single for New York City neo psychedelia artist Lenny Kravitz.

Dissecting the song for a moment...

Kravitz/Vella wish that they could fly.... just like a dragonfly

Then, that they want to see the stars, the Milky Way, or even Mars.

According to sciency people who know sciency stuff,  dragonflies with the strongest wings and flight patterns can reach a max speed of 36 miles per hour.

At its closest, according to more sciency people who spout sciency facts, Mars can come as close as 35 million miles from Earth.

Flying incessantly at top speed, a dragonfly could reach Mars in roughly 110 years.

So, good luck with that!

"Let's Go All the Way" by Remains of Jade

 

Cincinnati, Ohio new wave one hit wonders Sly Fox had their 1985 single "Let's Go All the Way" covered by fellow Ohioan groove rockers Remains of Jade.

According to Wikipedia, the word repeated at the start of the song is "simonini," so it's possible that the song is about custom homes.

Let's go all the way.... through the real estate crafting process.

"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" by Morgan Leigh Band

 

San Marcos, California urban bumpkins Morgan Leigh Band look out for them equines on their cover of Nashville, Tennessee country duo Big and Rich's 2003 single "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)."

I'm not a fan of country music.  So, can't really pinpoint why I've watched this video 367 times over the past couple of weeks.  

"Message in a Bottle" by Maxi Priest

 

London, UK reggae fusion artist Maxi Priest sends an SOS to the world on his remake of "Message in a Bottle," the 1979 new wave single from The Police.

I'm aware that it's hyperbole, but that line about a hundred billion bottles washing up on the shore?

According to this article in Business Insider, Americans average 399 servings of Coke products per year.

With 307 million Americans at the time the article was written, it would take nearly 68 years for all of those bottles to be emptied.

Further, this article gives the diameter of a standard 16.9 fluid ounce bottle of Coke as 2.5 inches.

So, if 100 billion bottles were placed side by side, they would stretch for roughly 378,787 miles.

The entire coastline of UK, according to this site, is a mere 11,073 miles.

For another Police cover, Empiires' version of "Wrapped Around Your Finger" can be found here.

"I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me" by Bellefire

 

Galway, Ireland lassies Bellefire get pensive for their former lads on their cover of "I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me," a 1993 adult contemporary ballad from Miami, Florida pop trio Expose.

For another cover of Expose, Centerfold's version of "Point of No Return" can be found here.

"Banditos" by The Puke Buckets

 

"Banditos," the 1995 cow punk single from Tempe, Arizona band The Refreshments was (presumably) boozily redone by Ontario, Canada group The Puke Buckets.

Their website at the start of the video is no longer active, but here's a site for The Puke Bucket, a product that might....be.....real?  

"3 AM" by Casey and the Fog

 Jacksonville, Florida cover band Casey and the Fog perform their version of "3 AM," a 1996 hit for fellow Floridians Matchbox Twenty.

If you're straining to see the score of the game in the background, the Panthers ended up beating the Golden Knights.

For another Matchbox Twenty cover, Taylor Acorn's version of "Unwell" can be found here.

"Natural One" by Shearwater

 

Austin, Texas band Shearwater cover "Natural One," a 1995 single from Boston based indie rockers Folk Implosion, popularized on the soundtrack of the disturbing Harmony Korine film "Kids.".

If you're trying to pinpoint what that crazy sound is, it's likely a hammer dulcimer and/or a waterphone, both of which were handmade by then-percussionist Thor Harris.

"Hole Hearted" by Dogs on Lead

 

German band Dogs on Lead perform an acoustic cover of "Hole Hearted," a 1991 pop rock single from Boston, Massachusetts band Extreme.

Not sure how they do things in Germany, but the Merck Veterinary Manual discourages dogs from being exposed to lead, as it could lead to gastrointestinal upset and neurological issues. 

"Lovefool" by Twocolors

 

Happy April Fool's Day!

Berlin, Germany electronic dance music producers Twocolors get ravy and dichromatic on their remake of "Lovefool," a 1996 hit for Swedish alt indie band The Cardigans.

For a cover by The Cardigans, their version of "Iron Man" can be found here.