14 Beyoncé Covers That Are Better Than The Original

Probably the coolest thing about YouTube is that it’s a great big karaoke machine. People love singing their favorite pop songs and uploading those videos to YouTube. It’s a good marketing tool, too, because almost nobody is “discovered” anymore the way they used to be.

If you’re talented and cute and upload a video of you singing something on YouTube and you regularly get hundreds of thousands if not millions of hits, you’ll get some record executive’s attention.

I just love falling into YouTube k-hole where I watch a whole bunch of people sing Beyoncé songs. So, in celebration of all of their fabulous talent, here are 13 amazing YouTube videos of people doing covers as well as their own versions of Beyoncé. It’s kind of amazing.

1. The Weeknd, “Drunk in Love”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbwT_MdQPCw&w=584&h=390%5D

I think someone sent out a memo that everybody should start doing Beyoncé covers this week, because suddenly everybody is doing “Drunk in Love.” Of all the versions out there, this one is probably the best because he makes the song his own. Yeah, it gets a little nasty and freaky but the rhymes are tight and anyway The Weeknd’s whole thing is being vulgar and kinky.

2. AHMIR, “Halo”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=absqiy8_deI&w=584&h=390%5D

Alright now!

3. Chloe and Halle, “Pretty Hurts”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPwuduhx0vw&w=584&h=390%5D

IF THERE IS ANY VIDEO ON THIS LIST THAT YOU HAVE TO WATCH, THIS IS IT. SERIOUSLY, THESE GIRLS ARE BARELY TEENAGERS AND THEY SOUND SO GOOD AND THEY ARE BASICALLY THE NEW DESTINY’S CHILD GIVE THEM A FEW YEARS. The great thing about them, though, is that their voices are so mature and their vocal styles are actually super different and distinguished from one another.

4. Leroy Sanchez, “Love On Top”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqcA-I6LUtE&w=584&h=390%5D

I love how he is trying to be all impromptu, like “lol I’m just recording this song because I’m bored lol so I thought I would sing.” Whatever. You definitely practiced that shit bro, but we ain’t mad at you. You sound great!

5. Ann Marie Fox, “Drunk in Love

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d4cXl0iLQM&w=584&h=390%5D

This cover of “Drunk in Love” is so on point and so compelling and so indistinguishable from The Beyoncé Voice we have all prayed to that she might actually be the REAL Beyoncé, I don’t even know what’s true anymore.

6. The xx, “I Miss You

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fFP1lQe9gg&w=584&h=390%5D

lol I almost totally forgot about this song — it’s one of those one’s I don’t really ever listen to at all, ever. The xx, known for stripped down minimalism, breathy vocals, really made this song their own.

7. Sara Bareilles, “Single Ladies

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1qD4LtaRIU&w=584&h=390%5D

SO GOOD.

8. Angel Haze, “Drunk in Love”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5zz_N-w9GM&w=584&h=390%5D

I’m on the fence about this one tbh, but I like that she raps and sings and I love that she says “Fill the tub up half way then ride it with my skateboard. surfboard. Tom Ford,” heh.

9. VV Brown, “Crazy in Love

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHXCEly-CVk&w=584&h=390%5D

Now you know “Crazy in Love” is my favorite Beyoncé song of all time, and I get a little nervous when someone else sings it. But VV Brown completely delivers on this acoustic version.

10. Syesha, “Love On Top

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08W4xUK8pYM&w=584&h=390%5D

Oh you know, just me chilling in a dressing room, no shoes on, just belting out Beyoncé.

11. Ally Rhodes, “***Flawless”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPt9MNjsbBE&w=584&h=390%5D

Flawless is one of the more aggressive songs on the record, and I was worried that an acoustic version of it would sound AWFUL. But she sounds great, and it’s a really creative cover too!

12. Nikki Yanofsky, “XO”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTaz90DmvfA&w=584&h=390%5D

Just makes you want to say aaaaww.

13. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, “Why Don’t You Love Me?”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtDbpTbbVxQ&w=584&h=390%5D

Just when you didn’t think that Beyoncé could be rock and roll, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals proves you wrong with their cover of this amazing Beyoncé b-side that I think no one knows about!

14. Katy B, “Drunk in Love”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKIf5C5xshU&w=584&h=390%5D

This cover is actually SICKENING. I have been so obsessed with this clip since I discovered it. Like, hearing her version of it I’m thinking maybe Katy B recorded it first and allowed Beyoncé to put it on her record. Thought Catalog Logo Mark

Author of How To Be A Pop Star.

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