Verdict: No One’s Gonna Love You – Band of Horses v. Cee Lo Green

The blogosphere’s been incessantly buzzing about Cee Lo Green’s new album The Lady Killer, and the awesome first track that he recently released. While the song is, in my opinion, the most kickass song of the year, I’m completely blown away by his cover of Band of Horses’ No One’s Gonna Love You.

This is the point where I’m supposed to cower under my desk, because Band of Horses’ fans are up in arms at what they think is Cee Lo massacring a fantastic song. And, in what seems like a first for me with covers, I don’t prefer one or the other: both songs are completely fantastic. I LOVE Band of Horses’ original track, which is simply a classic, beautiful song. I also love Cee Lo’s version, which is so powerful, moreso because of his strong voice.

What do you think? Do you have a preference?

Verdict: Kids – MGMT v The Kooks/Weezer/Ben Lee

MGMT are no doubt extremely popular and remarkably catchy, and their single Kids is one of their best songs that I’ve heard to date. Apparently a lot of other people also seem to think so, because the Internet is flooded with covers of the song by several different artists, including The Kooks, Weezer (although they do break into Lady Gaga after about two minutes of awesome MGMT) and Ben Lee.

While MGMT’s version of Kids is still my favourite, The Kooks’ version comes in at a close second. What do you think? Leave a comment below.

(NB – The link official MGMT video on YouTube wouldn’t load, but I’ll try and fix the link soon.)

Artist Alert: Nouvelle Vague

The thought of listening to an entire album (or three) of covers may not be very appealing, but Nouvelle Vague put an original spin on some classics as well as lesser known music by artists such as Blondie, The Clash, Peggy Lee and Depeche Mode. Nouvelle Vague is the brainchild of French musicians Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux who metamorphose British New Wave into Bossa Nova genius.

Recording a cover – let alone multiple albums of covers – can pose several complications, the least of which is sounding unoriginal and severely unimaginative. Nouvelle Vague escape that pitfall by utilising a strategy that works wonderfully – female vocalists who have never heard the original songs, thereby ensuring that they bring their own personality to each ‘new’ tune.

My personal favourite song is Ever Fall In Love from their 2006 album Bande à Part, which is a cover of a 1978 Buzzcocks song. Visit their website to hear some songs from their first two albums, or watch a live performance at KCRW.

Verdict: Run – Snow Patrol v Leona Lewis

In 2004, Virgin Radio UK became my favourite radio station when it introduced me to Snow Patrol’s Run from their album Final Straw (thank you iTunes radio!). They achieved huge success with Chasing Cars and subsequently rose to fame, but Run continues to be the best Snow Patrol song there is.

So today when I tuned in to vh1 and saw Leona Lewis singing the same song, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Leona has an excellent voice, no doubt, but Run is what it is because of Gary Lightbody’s softer yet more passionate way of singing it and the grand scale of the amazing music arragements.

Clearly I prefer the original Snow Patrol Run. Watch Snow Patrol’s version and Leona Lewis’s version and decide for yourself, and leave a comment below.