There’s been a tidal wave of brilliant tracks washing up throughout the year that was, as the long suffering music industry finally begins to get back into the flow of things. So many great songs came out in fact, that it was impossible to pick just ten of my favourite tracks. So to make my end of year list a little easier to compile, I’ve opted to select my top ten COVER songs of 2023. And yet even then, it was still a challenge to narrow down!
10. There She Goes (The La’s) – Hazel English
This light and airy tribute to The La’s ‘There She Goes’ from Australian-American artist Hazel English feels like floating down a river at sunset. And clocking in at just over two minutes, there’s really no excuse not to hop onboard and take a ride down this dream pop piece.
9. Cherry-Coloured Funk (Cocteau Twins) – LA MERE
A modern take on the Cocteau Twins classic, this track drips with bass-soaked synths, hammers in extra percussion, and even manages to string along Johnny Marr on guitar! A truly trippy treat.
8. West End Girls (Pet Shop Boys) – Sleaford Mods
Jason Williamson’s distinctive drawl that defines rough and tumble duo Sleaford Mods is somehow smeared seamlessly across an 80’s synth pop classic. Not only that, but it’s for a good cause too: raising money for the homeless charity Shelter.
7. Better Be Home Soon (Crowded House) – Budjerah, WILSN
This track, made to honour Aussie label Mushroom Records 50th anniversary, sees R&B artist and Coodjinburra man Budjerah revamp a song that has surely passed through the eardrums of virtually every Australian & New Zealander. The result, complete with jazzy trumpets and WILSN’s soulful vocals feels like it would be just as at home in New Orleans as in New Zealand.
6. History Eraser (Courtney Barnett) – The Merindas
This song from Aussie indie icon Courtney Barnett was handed over to up-and-comers The Merindas as part of a tribute to Milk Records 10th anniversary. While, sadly, the label has since announced it is shutting up shop, this dance pop bop is a fitting farewell, pulling an electronic eccentricity out of what was originally a guitar led track.
5. Different Now (Chastity Belt) – Courtney Barnett
Continuing on the theme of Courtney, this track presents a new take on American alt-rockers Chastity Belt’s ‘Different Now’. The simple drum machine beat that kicks it all off is soon enveloped by glittering guitars, tambourine, and of course, Barnett’s down to earth voice.
4. Filled With Wonder (Bill Fay) – Jeff Tweedy
There was surely no one better suited to take on this track by Bill Fay than Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, a long time admirer and occasional collaborator of the cult songwriter. Tweedy takes the original acoustic number and, with the addition of bass, mellotron, and energetic percussion courtesy of his son Spencer, opens up the song to a sense of hopeful exuberance, proving that wonder can be found in even the darkest of days.
3. C’est Comme Ca (Paramore) – Wet Leg
The offbeat lyrics of this track from Paramore’s latest record feel like they were written for Wet Leg’s signature style of deadpan delivery. Chaotic, kitsch and catchy, their version feels like an altogether different song than the original, but it works just as well, if not better!
2. Love My Way (The Psychedelic Furs) – Share
Share’s unique style of cinematic shoegaze is presented perfectly in the duo’s debut release: a cover of The Psychedelic Furs favourite ‘Love My Way’. Kaylen Krebsbach’s stirring voice floats over Nile Marr’s fuzzy guitars, proving a match made in indie heaven.
1. Cello Song (Nick Drake) – Fontaines D.C.
Of all the brilliant takes on folk icon Nick Drake’s catalogue presented on tribute album The Endless Coloured Ways, this hazy reinterpretation of ‘Cello Song’ courtesy of Fontaines D.C. definitely takes the cake. By melding faded riffs with Grian Chatten’s accented vocals, the band seamlessly add their unique Irish flair to this classic track.
