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Home / Sponsored Stories

Top 5 hit songs you didn't know were covers

27 Apr, 2016 05:00 PM
Mc Hammer, Puff Daddy (P Diddy) and Adele have all covered & performed a previously released tune in their own style, adding some magic to the original. Photo / Files

Mc Hammer, Puff Daddy (P Diddy) and Adele have all covered & performed a previously released tune in their own style, adding some magic to the original. Photo / Files

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The Pet Shops boys did Elvis. The Dixie Chicks opted for Fleetwood Mac. Whitney Houston's choice catapulted her to international stardom.

We're talking cover versions of songs, where artists perform a previously released tune in their own style, adding some magic to the original.

On Spotify Premium, the digital music service which comes free with eligible Spark plans, you'll find thousands of these weird and wonderful covers as well as samples and remixes from every artist imaginable. So what are the top 5 songs you didn't know were copies?

Original: Rick James, Super Freak, 1981
Sample: M.C. Hammer, U Can't Touch This, 1990

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Rick James had major personal and legal problems the year MC Hammer released his chart-topping hit. But at least his finances received a boost with Hammer instructed to share song writing credits for featuring the legendary bass riff from Super Freak in his own song.

Hammer's album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em went on to sell more than 18 million copies and parachute pants were seen at parties from Cape Reinga to the Bluff.

Original: Gloria Jones, Tainted Love, 1965
Cover/Remix: Tainted Love, Soft Cell, 1982

The year is 1982. There's a good chance the song being thrashed repeatedly is Tainted Love.

Undeterred by Gloria Jones' unsuccessful Motown-inspired attempt, Pommie pop duo Soft Cell recorded a modern version in 1981. Theirs had a slower tempo, was in a lower key to suit Marc Almond's voice and was sung on these shores while dancing around many a handbag.

Soft Cell hit gold. Their cover of Tainted Love hit number one in eight countries. On Spotify you'll find another version of this 80s pop hit by Rihanna, who sampled the song on S.O.S (Rescue Me). For the more adventurous, look out for Marilyn Manson's interpretation.

Original: Queen & David Bowie, Under Pressure, 1982
Sample: Vanilla Ice, Ice Ice Baby, 1990

Changing his name from Robert Matthew Van Winkle to Vanilla Ice was this American rapper's first sound career move. It also helped he could sing, breakdance and gel his hair right.

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The anthem Ice Ice Baby was a bolt out of the blue at a time when Madonna, Janet Jackson and Michael Bolton hogged the CD player. Ice Ice Baby became the first single by a rapper to hit number one in America. The song borrows the instantly recognisable bass riff from Under Pressure by Bowie and Freddie Mercury, who both never received a cent until it became a hit.

Original: The Police, Every Breath You Take, 1983
As sampled/lyrics: Puff Daddy & Faith Evans, I'll Be Missing You, 1997

Before he was P Diddy or Diddy or Puffy or Puff Daddy, he was known as Sean. Fourteen years after The Police's monster hit, Puff Daddy (Sean Combs) honoured his recently deceased rapper buddy Notorious B.I.G with his own version. You'll know this tune well because it raced to the top of the charts in New Zealand. You'll also know the year, 1997, when Diddy performed I'll Be Missing You at the Concert for Princess Diana held at Wembley Stadium in London.

Original: Bob Dylan Make You Feel My Love, 1997
Cover: Make You Feel My Love, Adele, 2008

It would be difficult to find any artist more covered than Dylan. So it should come as no surprise that joining Adele in the queue to cover Make You Feel My Love from Time Out of Mind were Billy Joel, Bryan Ferry and Kelly Clarkson.

Dylan can spot a tune too. He eventually released his own single.

You can hear all of these artists and more on a Spark's $59.99 open mobile plan, which makes it a better deal than what you're probably getting for the amount you pay.

Most importantly, Spark are giving this service to customers for free on eligible mobile plans. Check to see if Spotify is already part of yours by following this link.

Once signed up, sit back and begin the search for those random, beautiful versions you never knew existed. Did you know Joe Cocker covered INXS? Or Nick Cave did Pulp?

You'll also gain some street cred because you were there when the original came out. That's worth singing about.

Watch: The Hits: Stacey Morrison activate Spotify

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