NON-Rock Songs Covered by Hard Rock Bands

[T-BONE]

OK... I have a project going here and already have some local musicians liking this idea, but I need a little help. I already have a shitload of Cover Tunes thanks to Dan's covers section, but there are lots more out there.

 

I've had this idea in my head for a few years now and finally got the ball rolling the other night when I was talking to a friend of mine. What I proposed to some of my local musician friends was getting a 80's style hard rock band together that only plays POP/Dance/Oldies/Country tunes that have been or WILL be redone/covered in a 80's hard rock style. The idea was to be able to appeal to different genres of music lovers as well as the 80's hard rock lovers all at the same time.

 

For example, The oldies lovers would get their Beatles or Elvis tune and the hard rock lovers would get the music style they love. The main stipulation I expressed to them was that the songs must NOT be originally in the hard rock style. Someone else may have covered them though, but we're trying to avoid the obvious ones such as Smokin In The Boys Room, Helter Skelter, etc.... Thats the entire idea behind this band.

 

They could even glam up their stage attire to put on a visual show as well as just the music, but thats a backburner idea for right now. The 2 guys I've spoken with want to do a few of their OWN remakes as well, but the several tunes I've thrown their way already, they absolutely LOVE. The songs must also be a tune that was charted, top 10, billboards, or big on the radio so it's a recognizable song. None of the B-Side type tunes. Basically Best Of's and Greatest Hits.

 

All that is left is getting 2-3 more local musicians onboard before we propose the idea to one of the big local rock band promoters who we're pretty sure will love the idea considering who he promotes already.

 

Some of the tunes I've already played for them are

 

Gotthard - Come Together (Beatles)

Jaded Heart - Larger Than Life (Backstreet Boys)

Jaded Heart - Easy Lover (Phil Collins)

Underride - Paparazzi (Lady Gaga)

Steel Panther - I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys)

Halestorm - Bad Romance (Lady Gaga)

Nation - Waterloo (Abba)

Hanoi Rocks - Up Around The Bend (Creedence)

Faster Pussycat - You're So Vain (Carly Simon)

Guild Of Ages - Hungry Like The Wolf (Duran Duran)

Gun - Word Up (Cameo)

Talisman - Darling Nikki (Prince)

Koritni - Thriller (Michael Jackson)

Lillian Axe - No Matter What (Badfinger)

Pretty Boy Floyd - It's Still Rock N'Roll To Me (Billy Joel)

Talisman - Crazy (Seal)

 

And a few more that I can't think of

 

 

Anyone else have any more ideas? Like I said, we want songs that were NOT Hard Rock or Metal to begin with and we're looking for tunes that are easily recognizable by the average or common radio listener.

 

Also looking for ideas on popular tunes from 60's to New in the pop/country/dance genre that would convert nicely over to an 80's sound like some of the ones I listed above.

 

We also have a few band names in mind (can't reveal them yet), but does anyone have any ideas for names? We're looking for a name that kind of tells what the band is about. P.S. there already was a band in the area a while back called "Under The Covers", so thats out of the question.

[DaHun72]

Here's a few others:

 

All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You - Halestorm

She's A Lady - Big Cock

Black Betty - Electric Boys

Dangerzone - Jettblack

Gimme Some Lovin - Thunder

Help - Johnny Lima

I'll Make You Happy - Rick Springfield

I'm So Excited - SunNSteel

Logical Song - At Vance

Love Hurts - Darren Smith Band

S.O.S - At Vance

Shout - At Vance

Take On Me - Vision Divine

The Look - Secret Sphere

The Wind Beneath My Wings - Sonata Arctica

What a Feeling - Ebony Ark

[JamesEagle]

Seen a thread like this before ... my absolute favourite is Blue Murder's cover of 'Itchycoo Park'. Much better than the original imo.

[Kim_Hp]

Wig Wam - I Turn To You (Melanie C)

[Captain Howdy]

As James said, this was only discussed recently, so it might be worthwhile taking a look at this thread, as there might be a lot of what you are looking for in this thread already.

http://heavyharmonies.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=27028&st=0&p=606610&hl=hard%20rock&fromsearch=1entry606610

[Nelson]

Here's a few others:

 

The Wind Beneath My Wings - Sonata Arctica

 

 

REALLY?!?!? Is it for real?

[KarpetRydOFunk]

So, Steelheart's rendition of "Black Dog" is too obvious? But it's so damn good!!

[Studboy]

I think the key is to find those "guilty pleasure" songs that everyone knows and loves but doesn't want to admit it AND they know all the words to so they can sing along, here's some I think would be cool to cover (I have no idea if any 80's hard rock bands have covered any of these songs)

 

Village People - YMCA

Toni Basil - Mickey

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

Styx - Mr Roboto

Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger

 

If you do end up putting this together Ty let me know, I may end up making a road trip! I have a good buddy here in Kansas City who is in a band and into the KC music scene, and he did the same thing you are talking about, but it was a Journey tribute band. Each of them even dressed up like the members. One of the best times I ever had at a concert, everyone just loved it!

[Grey]

This topic was also covered here:

 

http://heavyharmonies.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=25056

 

You'll find a pretty good list.

[T-BONE]

I think the key is to find those "guilty pleasure" songs that everyone knows and loves but doesn't want to admit it AND they know all the words to so they can sing along, here's some I think would be cool to cover (I have no idea if any 80's hard rock bands have covered any of these songs)

 

Village People - YMCA

Toni Basil - Mickey

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

Styx - Mr Roboto

Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger

 

If you do end up putting this together Ty let me know, I may end up making a road trip! I have a good buddy here in Kansas City who is in a band and into the KC music scene, and he did the same thing you are talking about, but it was a Journey tribute band. Each of them even dressed up like the members. One of the best times I ever had at a concert, everyone just loved it!

 

 

Eye Of The Tiger is already an 80's rock anthem, so that may be off the list, but one of the tunes I had somewhat mapped out on a guitar a few years back was Kool & The Gang - Celebration. It's a party tune that lends itself easily to hard rock.

[T-BONE]

Again... what we're looking for here people are tunes that aren't originally done in a Hard Rock/80's vibe or sound. We're looking for songs that are out of their element so to say. The "guilty pleasure" approach is a damn good idea. Poppy party anthem type tunes that just need a crunching guitar and some 80's screaming vocals finesse to kick them into high gear.

 

Although I love the Itchykoo Park tune, and I LOVE Quiet Riot's version, it wasn't a song that lasted through the ages and most of the crowd wouldn't even know the words.

 

Even though Deep Purples HUSH, was considered hard rock back then, I like the way Gotthard gave it more oomph and guitar. That tune is one I may present to Tim. Also, Joker redid Sweet's Little Willy and gave it an 80's hard rock kick in the ass.

 

Billie Jean

Funky Town

Funky Cold Medina/Wild Thing (same style but more crunching guitars)

La Vida Loca

A Will Smith tune?

Black Cat

MMMmmm Bop (well ok.... maybe not... lol)

Are You Jimmy Ray

A Spice Girls tune?

A Matchbox 20 medley of some kind

Tub Thumping

A Hard Rock version of The Macerena

When Will I Be Loved (Chicks DIG this tune)

KC & The Sunshine Band Medley, Hard Rock style

 

And even more I'm dreaming up... (my head hurts)

 

 

 

On a side note, another friends band went and took Pink's Let's Get This Party Started and mixed it with Crazy train and they blended well. I LOVE their mashup. I'll get video at one of their shows and share it here when I get a chance.

[Studboy]

The key is songs that people know and can sing along with. There are lots of songs that us "hard rock" fans know, but your run of the mill "house wife" wouldn't, that's the crowd I would target cuz if they know it then everyone will (and lets face it, you are probably targeting an audience full of MILFS, at least that's who'd I'd be targeting if you get my drift).

[T-BONE]

The key is songs that people know and can sing along with. There are lots of songs that us "hard rock" fans know, but your run of the mill "house wife" wouldn't, that's the crowd I would target cuz if they know it then everyone will (and lets face it, you are probably targeting an audience full of MILFS, at least that's who'd I'd be targeting if you get my drift).

 

 

 

No love for the "Cougars"? Silly Steve.....

[Captain Howdy]

Victory - I'm so excited (Pointer Sisters)

Jaded Heart - Paid my dues (Anastacia)

Yngwie Malmsteen - Beat it (Michael Jackson)

Yngwie Malmsteen - Gimme gimme gimme (Abba)

Seventh Avenue - Sailing (Rod Stewart)

Gamma Ray - Its a sin (Pet Shop Boys)

Poison - Sexy back (Justin Timberlake)

Paul Gilbert - Two become one (Spice Girls)

Biss - Rock me Amadeus (Falco)

Jaded Heart - Larger than life (Backstreet Boys)

Thunder - Play that funky music (Wild Cherry)

Gun - Panic (The Smiths)

Lawnmower Deth - Kids in America (Kim Wilde)

Lawnmower Deth - Crazy horses (The Osmonds)

Dee Snider - The wanderer (Dion)

Dweezil Zappa with Donny Osmond - Stayin alive (The Bee Gees) --- I prefer it to the version Dweezil did with Ozzy.

Pink Cream 69 - My Sharona (The Knack)

Twisted Sister - Leader of the pack (The Shangrilas)

[edwithmj]

Paul Gilbert covered 2 become 1 by Spice Girls on his solo album Alligator Farm.

[Captain Howdy]

I spose it is a rock song initially, but the version of We gotta get outta this place (The Animals) on the new Alice Cooper albums is pretty damn good.

[JamesEagle]

 

Biss - Rock me Amadeus (Falco)

 

 

Just listened to this one ... I thought it was dreadful!

[martinsane]

Stryper-Shining Star is epic!

 

Faith No More-Easy is also quite tasty.

 

As CH said the Stayin' Alive cover by DZ is great, but I enjoyed Donny Osmonds vocals on it just fine.

 

Dweezil and Ahmet covered a Britney Spears tune on that wrestling movie soundtrack...

 

I also enjoyed that Vains Of Jenna remake of that C-Lo tune F@&k You.

 

 

 

The best rocked up country tune you could do is called Tons Of Beer from the movie classic Beer. I will have to dig a bit to recall the band that did the tune, but it is great and even if you didn't know it you'd flip when you heard it.

 

 

Billy Joel-You May Be Right would make good cover tunes if done right.

 

 

More to come...

[DaHun72]

Here's a few others:

 

The Wind Beneath My Wings - Sonata Arctica

 

 

REALLY?!?!? Is it for real?

 

Yep, and it kicks ass.. It's nice and fast. I think it was recorded somewhere between their 1st and 2nd album. Pity they went downhill thereafter!

[DaHun72]

I think the key is to find those "guilty pleasure" songs that everyone knows and loves but doesn't want to admit it AND they know all the words to so they can sing along, here's some I think would be cool to cover (I have no idea if any 80's hard rock bands have covered any of these songs)

 

Village People - YMCA

Toni Basil - Mickey

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

Styx - Mr Roboto

Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger

 

If you do end up putting this together Ty let me know, I may end up making a road trip! I have a good buddy here in Kansas City who is in a band and into the KC music scene, and he did the same thing you are talking about, but it was a Journey tribute band. Each of them even dressed up like the members. One of the best times I ever had at a concert, everyone just loved it!

 

Great selection of songs there Studboy. Have you heard the NO DOUBT cover of Come on Eileen.... awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehSgJF7BIds

[DaHun72]

There's a few CDs you should check out also, all are covers mixed with pop songs:

Rock Sugar - Reimaginator (mashups of metal/rock and pop songs)

The Black Sweden - Gold (metal/rock musical covers with Abba lyrics and melodies)

The Boogie Knights - Welcome to the Jungle Boogie (Jeff Scott Soto does disco)

[martinsane]

Was listening to a bit of "country" today and I think if you rocked it up properly Big & Rich' Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy could work well.

[T-BONE]

There's a few CDs you should check out also, all are covers mixed with pop songs:

Rock Sugar - Reimaginator (mashups of metal/rock and pop songs)

The Black Sweden - Gold (metal/rock musical covers with Abba lyrics and melodies)

The Boogie Knights - Welcome to the Jungle Boogie (Jeff Scott Soto does disco)

 

 

Have them all aleady. Boogie Knights has some potential, but the other 2 aren't the type we've been looking for. Rock Sugar is all mashups of songs and the Black Sweden is also mashups of a different style.

[T-BONE]

Was listening to a bit of "country" today and I think if you rocked it up properly Big & Rich' Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy could work well.

 

 

There have already been local rock bands doing that tune in my area. At least 6 that I can count. It does lend itself to rock very easily. Honkytonk Badonkadonk is on the list

[Captain Howdy]

 

As CH said the Stayin' Alive cover by DZ is great, but I enjoyed Donny Osmonds vocals on it just fine.

 

 

 

Yeah, as I say, I actually prefer the Donny version. Nothing wrong with Ozzy, but the Donny one was the first I heard, and I just think it sounds better.

Also, from memory, I am sure the version with Donny has a whole bunch of guest guitar solos as well.