The CoverUp

An enduring song that stands out because of the contribution of an unlikely collaborator, and a cover so steeped in genius it'd be hard to imagine the possibility if you didn't hear it with your own ears. Don't Come Around Here No More, originally by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, covered by Rhiannon Giddens, featuring Silk Road Ensemble and Benmont Tensch.  Outro music is Texas Hold 'Em, by Bey...

The song that launched an enduring genre of music with a combination of brilliance and success in spite of itself, and a cover that succeeds in surprising ways, but has an even more surprising legacy.  Outro music is Girl You Know It's True by Milli Vanilli. 

A perfect representation of the band that started the revolution, but is mostly remembered by there reflection in the revolutionaries who followed, and the master of taking a whole lot of nothing and turning it into something amazing. Radioactivity, originally by Kraftwerk, covered by Fatboy Slim. Outro music is Linus and Lucy by the Vince Gauraldi Trio. 

A song that does manage to really hit the mood even without a ukulele, that missing ukulele, and an artist who does it the hard way but just right. Another Love, originally by Tom Odell, covered by Blanks, and by Josiah and the Bonnevilles.  Outro music is Heart on Fire, also by Blanks, and apparently from that thing we discuss in the show. 

A comeback song that does its job perfectly in spite of an incredible disguise, one of the greatest teams in modern music, and an utterly savvy outside perspective. I'm Still Standing, originally by Elton John, covered by Gold Fang.  Outro music is I Guess That's why They Call It The Blues, also by Elton John. 

A genre-specific tragedy, strife in Eastern Europe, and the golden age of musical charity. Last Kiss, originally by Wayne Cochran, covered by Pearl Jam.  Outro music is Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai. 

A sleeper of a song that doesn't seem to follow the rules for what a song needs to be, but is an indispensable anchor for a brilliant album, and a cover with a stunning pedigree. Tea for the Tillerman, originally by Cat Stevens, covered by Darren Coggan.  Outro music is Poems, Prayers, and Promises by John Denver. 

A rich literary tradition plus an incredible groove builds a great foundation, and goes in unexpected directions from there — including sea shanties? Proud Mary, originally by Creedence Clearwater Revival, covered by Ike and Tina Turner, and by The Longest Johns.  Outro music is Santiana, also by The Longest Johns. 

A 90s country mega-hit that doubles down on charming silliness, has no illusions about what it's trying to be, and does it perfectly, and a cover that probably shouldn't work, but the right band pulls it off wonderfully. Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident), originally by John Michael Montgomery, covered by Backwoods.  Outro music is My Walking Shoes, also by Backwoods. 

The power of glam, the birth of hair metal, and the bane of autocorrect. Cum On Feel The Noize, originally by Slade, covered by Quiet Riot.  Outro music continues our autocorrect hostility with Slade's Mama Weer All Crazee Now. 

The most iconic song from the prince of heavy dance music, covered by a band that lives to make it weird — and a huge musical surprise. Head Like A Hole, originally by Nine Inch Nails, covered by Devo.  Outro music is I Love Rock And Roll by Tiny Tim. If you want to know what's up with that, you'll have to go back and listen to episode 65.

An archetypical song from an utterly unmistakable band, and a cover with tons of pedigree and set in a context nobody can dislike. People Are Strange, originally by The Doors, covered by Echo and the Bunnymen.  Outro music is Lost in the Shadows by Lou Gramm. 

Week two of Beyonce-MayOne of the biggest songs in the history of country music completely reinvented by one of the biggest artists in the world. Jolene, originally by Dolly Parton, covered by Beyoncé.  Outro music is Sorry, also by Behoncé.

Welcome to the first week of Beyonce-May! We look at a song that's simple and pretty, with deeper roots that aren't exactly hidden, but also aren't exactly front and center, and a cover that knows its history and knows where it's going. Blackbird, originally by The Beatles, covered by Beyoncé (named Blackbiird in Beyoncé's cover). Outro music is Daddy Lessons, also by Beyoncé featuring The Chicks....

A huge song that captures a bit of the magic and musical range of the mid-90s, and still holds up today. Mr. Jones, originally by Counting Crows, covered by The Album Cover.  Outro music is Alan's Morissette's Hand In My Pocket, also by The Album Cover. 

One of the most lovable and comfy songs ever recorded, by a songwriter who kinda lives there, and a cover from a group that really knows their stuff. If I Had A Boat, originally by Lyle Lovett, covered by Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls.  Outro music is If I Were The Woman You Wanted by Nanci Griffith. 

A big shift for a talented but comfortably conventional band, and a cover by a group that conquered Europe. Beggin', originally by The Four Seasons, covered by Maneskin.  Outro music is Zitti E Buoni, also by Maneskin, and the song they used to win Eurovision. 

There are so many sides to this song, from the brilliant writing, to the cultural obsession with the secrets behind it, and a huge cast of eligible narcissists ready to play their part. You're So Vain, originally by Carly Simon, covered by Liza Minnelli, Faster Pussycat, and John Barrowman. Yes, we needed this many versions of it to get to the bottom of things.  Outro music is 1987 by Steel Panthe...

One of the biggest duets ever recorded by a pair of artists that were a remarkable team-up, and a cover that's entirely unexpected, but really did its homework to find the spirit of the song.  Outro music is Grease by Frankie Valli, which was written by the Bee Gees, which totally fits if you know what's up. 

A controversial song which is still beyond brilliant and with durable and positive musical impact, and a cover that does a complete musical relocation of the song without losing the magic. Graceland, originally by Paul Simon, covered by Willie Nelson.  Outro music is In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel, but it's the bit at the end where we get to hear the stunning Wolof singing by Youssou N'Dour — and w...

A song that redefined a career and charted a new course for an entire generation, a cover that looks back on that new course and smiles, and a version that fit the film because that's the job it had to do. You Don't Own Me, originally by Lesley Gore, covered by Joan Jett, and by The Blow Monkeys.  Outro music is Bad Reputation, also by Joan Jett. 

One of the most impactful songs of the 80s by a band impossibly deep with talent, and a cover that, honestly, shouldn't have worked but succeeded brilliantly thanks to the right artist with the right plan. Here Comes The Rain Again, originally by Eurythmics, covered by Macy Gray.  Outro music is Macy Gray's cover of Colby Caillat's Bubbly — which apparently features Idris Elba, but we don't think...

The biggest song by the Godfather of American Metal, a cover that captures the essence of a regional sound, and the shame of a Beach Boy. Mother, originally by Danzig, covered by The Delorean Sisters.  Outro music is She Bop, by Cindy Lauper. 

A song that may not have stood the test of time, but definitely lives rent free in your head — and a band that may well do the same. Abracadabra, originally by The Steve Miller Band, covered by Sugar Ray. Outro music is My Own Worst Enemy by Lit.

A huge song from a band that should have taken over the world, an early cover from a band that kinda did, and a family band that can hold their own with both of them. I'm a Man, originally by Spencer Davis Group, covered by Chicago Transit Authority, and by Los Lonely Boys. Outro music is 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago, where they really let the horns go wild.