lana del rey

I’m not Melvin, but this picture is dope.

I’m expanding my favourite cover songs list of 2014 to 50 songs from the 40 it was last year, as 2014 saw a tonne of great, fresh takes on songs, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t link to as many of them as possible. Without any more preamble, here’s the list of My 50 Favourite Cover Songs of 2014:

(Original artist is in parentheses.)

Bonus cover:

KRNFX – Get Lucky (from 2013)

50. Jarvis Cocker – The Power Of Love (Celine Dion)

49. Bill Patton – Jenny From The Block (Jennifer Lopez)

48. Papertwin – Revelator (Gillian Welch)

47. James Vincent McMorrow – West Coast (Lana Del Rey)

46. Asgeir – Heart Shaped Box (Nirvana)

45. Mo – Say You’ll Be There (Spice Girls)

44. Lorde – Don’t Tell ‘Em (Jeremih)

43. The Holidays – Is This How You Feel? (The Preatures)

42. Cloud Control – Dammit (Blink 182)

41. John Mayer – XO (Beyonce)

40. Indiana – Ready For Your Love (Gorgon City)

39. Janelle Monae – Simple Irresistible (Robert Palmer)

38. Lucius – Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Tears For Fears)

37. Panic! At The Disco – Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)

36. Miley Cyrus – Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High (Arctic Monkeys)

35. Walk Off The Earth – Shake It Off (Taylor Swift)/Rude (Magic!)

34. Tame Impala – Stranger In Moscow (Michael Jackson)

33. Shearwater – I Luv The Valley Oh! (Xiu Xiu)/Fucked Up Life (The Baptist Generals)

32. Banks – Are You That Somebody (Aaliyah)

31. Rufus – My Number/Charlotte (Foals/Booka Shade)

30. Haim – XO (Beyonce)

29. Kyla La Grange – Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus)

28. Passenger – Holocene (Bon Iver)

27. Twin Shadow – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths)

26. The Ragtime Gals f. Steve Carell – Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye)

I wrote the following last year, but the words don’t belong to 2013. What follows is an evergreen sentiment that applies to all remixes. Here it is:

Transformation can do many things to an object. It can make something louder, quieter, bigger, smaller, heavier, lighter, darker, brighter, and so much more. The process of transformation is of some measure science, art, and parts unknown, and thus, cannot be coerced into formula.

Remixes seek to transform, in some manner, the source material into something new, fresh, and vibrant. The best remixes do this, and also pave a bridge of familiarity to the original. Developing something new while maintaining some semblance of the old is an enormously difficult task, and that’s why it rarely happens.

If a remixer is smart, the simple act of picking the right song to treat will come with a certain amount of cache, and will garner a certain level of intrigue (read: there will be a built-in audience). But that doesn’t mean the remix will end up being good. So many are not. There are some though, that are good, and some, even better than that. Not only do they transform, they transcend: the source material, emotions, and every so often, time itself. To be lost in a piece of art where an entire dimension ceases to exist is one of the joys of the artistic process, and indeed, one of the joys of this life.

To remix is to change. The best of the best though, remember to keep something of the original intact, whether it’s on the surface or buried deep beneath it. The great Roman poet Ovid, in his sprawling poem, “The Metamorphoses”, gives us an idea that serves as supreme directive for approaching remixes, “Omnia mutantur, nihil interit (everything changes, nothing perishes).”

50. alt-J – Left Hand Free (Lido remix)