I don't care what genre we are. We're covering this song.
 

If you were in a band or if you already are what songs would you cover and what changes would you make to the song. Also what songs would you never attempt to cover you hold them that close. My choices:
The Clash-1977
Always wanted to do a modern day version of this
"No Pixies, The Clash or Joy Division in 2007"

Husker Du-Too Much Spice
Would love this with a female vocalist.

Covering songs outside your normal genre, provided they add to the intrigue of the band is some way, can be a great way to get yourself out there. Choosing covers by artists you really respect shines through as well.

Make it your own!

this song



as an old bluesy country / honky tonk lament. i've been calling on it for years now.

Have you ever heard the Dillenger Escape Plan cover of it? Not what you described by any means but still very good.

absolutely. it's a spot on cover, but what's most impressive are the live clips of the band (and Patton) doing it live. i quite like that EP

I've been wanting to cover Britney Spears' Hit Me Baby One More Time but play it on piano in minor and make it really sad.

My friend is in a folk punk band that has an upright bassist, guitarist, washboard player, and banjoist and they cover lady gaga and la roux :P They do an amazing job.

I would love to do a drone/experimental rock/electronic cover of Kraftwerk's song The Hall Of Mirrors.

That would be epic.

ImmortalDiotima's idea is pretty cool.
I would do this song:


if I was in a band like this:

someone is going to take this the wrong way but:
Lady Gaga - Telephone
Kerli - Walking On Air

i'm am folktronica/avant pop/freak folk for those who don't know

if done right this would be amazing....i think female vocals perfectly fit this song

I think the best example of someone changing the genre of a song when covering it is "Try A Little Tenderness".

Here is the original Bing Crosby version from 1933.



Here is Otis Redding at Monterey Pop in 1967 with his take on the same tune.

I would love to hear The White Stripes cover Tom Wait's I don't want to grow up. That seems fairly straight forward.

I'd also like to hear Phil Anselmo (whatever band he's fronting now) cover "Whats going on" by 4 non-blondes. And not a metal cover either, i'd like him to play it straight.

Speaking of covers though, i heard System of a Down cover Metro last night - terrible.

Edit: Nice thread, James. Btw, who's that in your avatar?

Stevie Wonder.

I'll do it for you guyz :)
What instruments?

You can hear some of my really old recordings of my live jazz shows (granted... there are many mistakes... I was like 17 when they were recorded but you'd get the idea of my pipes) and we could do an over-the-internet collaboration! :P

Allie Jessing on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

I'd love to hear a blues cover of Screeching Weasel's "Cool Kids".

I would find a way to cover The Ballad of Curtis Loew by Lynyrd Skynyrd, also Loretta and Two Girls, both by Townes Van Zandt

That would be good! Have you ever heard the Ramones cover of that song?

As for me, I seriously think a New Orleans brass band of "Ziggy Stardust" by David Bowie would be pretty fantastic.

me and friends I regularly jam with cover these ones, cuz they're fun and mostly quite easy:

Wire - Mannequin
The Stooges - I Wanna Be Yr Dog
Descendents - Hope
Pavement - Grounded, Father To A Sister Of Thought
Minutemen - Two Beads At The End, Corona
The Clean - Anything Could Happen
Slint - Washer (some of it anyway)
Teenage Fanclub - Everything Flows

I've just started jamming again with another friend who's amazing at guitar, I was in a band with him when we were 15-17... we're currently playing loads of Led Zeppelin songs, 'War Pigs' by Sabbath, and now we're trying to learn Tom Sawyer by Rush... I'm hoping to nail that on drums quite soon. I'm not a massive Zeppelin or Rush fan but playing their songs with this guy (he is a huge fan of both bands) is helping further my drumming abilities, for sure.