Life is stressful. Sometimes it is difficult to relax. For me, a surefire method to improve my mood when I’m feeling down is to watch Australian radio station Triple J’s Like A Version series, which includes a regular segment featuring both established and emerging artists covering classic or new hits.
Sometimes the covers are close to the original; sometimes they are completely different. Usually they bring me an immediate dose of joy, introducing me to new artists and songs or recontextualizing my appreciation for older hits – whether I liked the original versions when I first heard them or not.
What helps tie it all together is that there’s something about the environment in the studio that encourages artists to let loose in ways that feel like pure expressions of creativity and artistic pleasure. There is nothing like the expression of love when an artist chooses the work of another artist and says: Hey, I like this. I want to put my own spin on it.
So here are 10 of my favorite Triple J Like A Version covers. Most of these play on repeat in my head all year long. I’d love to see some of your favorites in the comments.
Denzel Curry, Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Bulls on Parade’
DMA’S, Cher’s ‘Believe‘
Tash Sultana, ‘Electric Feel’ by MGMT‘
Joey Bada$$, Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’
Alex Lahey, ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ by My Chemical Romance‘
Triple One, ‘Time After Time’ by Cyndi Lauper‘
SOFI TUKKER, ‘Chasing Cars’ by Snow Patrol‘
Joey Bada$$, Mos Def’s ‘UMI says‘
The last dinner, Blondie’s ‘Call Me‘
Dune Rats & Friends, The Angels’ ‘Am I ever going to see your face again‘
And here’s a recent one that I really liked: