Top 5 Genre-Crossing Cover Songs

What are your favorite genre-crossing cover songs? Everyone loves to hear a song that has been redone in a cool way. Sometimes these cover songs can sound horrible but occasionally one comes out that is as good or better than the original. Here is my list of the top 5 genre-crossing cover songs.

1. Hurt- Nine Inch Nails (Johnny Cash)

I love both of these versions. I'm a big Nine Inch Nails fan but I am an even bigger Johnny Cash fan. The NIN version is dark but somehow Johnny's version sounds even more dark and emotional. If you watch the video Johnny made for his cover version it is even more intense.

2. Blue Monday - New Order (Orgy)

In the 80's New Order was an extremely popular New Wave band. I think they are great, however it's nice to see the harder version done by Orgy. It thought this song was a very sexy cover, and not just because it was done by a band called Orgy.

3. The Man Who Sold the World - David Bowie (Nirvana)

I am a huge David Bowie fan and I'm also a huge Nirvana fan, so this is double pleasure for me. This song was originally recorded by Bowie in the early 70's. Nirvana, probably the most popular Grunge band of the 90's, brought the song back in a big way. There's a really cool acoustic version that Kurt Cobain did for MTV Unplugged. It is actually probably better than Bowie's version.

4. Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson (Pet Shop Boys)

Willie Nelson was not the first person to record this song but he did make it popular. He did a great slow version of this song in the early 80's. A few years later, the Pet Shop Boys did a sped up electronic dance version. It was perfect for the clubs, very danceable.

5. Proud Mary - Ike and Tina Turner (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

I have to show my love to both Tina and Creedence. Two completely different styles here. Both could be classified under the rock genre, however there is a huge difference in the styles. Tina brings a little soul to the song while Creedence is a more folk/hippie version. I love them both and can't say which version is better, they are both great!

I picked these songs because each artist brought a different style to the cover version. I hate it when someone does a cover and it sounds just like the original artist. What's the point of that? I hope you like my choices and let me know some of your favorites.