We know we like to go on and on about how much we love originality and fresh tunes. But we admit, we also love great top 40 songs with a twist. So we're giving you our Top 5 favourite impromptu covers in recent years. The impromptu vibe has often led to serendipitous new takes on already huge hits. And we really do mean impromptu because seriously we can't take Jessica Simpson doing another Take My Breath Away or even another These Boots are Made for Walkin'...Our ears are still ringing.
Five Love Lockdown by White Lies
Recorded at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, White Lies spins Kanye's urban track into a dirty grunge ditty infused with Brit Rock blood. Harry McVeigh's gruff vocals inspire a new texture that is both more warm and alienating than what autotune did for Kanye.
Four Buy U a Drank by Jesse McCartney
The clean cut Disney kid made a name for himself on the channel's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody as well as on the kid sensation, Hannah Montanna. This ex-member of the defunct boy band Dream Street, now 22, moved his roots from teeny bopper king of cheese ballads to a more urban and provocative sound on his second EP Departure. And somehow it worked. His smooth vocals and dare we say sexy (...) vocals rev up T-Pain's track that is orignally littered with autotune (what is it with autotune?) and multiple layering of synths. Jesse's simplified version brings forth the track's catchy melody and infectious lyrics. He ain't T-Pain dammit.
Three Boom Boom Pow by Asher Roth
Also recorded at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, the fun loving, white rapping Asher Roth makes Black Eyed Peas' hit his own, rewriting almost every lyric. His fellow crew mates take on the other roles of apl.de.ap, even including that of Fergie's high pitched vocals which can't help but make you laugh. Throw in a dash of wicked scratching and numerous plugs for his album Asleep in the Bread Aisle and we've got a track that not only makes you swagger to the beat but puts a smile across your lips.
Two Umbrella by OneRepublic
Performing their version of Rihanna's smash Umbrella solely in concert, OneRepublic enrichens the GarageBand based tune (yea we did say GarageBand) with a heart and soul that only live instruments can create. But we're talking about OneRepublic's version from their early years before it became all pitchy and piccolo-y weird. Recorded on a fan's crappy cell phone camera, this obscure rendition performed at Trocodero, Philadelphia from almost two years ago has only gotten a mere 2,449 views but yet, it's the best we've seen.
One Poker Face by Daughtry
We admit, we kinda love Lady Gaga. She's frickin' crazy creative with a penchant for writing and a vocal strength that is almost unheard of in today's female artists. Her endless stream of club hits are no doubt catchy with an underlying hint of the macabre. And kudos to Daughtry for weeding out the superfluous on a track that's on meth and bringing forth the brilliance in the simplicity of its melody. And as great as Lady Gaga's original is, Daughtry manages to sharpen the lines that suddenly take you aback and bring a breadth and power to it that a club beat overshadows. "Russion roulette is not the same without a gun" ...Aw crap we gave it away.
