To pull off a remarkable cover, amusicartist isn’t required to precisely mimic the original. A cover stands out when itsuccessfully reimagines a song. Bonus points to an artist who can pull off a cover that completely transcends genre and introduces new audiences to the song.
Classic rock, a genre globally beloved for its powerhouse vocalists, passionate lyricism, and subliminal messaging, is an excellent vehicle for artists to exercise their creative prowess. The genre is versatile and boasts some of the most popular songs of all time.
Theclassic rock era, spanning roughly from the 1960s through the 1990s, has staying power.Fleetwood Mac songstrend on TikTok. Eminem sampled Aerosmith on 2003’s “Sing for the Moment.” Countless artists, across many genres, have put their spin on classic rock favorites. Here are some covers that compete with the original.
7BLACKBIIRD By Beyoncé, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kiennedy, And Reyna Roberts
Queen Bey Reminds Audiences Of Important Message
Like many other great covers, Beyoncé’s rendition of “Blackbird” was aboutmaking a statement. She didn’t make any dramatic changes, preserving the original’s gentle nature and elevating it with mesmerizing harmonies and ad-libs. Queen Bey’s version dropped in 2024 onCowboy Carter,her critically acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning foray into country music.
It’s no secret that her musical exploration isn’t welcome by some in the country music space. By covering “Blackbird,” a track Paul McCartney wrote in solidarity with Black women and girls during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, Beyoncé echoes an encouragement to, seemingly, herself and others who wish totake up space where they have not been traditionally welcomed.
“I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place,”Paul McCartneysaid in a 2024 Instagram post.
6Bohemian Rhapsody By Jonathan Groff & The Glee Cast
This Belongs In The GleeCover Hall Of Fame
This one’s for my fellow choir nerds. Jonathan Groff flexed his versatility and smooth vocals in this show choir rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the 1975 hit by British rock band Queen. This cover dropped onGlee’s season 1 finale in 2010. There are spoilers ahead, so if you’re 15 years behind onGlee, it’s time to skip to the next section.
Jesse (Groff) of Vocal Adrenaline performed “Bohemian Rhapsody” at a regional show choir competition, earning the group’s first-place prize. Groff’s performance, a fan favorite among Glee fans, was combined with a scene of cheerleader Quinn’s birth scene, which served as quite the dramatic soundtrack.
5Sweet Child O’ Mine By Sheryl Crow
A Sunny Rendition Of A Classic Hit
Country music queenSheryl Crow put her signature optimistic spin on Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” The original arrived in 1988 and ascended to No. 1 on theBillboardHot 100 - the group’s only song to reach that accolade in the United States. Guns N’ Roses’ version is almost instantly recognizable by its intro guitar riff.
Crow’s cover dropped in 1999 to mixed opinions. Some critics deemed it a notoriously bad rock cover, but I think Crow’s version - which earned her a Grammy Award - accomplished what she set out to do. She wasn’t aiming to recreate the song, but insteadreimagine it as a soft pop, country-leaning renditionworthy of a romantic comedy soundtrack.
4Stairway To Heaven By Dolly Parton
Country Music Royalty Pays Tribute To A Longtime Favorite
Dolly Parton’s gentle, bluegrass cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” appeared on her 39th solo album,Halo & Horns.Parton closes the album with the cover. She has said she selected the song because of herlongtime love of the track and Led Zeppelin.
“I didn’t do it just for the gimmick - my love for the song comes from a very real place. It’s not just about making it work - it’s about it really being a part of you,” Parton said of the cover (Dolly Mania). “So I thought, ‘What the hey - I’m just going to go with it, and if it didn’t turn out good, nobody would ever know I even tried it.’ I knew I was walking on sacred ground because it is a classic.”
Parton’s reverence for classics is clear in her delivery. It comes across asa spiritual cautionary hymnwith its acoustic, stripped intro. As the song progresses, her sweet, gentle vocals build, and a choir joins her belting. Drums kick in, adding to the song’s emotion.
3(Money Can’t) Buy Me Love By Blackstreet
A Masterclass In Classic Rock’s Versatility
’90s R&B group Blackstreet slowed down The Beatles’ No.1 hit, “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964), and revamped it with their signature soulful harmonies and ad-libs. This is a successful cover because, with a slower tempo,the song’s message emits more emotion.
Although I absolutely adore the original,Blackstreet’s version makes the song more accessibleto other audiences who wouldn’t ordinarily tune into the more folksy rendition. “(Money Can’t) Buy Me Love” was released in 1996 as track 13 on Blackstreet’s sophomore album,Another Level.The transformation is one of many examples of classic rock’s versatility.
2Smells Like Teen Spirit by Patti Smith
Cover Accomplishes A New Sound With Familiar Angst
Although anotably folksy departurefrom Nirvana’s original song, Patti Smith’s take on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” still preserves the angst we know and love. Smith is well-versed in harnessing emotion through her vocals to transform a track.
Patti Smith’s take on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” still preserves the angst we know and love.
Her version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” appeared on her 10th studio album,Twelve.The 2007 project featured covers ranging from The Beatles to Stevie Wonder. Smith’s Nirvana cover sneaks up on you. It starts quietly and grows in urgency as the track progresses, which allows the song to maintain the essence of the original while taking on a new sound.
1Edge Of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix) By Miley Cyrus And Stevie Nicks
Nostalgic Team Up That Unites Generations
Miley Cyrus took over 2020with “Midnight Sky.” Well-received by critics and fans alike, the track went on to become Cyrus’ 15th top-20 hit in the U.S. She took it a step forward by dropping a remix, “Edge of Midnight,” featuring Stevie Nicks, one of the artists Cyrus said inspired “Midnight Sky.”
The remix combines “Midnight Sky” and Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen.”Each artist sings the other’s lyrics, serving as a mashup cover. Cyrus has that classic rock growl perfected, so she sounds right at home with Nicks. She knows how to complement a guitar-driven track. Cyrus also boasts the cosignature of the original artist in the form of an official collaboration.
