If you’re an up-and-coming band sometimes the best way for you to get your name out there and reel in a bigger fan base is to do brilliant covers of some pretty cool tracks. There have also been countless ‘punk goes pop’ records including seasonal specials and outlets even have the idea of taking landmark albums and creating a new spin by getting some of the most exciting acts to record their own version (think RockSound’s The Black Parade etc). So it’s no surprise that we all seem to love a cover or two! Here at AltCorner, we’ve decided to compile a playlist of some of our favourite cover songs of all time and also let you know who we think are the kings or queens (yeah thanks 30STM, I’m now going to be singing that all day) of covers.
A Day To Remember – Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson)
We have to start with what is possibly the greatest cover of all time when Florida rockers A Day To Remember put their own spin on pop-rock princess Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone for their 2007 album For Those Who Have Heart. Even almost 10 years later, the track is a fan favourite and one of the most well-known alternative covers out there and has done nothing but help cement the rockers as a great band.
Elessar – The Bad Touch (Bloodhound Gang)
It’s safe to say the young Gloucester quartet like a cover (having also put out a cover of Demi Lovato’s 2015 single Cool For The Summer) but we had to go with their version of Bloodhound Gang’s The Bad Touch for the sheer fact that this has become a staple in their live set and a fan favourite. This is a band who have used the cover tracks as a way to entice more people into their fanbase (hey, it worked on me, this was the first I heard of them and I was hooked, now I’m addicted to their original material. No really, I am, I need help). It’s cheeky and the video shows the band’s cheeky personalities and energetic live shows.
Ice Nine Kills – Animals (Maroon 5)
Massachusetts theatrical metalcore quartet Ice Nine Kills are another band who like a cover or two (think back to 2012’s version of Adele’s Someone Like You on their Predator EP that brought a whole lot of enjoyment to what is one of the most depressing tracks to exist in the past couple of decades) but we’ve chosen their 2015 cover of Maroon 5’s Animals that featured on Fearless Records’ Punk Goes Pop Volume 6 compilation. The cleans and screams mix in well and there’s cheeky humour in the accompanying video that you can’t help but laugh at (although we have a feeling that there’s a theme about frontman Spencer Charnas and dogs in their cover videos – again, take a look at the aforementioned Someone Like You video).
Fame On Fire- Hello (Adele)
It’s a depressing track that gets a rejig with Hello by Adele being covered by West Palm Beach alt-rock quartet Fame on Fire and while it still keeps the depressing theme, it is made a bit lighter and the vocals suit it well and for me eprsonally, it is actually a lot easier to listen to than the original.
Our Last Night – Sorry
The hard rock instrumentation and smooth dual vocals of Trevor and Matt Wentworth provide a much more interesting and bearable cover of pop brat Justin Bieber’s track Sorry.
Halestorm – Straight Through the Heart (Dio)
There isn’t a lot to say about this 2014 cover of Dio’s Straight Through the Heart except that Lzzy Hale’s vocals are incredible! Hence why it’s in here. But we’ll let you judge that for yourself!
Set it Off – Problem (Ariana Grande)
For volume 6 of Fearless Records’ Punk Goes Pop, US pop-punkers Set It Off put their own spin on Ariana Grande’s hit single Problem with a cheeky rendition of TLC’s No Scrubs thrown in for good measure. This also became a staple in the band’s live sets and is a rendition that is sure to get you dancing (but if you try to copy Ariana’s routine, it might confuse you. Trust us, we’ve tried it).
Issues – Gotta Catch Em All (Pokemon)
Remember when you were a kid in the 90s and Pokemon was all everyone went on about? Then slowly as you grew up, you kinda pretended that you were too cool for it around your friends but you couldn’t wait to get home to battle on your Gameboy colour? And then as everyone remembers, one of 2016’s fads was Pokemon Go, letting us catch our favourite little animated monsters in real life (we still couldn’t find a Pikachu!) Well this fad coincided with Warped Tour 2016 and what better way to make yourself stand out among the dozens of incredible bands than to incorporate Pokemon as your entrance music? Well that is what Issues did and it was such a hit that fans were constantly begging them to record it and well finally they gave in and vocalist Tyler Carter and drummer Josh Manuel joined forces with Jacky Vincent of Cry Venom (former Falling in Reverse) for a monster riff filled rendition of the theme tune!
Beyond Recall – Low (Flo Rida)
Bristol alternative trio Beyond Recall are known for their atmospheric and intense live performances. One staple in their set has been their cover of hip-hop star Flo Rida’s hit Low from the Step Up films. Combining gritty guitars and awesome vocals, it’s a cover that is just as good as, if not better, than the original in our opinion. Here’s a live version from September 2016 filmed but our very own writer Bethan Jones.
Youth in Revolt –Something in the Way You Move (Ellie Goulding)
2016’s version of Ellie Goulding’s Something in the Way You Move became the first taste of Youth in Revolt 2.0, coming after just over a year’s hiatus and a reshuffle of the line-up seeing guitarist Chris Coletti and former Brightwell members Arvin Sarathy and Tanner Allen join as drummer and vocalist respectively. The quintet kept the track in line with the original as a more dancey track, however, the post-hardcore elements that fans know and love of the band are still littered throughout including some of bassist/vocalist Kenny Torres’ screams. It’s a great way to bring in new fans and introduce the revitalised line-up ahead of debut album The Broken’s release via Outerloop Records in February.
Our Last Night – Drag Me Down (ft Matty Mullins)
Post-hardcore band Our Last Night are appearing again because their YouTube channel is littered with awesome covers! This time, they provide a rendition of one of my favourite pop bands One Direction’s (yeah sue me) track Drag Me Down which also features guest vocals from Memphis May Fire’s Matty Mullins. The way the triple vocals mix together works way too well (petition for a full One Direction cover album anyone?)
So there we have it, although we have to crown post-hardcore band Our Last Night as kings of covers because they have a whole array of them on their Youtube channel and on Apple Music ranging from The Beatles to Taylor Swift and One Direction. They also have some incredible original material which you should go and check out, see what we meant earlier though, you find a cover and then can find your new favourite band!
If you think we missed out an awesome cover, let us know over on our Twitter!