5 Covers That Took Songs in Radically Different Directions

I hope you’re ready to get under the covers with me.

No, not like that!

I’m talking about cover songs.

A lot of times when an artist, or a band, does a cover of a song they try to stay as true to the original as possible, and while that’s all well and good, personally I love it when a unique twist is put on a cover that turns it into something completely different. Sometimes this can even lead to pulling a new meaning out of the lyrics.

With that in mind, I dove into my music collection, and found a few unique covers you’re sure to remember, as well as a few that were buried as deep albums cuts that you may have never heard before.

All of these songs stray wildly from the originals in some way, and that’s what makes them great.

So let’s get under these covers together!

t.A.T.u.’s cover of The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?”

 

First of all, if you know me, you know my love of ‘00s Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. I once filled an entire column with t.A.T.u. songs, and in 2016 I was thrilled to be able to catch up with Lena Katina for an interview for Myspace.

Getting to their cover, when Morrissey and Johnny Marrr wrote “How Soon Is Now?” and released it as a B-side in 1984, t.A.T.u members Julia Volkova, and Lena Katina were one year old, and in utero, respectively.

Musically, t.A.T.u.’s take on the song – which was on their 2002 debut album, 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane – has a modernized pop sound to it, but the real difference is in their shouting delivery of the chorus, and many of the lyrics, which lends a sense of urgency, and anger to it that the original didn’t have.

When asked about t.A.T.u.’s version of the song, Morrissey had a wonderful exchange with a journalist

Interviewer: Did you hear t.A.T.u’s version of “How Soon Is Now?”

Morrissey: Yes, it was magnificent. Absolutely. Again, I don’t know much about them.

Interviewer: They’re the teenage Russian lesbians.

Morrissey: Well, aren’t we all?

The Cardigans’ cover of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man”

 

When The Cardigans rocketed to notoriety with their 1996 mega-hit “Lovefool,” people who bought the album the song was from were treated to one of the most random covers of all-time.

I don’t think a soul alive heard Nina Persson’s incredibly sweet voice, and thought, “Man, I wonder if she’s into ‘70s heavy metal,” but there it is, right there on First Band on the Moon – a pop cover of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.”

Gone is Tony Iommi’s iconic guitar riff, replaced by something significantly more laid back, and jazzy, with a slight reggae influence. Also gone are Ozzy Osbourne’s intense vocals, replaced by a sweet crooning that belies the lyrical content, creating a twist that’s surprisingly delightful.

I have no idea what Ozzy and crew think of The Cardigans’ lounge-pop version of their song, but they do have a history of enjoying unique covers (ever heard of Mac Sabbath?), so it’s safe to say they don’t think of “Iron Man” as untouchable.

DJ Sammy & Yanou feat. Do’s cover of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”

 

I know I’ve said this before, but I’m convinced there are boatloads of people who were dancing to DJ Sammy & Yanou feat. Do’s version of “Heaven” in the early ‘00s that had absolutely no idea it was originally a Bryan Adams song … and I don’t blame them. The only thing the two songs have in common are the lyrics.

It’s kind of wild, though, if you think about it. “Heaven” wasn’t some sort of deep album cut that only hardcore Bryan Adams fans were aware of. The song, which was released as a single from his multi-platinum album Reckless in 1985, became his first to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Like the backstory of many hit songs, it was almost left off Reckless entirely, as everyone involved thought the ballad was too slow for the album. Thankfully, Adams changed his mind in the 11th hour.

With the speed of the song being questioned, one has to wonder how Adams and crew reacted when in 2001 DJ Sammy teamed up with Yanou, and Do, and turned it into a fast-paced dance tune.

DJ Sammy’s version of “Heaven” became a radio hit, and nightclub staple, making its way into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #8.

With both songs being hits despite being radically different – or perhaps because they were so radically different – it’s safe to say there are multiple ways to get into “Heaven.”

The Bangles’ cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “A Hazy Shade of Winter”

 

When The Bangles decided to put their own twist on Simon & Garfunkel’s “A Hazy Shade of Winter” they dropped the “A” from the song’s title, and added one heck of an amazing intro.

Hypnotic harmonized vocals lead us into a blistering electric guitar, and suddenly an iconic ‘60s tune has been turned into a driving ‘80s rock song that demands to be turned up.

Much like with t.A.T.U.’s cover of “How Soon Is Now?,” The Bangles version of “Hazy Shade of Winter” has a vocal delivery that has more of a sense of urgency than the original. It’s an urgency that’s mirrored in the intensity they added to the music.

While Simon & Garfunkel’s original version of “A Hazy Shade of Winter” peaked at #13 on the chart, The Bangles took their version, which was from the soundtrack to the movie Less Than Zero, all the way to #2.

Suffice to say, the song turned out to be far more memorable than the movie, and if you ask me it’s also more memorable than Simon & Garfunkel’s original … and I’m not just saying that because I have a lifelong crush on Susanna Hoffs.

Point blank, both versions are legendary, and you can’t go wrong with either.

Ace of Base’s cover of Tina Turner’s “Don’t Turn Around”

 

Ace of Base was giving us heaping doses of Swedish pop perfection throughout the ‘90s, but one of their biggest hits, “Don’t Turn Around,” was originally a Tina Turner B-side from the ‘80s. That, however, is only part of the story, and it’s a story that has a stop in London before ever getting to Ace of Base.

While Tina Turner’s original version of the song was released in 1986, there’s a reason Ace of Base’s version bears little resemblance to it – their version was based on a British reggae band’s cover of the song that was released in 1988.

The band was Aswad, and the suggestion that Ace of Base specifically use that version of the song as the basis for their cover came directly from Ace of Base’s record label. Hey, sometimes major labels get it right!

While Ace of Base used the reggae rhythm from Aswad, it’s undeniable that their addition of a ‘90s pop sound was a significant factor in their version ascending to #4 on the chart.

Aswad’s version of “Don’t Turn Around” was a lament, while Ace of Base’s was more of a demand.

 

Then there was Tina Turner’s original version, which was a pop power ballad.

 

It’s safe to say that if it wasn’t for Aswad version of “Don’t Turn Around” there’s no way we ever get Ace of Base’s version of the song.

It’s also safe to say that with so many differences between the various versions of the song – and there have been quite a few covers of it over the years – “Don’t Turn Around” is one of the most wonderfully malleable songs in recent memory (I’m 46, I’m allowed to refer to the ‘80s and ‘90s as “recent”).