The CoverUp

A debut song when the artist was far to young to be so deep, and a pair of covers that recontextualize to opposite extremes. Ol' 55, originally by Tom Waits, covered by Richie Havens, and by Shelby Lynne and Alison Moorer. Outro music is Our Town by Iris DeMent.

We close out 2021 with a song that defined the sound for its genre, and gets taken to a polar opposite place. These Boots are Made for Walkin', originally by Nancy Sinatra, covered by KMFDM. Outro music is I Don't Mind The Thorns (If You're the Rose), by Lee Greenwood.

A brilliant song from a band that is both great, yet under rated, and a cover from so far out of left field that it couldn't work, but does. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, originally by AC/DC, covered by Lesley Gore. Outro music is You Don't Own Me, also by Lesley Gore. She recorded that one at just 17 years old. Let that sink it a bit.

Traditional music gets a thoughtful guitar rock treatment. And then the metalheads show up. Whiskey in the Jar, by The Dubliners, covered by Thin Lizzy, and by Metallica. Outro music is Whiskey Girl, by Gillian Welch.

A hit that was never supposed to chart, and a cover that defies expectations by playing to type. In Bloom, originally by Nirvana, covered by Sturgill Simpson. Outro music is I Against I by Bad Brains.

Pop music royalty's coronation day and a song that launched more careers than you think. ...Baby One More Time, originally by Britney Spears, covered by Travis. Outro music is It's My Life, by Bon Jovi -- co-written by (you guessed it) Max Martin.

A capstone on a brilliant body of work, an amazing recontextualization for an audience that badly needed it, and an artist who loved the song too much. Redemption Song, originally by Bob Marley and the Wailers, covered by Wycelf Jean, and by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros. Outro music is Rock the Casbah by The Clash.

A wild ride through a great song's creepy and disappointing roots, through a reinvention of traditional music. Callin' Baton Rouge, originally by The Oak Ridge Boys, covered by New Grass Revival and by Garth Brooks. Outro music is Blue Moon of Kentucky by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys.

The breakthrough song from a musically and socially vital band, and a cover with some surprising musical choices. Karma Chameleon, originally by Culture Club, covered by Lou Bega. Outro music is The Brandenburg Concerto, by Confucius, which was the working band name for The Hideaways at the time. It'll all make sense, don't worry.

There's definitely some magic at work with a complete takeover of what was actually a really solid original song. Black Magic Woman, originally by Fleetwood Mac, covered by Santana. Outro music is I Feel Lucky by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

We go big for episode 200! Songs so nice they named them twice. Monday Monday, by The Mamas and the Papas, covered by Petula Clark, Mony Mony, by Tommy James and the Shondells, covered by Billy Idol, and Rebel Rebel, by David Bowie, covered by Shaun Cassidy. Outro music is Iko Iko by The Dixie Cups.

Doo-wop in it's purest form delivers a delightfully silly song about serious business. And then Saturday Night Live shows up and runs with it. Rubber Biscuit, originally by The Chips, covered by The Blues Brothers. Outro music is The Theme from Rawhide, also by The Blues Brothers.

The final hit from one of the greatest singer-songwriter voices who had a unique perspective on the stories he told, and a cover that stands up surprisingly well. Working at the Car Wash Blues, originally by Jim Croce, covered The Great Gonzo. Outro music is The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota, by Weird Al Yankovic. As a former Minnesota resident, Rich can confirm it's a doozie.

The rough and tumble Motown music scene producing greatness, living the French dream, and ska. It's The Same Old Song, originally by The Four Tops, covered by Claude François, and by The Pietasters. Outro music is Alexandrie, Alexandra, also by Claude François.

A local band writes a song that punches way above their weight, and then the right band records it as the song deserved -- but reluctantly. Superman, originally by The Clique, covered by REM. Outro music is She'd Rather be With Me, by The Turtes.

The birth of the power ballad, disdain for the power ballad, and a proper sendup of the power ballad, which actually outclasses it in some important ways. Keep on Loving You, originally by REO Speedwagon, covered by The Donnas, and by Tenacious D. Outro music is Rock and Roll Creation, by Spinal Tap.

A song so over-the-top it can't help but always be a crowd pleaser, and the most eclectic possible cover. Eye of the Tiger, originally by Survivor, covered by Walk off the Earth. Outro music is Yesterday, by Gheorghe Zamfir, and we swear it makes sense that it's there.

We remember one of Nashville's most delightful but under appreciated singer songwriters, and hear her work interpreted through one of its greatest vocalists. Nanci Griffith's Love at the Five and Dime, covered by Kathy Mattea. Outro music is John Prine's Speed of the Sound of Loneliness, performed by Nanci Griffith and John Prine.

The birth of recorded blues straight through its evolution to mayhem-based guitar rock. Baby Please Don't Go, originally by Big Joe William, covered by Muddy Waters, and by AC/DC. Outro music is Wild Cow Blues, also by Big Joe Williams, because how could we not pick that.

A contentious episode where style and talent make for very different opinions about a great (nor not so great) song. The Book of Love, originally by The Magnetic Fields, covered by Peter Gabriel, and by Gavin James. Outro music is In Spite of Ourselves, by John Prine, featuring iris DeMent.

We look at one of the greatest love songs ever written, one that has been covered countless times. We take on versions by three giants of their times. Something, originally by the Beatles, covered by Frank Sinatra, and by Billie Eilish. Outro music is I'm Every Woman, by Chaka Khan, as a continuing tribute to Pattie Boyd. Chaka's looking at you, George.

Singer songwriter greatness from the ultimate journeyman rocker to a band that completely closes the Americana circle, to a thoughtful tribute from a longtime friend. Wildflowers, originally by Tom Petty, covered by The Wailin' Jennys, and by Lucinda Williams. Outro music is If I Had A Boat by Lyle Lovett.

A song that everyone knows, by a band that you'd never know for this song, and the cover everyone knows if they know the actual song, even if they don't know the band, because the version everyone knows isn't even the real song. Wait, what? Love Is All Around, originally by The Troggs, covered by Wet Wet Wet. Outro music is the oddly canonical version, Christmas is All Around, by Bill Nighy.

One of the biggest songs - and biggest videos - of the 80s, a look back at one of the worst concert tragedies ever, and a band that completely flips the script and pulls it all together. Addicted to Love, originally by Robert Palmer, covered by Eagles of Death Metal, and by Florence and the Machine. Outro music is I Love You All The Time, also by Eagles of Death Metal, from their return to Paris a...

A brilliant song that plays with the balance of musical and story expectations, a version from the aether, and the first meeting of the CoverUp Book Club. Chandelier, originally by Sia, covered by Josh Pyke, and by Damien Rice. Outro music is Beds are Burning by Midnight Oil.