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I love cover songs. I mean, I LOVE cover songs. I love listening to one band interpret another band's creative vision. I've often found myself listening to a cover and saying "Dang... I like this better than the original one!" or at least "This is just as good as the original!". So I've scoured through my massive collection of cover songs and brought to you my top five covers that I believe are equal to or better than their original counterparts!

I also apologize for the major majority of these videos. The outbreak of "embedding disabled by request" crap has gotten out of control on YouTube. So with that in mind: let's go!

#1

The Song: Paper Planes
Originally By: M.I.A.
Cover By: Freshman 15

Original Info: Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam (Best known as M.I.A.) is a british artist of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. Her song "Paper Planes" was released in 2007 as the third single from her album "Kala". Paper Planes samples the song "Straight To Hell" from The Clash.

Why The Cover?: There have been many many many covers of Paper Planes, it was a smash hit in it's original form. So why do I like Freshman 15's cover more than the original, and further yet: more than any other cover of the song? Because it's FUN! The song is high paced, danceable, and most importantly, a ton of fun to sing along with. I love M.I.A.'s original version, but it's just not as much fun to sing along to as Freshman 15's!

Paper Planes As Originally Sung by M.I.A.:

Paper Planes as Covered by Freshman 15:

#2

Song: Hey Ya
Originally by: Outkast
Cover by: Matt Weddle of Obadiah Parker

Original Info: Hey Ya was originally written and produced by Andre 3000 for the 2003 album "The Love Below" part of the hip hop duo double album with Outkast "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" It was released in 2003 as one of the album's two lead singles. The song popularized the pop culture phrase "Shake it like a Polariod picture"

Why The Cover?: So why do I like Matt Weddle's cover of Hey Ya better than the original? Because it's hilarious and freakin' awesome. Matt Weddle brought the song to a soft acoustic love song feel, and it's ten times more fun to sing along to.

Hey Ya as originally sung by Outkast:

Hey Ya as covered by Matt Weddle of Obadiah Parker:

#3

Song: Pour Some Sugar On Me
Originally by: Def Leppard
Cover by: The Maine

Original Info: Everyone knows the song "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by British rock band Def Leppard. It was originally a track on their 1987 album "Hysteria" and has become thought of as the band's signature song. The style of the song is classic arena rock, in fact, the song's chord progression is the exact same as the one in Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n Roll"

Why the Cover?: Now I am not even about to say that The Maine's cover of "Pour Some Sugar On Me" is better than Def Leppard's original. That, my friends, is what we call sacrilidgous. I am going to say, however, that it is equal to the original song. What the cover in fact does is bring this classic song to a new generation of kids who didn't grow up listening to Def Leppard. The Maine has created an awesome cover of the song, sticking true to the arena rock sound, rather than bringing it into their own style, so for the most part the song's integrity stays the same. I highly commend The Maine for showing the iGeneration the rock 'n roll glory of Def Leppard!

Pour Some Sugar On Me as originally sung by Def Leppard:

Pour Some Sugar On Me as covered by The Maine

#4

Song: Toxic
Originally by: Britney Spears
Covered by: Yael Naim
Original info: Toxic appeared on Britney Spears' 2003 fourth studio album "In The Zone". Although originally the song was offered to Kylie Minogue (who turned it down) the song went to Britney who created a smash hit out of it and in 2005 it was awarded a grammy for "Best Dance Recording", Spears' first and only Grammy win to date.

Why the cover?: I love Yael Naim's cover of Toxic because of it's creepy factor. I can't say that I'm a big fan of Britney Spears, and in truth, the original version of the song annoys me. Yael Naim took the fast pased dance song and turned in into a slow and totally creepy version of it, which I love!

Toxic as originally sung by Britney Spears:

Toxic as covered by Yael Naim:

#5

Song: Poker Face
Originally by: Lady Gaga
Covered by: Christ Daughtry

Original info: Poker Face is an electropop song by Lady Gaga from her debut album "The Fame". It was the second single from the album, following up the first single "Just Dance", all of which were released in 2008 in america, and 2009 in the rest of the world.

Why the cover?: I'm going to be honest. I really really really hate the original song (and artist). I mean, I can't take it. Poker Face in it's original version literally sits at #2 on the "turn it off RIGHT NOW" list in my brain. So when my friend sent me this cover of Poker Face by Chris Daughtry I told my friend to suck a nut, there was no way in hell I was listening to it. It took some convincing, but I eventually turned the song on and was shocked. Chris Daughtry managed the impossible for me, he turned Poker Face into an actually listenable song in my eyes. The cover is great, and though I don't play it often, I haven't deleted it, so that's saying something.

Poker Face as originally sung by Lady Gaga:

Poker Face as covered by Chris Daughtry:

So there you have it folks, my top five cover songs that are equal to or better than their respective originals! I hope you've heard something new, remembered something old, or just enjoyed some rad tunes! See you next time!