Wait, who sings this?

It’s difficult to raise the bar on a widely loved classic; it’s also a bold move that musicians take, opening themselves to a broad range of criticism that will most likely follow it. Loyal fans, especially those who’ve been married to the music for decades upon decades, find it difficult to open their minds to unique renditions of their favorite songs.

Why do musicians take the leap of faith for such coveted tunes? There are a few reasons: it’s a clever way to promote oneself based on immediate recognition of the original song name, it could fast-track the musician into another pool of fans, and/or the musician could have a previous strong attachment to the particular original song/artist.

Whatever the reason may be, and with all due respect to the classics, these three covers deserve to be recognized.

“A Change is Gonna Come” - Greta Van Fleet (2017)

This piece was originally recorded in 1963 by rhythm and blues artist, Sam Cooke, and is a powerful political statement centering the civil rights movement. It’s a ballad full of hope for social change, and the frustrations African American individuals faced.

While Cooke’s version will forever be idolized for the legacy and sheer courage represented in this song, the members of Greta Van Fleet paid a noteworthy tribute with their cover. Greta Van Fleet refreshes an immortalized piece through their ‘Zeppelinized’ sound, in contrast to Cooke’s soulful and traditional delivery.

Cooke leads with a heartfelt and effortless croon, emphasizing the emotional content of the track, while Greta Van Fleet guides with fiercely passionate vocals, heavy instrumentals, and a choir layered behind the vocalist during the chorus. The band amplifies the song as a whole, creating a striking contrast to the original through fusing timeless and contemporary techniques.

“Wild Horses” - The Sundays (1992)

The Rolling Stones composed this beautiful love song in 1971, juxtaposing their typical hard-hitting rock and roll sound. It’s an introspective piece that’s a painful glance into the suffering revolving around the band at the time, rumored to be related to a handful of events: Lead guitarist, Keith Richard’s struggle with being on the road and having to leave his family behind, Mick Jagger’s ex-girlfriend, Marianne Faithfull’s overdose, and her reaction to the death of ex-guitarist, Brian Jones.

That being said, a spectrum of emotions produced this song, and Jagger’s whiny vocals evoke the mourning period the Stones underwent. However, The Sundays bring it to life in another way. Lead singer Harriet Wheeler’s voice places a gossamer veil over the entirety of the piece; the feminine, buttery vocals add a delicate tone to the song and drive home a sense of peace.

Wheeler lifts the track with an airy, and graceful ease in contrast to Jagger’s drawn-out and bluesy off-pitch voice. Modernizing a classic is a difficult task, but The Sundays concentrated the sounds of the early 90s and revitalized a 70s classic. Two different feelings emerge when the different vocalists sing, “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away,”; for Jagger it’s misery, and for Wheeler it’s closure.

“Moon River” - Frank Ocean (2018)

This last cover is one of the most unforgettable contemporary takes I’ve heard. “Moon River” was composed by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer in 1961 for actress Aubrey Hepburn in the iconic Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and has been performed by some of music’s biggest names such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, and more.

The piece has lived many lives, coming from the mouths of legends, but Frank Ocean took a chance on reinventing it through his unusual yet eccentric style and it’s a success. He delivers the same romantic and emotional message that the original song contains, but uses his distinguishable adlibs and reverb in a tasteful way.

While Hepburn sings in a hurried and soft tone, Ocean rebuts with passionate and sure desire in his voice. Like most of his songs, the R&B/pop singer provides a cinematic prominence through scattered echoes, artfully placed harmony, and slow progression, ideal for a song made for a film. Ocean takes us on a modernized journey of this vintage tune.

Looking for more unexpected renditions or want to find out the original performer of legendary pieces? Check out my playlist!