Top 5 1980's Genre-Crossing Cover Songs

Many of the bands that do cover songs slaughter the original and leave us wondering why they even tried. Thankfully there are some singers and bands that can take on a great song from any genre, and make it a hit all over again. These are my top 5 picks for genre-crossing cover songs. I have picked songs from the 1980's that have been covered by totally different types of musicians, and done exceptionally well.

#5- Time After Time. The original song was sung by Cyndi Lauper in 1983 and the cover was done by the band Quietdrive in 2006. Lauper is a new wave/pop artist, while QuietDrive is known as a rock/alternative rock band. The cover version is different than the original, but it is done really well and takes nothing away from the classic 80's song. Click here to hear the cover version.

#4- Personal Jesus. The original was sung by the quintessential 80's electro pop/new wave band, Depeche Mode. The 1989 song was inspired by the book written by Priscilla Presley called, "Elvis and Me". It has been covered by many artists, but my pick for the best genre-crossing cover goes to Marilyn Manson and his 2004 gothic rock/metal version of Personal Jesus. Click here for Manson's version of the song.

#3- 99 Red Balloons. Original version performed in German in 1983 and English in 1984 by German pop singer Nena. The cover song was done by a ska/punk band called GoldFinger. This is one of the best genre-crossing covers I've ever heard. They sing most of it in English, but throw in a few lyrics in German as well, and it really works. GoldFinger covered the song in 2000 and you can click here to hear their version of 99 Red Balloons.

#2- Careless Whispers . The original was by Wham featuring George Michael in 1984. Wham was a pop/disco band, while the band that covered the song in 2009, Seether, is a South African alternative metal band. Seether remade the song as a joke, and the "joke" turned into the song that put them on the map in America. It is an excellent genre-crossing cover version of Careless Whispers, still slow, but very different than the original. Hear it by clicking here.

#1- Nothing Compares 2 U. The original song was just a B-side song by R&B pop star Prince in 1985. I loved the original but most people never heard it. Then, in 1990 a young singer named Sinead O'Connor made the song a #1 hit. O'Connor sang her alternative rock/ folk version of Nothing Compares 2 U and became an overnight sensation. It is still my favorite genre-crossing cover song of all time. I do suggest that if you have not heard Prince's version, you click here, because it's pretty darn good too!