Per Google Oxford Languages, to reimagine is to reinterpret (an event, work of art, etc.) imaginatively. To form a new conception. I thought in light of the upcoming New Year, where we often contemplate and try reimagining our jobs, our hobbies and interests, ourselves and our life paths, I would share a collection of songs expertly reimagined by many skilled artists.
There have been times when hearing a new song that somehow seems familiar, yet new, I then have the “a-ha” moment realizing it is an interpretation of a song I know, and marvel at the metamorphosis. Sometimes this entails a total reworking of the style, feel, and approach of the song, making it almost unrecognizable. Other times it is more a genre or energy shift. But the result is often a spectacular seemingly new cover song that is often equal if not superior to its original tune.
The ones that come to mind most readily for me are some interestingly enough by the original artist in a new iteration of themselves, often in their transition from membership in their rock band to their status as a solo artist. Think Phil Collins/Genesis with “Behind the Lines,” the solo offering a pop-R&B version of the song, with the original a progressive rock staple.
Or Sting/Police with Shadows in the Rain, with reggae rock giving way to a jazz-pop style.
And Clapton actually questions on Unplugged “See if you can spot this one” regarding his reimagination of Layla, virtually unrecognizable until you really focus on the lyrics and melody, so different than its early 70s guiotar driven blues rock.
Then CeeLo Green reenvisions his alter ego Gnarls Barkley’s psychedelic funk-soul “Crazy” to a more unplugged acoustic offering.
Sometimes, as discussed in my previous blog Cover Me – Great Cover Songs & Their Originals (October 21, 2021 – see/search via Playlist menu for an exhaustive list of cover tracks often better than their originals), songs we know and love, unbeknownst to us, are actually covers. The one that continues to blow me away in this regard is Led Zeppelin’s beautiful power rock ballad “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” originally a droning cat wailing song not worth remembering by Joan Baez. How Zep listened to that song and thought “we can turn this into a breathtaking, powerful track on their debut album to me is beyond comprehension. Only the most creative, gifted musical gods could pull off such a transformation.
Here is Pink’s fantastic cover of the Zep version:
Watching American Idol in 2008, David Cook was competing and as I listened to his cover, while I sensed I knew the lyrics and melody, I couldn’t quite place it, until it dawned on me it was Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Or was it? It was the Chris Cornell version/interpretation, which was pure genius.
One of my favorite Indie artists and former Glee and America’s Got Talent alum built a YouTube following with his creative interpretations of pop songs. His version of LMFAO’s “Sexy And I Know It” put him on the map. And Prince’s “I Would Die For You” was equally creative.
And his interpretation of Prince’s “I Would Die For You” was equally creative.
It often takes a verse or two of such wildly reimagined songs before you fully recognize and place the tune.
Other notable reimaginations include Natalie Merchant’s version of The Chiffons’ “One Fine Day” from the movie of the same name, Annie Lennox’ covers of the Clash’s “Train In Vain” and Bob Marley’s “Waiting In Vain” off her album of covers “Medusa.” There’s Lourde’s etherial somber cover of Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.” Tori Amos covers Nirvana, of all bands, with a very non-grunge interpretation “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” And Ryan Adams covering miss Eras herself, Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.” Or Evanescense soaring with Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.”
Joe Cocker delivers the definitive soul interpretation of The Beatles “With A Little Help From My Friends” as does Johnny Cash with Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.”
Many reimaginations are courtesy of a genre shift, often a shift from country or pop to rock, blues, reggae, techno-pop, or rap. Think Run DMC reenvisioning Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s blues coverage of Stevie Wonder’s funk soul “Superstition.”
Or Elvis Presley’s 50s rock and Jim Hendrix’ acid rock reinterpretations of Big Mama Thorton’s blues classic “Hound Dog.” There’s Sting covering Hendrix’ “Little Wing,” Hendrix covering Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower,” and Guns N’ Roses covering Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”
Classic reggae reinterpretations include UB40’s “Red Red Wine” (Neil Diamond) and “I Got You Babe” (Sonny & Cher), Club Nouveau’s “Lean On Me” (Bill Withers), and Big Mountain’s “Baby I Love Your Way” (Peter Frampton). Techno-pop interpretations include Erasure’s “River Deep, Mountain High” (Ike & Tina Turner), The (English) Beat’s “Tears Of A Clown” (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles), Pet Shop Boys “Always On My Mind” (Willie Nelson), and Soft Cell’s “Tained Love” (Gloria Jones).
Some inspiration for creative covers of movie songs include Whitney Houston’s soaring anthem “I Will Always Love You” (Dolly Parton/Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), The Beatles “Till There Was You” (Barbara Cook/The Music Man), LL Cool J’s “Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf (Disney), Gipsy Kings “I’ve Got No Strings” (Pinocchio) – they also offer a Spanish guitar adaptation of Hotel California (Eagles).
While perhaps unfair to include Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, as the musical collective’s mission is to rework popular music into vintage musical genres, most often swing and jazz, I felt it was worth given them some representation with reinterpretations of Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talking ‘Bout Love” and Kiss’ “I Was Made For Loving You.” Here’s yet another PMJ offering with Blondie’s “Call Me.”
And I thought I’d close with Jeff Buckely’s beautifully haunting, prayerful reworking of Leonard Cohen’s almost depressively brooding “Hallelujah.”
So as you contemplate the endless possibilities of reimaging parts of your life on the eve of the New Year, I hope you enjoy listening to some great songs reimagined by some very skilled artists. Happy New Year!
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
Live in the moment.
Enjoy the moment.
Love the moment.
Listen to the MUSIC!