With “Home,” one of my favorite pop songs, recently getting recorded and released by Blake Shelton, I started brainstorming about what other pop songs would make for good material for country artists to cover. Some songs will be obvious while others are either out of left field or unknown to many. Wherever I can I’ll suggest an artist who’d make sense for the cover. If you have any suggestions to add to what I’ve put forth, or to add your own suggestions, feel free to leave a comment.
“Falling Slowly”
Original Artist: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Cover Artist: Jon Randall & Jessi Alexander
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It’s time that you wonTake this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now
I absolutely love this song (and the movie it comes from) and think that it’d make for a great country duet. I almost think that the duo singing the song would have to be in love with each other or at least been there, the way the original artists and film stars are. In that sense I think that Jon Randall and Jessi Alexander would do wonderful with the song and I actually think this could be a great Tim and Faith song too. The bottom line is the artists singing need to be in love.
“Secret Smile”
Original artist: Semisonic
Cover artist choice: Keith Urban or Josh Turner
Nobody knows it but you’ve got a secret smile
And you use it only for me
Nobody knows it but you’ve got a secret smile
And you use it only for me
So use it and prove it
Remove this whirling sadness
I’m losing, I’m bluesing
But you can save me from madness
Written by Grammy winning songwriter Dan Wilson, “Secret Smile” has always ‘screamed’ out to me as a song that would make for a killer country record. Lyrically, the song is about longing for a secret, forbidden love or is it about a deeply private and personal relationship with God? I don’t know which I’d interpret the lyric to be but I really think the song would hit home for both men and women of any age. Melodically, I can see where the right producer would add flourishes of banjo, steel guitar and fiddle to make the song work. As for an artist that could deliver the song, I feel that the vocalist would have to be someone like Keith Urban or one could go completely in the other direction and have a great vocalist like Josh Turner wrap his baritone around it. This song is over 10 years old and still hits home whenever I hear it.
Song: “The Distance”
Original Artist: Evan & Jaron
Cover Artist: Trisha Yearwood
“The sky has lost it’s color, the sun has turned to grey, at least that’s how it feels to me whenever you’re away, I crawl up in a corner, as I watch the minutes pass, each one brings me closer to, the time when you’ll be back, you’re coming back,
I cant take the distance, I cant take the miles, I can’t take the time until the next time I see you smile, I cant take the distance, and I’m not ashamed, that I can’t take a breath without saying your name, I can brave a hurricane, and still be standing tall when all the dust has settled down, but I can’t take the distance”
That’s the first verse and chorus of this haunting ballad. Sung of a simple acoustic guitar and simply elegant cello, this song really could make for a brilliant country song, be it a ‘simple remake’ like Blake Shelton did with “Home” or a more inventive reading that mixes in steel guitar and fiddles and dobro. It’s the kind of song that needs an emotive vocalist to give it the justice that Evan & Jaron created with their original (pre-radio remix). I believe that Trisha Yearwood would knock it out of the park but at the same time I can also see Tim McGraw taking a chance this moving ballad.
“All Will Be Well”
Original Artist: Gabe Dixon Band
Cover Artist: Keith Urban
“The new day dawns
And I am practicing my purpose once again
It is fresh and it is fruitful if I win
but if I lose, ooh, I don’t know
I’ll be tired but I will turn and I will go
Only guessing ’til I get there then I’ll know
Ohh, I will know And all the children walking home past the factories
Can see the light that’s shining in my window
As I write this song to you
And all the cars running fast along the interstate
Can feel the love that radiates
Illuminating what I know is trueAnd all will be well
Even after all the promises you’ve broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell”
A brilliant song that’s been used for some TV shows, surprisingly not American Idol, written with Semisonic’s Dan Wilson, “All Will Be Well” might not make for a great radio single, but it’d make for a great album cut or a song featured on a record of ‘covers.’ Again I hear Keith Urban doing this one simply because he has a similar voice to Gabe Dixon but I really think he could arrange the song to suit his guitar playing much like how he made Elton John’s “Country Comfort” his own. Dixon, after all, is from the Elton John/Paul McCartney school of songwriting.
“This Kind of Love”
Original Artist: Sister Hazel
Cover Choice: Brad Mates (Emerson Drive)/James Otto
Sister Hazel had one really big hit/album in the late 1990s and seemingly ‘disappeared’ from the mainstream music. What really happened is that the adult rock-oriented band just toured relentlessly and released strong album after strong album. Their 2006 release “Absolutely” featured a few songs that could cross-over but “This Kind Of Love” is one of those no-brainer power ballads that suit weddings and anniversaries. The lyric is straight forward “This kind of love is what I dream about/well baby it leaves no doubt./this kind of love is why I’m standing here/it’s something that we can share/I can’t get enough of this kind of love. Because the song is such a huge power ballad, it demands a singer that can actually sing it and not ‘over-sing it.’ The verses start low and the chorus is an absolute belter. I think it’d be in worthy hands of Brad Mates from Emerson Drive or James Otto. I especially would love to hear Otto take this song and wrap his soulful vocal around it.
“Advertising Space”
Original Artist: Robbie Williams
Cover Artist: George Strait
For most of America, Robbie Williams is probably known as the dude behind that “Angels” song that Jessica Simpson destroyed or perhaps as the member of that “one hit wonder” boy band Take That. To the rest of the world, he’s the most successful solo artist of the last 20 years. The lyrics don’t follow the typical country music trends but that’s exactly what makes this song so appealing to me. Yes, it’s another ballad and would be an ‘album track’ only, but y’know, it’s a damn good record. Too bad Cash isn’t around to sing this one. It would take a brilliant artist to record this one so that’s why I’m choosing George Strait.
“Jealous Man”
Original artist: Tyrone Wells
Cover Artist: Gary Allan
Tyrone Wells’s “Hold On” was probably my favorite pop/rock record from 2007 and that’s saying a lot. This singer/songwriter with an insanely strong voice is from the same neck of the woods that James Otto came from and I’ll be damned if they don’t actually have similar voices. That aside, It’d take a gifted vocalist to interpret “Jealous Man” since the song is already a damn great tune. With a theme that was playfully covered by Garth Brooks with “Papa Loved Mama” and Blake Shelton with “Ol’ Red,” “Jealous” is the kind of song that builds and builds to the tidal wave of an ending. I think Otto could do this justice but I’d really love to hear Gary Allan’s gritty voice take this one on. If you only listen to one Tyrone Wells song, it’s gotta be this one.
“Just Like That”
Original Artist: Marc Broussard
Cover artist: Sugarland
Many people would think that Broussard’s universally praised “Home” would be on a list like this but I think his similarlly gritty, southern rock/soul track “Just Like That” (from his EP “Momentary Setback”) would actually make for a better cover, especially since not as many people have heard the tune. Again, a strong vocalist is required to record a song like this. Honestly, a female could sing this as much as a guy could. So for that, I’d say that Sugarland could do it (Jennifer Nettles can sing anything). The lyrics are interesting and the funky melody is just too groovy to not make for a killer album cut.
“Everything To Me”
Original Artist: Mark Schultz
Cover Artist: Jimmy Wayne
I’ve often thought that many of Mark Schultz’ songs would segue well into the country music world. They’re structurally sound, have great hooks and are heartfelt. They really fit the genre to a T. right now. Mark Schultz was adopted and wrote this chestnut about his experience. Another strong vocalist is needed to do this song justice and I can think of no body better than Jimmy Wayne. He hits the right notes and would really be able to dig into the lyric, especially given his own backstory. Another good choice, belive it or not, would be Rascal Flatts, if only because of all the ‘money notes’ in the song. No matter what people think of the band, Gary LeVox does sing well, when he doesn’t over-sing.
“Do You Even Know Me Anymore”
Original Artist: Mark Schultz
Cover Artist: Montgomery Gentry
Yep, another Schultz song. You know, this song talks about a man’s relationship with his family and, ultimately, himself. He thinks he’s doing the right thing but in the end he realizes that he has to change some things if he’s gonna be the man he hoped he’d be. Since Montgomery Gentry’s mature enough to sing the song and seems to be singing songs like this, they’re an obvious choice.
“Two Beds and a Coffee Machine”
Original Artist: Savage Garden/Darren Hayes
Cover Artist: Trace Adkins
Another bruise to try and hide
another alibi to write
another ditch in the road, you keep moving
another stop sign, you keep moving on
and the years go by so fast,
wonder how I ever made it through
I’ve always thought that this ‘unknown’ Savage Garden track would make for one hell of a country music song. It’s a simple, piano and cello/orchestra backed lyrical gem that discusses how domestic violence impacts a family and the harsh reality of how often people have to go back to the abuse just to survive. The song is sung in the third person but reveals itself as the story of the child in the song (it’s about the original singer Darren Hayes’ family). This is another case where Jimmy Wayne might be a logical choice to sing the song but I also think a deeper voiced artist like Trace Adkins would absolutely bring the song to life.
“I Don’t Know You Anymore”
Original Artist: Savage Garden
Cover Artist: Gary Allan
I know, I know, putting the names Savage Garden and Gary Allan in the same sentence is blastphemy to some but y’know, Gary would knock this brilliantly written, singer/songwriter-like song out of the proverbial park. It’s from the same damn album that “Two Beds and a Coffee Machine” was from and both were my favorite tracks from it (I’m not afraid to admit owning the record). Darren Hayes sings the song over a simple piano track but I think there’s alot to be done with the melody to make it fit Gary Allan. He just seems like the perfect guy to sing this song.
“Crazy”
Original Artist: Seal
Cover Artist: Keith Urban
I would’ve never thought of this one as a potential song until I heard Seal’s acoustic version. It’s a ‘deep’ song that suits Keith’s nature to ‘rock out’ while also having great lyrics and a killer melody. It’s a song that’s 17 years old and still hits me every time. That’s all we can ask for a song. This one’s a favorite of mine and I think Keith might be the only country artist who could even work this one up.
Well, friends, that’s all I can think of at the moment, and I know I forgot many songs, but here it is. What do you think?