Are you down with other people’s property? Well, if you’re a touring musician you should be.
Some artists despise covers and play exclusively original material, but I believe this is a mistake and that strategically placed cover songs should be in every artist’s repertoire.
Cover songs break down into a number of different categories and each one has a unique impact on the audience.
Here are a few:
– Pure Pop
This cover can be served up as a joke or a unique interpretation of a song that has clearly made a dent in the pop culture universe.
Example: UK singer/songwriter Ellie Goulding covering Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World)”
– Guilt By Association
This approach leverages a contemporary song from a popular (relative term) ‘indie’ artist. It can help legitimize a new act by associating them with someone who is already respected or it can provide street cred for an artist who wants to remain relevant with their base as they gain more mainstream success.
Example: Matt Duke and TDFI cover Bright Eyes “Lover I don’t Have To Love”
– The Mash Up Medley
This is when an artist seamlessly jams from one of their originals into a cover (or two) and then back. Attaching something familiar to an original is a great way to promote your music and it shows that you don’t take yourself too seriously.
Example: John Mayer playing 1983 jams into “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Let’s Hear It For The Boy”
– The Classic
This is an epic tune that everyone knows. It can instantly bring the crowd together and usually results in a sing-a-long.
Example: Ben Folds covering Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”
– Vital Vinyl
This is a song that did not have significant commercial appeal, but was originally recorded by a legendary act. It shows that an artist has done their homework and truly studied the greats.
Example: Jack White covering The Beatles’ “Mother Nature’s Son”
– The Musical Costume
This is when an artist or band covers a complete album from start to finish.
Example: Phish covered The Beatles’ White Album on Halloween in 1994. Jump to the 3 min mark and see why Rolling Stone named Trey one of the best guitar players on the planet.
– Adoption
This is when an artist completely remakes a song and plays it live on a regular basis.
Example: Dave Matthews Band playing Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower”
– Genre Bending
This is when an artist covers something from a genre other than the one they are typically associated with.
Example: Bruno Mars covers “Rolling on the River,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Eye of the Tiger” and more.
As you can see, the right cover can say a lot about an artist and it provides a unique point of reference for the audience. This is especially important for new fans who are looking for something familiar that they can relate to.
Word of mouth has always been important for musicians, but now fans have the ability to share their experience with an unlimited audience online. Like Reba said, let’s give them something to talk about. The right cover song can do just that.
Do you side with the purists who think artists should stick with originals?
What other cover song categories did I miss?
I’ll leave you with a medley from Howie Day, who mastered the art of using covers to win over fans night after night on the college/club circuit.
Great post! For original acts, the cover song is a great addition to their performances.
What are your thoughts on artist collaboration? I'm thinking of something like CMT's “Crossover”, where two artists essentially create duets out of their originals. I've recently watched the Zach Brown Band/Jimmy Buffet episode 3 times, and it's great to hear the little extras that each artist brings to the songs.
Thanks, Matt.
The 'Crossover' format is another great way to cross pollinate one fan base with another. It's also a unique opportunity to bring new life to older tunes. I'd like to see more up and coming artists try this.