Cover version

In pop music a cover version is a new rendition of a previously recorded song. Pop musicians may play covers as a tribute to the original performer or group, to win audiences who like to hear a familiar song, or to increase their chance of success by using a proven hit or to gain credibility by its comparison with the original song. Covering material is an important method in learning various styles of music. Bands may also do it simply because they enjoy playing it.

Most covered songs

The Beatles have been covered more than any other band; "Yesterday" has been covered over three thousand times since its original release in 1965. George Gershwin's "Summertime" (from Porgy and Bess) has had an estimated 2,500 versions recorded. Other songs which have been released many times as cover versions include the infamous "Louie Louie" by Richard Berry, "We Will Rock You" (Queen), "Free Bird" (Lynyrd Skynyrd), "No Woman No Cry" (Bob Marley & the Wailers) and many of the less recent works of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen (as of December 5, 2004, there were at least 940 published cover versions of Cohen songs http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/test.html).

Related Topics:
The Beatles - Yesterday - 1965 - George Gershwin - Porgy and Bess - Louie Louie - Richard Berry - We Will Rock You - Queen - Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd - No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley & the Wailers - Bob Dylan - Leonard Cohen - December 5 - 2004

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Cover albums

Many popular bands have a tribute album, consisting entirely of covers of their songs performed by various other bands, often quite different from the original. The soundtrack to the film I Am Sam was a particularly popular example of this; it consisted of Beatles songs redone by various modern artists. This was done because of the refusal of the Beatles to license their songs to soundtracks. See above for an explanation of compulsory licensing and copyright relating to covers. An example of the reverse (one artist covering many artists) is Renegades by Rage Against The Machine featuring covers of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Afrikaa Bambaataa, Erik B and Rakim and more. Another notable example is Conception: The Interpretation of Stevie Wonder Songs, which is an album consisting of covers of songs originally recorded by Stevie Wonder and an original song by Stevie Wonder's mentee India.Arie, singing about Stevie Wonder. More rarely, bands will do an entire album of songs by a particular artist, such as The The's Hanky Panky, which consists entirely of Hank Williams songs. There are also bands who create entire albums out of covers, but unlike Tin Pan Alley-style traditional pop singers, they often perform the songs in a genre completely unlike the original songs. Examples include the Moog Cookbook (alternative and classic rock songs done on Moog synthesizers), Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine (top 40, including punk, heavy metal, teen pop and indie rock performed in a Vegas lounge lizard style), and Hayseed Dixie (a play on the name AC/DC, they started covering AC/DC songs and progressed to other classic rock, playing them as bluegrass songs, similar to The Gourds' version of "Gin and Juice.") Also notable are Nine Inch Elvis, who take Elvis Presley songs and rework them in an industrial fashion similar to Nine Inch Nails, and Beatallica, who perform tracks by The Beatles in the style of Metallica.

Related Topics:
I Am Sam - Renegades - Rage Against The Machine - Stevie Wonder - India.Arie - The The - Hank Williams - Tin Pan Alley - Traditional pop - The Moog Cookbook - Moog - Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine - Top 40 - Punk - Heavy metal - Teen pop - Indie rock - Vegas - Hayseed Dixie - AC/DC - Bluegrass - Nine Inch Elvis - Elvis Presley - Nine Inch Nails - Beatallica

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Cover bands and tribute bands

Main article: cover band, tribute band

Related Topics:
Cover band - Tribute band

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Many artists are cover bands, bands which only perform covers. Some recording bands may lack the songwriting skills (nor have access to independent songwriters) to write their own songs, and thus do covers as a result. Other cover bands include wedding singers and other musicians-for-hire who are in the business of playing whatever music they are asked to by their customer(s).

Related Topics:
Cover band - Wedding singer

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Some artists become the subject of tribute bands. A tribute band is a band dedicated to recreating the performances of another artist or group, often as a form or tribute to the original band. Notable artists to be the subject of tribute bands include The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Neil Diamond.

Related Topics:
The Beatles - Led Zeppelin - Rush - Neil Diamond

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