Fans of The Appetizer are familiar with my love for cover songs. I’m so into covers that really showcase not just the beauty of the original track, but also highlight the creativity of the artist doing the cover. There’s a big difference between a cover song and a tribute song that some people miss. A tribute song is when an artist takes another artist’s song, usually a popular song, and does a rendition of the track in the same style. The only real difference between the original and the tribute song is that the tribute has a difference vocal in it. The style is the same, the tempo is the same, and the arrangement is the same (for the most part).
A cover song should offer something different. It should celebrate not only the song, but the artist doing the cover. At least that’s what a great cover song is to me. You probably have your favorite cover tracks. My favorites are songs where the cover can stand on its own. These are songs that reinterpret the original and give it new life, new flavor, and a new sound.
This is the type of cover I’m looking for each year when I put together The Appetizer cover series (usually 2-4 hours total). I love having a punk rock version of an 80s rock tune, or a bluegrass take on a 70s rock classic, or a rockabilly version of a 90s pop song. I’ve featured these examples and a slew more. Taking a song out of its original context and reinterpreting it in a new way is such a celebration of music.
There will be another cover series this summer and in it you’ll hear some new cover songs I haven’t featured on the show yet, as well as some great classics that are fan favorites. You’ll also hear some brilliant covers from The Civil Wars, the folk duo who is sweeping the nation. Recently they’ve hit it big on VH1′s Top 20 video voting, as well as an acclaimed nationwide tour and lots of press. John Paul and Joy are great people. On their debut album Barton Hollow, they cover 2 classic tracks, Dance Me To The End Of Love and I Want You Back (the Jackson 5 hit). Dance Me… is a good cover, but I Want You Back takes cover songs to a new place. You’ll see why when you hear the podcast (they’ve also covered Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean and Disarm from The Smashing Pumpkins).
Check out the Morsels-Civil Wars from our Sous-Chef Meagan Hernandez for more insights into The Civil Wars and brilliant covers.
[...] hear portions of the interview we had with Joy at this link-http://blog.appetizerradio.com/2011/04/the-art-of-the-cover. She talks about The Civil Wars cover [...]