The CoverUp

A very old, less known, and wildly special song before the maximally meteoric rise, and a cover by a band that was — and still is — there through it all. Cry for a Shadow, originally by the Beatles, covered by The Ventures. Outro music is Walk, Don’t Run, also by The Ventures.

One of the greatest protest songs and just plain old songs ever recorded is tragically germane across the decades. What’s Going On, originally by Marvin Gaye, covered by Cyndi Lauper, and by Los Lobos. Outro music is Biko by Peter Gabriel. And honestly, the folks at Rolling Stone need to get their house in order.

A song that seemed to come out of nowhere and take over the whole world is a lot more than just well formulated pop, and a cover from a secret band. Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra, covered by Army of Three. Outro music is The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson.

A debut single that put the biggest possible flag in the ground, and a cover that shows up with its own ideas. Mr Brightside, originally by The Killers, covered by Hauskey. Outro music is Elmo’s Song, by Elmo featuring Big Bird and Snuffy. Yes, it fits.

A song that was a point of transition which lead to a future that nobody expected, least of all the band behind it, and a perfect tribute. Southern Accents, originally by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, covered by Dolly Parton. Outro music is Rebels, also by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and you can’t tell us that isn’t a great line.

A song that perfectly captures a historical moment that’s coming around to bite us again, and a cover that gets it all wrong in the rightest possible way. Video Killed The Radio Star, originally by The Buggles, covered by The Presidents Of The United States Of America. Outro music is Cleveland Rocks, also by The Presidents Of The United States Of America.

We always love a song with a complicated origin story, and here we get to pay tribute to an amazing songwriter and still indulge our favorite plot twists. Help Me Make It Through The Night, originally released by Percy Sledge, with versions by Kris Kristofferson, and by Gladys Knight and the Pips. Outro music is Jump In The River by Sinead O’Connor — and if you don’t know about the connection between Kris Kristofferson and Sinead O’Connor, you need to dig into that, because it’s amazing.

A lively song from a young band that shows a lot more musical maturity than you might expect, and a cover by an equally young band that knows what they’re about, even if the industry isn’t ready for it yet. Going Down To Liverpool, originally by The Waves (who had not yet given Katrina top billing), covered by The Bangles. Outro music is Walking On Sunshine, also by Katrina and the Waves. Let us know if it helps you figure out who’s actually singing in the first song, because we’re still confused.

It’s hard to find a song - or a singer - who nails it better than this, which makes covering it an impossible task. We found a band that did it. Someone Like You, originally by Adele, covered by Water From Your Eyes. Outro music is Love at the Five and Dime, by Nanci Griffith — and you should really go back and check out that episode if you missed it the first time.

An iconic song with an origin story that defies all understanding, and a cover by a singer with more talents than any six people should be trusted with. All The Young Dudes, originally by Mott the Hoople, covered by Bruce Dickinson. Outro music is Bang a Gong, by T.Rex, who makes a surprise appearance in this episode — let us know if you spot it.

A song that knows its genre better than anyone could have expected, but also understands its roots in a way that elevates the sound, and a cover that does its country proud. A Bar Song (Tipsy), originally by Shaboozey, covered by Twenty One Two. Outro music is Sweat Honey Buckiin by Beyoncé featuring Shaboozey.

An ideal pop song that was far enough ahead of its time it got to come around again for a second try, and a cover with all the right bits and pieces. There She Goes, originally by The La’s, covered by The Wombats. Outro music is Sweet Emotion, by Aerosmith. And we promise that makes sense.

We embrace the Christmas spirit with a top-tier listener request and absolute classic of a song, and a cover that has equal measures of heart and musical greatness. The Heat Miser Song, originally performed by George S. Irving, covered by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Outro music is Put One Foot In Front Of The Other, from Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, another Rankin Bass Classic.

A song from an experimental phase that is utterly complete and fully formed, and a cover that should sound like a gimmick but a brilliant band makes it polished and natural. Eleanor Rigby, originally by The Beatles, covered by Kansas with the London Symphony Orchestra. Outro music is Mama Told Me Not To Come, by Three Dog Night with the London Symphony Orchestra.

A subtle song from band that never took over the world, but is a perfect representative of a rich and often overlooked time in music history, and a cover that leaves it all on the table. Always The Last To Know, originally by Del Amitri, covered by Jill Jackson. Outro music is Tell Her This, also by Del Amitri, who continue their tradition of naming their songs just a little differently than you think they should.

Maximum attitude and acres of style when music wasn’t really going that way, and a cover that definitely hits the mark the band aimed at. A Girl Like You, originally by Edwyn Collins, covered by Random Hearts. Outro music is You Only Get What You Give, by New Radicals.

The unlikeliest of artists remakes a reliable formula to create the unlikeliest of mega hits, and a band that does their thing well, but nobody really knows why. Scatman, originally by Scatman John, covered by The Axel Boys Quartet. Outro music is Only You, also by Scatman John, which we desperately hoped would be a Yaz cover. It’s not, but it’s fun none the less.

A hugely successful song that was only coincidentally perfect for a movie, and a serious cover that knew where not to take the original too seriously. Wicked Game, originally by Chris Isaak, covered by Daisy Gray. Outro music is Threads by Portishead.

A song that is as unexpected as it is utterly satisfying, and a cover so far beyond insightful it’s hard to fathom. Lost Cause, originally by Beck, covered by Willie Nelson. Outro music is Keep Me In Your Heart by Warren Zevon, which is another one of those songs that just hits you, and which Willie Nelson included on the album we discuss here. Are we foreshadowing a future episode?

One of the songs that put Motown and the Motown sound on the map and a cover by a troubled but flawless band — with probably more surprise musical contributions than we’ve had in any three episodes. Stick around for the world’s greatest hype man. Outro music is 911 Is A Joke by Public Enemy, which we also discussed way back in episode 20— that one is a similarly wild ride.