warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

7 Best Beatles Covers

Rania Aniftos |
July 2, 2014 | 2:32 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

The Beatles in Washington D.C. (via @thebeatles/Twitter)
The Beatles in Washington D.C. (via @thebeatles/Twitter)
Back in May, Miley Cyrus and rock band The Flaming Lips covered the classic Beatles hit "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" for the 2014 Billboard Music Awards.

However, before Miley's glitter-clad performance, countless artists have shared their interpretations of Beatles songs, adding their own twist and paying tribute to arguably the greatest band of all time. 

Here are some of the best Beatles covers that, if you haven't heard already, you definitely should.

Florence and the Machine — "Oh! Darling"

Released in 2009 on a box set edition of their debut album "Lungs," Florence and the Machine give a mesmerizing feel to the 1969 track. Singer Florence Welch's strong and sturdy voice ironically highlights the worn and pleading kind of love intentioned for the song by the Beatles themselves.

The Black Keys — "She Said She Said"

The Black Keys featured their cover of "She Said She Said" on "The Big Come Up," their 2002 debut album. John Lennon described this counterculture song as "acidy," which The Black Keys surely embrace while adding a bit of edgy rawness to the originally trippy and hazy track.

Michael Jackson — "Come Together"

The king of pop's version of the 1969 classic was originally featured in his 1988 anthology film, "Moonwalker," and was released in 1995 on his ninth studio album, "HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I." Jackson brilliantly incorporates some funk and a 1980s pop twist to an already incredible song.

Joe Cocker — "With a Little Help from My Friends"

Joe Cocker originally performed his cover of "With a Little Help from My Friends" in 1969 at Woodstock and the track has since skyrocketed to become the most famous Beatles cover of all time. Cocker changed the chords and instrumentation of the 1967 hit and even slowed down the tempo. The daring rearrangement certainly paid off, for in 2001, the cover was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Stevie Wonder — "We Can Work It Out"

Stevie Wonder's cover of "We Can Work It Out" is, again, one of the most popular Beatles covers. It reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, and rightfully so. Stevie Wonder gives an optimistic yet soulful vibe to the track that makes the listener truly believe that he or she can work it out.

Amy Winehouse — "All My Loving"

Performed at the 2004 Glastonbury Festival, Amy Winehouse's interpretation of the 1964 track is a tremendously underrated cover. Winehouse's bluesy vocals add a sultry, tender aura to a rather cute, upbeat song.

Al Green — "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"

Covering perhaps the most well known Beatles song is no simple task. Yet, Al Green proves that he can do the track soulful justice. Green released the cover in 1969—just six years after the original song's release—and incorporates a funky, foot-tapping energy that gives "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" a nice kick that can immediately put anyone in a good mood.

Reach Staff Reporter Rania Aniftos here. 



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness