5 Covers to mix up your playlist

Sometimes a cover of a song can be even better than the original.

Johnny Cash with Hurt or Sinead O’Connor’s rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U are just some examples of excellently executed covers.

Here at Exam Viral, we bring you 5 covers you may not know about, but are certainly worth checking out.

1) Do I Wanna Know – Hozier (Original Artist: Artic Monkeys)

Any list of music seems to have to include Hozier, such is the quality of the man. And his cover of the Artic Monkeys Do I Wanna Know is just that – quality. Performed at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge it is a completely new take on an already excellent song. Bringing an almost haunting quality to the track, Hozier strips back the song and performs it as only he can – superbly.

2) Ignition (Remix) – The Ragtime Gals (Original Artist: R. Kelly)

Jimmy Fallon’s barbershop quartet have become famous for their covers and performing with some major stars such as Justin Timberlake and Kevin Spacey. But their cover of Ignition is perhaps one of their best. Different, funny, and hugely enjoyable, have a listen and you’ll understand why we love it (and Jimmy Fallon) so much.

3) Crazy In Love – Emeli Sande with The Bryan Ferry Orchestra (Original Artist: Beyonce)

A complete reimaging of the song that announced Beyonce as a solo artist, this version was used as part of the soundtrack for the 2013 film The Great Gatsby. The instrumental sounds like it came straight from the Gatsby era and makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a Hootenanny. It is something completely different to spice up your weekend.

4) Blank Space/Style – Louisa Wendorff and Devin Dawson (Original Artist: Taylor Swift)

When you think Taylor Swift you can’t help but think mainstream pop, but this mash up of two of her songs is a little less so. Soft and soothing, it’s the type of song to add to the playlist of songs you listen to when you just want to relax. A really good cover, and a pretty good track in its own right.

5) Fix You – Kiah Victoria (Original Artist: Coldplay)

Some covers are merely just repeats of the original but that cannot be said about Kiah Victoria’s cover of Fix You. A completely different version, it’s taken away the familiar piano and guitar riff and remixes it into something new. It’s like hearing the track as a brand new song. Different certainly, but it certainly is brilliant.