Pop Music Playlist: The Ultimate Cover Collection
A cover song is a new performance or recording of a previously recorded, commercially released song by someone other than the original artist or composer.
Introduction
We all love listening to our favorite songs on the radio, but sometimes it’s nice to hear a new take on an old classic. That’s why we’ve put together this ultimate collection of pop music covers for your listening pleasure. From well-known tracks like “I Will Always Love You” and “Stand By Me” to modern hits like “All About That Bass” and “Uptown Funk,” this playlist has something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the best covers around.
The Best Pop Music Cover Songs
There are so many great pop songs out there, but sometimes it’s even more fun to listen to a cover version. A good cover can breathe new life into a familiar song and make it feel fresh and new again. Here are some of our favorite pop music cover songs.
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
Originally performed by Dolly Parton in 1974, Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” became one of the bestselling singles of all time. Her powerful vocal performance earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and the song remains one of her most iconic hits.
“All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow
The lyrics of the original version were written by Sheryl Crow and Wyn Cooper. The song was inspired by Barbara Moore, a friend of Crow’s who Crow described as “a control freak”. The song was released on Crow’s debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club, in September 1993.
“All I Wanna Do” is a mid-tempo song with a folk rock feel. The lyrics tell the story of a woman who dreams of leaving her small town for the big city. The protagonist is bored with her life and wants to experience something new. She is attracted to a man who is also from her town, but she is not sure if he feels the same way about her.
The song was a commercial success, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming Crow’s first top-40 hit in the United Kingdom. It received positive reviews from music critics and won several awards, including the Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 1996 ceremony.
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
The song was released on October 3, 1978, as a single from the album of the same name. It received extensive airplay on disco/dance radio stations, and became one of the most popular songs of 1979. The song is often considered an anthem by the gay community.
The original version of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston’s emotionally charged cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” is one of the best pop music cover songs of all time. The song was originally written and recorded by Parton in 1974, and Houston’s version was released in 1992. The song became a massive hit, topping the charts in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and many other countries. It won several Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female.
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
One of the most popular and definitive disco anthems, Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979 and has been covered by a who’s who of artists across multiple genres over the years. The song has been particularly popular with queer artists, who have used it as an anthem of strength and resilience in the face of discrimination.
Gaynor’s original version is a timeless queer classic, but there are plenty of great covers to choose from if you’re looking for something a little different. Here are some of our favorites:
-The Weather Girls’ upbeat 1982 dance cover is propelled by a catchy bassline and some iconic falsetto “oohs.”
-Laura Branigan’s 1982 power ballad cover takes the song in a completely different direction, stripping away the disco beats for a more emotive piano-driven arrangement.
-Louchie Lou & Michie One’s reggae-infused 1995 cover injects some new life into the classic with its infectious horns and laid-back groove.
-Rihanna’s 2009 R&B cover adds some contemporary flair to the song with its sleek production and sultry vocal performance.
-Pentatonix’s acapella cover from 2013 shows off the group’s impressive harmonies and proves that the song can sound great without any instruments at all.
The Worst Pop Music Cover Songs
There are some pop songs that are so good, they’ve been covered by dozens of artists. And then there are some pop songs that are so bad, they should never have been covered in the first place. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the worst pop music cover songs of all time.
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
In 1994, Whitney Houston took on one of country music’s most classic songs, “I Will Always Love You,” which was originally sung by Dolly Parton. Parton’s original song is a beautifully written ballad about the pain of leaving someone you love, and Houston’s cover is… not that. It’s overproduced, oversung, and just overall too much. It’s no wonder that Parton has said she prefers the original version of her song.
“All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow
Pop songs are often cover songs. They’re either covers of other pop songs or covers of older, more classic tracks. There are some good pop cover songs out there. But for every good one, there are ten terrible ones. Here are the worst pop music cover songs:
1. “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow
2. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
3. “Yesterday” by The Beatles
4. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey
5. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
6.”(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones
7.”Imagine” by John Lennon
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
This popular disco anthem was originally released in 1978 by Gloria Gaynor. The song became an instant classic, and has been covered by many artists over the years. Unfortunately, not all of these covers are created equal. In fact, some of them are downright terrible.
One of the worst covers of “I Will Survive” was done by none other than Ashlee Simpson. Simpson’s version, which was released in 2004, was a far cry from Gaynor’s original disco hit. The cover was so bad that it was actually named the worst cover song of all time by Blender magazine.
Other terrible covers of “I Will Survive” include those by Celine Dion, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera. These singers have all taken this classic song and turned it into a complete disaster. If you’re looking for a good cover of “I Will Survive,” stick with Gaynor’s original version or one of the many excellent covers that have been done over the years by other artists.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our ultimate pop music cover playlist! We had a lot of fun putting it together and we hope you found some new tunes to add to your collection.
If you liked this playlist, be sure to check out our other playlists, including our Ultimate Indie Cover Playlist and our Ultimate Country Cover Playlist. And if you’re a fan of cover songs, be sure to check out our monthly Cover Song Spotlight series, where we showcase some of the best cover songs from up-and-coming artists.
