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Sinéad O'Connor's cover of 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' written by Prince, became a worldwide hit and effectively launched her career. The video accompanying the power ballad was one of the most recognizable of the 1990s.
Written and recorded by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966, 'Hazy Shade of Winter' was covered in jaunty fashion by the Bangles for the 1987 movie 'Less than Zero.' The song was also released as a single and achieved chart success.
American rock band Fanny covered the Beatles' 'Hey Bulldog' in 1971, their version appearing on the album 'Fanny Hill' the following year. Fanny were one of the first all-female rock groups to achieve critical and commercial success.
Scottish songstress Annie Lennox included a cover of Neil Young's 'Don’t Let It Bring You Down' on her 1995 album, 'Medusa.' Her version also appeared in the movie 'American Beauty' (1999).
Kate Bush cites Elton John as a major influence on her career, not least for his ability on the piano. By way of a tribute, she covered 'Rocket Man' in 1991. She also directed the video created to promote the new version.
In 1983 Siouxsie and the Banshees released their cover of the Beatles' 'Dear Prudence,' a song that originally appeared on the band's double 'White Album' in 1968. Their version is regularly cited by music critics as one of the best-ever interpretations of a Beatles track.
In 2001, Tori Amos released an album of covers called 'Strange Little Girls' featuring her versions of songs originally recorded by men and reinterpreted by Amos from a female point of view. Among the standout reworkings is Depeche Mode's 'Enjoy the Silence,' and Eminem's ''97 Bonnie & Clyde.'
PJ Harvey included Bob Dylan's 'Highway 61 Revisited' on her 1993 album, 'Rid of Me.' In contrast to Dylan's noisy original, Harvey's cover is almost whispered in parts.
Miley Cyrus' version of Metallica's classic power ballad 'Nothing Else Matters' appears on the band's 'Black Album,' featuring covers from 53 artists. Cyrus performed the song live at Glastonbury in 2019.
John Lennon once remarked that 'Across the Universe' was one of his favorite Beatles compositions. Fiona Apple's 1998 rendition for the 'Pleasantville' movie soundtrack maintains the original's mediative feel, delivered in an almost sedated tone.
'Lovesong' provided English alternative rock band The Cure with a 1989 top 10 hit in the United States. Adele covered the song for her album '21,' released in 2011.
Numerous artists have covered Bruce Springsteen's 'I'm on Fire,' including Amy Macdonald, whose haunting acoustic interpretation appeared on her 2017 album, 'Under Stars.'
Norah Jones performed a solo piano cover of the Soundgarden hit 'Black Hole Sun' during her May 23, 2017, appearance at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. It was her tribute to Chris Cornell, who a week earlier had taken his own life after appearing with the band at the same venue.
In 2014, New Zealand singer and songwriter Lorde chose to cover Jeremih's 'Don't Tell 'Em' for Live Lounge. She also covered 'In the Air Tonight' by Phil Collins in 2017 for the same show.
In 2014, BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge hosted Taylor Swift, who performed a filmed rendition of the Vance Joy number 'Riptide.' Her cover was sent roaring to no. 1 on the Billboard Trending 140 just a few hours after the clip reached YouTube.
At a concert in Atlanta in 1977 just a few months after the death of Elvis Presley, Linda Ronstadt performed a live version of 'Love Me Tender.' In 1978, she recorded a studio version of the ballad for her album, 'Living in the USA.'
Arguably the most popular cover of Eric Carmen's sweeping ballad 'All by Myself' is that recorded by Celine Dion for her 1996 album, 'Falling into You.' The verse is partly inspired by the second movement of classical composer Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18.
'Something,' written by George Harrison for the Beatles' 'Abbey Road' album, provided Shirley Bassey with a huge comeback hit in 1970. She included the cover on her own album, aptly titled 'Something.'
Judy Collins took Leonard Cohen's 'Suzanne,' originally composed as a poem, and turned the words into lyrics for a song that appeared on the 1966 album 'In My Life.' Cohen later performed it as his debut single, from his 1967 album 'Songs of Leonard Cohen.'
'At Last!' is the debut studio album by American blues and soul artist Etta James. What isn't so well known is that the titular track is set to music originally composed by Glenn Miller and recorded by his orchestra.
'Respect' remains one of Aretha Franklin's signature songs, and was a huge hit for the "Queen of Soul" in 1967. However, the track was in fact written and originally recorded by Otis Redding in 1965.
The second song on this list written by Prince, 'When Doves Cry' was tackled admirably by Patti Smith and included on her 2002 album 'Land (1975–2002).'
Astrud Gilberto's 1969 cover of the Doors' 'Light My Fire' marked somewhat of a departure for the Brazilian singer, better known as she was for her bossa nova rendition of 'The Girl from Ipanema.'
A country music classic co-written by John Denver and released by him as a single in 1971, 'Take Me Home Country Roads' was covered by Olivia Newton-John in 1973 and became the lead single from her album, 'Let Me Be There.'
Slash's intro to 1987's 'Sweet Child O' Mine' is one of the most recognized guitar riffs in rock music history. It's the only song by Guns N' Roses to reach number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sheryl Crow released a cover version of the track to less-than-favorable critical reviews, but nonetheless it became a moderate hit for her in 1999.
English soprano Sarah Brightman released her cover of Queen's 'Who Wants to Live Forever' as a single from her album 'Timeless/Time to Say Goodbye.'
First released in 1979 by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 'Refugee' found another home in 2005 with Melissa Etheridge, who included her cover on the album 'Greatest Hits - The Road Less Traveled.'
'Days' was a moderate hit for The Kinks in 1968. The song was covered by a number of artists at the time including Petula Clark on her 1968 album 'Petula.' But it is Kirsty MacColl (pictured) who effectively reinvented the track, taking it to no. 12 on the UK Singles Chart in 1989—the same position achieved by The Kinks in 1968. It remains one of MacColl's most popular singles.
Sources: (Far Out Magazine) (Louder Sound) (Rolling Stone)
'Crimson and Clover,' a well-known '60s song by Tommy James and the Shondells, was given a well-received makeover in 1982 by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Their cover version reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
'Creep' is Radiohead's most successful single, its controversial lyrics and depressing tone not withstanding. The Pretenders covered the song in 2006, but it's 2012's 'Covered,' an album of covers released by Macy Grey, where 'Creep' enjoys another brilliantly contentious outing.
Songs written by men are often reinvented by women, with some tracks interpreted from a uniquely female point of view. Quite often, the finished result sounds better than the original, with female artists bringing to the turntable a lyrical spirit of empowerment and a desire to be different. And while acknowledging their source material, many covers produced by women readdress gender inequality and find a whole new audience.
So, what happens when women change their tune and men's words become women's voices? Click through to find out.
Cover girls: memorable female versions of songs written by men
When men's words become women's voices
MUSIC Singers
Songs written by men are often reinvented by women, with some tracks interpreted from a uniquely female point of view. Quite often, the finished result sounds better than the original, with female artists bringing to the turntable a lyrical spirit of empowerment and a desire to be different. And while acknowledging their source material, many covers produced by women readdress gender inequality and find a whole new audience.
So, what happens when women change their tune and men's words become women's voices? Click through to find out.