Tori Kelly- Suit & Tie

I think I've reviewed one of Tori Kelly's cover before or it may have been one that she was featured in. Anyways, she is definitely one of my favorites on YouTube and I'm always looking out for her new videos. She has an amazing voice with many different ranges AND she's awesome at guitar. 

A friend of mine had showed me her cover of Thinking Bout You and I was instantly hooked on her songs/covers. She is definitely talented and I'm surprised that more people have not heard of her. So check her out on YouTube! Enjoy!

Original: 

Suit &Tie by Justin Timberlake 

http://youtu.be/IsUsVbTj2AY

Kait Weston- Wide Awake

I recently just discovered Kait Weston as I was looking for cover songs for this post. So I'm not familiar with her work but from the few videos that I've watched so far, she has talent! Her voice is definitely powerful and every note she sings comes with such ease for her.

Her cover of Wide Awake originally performed by Katy Perry is really good. With her powerful vocals, she brings new elements to the song. Also, having just a piano accompany her voice definitely allows for her vocals to stand out more. If she was just doing an acapella version, it still would have been great.



Original:
Wide Awake by Katy Perry
http://youtu.be/k0BWlvnBmIE

The Clientele- Paper Planes

The Clientele  cover's M.I.A.'s hit Paper Planes. The original is very loud and there's a lot going on in the song at once. There's not synths or sound clips of gunshots in this cover. It was a very well done cover and there was some things that The Clientele did that I really enjoyed. For starters, I was able to understand all the lyrics and as I said earlier, it was not cluttered with noise.  That's nothing against the original and I love the original. The original has a "hustle" style quality to it while the cover is more chill and laid back. The addition of a violin and what appears to be an upright violin but I'm not sure on that, added a some nice sounds to the song. The xylophone was a nice touch as well. Enjoy!



Original:
Paper Planes by M.I.A
http://youtu.be/zAJA-bz1uo0

Portland Cello Project and Alan Sparhawk- Institutionalized

Institutionalized by Suicidal Tendencies is a classic. If you've never heard it you are missing out. This has to be that one song that every teenager related to. I mean when you are a teenager everyone always thinks there is something is wrong with you when there isn't. 

The original is heavy sounding song with a raunchy lead guitar. If you haven't guessed it yet, the majority of the instruments in this cover are cellos. Usually, cellos are associated with classical music, genres that lean towards elegant and graceful. Having cellos in a hardcore punk song is definitely unusual but it worked out great. The cellos did not sound out of place at all. It gives it a more heavy sound and maybe sound a little more psychotic. The french horn (am assuming that's what it is cause I'm not an horn expert) adds a nice sound to the cover as well. Enjoy!

Original:

Institutionalized by Suicidal Tendencies

http://youtu.be/9tBaMlAUj08

Filter- Happy Together

So I'm pretty sure everyone has heard this version of Happy Together from The Great Gatsby trailer.When I heard it in the trailer it immediately caught my attention. The original song by The Turtles is upbeat, light and happy type of song. It's simple to sing along to and sort of embodies 1960's innocent carefree lifestyle.

Now Filter's version is the exact opposite of that. The beginning is slow-paced, I mean really slow. The singer is practically enunciating every single syllable as if trying to teach someone who doesn't speak English to at least mimic the sounds. Ok, maybe not that slow but it still slow. Although, the slow tempo is what makes it so good. It makes it sound darker and more psychotic. It actually sounds like the song is about a extremely psychotic and "love-sick" individual is singing (stalking) the one he loves/admires from afar but this person wants nothing to do with him or even knows he exists. It really felt like he was singing this while looking through the window of this girl, it was just that creepy but good. The delivery of the way they song is sung actually was able to change the entire meaning of the song altogether. I really don't know any other song that has done that but Filter has definitely succeeded in that area.

However, the chorus sections get a little too hardcore for my tastes. Some people might enjoy it but I didn't care for it much. I really just liked the verses and that's about it.



Original:
Happy Together by The Turtles
http://youtu.be/LFyTHc9IgKU

The Wood Brothers- P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)

The Wood Brothers cover Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. It's a pretty iconic song so covering it has be done well, real well. I feel like The Wood Brothers were able to accomplish that. Consisting of an acoustic guitar with some slide guitar elements, a upright bass, a melodica (key-flute/pianica), and an improvised, non traditional instrument known simply as a shit-ar. When laying eyes on it, you'll realize why they refer to it as that. However, I will give them points for creativity and uniqueness for this instrument which is basically a beat up guitar with various "noise makers" attached to it.

Anyway, their cover was so amazing. Oliver Wood has really unique vocals especially for this type of song. Not only did their instrumentation bring new flavor to the song but his vocals did as well. They made this song their own while giving the original justice. I may even go as so far to say that I prefer this cover to the original. They gave it an upbeat folk feel and the slide guitar parts were awesome. Especially, during the bridge/break when they substituted MJ's 'na na na's" for a slide guitar riff. Amazing.



Original: 
P.Y.T by Michael Jackson
http://youtu.be/_-3JYuv9w4U

Bass Causality- Can't Stop

I don't know what this guy's name is so I only can only go by his YouTube name but he just made me find a whole new appreciation for the bass/upright bass. I'm a fan of rockabilly music so an upright bass is nothing new to my ears but the way this guy performs this instrument puts it into a whole new light. The original is fast-paced and extremely intense but he covers the song with such class and grace. It's as if I'm listening to a whole new song, it's just that beautiful. Some of his (Bass Causality) covers are played with the same qualities. Everyone must definitely and immediately check him out! Enjoy!



Original:
Can't Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers
http://youtu.be/o-_cjgTz7ZM