The CoverUp

A complete transformation of a song leads to, arguably, the complete transformation of a national identity. Overstating it? Not for the best music movie ever! Try A Little Tenderness, originally by the Ray Noble Orchestra, covered by Otis Redding and by The Commitments. Outro music is Mustang Sally, also by The Commitments. Yes, we really like The Commitments.

Beautiful voices, old white people, after-school TV reruns, and just how much difference the right room makes. Dream a Little Dream of Me, originally by Ozzie Nelson and his orchestra, covered by Doris Day, and by The Mamas and The Papas. Outro music is If I Had A Hammer by Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Magic guitar playing can't make up for really icky lyrics, but it sure can distract you -- unless you double down. Hey Joe, by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, covered by Willy DeVille and by The Offspring. Outro music is Pleasant Valley Sunday by The Monkees.

We are completely serious about this. A song that turned out to be way bigger than anyone ever expected, a cynical exercise with market power, and CGI-based musical redemption. Bad Day, originally by Daniel Powter, covered by Kidz Bop (really), and by Alvin and the Chipmunks. Outro music is Witch Doctor by David Seville.

One of the greatest songs ever recorded, one of the biggest mistakes a band ever made, the actual Greatest of All Time. Oh, and the soundtrack from Final Fantasy XV, of course. Stand By Me, originally by Ben E. King, covered by Muhammad Ali and by Florence + The Machine. Outro music is Under The Boardwalk by The Drifters.

The literal beginnings of punk rock and a survey course in the wonderful ways the right band can shape a song. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, originally by The Ramones, covered by Husker Du and by Shonen Knife. Outro music is the theme song from Hello Kitty -- you'd better believe it.

You're probably sitting there right now wondering "What would it sound like if Echo and the Bunnymen made an outlaw country album?". This week, we do _even_better_ than that. Love Vigilantes, originally by New Order, covered by Poi Dog Pondering and by Iron and Wine. Requested by podcast listener Ken -- Thanks Ken! Outro music is Just Like Heaven by The Cure.

We hit pretty much every emotional reaction - and possibly every stage of grief - this week. Message In A Bottle, originally by The Police, covered by Excel, by John Mayer, and by 30 Seconds to Mars. Outro music is Late At Night by Buffalo Tom, and if you don't get the connection, I'm sorry you missed out.

Wow, this one is a wild story with a brilliant song and a genuinely shocking cover. Zombie, originally by The Cranberries, covered by Bad Wolves. Outro music is Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2 -- which I hope I didn't have to explain.

The best of 80s New Wave meets the grungiest of 90s Grunge. Another one from the annals of unexpected covers. Hungry Like The Wolf, originally by Duran Duran, covered by Hole. Outro music is Celebrity Skin by Hole.

This week is a giant of a song, but a sweet and gentle giant, and some unexpected covers. Also, I don't know how it's taken this long, but we finally talk about one of the most important producers ever. Drive, originally by The Cars, covered by Ian McShane (really), and by Aimee Mann. Outro music is Voices Carry by 'Til Tuesday (so, also Aimee Mann if you're keeping score)

The foundations of blues, one of the best guitar players ever, the archetype of Chicago's sound... oh yeah, and Led Zeppelin's most impressive song. When the Levee Breaks, originally by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie, covered by Led Zeppelin and by Magic Slim and James Cotton. Outro music is Sweet Home Chicago by Buddy Guy and Junior Wells.

A triumphant comeback, the birth of Auto Tune as a deliberate choice, and a singer with remarkable gifts doing his thing. We talk about Believe, originally by Cher, covered by Adam Lambert. Outro music is Somebody To Love by George Michael and Queen.

A monster of a song, a singing competition, and a judge from a signing competition all walk into a pub. Everybody sings Come On Eileen, originally by Dexy's Midnight Runners, covered by Street Corner Symphony and by Sugarland with Sara Bareilles. Outro song is Just Walkin' in the Rain, by Johnnie Ray.

We dive into one of the most titanic pop songs of the 90s and a jazz reinvention that fully embraces the roots that inspired the original. MMMBop by Hanson, covered by Post Modern Jukebox. Outro music is also MMMBop by Hanson, but a live acoustic version from 2016 where they're all grown up and still killing it.

We start out strong with an absolutely classic pop song and a soulful cover. But then the covers stop being polite and start getting real. This week is Borderline by Madonna, covered by Jody Watley and by The Flaming Lips, featuring Star Death and White Dwarf -- obviously. Outro song is The Second Time Around, by Shalamar -- which was Jody Watley's old band.

All Canada all the time -- even Rowdy Roddy Piper gets involved in an episode where basically everything is a surprise. We look at Crabbuckit by K-OS, covered by the Good Lovelies and by the Doozies. Outro Music is The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrews Sisters.

Folk genius, passive aggressive grossness, electronic steel drums, and spandex pants. How could we be talking about anything other than Wild World, originally by Cat Stevens, covered by Maxi Priest and by Mr. Big. Outro Music is To Be With You, also by Mr. Big.

Emo power rock, solo ukulele, and some fusion magic. We see a huge range of musical style's when we look at Creep, originally by Radiohead, covered by Ingrid Michaelson and by Macy Grey. Outro music is It Never Rains In Southern California by Albert Hammond -- and he's almost right about that.

The history of country music (and a lot of American music overall), the moment Alt-Country was born, a beautiful tribute to American roots, and Garth Brooks, popping up like a jack in the box. We talk about No Depression originally by The Carter Family, covered by Uncle Tupelo and by Sheryl Crow. Outro music is Graveyard Shift, also by Uncle Tupelo.

Legit guitar rock, variety shows, punk royalty makeovers, and a tiptoe through the tulips. We look at I Love Rock And Roll, originally by The Arrows, covered by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and by Tiny Tim. Yes, really. Outro music is Tiptoe Through the Tulips with Me by Tiny Tim

We do something new this week. We dive into Stevie Wonder's classic Isn't She Lovely, covered by Mary Spender. Mary herself joins us to talk about the song, the kind of effort that goes into a cover like this, the wisdom of whistling on stage, and so much more. Outro music is Mary's cover of John Mayer's New Light. The best way to find more of Mary's music (and you should because it's excellent) i...

A lovely Rock Steady song becomes punky-Reggae? Absolutely. Now all it needs is some German Rap-Reggae. Wait, what? The Tide Is High by The Paragons, covered by Blondie and by Seeed.

This is a trip deep into the Neil Diamond vault, a debate about what counts as the A-side of a single, and a tale of musical high school trauma. Red Red Wine, by Neil Diamond, covered by UB40. Outro music is Cracklin' Rose by Neil Diamond

Get ready to be rotoscoped. We look at the 80s mega-hit Take On Me, with the original and a surprising unplugged version by A-Ha and additional covers by Lake Street Dive and Weezer -- because apparently Weezer is covering everything now. Outro music is The Look by Roxette.