Micro-Chopping 100 Cover Songs: A New Playlist of 50 Originals vs. 50 Covers
The music we listen to is often influenced by our age, life circumstances, family, social circle, etc. But if we force ourselves out of the sphere of familiarity, there’s so much to discover. The more we learn about music, the more our own understanding starts to feel like a mere snowflake in an avalanche. The good news is that there has never been an easier time to discover amazing music from the past and present, even if it can feel like an intimidating and overwhelming process.
Sampled-based music is a great starting point for expanding the musical palette. You can trace all the sampled elements from your favorite songs back to the original artists and explore their entire catalog. It’s a fun rabbit hole with many unexpected twists and turns.
Equally fascinating is the process of sifting through the endless cache of cover songs out there. It takes a little bit of work, but once you separate the wheat from the chafe you’ll find some serious gold. A good cover song will increase your appreciation for the original tune while giving you a badass remake enjoy at the same time.
Part of the fun of exploring cover songs is the surprising discoveries you make along the way. G.C. Cameron sang “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” before Boyz II Men did?! Four Tet crafted a gorgeous, guitar-heavy cover of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” that’s a complete 180 degree turn from the original? And Abtract Orchestra did an entire album of J Dilla covers? Yes, yes, and yes. And that’s just the beginning.
In the Micro-Chop playlist included above, you’ll find 50 original songs placed side by side with an innovative cover, making for close to seven hours of listening pleasure. The playlist includes everything from Lauryn Hill covers of Bob Marley to Toots & The Maytals remakes of John Denver. This playlist was a ton of fun to put together, so I hope you enjoy it and learn something along the way. If you love it, make sure to follow it on Spotify and share it around with your friends.
What covers did should I have included that were left of the list? Write a response and make suggestions for a follow-up playlist of covers.
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