When I was in the 8th grade, my step dad fussed because I was so into Limp Bizkit’s cover of George Michael’s “Faith.” I wasn’t just “into” it…I was slightly obsessed with their cover. They were also one of my favorite bands at the time. His argument? If they were a band that possessed any talent at all, they wouldn’t have to cover anyone’s songs.

He makes an interesting point. I mean, if you’re a talented songwriter, you shouldn’t have to play other people’s songs and release them as your own single, right? By this thinking, we wouldn’t have crappy songs like Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” or Johnny Cash and June Carter’s “It Ain’t Me, Babe.” Van Halen’s “You Really Got Me”? Outta here.

And consider this…If people were talented, we’d never have to sit through the Beatles’ “Anna (Go to Him)”, “Chains,” “Boys,” “Baby It’s You,” “A Taste of Honey,” “Twist and Shout,” “Till There Was You,” “Please Mr. Postman,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me,” “Devil in Her Heart,” “Money (That’s What I Want),” “Long, Tall Sally,” “Slow Down,” “Matchbox,” “Rock And Roll Music,” “Mr. Moonlight,” “Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!,” “Words of Love,” “Honey Don’t,” “Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby,” “Bad Boy,” “Act Naturally,” “Dizzy Miss Lizzy,” “Maggie Mae,” amongst others. I mean, what did the Beatles know about songwriting?

Fact is, the only band in the world that has not played a cover song and released their version of it was the first person to ever write a song and even then, after his friend wrote one too, he probably played it. Music is a wonderful thing like that.

I bring this up because this morning Erin and I were watching the Raconteurs cover Gnarls Barkley’s song “Crazy” and decided to spend the first half of my day listening to good and bad cover songs. I’ve decided to share a few. These are by no means my favorites or even the best and I don’t care if you like them as well…Just know that I do :-)

Orgy “Blue Monday” (New Order)

Marilyn Manson “Sweet Dreams” (Eurythmics)

All Time Low “Umbrella” (Rihanna)

A Static Lullaby “Toxic” (Brittney Spears)

Sid Vicious “My Way” (written by Paul Anka, popularized by Frank Sinatra)

More coming tomorrow

Enjoy today’s haiku:

So I ate breakfast
And now, an hour later
I’m mega hungry