Music Masquerade

Oct 20
3 min read

Written by Nicole Wloszek-Therens

In the spirit of ‘spooky season,’ this is an especially curated playlist of artists “costuming” themselves as other artists through their music. Check out this diverse selection of covers.

Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3jgIR0Kv00KTwdhIrTD0LT?si=5YLtkc9nQ6OzW9ZLNb3DTg&pi=U7PSw_kRRe6z4

“Money” - The Flying Lizards

Although The Flying Lizards released this track back in 1980, it was done before then by The Beatles in 1963 and originally by Barrett Strong in 1959.

“In Spite of Ourselves” - The Viagra Boys, Amy Taylor

This song was originally written by John Prine, a songwriting, folk music legend. He sang it along with Iris DeMent. Both versions give off different energies, contrasting the folk guitar style of Prine to the distorted sound of The Viagra Boys. Amy Taylor of Amyl and The Sniffers sings Iris DeMent’s part, and her unique vocals enhance the haunting energy of this cover.

“Say It Ain’t So” - Japanese Breakfast

Originally by Weezer, Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast brings a much dreamier sound to this song than the original track, with her vocals and multiple violinists accompanying her.

“I Wanna Be Sedated” - Tim Timebomb

This song is originally by The Ramones. This track alternates between feminine and masculine-sounding vocals and adds some bluegrass-style violin, taking a classic punk-rock song and giving it a new sound.

“Bang Bang” - Betty Chung

Betty Chung, an artist from Hong Kong, recorded and released this in 1968, just two years after the original “Bang Bang” was originally written by Sonny Bono and recorded by Cher.

“High on the Mountain” - JD Pinkus, Tall Tall Trees

JD Pinkus of The Butthole Surfers and Mike Savino of Tall Tall Trees cover Ola Bell Reed’s original, which first was released in 1976. This version takes a classic bluegrass song and turns it into a psychedelic journey.

“Pure Imagination” - Smoking Popes

Smoking Popes give this track, which was originally made in 1971 for the film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” a new life with their cover.

“Cyco Killer” - Skull Cult

Originally released in 1977 by The Talking Heads as “Psycho Killer,” this cover from Skull Cult pays homage to the original while bringing a bit more angst.

“Bizness” - Front Country

Front Country takes Tune-Yard's original song and strips it down while also building it back up, bringing a folky, bluegrass feel to it with the addition of violin, mandolin and banjo.

“Where Is My Mind?” - Frank Black & The Catholics

This is a recording of a live performance in 2003 by Frank Black & The Catholics where they covered this song, which was originally recorded and released by The Pixies in 1988.

“Heart It Races” - Dr. Dog

Although this track from Dr. Dog has 95 million more plays on Spotify than the original, it is actually a cover of the song by Architecture in Helsinki.

“Stormy Weather” - Reigning Sound

Written in 1933 and performed by Ethel Waters at a Harlem night club, The Cotton Club, this song is still being remade nearly 100 years later. Reigning Sound takes a melancholy song and gives it a rockabilly twist.

“Valerie” - Amy Winehouse

Although this song was popularized by Amy Winehouse after she released her version in 2007, it was first released just a year prior by English indie rock band, The Zutons.

“Amos Moses” - Primus

This song was written by Jerry Reed in 1970 about an actual alligator hunter named Amos Moses from Louisiana. This cover is a faithful adaptation of the original with Les Claypool’s signature funky bass twang.

“True Love Will Find You In The End” - Beck

This song was originally by Daniel Johnston, an artist from Sacramento, California, who is largely considered a legend in the alternative music scene.

“Rowboat” - Johnny Cash

Beck originally wrote this song around 1990, prior to his musical fame, as a relatively unknown 20-year-old artist. Johnny Cash then covered it in 1996. Beck had opened for Johnny Cash a few years prior, and Cash was inspired to cover it after he heard it performed live.