Top 10 Musical Covers

Bands and singers choose different types of cover songs that fully express what they're capable of and to also diversify their catalog. Listeners typically have their set desired version for any cover song they hear; which is why they will most likely develop a strong opinion for their own musical taste. There are so many covers out there that are just as good as this list, but this top 10 list pushes the limits of the artists talent, performance, style, and uniqueness.

10. Sailing - Christopher Cross

Cover by: N' Sync

Kicking things off with number 10. Christopher Cross' "Sailing" is covered by N' Sync in their debut album in 1998. This cover doesn't have anything really special in the arrangement, but the reason this cover made the list is when N' Sync performed this song live. I can't imagine any other artist or band doing something like what they did during this performance in 1999.

Christopher Cross

N' Sync

9. Paradise City - Guns N' Roses

Cover by: Carrie Underwood

Released on their debut album Appetite for Destruction in 1987, Guns N' Roses released "Paradise City" two years later as a single and became the only song on the album that featured a synthesizer.

Country superstar Carrie Underwood delivers a killer live cover at the CMA Music Festival in 2013. In her humble beginnings on American Idol in 2005, she performed a fantastic version of "Alone" by Heart. She also covered a version of "Walk This Way" with Aerosmith. With such genre diversity in her voice and her stage presence, no wonder Carrie Underwood continues to sell out shows.

Guns N' Roses

Carrie Underwood

8. Rondo Alla Turca - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Cover by: Lang Lang

This cover of arguably the most famous Mozart piece of all time delivers an impeccable flow of performance. Classical musician Lang Lang delivers a unique rendition of Rondo Alla Turca that delivers interesting styles and tempos that can keep an aud. Classical music is very tricky to cover since many pieces in the genre are wildly recognizable. I wonder what Mozart would've thought about Lang Langs version?

Lang Lang

7. You Really Got Me - The Kinks

Cover by: Van Halen

Released in the late summer of 1964, The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" quickly became the the bands first breakthrough hit. The song was not only recorded for the Kinks' debut album Kinks, but Van Halen also covered and recorded this song for their 1978 debut album Van Halen.

Van Halen's version features a heavier rock sound with guitarist Eddie Van Halen's unique style of playing at the forefront. This cover video also features his iconic solo "Eruption."

The Kinks

Van Halen

6. Nutville - Buddy Rich

Cover by: Steve Smith

Buddy Rich's "Nutville" is a jazz piece that not only is super fast in tempo, but every part from the horns to rhythm section is putting every ounce of their musicianship at play. No one can come close to a Buddy Rich cover since his drumming is really one-of-a-kind.

Being the drummer for the rock band Journey for many years, Steve Smith developed a diverse style of playing that crosses multiple genres. His cover of the 1974 jazz classic is well performed and his band also does a tremendous job.

Buddy Rich

Steve Smith

5. Hard Luck Woman - KISS

Cover by: Garth Brooks

Originally written by lead singer Paul Stanley, "Hard Luck Woman" was written based on the inspiration by Rod Stewart. KISS songs like this one, "Beth," and "Shandi" are so far removed from KISS' hard rock sound that it invites artists from other genres to shine their creativity on them.

Garth Brooks was a big fan of KISS in his youth and was highly influenced by their stage show in the 1970s. With a big spectacle and great music to back up the stage show, Its no wonder Garth Brooks' tours consistently sell out year after year.

KISS

Garth Brooks

4. Superstition - Stevie Wonder

Cover by: Stevie Ray Vaughan

The battle of the Stevie's!

There is not much to say about this one since this song is so iconic. Both versions are fantastic and each version has its uniqueness.

Recorded in 1972 and became number one on the billboard charts in 1973, Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" is well covered by blues guitarist and singer Stevie Ray Vaughan. Vaughan puts a cool bluesy-rock spin that delivers a killer performance.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Ray Vaughan

3. Smile - Charlie Chaplin

Covers by: Nat King Cole and Michael Jackson

Originally written as an instrumental composition, silent film star and composer Charlie Chaplin wrote this simple melody for the ending scene of his 1936 feature Modern Times.

It wasn't until 1954 that lyrics were added to this famous melody and singer Nat King Cole delivered a beautiful lyric through his version. The title of "Smile" was given based on the themes of the Chaplin movie.

Later in 1995, and highly influenced by Chaplin's work, pop icon Michael Jackson recorded a pop version on his History album with a really nice arrangement of instruments and production.

Charlie Chaplin

Nat King Cole

Michael Jackson

2. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers

Cover by: Elvis Presley

This performance by Elvis was on his last tour and two months before his death on August 16, 1977. The simplicity of his playing style on the piano and his operatic voice takes this song to a whole new level. Not only was Elvis the King of Rock and Roll, but he was also the King of covers.

He covered a lot of songs over the course of his career, but this cover of The Righteous Brothers hit song is one for the record books.

The Righteous Brothers

Elvis Presley

1. I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton

Cover by: Whitney Houston