Rock bands have a unique way of transforming pop songs into something extraordinary. Join us as we explore the most incredible and unexpected cover versions that breathe new life into classic tracks, reimagining familiar hits with raw energy and creative passion.
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00:00Welcome to MsMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best times rock bands
00:08covered pop tracks.
00:12For this 2021 side project featuring all the same members of the Foo Fighters, the rock
00:25band takes a disco detour.
00:32Covering the 1976 Bee Gees hit You Should Be Dancing, Dave Grohl and his bandmates deliver
00:37a faithful rendition which also forces the singer to bust out some of his highest notes
00:42ever.
00:43Giving audiences a funky groove, the group channels their heavier tones into a more delicate
00:47arrangement.
00:55It works both for audiences that love the original and want something a little different.
00:59If you're looking for a good time, you could do a lot worse than this unexpected cover.
01:08Revisiting the Cape Bush song, Placebo gives the track a meditative quality, allowing singer
01:16Brian Molko to handle the evocative lyrics with conviction.
01:25The slower and methodical production of this 2003 version remixes the original sound and
01:30includes a haunting piano line.
01:32With a spooky tone, the band charts a cause for inventive work that makes you think.
01:45Versions of the 1985 hit might even be taken aback at the new direction.
01:50It takes some amount of courage to tackle Bush's singular work, but Placebo's gamble
01:54pays off.
01:55Mixing an otherworldly experience with fantastic music, the British group brings this brilliant
02:00songwriting to a new audience.
02:058.
02:09The Boys of Summer – The Ataris
02:12If you've ever listened to classic radio, you likely know this 1984 Don Henley hit.
02:16It's a song that seems to perfectly capture the 1980s.
02:19The Ataris cover manages to update that sound for the 2000s.
02:30Charging it with a pop-punk sound, this version has a propulsive energy throughout, but it
02:35still carries a tinge of sadness and a burst of nostalgia.
02:39Henley's lyrics surprisingly work well coming out of a much younger performer.
02:50While it might not be everyone's cup of tea, this remake treads new ground and salutes
02:54the original artist.
02:56The cross-genre potential of this composition attests to its multi-generational power.
03:097.
03:10Africa – Weezer
03:11In 2019, these alternative rockers chose to take a time machine to the 1980s and beyond.
03:25They put out the Teal album, which includes covers of everything from A-ha to Toto.
03:30For their take on the hit Africa, which they had initially recorded a year before, Weezer
03:35did their best to capture the original hit's unique hook.
03:42They also bring enough vintage sounds and instruments to make this a loving tribute.
03:47The newer version might even make you appreciate the original even more, bringing a certain
03:51amount of the same musical magic.
03:53We're certainly glad that the guys decided to try something different for this entertaining
03:57tune.
04:006.
04:03Always Something There To Remind Me – Naked Eyes
04:06Sometimes a song can be completely reborn in a new genre.
04:10Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, this classic has been sung by many singers before
04:14Naked Eyes took the hit and reworked it into a new-wave single.
04:25This 1982 track includes some bouncy instrumentation and rhythms with a driving force that makes
04:30you tap your feet.
04:32There's also a lively vocal by Pete Byrne that encourages listeners to sing along.
04:41Always Something There To Remind Me creates an atmosphere that's totally 1980s, giving
04:46you all the synths your heart desires.
04:48Bacharach and David's musical vision remains intact while the band celebrates the sounds
04:53of their era.
04:565.
04:57Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon – Urge Overkill
05:02With an alternative twist, Urge Overkill overhauls Neil Diamond's 1967 hit.
05:14Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon easily becomes a heavier tune thanks to these rockers.
05:19The singer's husky voice is a far cry from Neil Diamond, but it also gives the song a
05:24much moodier and edgier effect.
05:33You might also remember hearing this song in Pulp Fiction.
05:35When placed in the iconic movie, this cover takes on an even bigger place in pop culture.
05:40The music itself also captures your imagination with its hypnotic rhythms.
05:45Using a great guitar riff, this 1992 rendition comes alive in a cool production.
05:544.
05:59Superstar – Sonic Youth
06:00Written in the late 1960s by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell, Superstar is best remembered
06:05as a song covered by the Carpenters.
06:08Sonic Youth then made a daring move by churning out this amazing rendition in 1994.
06:23Singer Thurston Moore gives an unorthodox and emotional vocal, challenging listeners
06:27that are used to Karen Carpenter's pristine voice.
06:30Moore leads this unconventional performance that's both sombre and introspective.
06:39The band completely diverts from their roots in noise rock, putting themselves out there
06:44in an experimental cover.
06:46It also has a laid-back sound that redefines the pop focus of earlier versions.
06:553.
06:59Something Good – Muse
07:01Many people associate this song with Nina Simone, but the track receives another welcome
07:05cover by Muse, which infuses this show tune with a rock sensibility.
07:16With a confident style, they turn an already big musical number into an even more bombastic
07:21one.
07:22Matt Bellamy shows off his impressive range, using his high notes and control to create
07:26a perfectly modulated and exciting performance.
07:36This includes building to huge moments like a dynamic chorus, but also giving fans of
07:40earlier versions something to enjoy.
07:42The group doesn't waste any time showing that they can wow listeners in alternative
07:46ways.
07:502.
07:56Smooth Criminal – Alien Ant Farm
07:58It's hard to listen to any Michael Jackson song without hearing the artist's voice.
08:02Alien Ant Farm defies the odds and creates something that stands up on its own.
08:06In a surprising turn of events, this band scored a hit out of Smooth Criminal.
08:18They did so by transforming a pop production into a guitar-heavy arrangement.
08:22With a focus on the main riff, the group excels at bringing out the loudest cover they can
08:27muster.
08:35The result is an engaging mix of Jackson's work and the farm's bold style.
08:39In a fun performance from start to finish, this version sweeps you up into a musical
08:45vortex.
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09:081.
09:09The Sound of Silence – Disturbed
09:12You couldn't ask for a stranger transition from one version to another than this 2015
09:16release.
09:17The heavy metal group Disturbed updates The Sound of Silence with a beautiful arrangement.
09:27Carefully utilising the immaculate voice of singer David Draymond, they do justice to
09:32an extraordinary piece of 1960s music.
09:35It's also a spectacular way to honour the amazing songwriting of Paul Simon while still
09:39showcasing the diverse talents of metalheads.
09:51Some people might write off the idea of this collaboration before hearing it, but it doesn't
09:55take long for the song to captivate potential critics.
09:58And the gorgeous piano adds just the right colour to a staggering performance.
10:09Could we forget another rocking cover of a pop song?
10:12Let us know in the comments below.