The Music Gateway Ultimate Playlist – The Making of Our Ultimate Cover Versions List: An Office Battle Royale 🙂
Picture this: A dimly lit Music Gateway office, fueled by an endless supply of coffee, takeaway pizza, and passionate musical debates. Our quest to compile the definitive list of 37 best cover versions was nothing short of an epic saga that would make rock documentaries look tame.
It all started when Sophie threw down the gauntlet during a seemingly innocent team meeting. “We need the ultimate cover versions list,” she declared, her eyes gleaming with musical determination. Little did we know, this would become an office-wide obsession that would test friendships, professional relationships, and our collective musical knowledge.
Leila from the marketing team nearly started a civil war when she passionately argued for Alien Ant Farm’s “Smooth Criminal” to be in the top 10. Lee from A&R countered with a comprehensive spreadsheet of why it should be much lower. Sam and Jon were caught in heated debates that threatened to topple the office coffee machine.
Charlotte, our resident indie music expert, spent three consecutive nights creating elaborate mind maps of cover version genealogies. James would randomly burst into different cover versions during meetings, much to everyone’s simultaneous amusement and frustration. Kieran’s conspiracy board of cover version connections looked like something out of a musical detective show.
The arguments were epic. Playlists were created, destroyed, and resurrected. Spotify became our battleground. We had spreadsheets, heated Slack threads, and impromptu listening sessions that would make music historians weep. One particularly memorable moment involved Lee dramatically sliding a printed ranking across the conference table, causing Sophie to nearly knock over her fifth coffee of the day.
Arguments ranged from the deeply serious (“The emotional impact of Jeff Buckley’s ‘Hallelujah'”) to the absolutely ridiculous (“Can we legally include a cover that makes us cry more than three times?”). Friendships were tested. Musical allegiances were formed and broken.
In the end, what emerged was more than just a list. It was a testament to our collective musical passion, our ability to argue passionately (and lovingly), and our shared belief in the magic of music.
So when you read this list, know that every single entry is backed by hours of debate, countless cups of coffee, and the collective musical soul of the Music Gateway team.
Disclaimer: No team members were permanently harmed in the making of this list. Although Lee’s spreadsheet skills are still the stuff of legend.
37. “Valerie” – Amy Winehouse (Originally by The Zutons)
Amy Winehouse transformed this indie rock track into a soul-drenched masterpiece that became her signature sound.
36. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Tori Amos (Originally by Nirvana)
A haunting, piano-driven reimagining that strips the grunge anthem down to its emotional core.
35. “Hurt” – Johnny Cash (Originally by Nine Inch Nails)
Cash’s version is so powerful, Trent Reznor admitted the song no longer felt like his own.
34. “I Will Always Love You” – Whitney Houston (Originally by Dolly Parton)
A cover so iconic, it overshadowed the original and became a global phenomenon.
33. “All Along the Watchtower” – Jimi Hendrix (Originally by Bob Dylan)
Dylan himself said Hendrix’s version surpassed his original – and we couldn’t agree more.
32. “Hallelujah” – Jeff Buckley (Originally by Leonard Cohen)
A breathtaking interpretation that became the definitive version for an entire generation.
31. “Mad World” – Gary Jules (Originally by Tears for Fears)
A haunting, stripped-back version that captured the world’s imagination.
30. “Feeling Good” – Nina Simone (Originally from Broadway Musical)
Simone’s powerful rendition transcended the original, becoming an anthem of liberation.
29. “The Sound of Silence” – Disturbed (Originally by Simon & Garfunkel)
A metal band’s orchestral reimagining that shocked and moved listeners worldwide.
28. “Respect” – Aretha Franklin (Originally by Otis Redding)
Franklin’s version became an enduring anthem of empowerment.
27. “With a Little Help from My Friends” – Joe Cocker (Originally by The Beatles)
A soulful transformation that gave new depth to the Beatles classic.
26. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Originally from The Wizard of Oz)
An ukulele version that became a global sensation of pure joy.
25. “House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals (Traditional Folk Song)
A folk classic transformed into a rock masterpiece.
24. “Twist and Shout” – The Beatles (Originally by Top Notes)
The Beatles’ energetic cover became the definitive version.
23. “Satisfied Mind” – Jeff Buckley (Originally by Porter Wagoner)
Another Buckley masterclass in cover interpretation.
22. “Proud Mary” – Ike & Tina Turner (Originally by Creedence Clearwater Revival)
A high-energy reimagining that became a soul classic.
21. “Take Me to the River” – Talking Heads (Originally by Al Green)
New wave meets soul in this brilliant cover.
20. “Blitzkrieg Bop” – System of a Down (Originally by The Ramones)
A metal twist on the punk classic.
19. “Umbrella” – Manic Street Preachers (Originally by Rihanna)
A rock reimagining of the pop hit.
18. “Jolene” – The White Stripes (Originally by Dolly Parton)
A raw, blues-rock take on the country classic.
17. “Nothing Compares 2 U” – Sinéad O’Connor (Originally by Prince)
A heart-wrenching interpretation that became a global hit.
16. “Landslide” – The Smashing Pumpkins (Originally by Fleetwood Mac)
An alternative rock take on the classic.
15. “I Put a Spell on You” – Nina Simone (Originally by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins)
Simone’s second appearance on our list – a testament to her cover genius.
14. “Moonage Daydream” – Seu Jorge (Originally by David Bowie)
Acoustic Brazilian Portuguese covers of Bowie classics.
13. “Superstition” – Stevie Wonder (Originally by Stevie Wonder)
A rare cover of his own song that became definitive.
12. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Sam Smith (Originally from Meet Me in St. Louis)
A modern, soul-stirring take on a holiday classic.
11. “Smooth Criminal” – Alien Ant Farm (Originally by Michael Jackson)
A nu-metal version of the pop classic.
10. “Africa” – Weezer (Originally by Toto)
An ironic yet heartfelt cover that became a viral sensation.
9. “Summertime” – Janis Joplin (Originally from Porgy and Bess)
A bluesy, soulful reimagining of the classic.
8. “Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl (Traditional)
A Christmas classic that defies genre.
7. “Wonderwall” – Ryan Adams (Originally by Oasis)
A melancholic, stripped-back version.
6. “Iron Man” – The Cardigans (Originally by Black Sabbath)
A soft, dreamy take on the heavy metal classic.
5. “Between the Bars” – Metric (Originally by Elliott Smith)
An alternative rock interpretation of the indie classic.
4. “Such Great Heights” – Iron & Wine (Originally by The Postal Service)
A folk-acoustic reimagining of the electronic original.
3. “Bitches Brew” – Butch Morris (Originally by Miles Davis)
A groundbreaking jazz reinterpretation.
2. “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” – Nirvana (Traditional Folk Song)
An unplugged performance that became legendary.
1. “Billie Jean” – Chris Cornell (Originally by Michael Jackson)
An acoustic reimagining that transformed the pop classic into a haunting, stripped-down ballad that reveals the song’s raw emotional core.
Music Gateway’s Final Thoughts
Covers are more than just reproductions—they’re artistic reinterpretations that breathe new life into existing music. Each of these 37 covers tells a unique story of musical creativity, reimagination, and the universal language of sound.
“We all hope you enjoy, whilst we appreciate you may well disagree haha!”
Disclaimer: This list represents our team’s passionate musical debate and is subject to spirited discussion!
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