A 160+ Cover Song Playlist

Of course, there are multiple covers of the same song. There's like six "Hallelujahs" up in there (okay -- there are three, and the one by Brandi Carlisle is really worth a listen).

By Stephanie Georgopulos

Updated 13 years ago, August 1, 2012

So. I know it’s Wednesday, but in light of my going AWOL last Friday I’m releasing two playlists this week. The first is very near and dear to my heart: freaking cover songs. I can’t get enough of cover songs, they are my musical weakness. This week more than ever, I want you commenting if your favorite is missing.

About the list: Of course, there are multiple covers of the same song. There’s like six “Hallelujahs” up in there (okay — there are three, and the one by Brandi Carlile is really worth a listen). There are also a few songs that are so heavily attributed to the person who covered them that it seems impossible that the song belonged to anyone else (“Nothing Compares 2 U” and every freaking Janis Joplin song come to mind. I assure you they are covers.) Finally, there’s a ton of bird and the bee because… obviously. The full list is below, but also — there are a few songs I absolutely adore that Spotify would not allow me to have, and so six of them are listed below as bonus listening material. Here is the playlist.

The playlist, in its entirety.

Kings Off Cash – A Little Less Conversation
The Black Keys – Dearest
She & Him – Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
Cat Power – Sea of Love
Elton John – Signed Sealed Delivered
Nick Cave – She’s Not There
Pete Yorn – Ever Fallen In Love
Green Day – Tired Of Waiting For You
Richard Cheese – Creep
They Might Be Giants – Istanbul
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Jose Gonzalez – Heartbeats
The English Beat – The Tears Of A Clown
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Hound Dog – BBC Sessions
Superbus – Boys Don’t Cry
T.V. Carpio – I Want To Hold Your Hand
Megan Nicole – The Cave (acoustic cover version originally by Mumford & Sons)
Seu Jorge – Rebel Rebel
Tyler Ward – Teenage Dream (Katy Perry Acoustic Cover)
the bird and the bee – Rich Girl
Boyce Avenue – Disturbia
Red Hot Chilli Pipers – Low Rider
Gold Lake – Here Comes the Sun
the bird and the bee – I’m Into Something Good
Dinosaur Jr. – Just Like Heaven
Korn – Word Up!
Ben Folds – In Between Days
Ben – Seven Nation Army
The Shins – We Will Become Silhouettes – Performed By The Shins
Tyler Ward – E.T. (Katy Perry Acoustic Cover)
Ike & Tina Turner – Get Back
the bird and the bee – Heard It On The Radio
the bird and the bee – Private Eyes
the bird and the bee – She’s Gone
Nancy Sinatra – Day Tripper
Cat Power – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Dynamite Hack – Boyz-N-The Hood
the bird and the bee – Sara Smile
Urge Overkill – Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon
The Smashing Pumpkins – Landslide
Nouvelle Vague – Dancing With Myself
Taken By Trees – My Boys
Charles Bradley (feat. Menahan Street Band) – Stay Away
Meaghan Smith – Here Comes Your Man
Cassettes Won’t Listen – Need You Tonight
Ani Difranco – Wishin’ and Hopin’
Blind Melon – Three Is A Magic Number
Stevie Wonder – We Can Work It Out
Florence + The Machine – Addicted To Love
Muse – Feeling Good
Reel Big Fish – Take On Me – Best Of
Fountains Of Wayne – …Baby One More Time
Maria Doyle Kennedy – How You Remind Me
Birdy – Skinny Love
The Kooks – Victoria
Jazzystics – Walking On Sunshine
The Kooks – Pumped Up Kicks (BBC Live Version)
Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love
Letters To Cleo – I Want You To Want Me
Violent Femmes – Crazy
Corinne Bailey Rae – I Wanna Be Your Lover
311 – Love Song
Cee Lo Green – No One’s Gonna Love You
Alien Ant Farm – Smooth Criminal
Marilyn Manson – I Put A Spell On You
the bird and the bee – Maneater
Keane – With Or Without You – Jo Whiley Show – BBC Session 24/11/2004
Bat For Lashes – I’m On Fire
Adele – Make You Feel My Love
Gary Jules – Mad World
Chromeo – I Can’t Tell You Why – Exclusive
Sia – Under The Milky Way
James Vincent McMorrow – Higher Love
the bird and the bee – I Can’t Go For That
Robert Palmer – I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On
Joss Stone – Fell In Love With A Boy
Johnny Cash – Hurt
Mark Ronson – Valerie featuring Amy Winehouse – Version Revisited
Lauryn Hill – Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You
Junior Parker – Taxman
Hercules – Shelter
Amy Winehouse – Cupid
Jay Smith – I Want It That Way
Anya Marina – Whatever You Like – Single Version
Creedence Clearwater Revival – I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Single Version
Social Distortion – Ring Of Fire
Sheryl Crow – Sweet Child O’ Mine – Rick Rubin New Mix
Señor Coconut & His Orchestra – Kiss
Hindu Love Gods – Raspberry Beret
The Magnets – Dog Days Are Over
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 – Norwegian Wood
Anouk – Losing My Religion (Live At Oosterpoort)
Regina Spektor – Real Love
The Slits – I Heard It Through The Grapevine
She & Him – You Really Got a Hold on Me
Ben Lee – Float On
Sixpence None The Richer – Don’t Dream It’s Over – Top Ten Edit
Goldfinger – 99 Red Balloons
Michael Jackson – Come Together
Earth, Wind & Fire – Got To Get You Into My Life
Sister Hazel – Just What I Needed
Seal – Stand By Me
Kina Grannis – With Or Without You (feat. Kina Grannis)
The Beautiful South – Don’t Fear The Reaper
Petra Haden – Don’t Stop Believin’
Gillian Welch – I’ll Fly Away
Alanis Morissette – King Of Pain – Live/Unplugged Version
Spinners – Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me, Girl
Halestorm – Bad Romance
Ryan Adams – Wonderwall
Save Ferris – Come On Eileen
Rufus Wainwright – Hallelujah
Ben Folds – Bitches Ain’t Shit
Iron And Wine – Such Great Heights
MxPx – (I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles
Shiny Toy Guns – Major Tom
Butch Walker – You Belong With Me
Seal – Fly Like An Eagle
Jenny Owen Youngs – Hot In Herre
The Cramps – Fever
Constantines – Islands In The Stream
Passion Pit – Dreams
David Lee Roth – Just A Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody
the bird and the bee – Kiss On My List
Nirvana – The Man Who Sold The World
Far – Pony
Midtown – Your Love
Snow Patrol – Crazy In Love
Scissor Sisters – Comfortably Numb
Janis Joplin – Piece Of My Heart
Orgy – Blue Monday
Obadiah Parker – Hey Ya
Iron Horse – Wherever I May Roam
Janis Joplin – Me And Bobby McGee
Communards with Sarah Jane Morris – Don’t Leave Me This Way
Chris Cornell – Billie Jean
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Rebellion (Lies)
Jem – Maybe I’m Amazed
The Sundays – Wild Horses
Antony And The Johnsons – Crazy In Love
Fugees – Killing Me Softly With His Song
Cat Power – Moonshiner
Nada Surf – If You Leave
Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – Album Version (Explicit )
Placebo – Running Up That Hill
A Perfect Circle – What’s Going On
Ike & Tina Turner – Proud Mary
The Kaiser Chiefs – I Heard It Through The Grapevine (War Child)
My Morning Jacket – Rocket Man
Willie Nelson – The Scientist
Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo‘ole – Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World
Fiona Apple – Across The Universe
Cake – I Will Survive
Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
Michael Marc – All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan / Jimi Hendrix – Instrumental)
Dave Clarke – Cars (remix)
Mr Little Jeans – The Suburbs
Lowry – Africa
Polyphonic Spree – Lithium
The Delgados – Mr Blue Sky
My Morning Jacket – West End Girls
The Flying Lizards – Money
Chaka Khan – I Feel For You
Patti Smith – Gloria – Digitally Remastered 1996
Brandi Carlile – Hallelujah – Live at Benaroya Hall with The Seattle Symphony
Easy Star All-Stars – Paranoid Android
Patti Smith – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Blinded By The Light