Cover to Cover Part 2: #10 - 6

For my sanity and yours, I give my top 10 cover songs

10. Hot In Herre - Jenny Owen Youngs (Originally by Nelly)

This spot is dedicated to the ironic cover which is usually very funny. This was originally going to be Alanis Morissette's cover of the Black Eyed Peas "My Humps" or Ben Folds's soft rocking "Bitches Ain't Shit," then my friend Lauren told me about this song and I fell in love with it.

Nelly's ode to women taking off their clothes becomes twisted into a cute indie folk song about...men taking their clothes off. Nevertheless, it works completely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwuIIsDjgZg

9. Rodeohead - Hard 'n Phirm (All songs originally by Radiohead)

Super-nerdy comedy band, Chris Hardwick and Mike Phirman (yep, their real names) usually sing songs about the body's carbon cycle or the number pi. However, this and the track before it "Fitter Clappier" prove they're not only math and science nerds, but music nerds as well. While "Fitter Clappier" is a sketch, "Rodeohead" lives up to its name by being exactly as the name implies. If Thom Yorke and his sullen mates grew up in Alabama and performed state fairs, they would be Rodeohead.

It isn't necessarily an ironic cover (more of a southern-fried tribute) nor is it a full cover (a medley, actually), but it performs the most basic need of a cover song: to make it your own. And they make a rootin-tootin good time of it, too.

Both tracks are so stuffed with Radiohead references that instead of lyrics for either, the liner notes simply read:
"For maximum enjoyment of these tracks, learn too much about Radiohead. Otherwise, gently extend arm forward and bend at elbow, open hand (palm facing down), then cross hand over head to rear of body (whooshing sound optional)."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyzVXFIbSDM

8. Satisfaction - Devo (Originally by The Rolling Stones)

Twisted art-school graduates with a penchant for matching clothing and performance art style theories of de-evolution decide to cover one of the most beloved rock songs ever. And they make it awesome.

If there was anything Geek-rock progenitors Devo stood for, it was sick perversion of music. Taking the Stones's classic hit and making it a cold, robotic account of sexual frustation transforms it from a hot, bluesy number into an uncomfortably alienating punk song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I09xjQgMAI

7. Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Originally by Judy Garland)

Who knew that a 750-pound Hawaiian with a ukelele could make song of hope sound even more hopeful? And with such a soft voice, too.

This song, I have no problem admitting, will bring a tear to my eye every time. It's such a sweet soft song performed with nothing but the damn ukelele. And I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZFkXQKCuBc

6. Bring The Noise - Anthrax (Originally by Public Enemy)

As mentioned in the description of Duran Duran's cover of "911 Is A Joke," Anthrax are the only people who should be allowed to cover Public Enemy. Why? Because they covered this song WITH PUBLIC ENEMY. Chuck D even forgoes the mic to allow guitarist Scott Ian to drop the second verse with a well-made flow.

Anthrax, a band known for being one of the "big four" thrash bands (the others being Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer), asked Chuck to collaborate and he "didn't take them wholehearted seriously." However, when they finished the production of the song Chuck took back his comment, saying "it made too much sense."

THAT is why Anthrax can cover Public Enemy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBA-xi8WuCU