The CoverUp

Head trips, industrial mashups, and crypto-rhinestone cowboys? This week we look at Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2, originally by Pink Floyd, covered by Korn. Outro music is Streets of Bakersfield, by Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens, and I swear we had a reason to put it there.

The spirit of Kerri Strug, Welsh meat loaf, and the Reagan administration's deep-state. Clearly, we're talking about Have You Ever Seen The Rain, originally by Creedence Clearwater Revival, covered by Bonnie Tyler, and by The Spin Doctors. Outro music is Hot Patootie/Bless My Soul by Meat Loaf from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Life is tough for your friendly neighborhood rock star, and we hear all about it in the classic Turn The Page. Originally by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, covered by Waylon Jennings and by Metallica. Outro music is Poor Poor Pitiful Me by Warren Zevon.

We do something different for Father's Day. This week, we look at 5 songs where the artist is covering a song originally recorded by their father. It's a lot of songs this week. Natalie Cole covers Unforgettable, Hank Williams Jr and III cover Move It On Over, Roseanne Cash covers I Still Miss Someone, Wilson Phillips cover God Only Knows, and Lily Winwood covers Higher Love. Outro music is Papa D...

Some of the best of 80s New Wave by a band that didn't want to embrace the implications of their sound, and a cover that teaches about focus and the wages of distraction. It's My Life, originally by Talk Talk, covered by No Doubt. Outro music is Ascension Day, also by Talk Talk, from their couldn't-be-more-different album Laughing Stock.

Overly humble beginnings of a chaotically brilliant band, and an express flight from Rockford to Bakersfield. I Want You to Want Me, originally by Cheap Trick, covered by Dwight Yoakam. Outro music is also I Want You to Want Me by Cheap Trick, but it's the version you expected to hear.

A gorgeous song by one of the great women of 80s rock, and a singer-songwriter reinvention by the singer-songwriters who wrote it. We Belong, originally by Pat Benatar, covered by Lowen and Navarro. Outro music is Cry by Lowen and Navarro.

The sweetest song ever -- possibly too sweet -- sung by the worlds most beloved amphibian and covered by the ultimate family band. Rainbow Connection, originally by Kermit the Frog, covered by The Carpenters. Outro music is It's Not Easy Being Green by Ray Charles.

The greatest song ever recorded, immediately overshadowed by the song that inspired it, kinda? And musical greats who are outclassed but still good enough that it doesn't matter. I Heard It Through The Grapevine, originally by Gladys Knight and the Pips, covered by Marvin Gaye, and by Amy Winehouse with Paul Weller. Outro music is In the Modern World by The Jam.

The undeniable roots of rock and roll, and band that couldn't help but force rock to evolve, and bongo drums. Jailhouse Rock, originally by Elvis Presley, covered by Jeff Beck Group and by John Mellencamp. Outro music is Yakety Yak by The Coasters.

An incredibly compelling song by the greatest living punk, and a cover so full of depth, musical richness, and complexity that the band can hardly be called punk, but always is. The Passenger, originally by Iggy Pop, covered by Siouxsie and The Banshees. Outro music is Trust In Me by Sterling Holloway, as the voice of Kaa.

An enormously successful song with the rare combination of being entirely danceable and wonderfully listenable -- and a cover that shows surprising depth to an apparently thin story. We Found Love, originally by Rihanna with Calvin Harris, covered by Jessie J. Outro music is Cherry Cherry, by Neil Diamond.

We promise, this is more interesting than you might think. One of the biggest country songs and debut singles ever, covering a serviceable but uninspiring original, and the only change was adding mullets -- ALL the mullets. As far as the eye can see. Achy Breaky Heart, originally by The Marcy Brothers, covered by Billy Ray Cyrus. Outro music is Achy Breaky Heart by Alvin and the Chipmunks, with Bi...

The best song nobody ever knew, except the one guy who had to know it, so he made it huge and unforgettable. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding, originally by Brinsley Schwarz, covered by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Outro music is Cruel To Be Kind, by Nick Lowe.

Classic comedy, brass mayhem, and cartoon minarets. What more could you ask for in a song? Istanbul (Not Constantinople), originally by The Four Lads, covered by They Might Be Giants. Outro music is The Teddy Bears' Picnic, sung by Bing Crosby.

The song with the greatest amount of controversy ever around its cover-song-status, guitar rock greatness, blues/jazz greatness, and stopping in at the honky-tonk in between. Layla, originally by Derek and the Dominos, covered by Charlie Daniels, and by Eric Clapton (yes, we know). Outro music is Alive by Pearl Jam (unplugged).

An artist's most beloved work, that he kinda' hates because of a terrible business deal made at a desperate time, radar-evading maneuvers, and a bouncy castle full of trumpets. This week is Brown Eyed Girl, originally by Van Morrison, covered by Jimmy Buffett, and by Reel Big Fish. Outro music is Talk Dirty To Me, by Poison.

A Christmas Song? In March? Absolutely, if it's this Christmas song. By far the UK's most successful, and arguably the most relatable, despite the absence of sleigh bells and reindeer. Fairytale of New York, originally by The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl, covered by KT Tunstall with Ed Harcourt, and by Jon Bon Jovi. Outro music is Chemical Rush, by Brian McFadden. It's appropriate to the episode, so...

A hidden gem of a song with all the feel and style of Motown, and a cover that ended a musical career in the best possible way. Break-a-way, originally by Irma Thomas, covered by Tracey Ullman. Outro music is (The Best Part of) Breakin' Up, by The Ronettes.

Quick, which version of the song is thoughtfully arranged with respect to its roots and current musical context: folk or disco version? Did you say both? If You Could Read My Mind, originally by Gordon Lightfoot, covered by Viola Wills. Outro music is Save A Prayer by Duran Duran.

One of the greatest pop songs of the 80s, and a musician who was out to redefine modern music. These are probably the two smartest songs we've had in the same episode. Time After Time, originally by Cyndi Lauper, covered by Miles Davis. Outro music is Human Nature by Michael Jackson.

The idea that the original song wasn't released as a single is a crime. It's brilliant work by an impossibly talented musician, overtaken by a singer who exists to overtake brilliant songs. You Are So Beautiful, originally by Billy Preston, covered by Joe Cocker. Outro music is In Your Eyes, by Peter Gabriel.

One of the biggest songs by the longest running bands ever. It was a moment of transformation in a band that worked harder at keeping their music fresh than anyone gives them credit for. And a cover version by a band that has always known exactly what they were about. Sharp Dressed Man, originally by ZZ Top, covered by Ministry. Outro music is I Love L.A., by Randy Newman.

A rare - or maybe not so rare -- self-diss-track rich in text and subtext, covered brilliantly on instruments that shouldn't be covering it. While My Guitar Gently Weeps, originally by The Beatles, covered by Jake Shimabukuro, and by Regina Spektor. Outro music is Bohemian Rhapsody, also by Jake Shimabukuro.

A full set of listener requests leads us to a musical titan at his best, and two covers that run as fast as possible in opposite directions. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, originally by Elton John, covered by Sara Bareilles, and by Queens of the Stone Age. Outro music is Sorry Not Sorry by Demi Lovato.