Live Review: Top 10 Indie Cover Songs

Match-making is fun. In our internet age where every kid on Youtube with a guitar and a webcam thinks they will make it big, you've probably watched your fair share of terrible covers. Allie Speers talks us through some of her favourite musical match-ups. What would you add to the list?

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TAME IMPALA – ‘Remember Me’ by BLUEBOY

Into illegal substances? I’m a little bit curious as to whether TAME IMPALA were on some when they were jamming this one out, creating smoky sounds for smoky days. Smoky, magnificent days.

THE GORILLAZ – ‘Crystalized’ by THE XX

Remember them? I personally wouldn’t group THE GORILLAZ into the indie bracket, but things changed for me when they performed ‘Crystalized’ for BBC Radio in 2010.

FOALS – ‘One’ by SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA

This cover is better than a pizza after a night on the beers. Someone give me a moment where this song does not fit. Party? Yes please. Sex? Even better. Even when chilling at home, this is mint; you just turn the volume down a bit. FOALS, please marry me. Yes, I mean all of you.

YEAH YEAH YEAHS – ‘Mr Your On Fire Mr’ by LIARS

Not for the dainty of heart, but the YEAH YEAH YEAHS can do no wrong. In fact, my question to you is: what can’t they do?

BAT FOR LASHES – ‘I’m On Fire’ by BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

I am in love with NATASHA KHAN, the secret identity of indie priestess BAT FOR LASHES. Her newest album Horse And I croons of wizards and bats and her rendition of SPRINGSTEEN’S ‘I’m on Fire’ doesn’t fail to disappoint on the magniscale. (Scale of magnificence.)

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – ‘Hide And Seek' by IMOGEN HEAP

Don't pretend you don't remember exactly what scene of The OC this song features in.  An already amazing song given new life by BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB. JACK STEADMAN’S dulcet tones never fail to render me totally and irrevocably in lust. **

** Confession. Rachael the editor, didn't want to write that the cover is actually of Jason Derulo's "Whatcha Say'. But now you know...

M.I.A. – ‘Where is My Mind’ by PIXIES

The legitimate track title of her song is ‘20 Dollar’, but by using the bass line and the chorus of famous PIXIES song ‘Where is My Mind’, M.I.A takes one of the most covered songs and makes it her own. It’s the seventh track on her second album Kala, and manages to give it a twist that other artists have not managed to do thus far.

THE MACCABEES – ‘Boom Boom Pow’ by THE BLACK EYED PEAS

I saw THE WOMBATS do ‘Pricetag’ on Like A Version the other day, but, if honesty is a virtue (it isn’t), I did enjoy THE MACCABEES ‘Boom Boom Pow’ more. They have what… four guitars? Does it get any better than that?

ARCTIC MONKEYS – ‘Katy On a Mission’ by KATY B

ALEX TURNER and your Outsiders style ‘do. Be my lover.

THE XX – ‘Do You Mind’ by KYLA

This song was totally re-made by THE XX, and for the better. By putting their deep spin on it, the XX turned a rather superficial song into something underwater-magical. And they lived happily ever after.

Words by Allie Speers.