Awesome Covers

Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser of 2CELLOS perform a head-banging medley which combines The William Tell Overture with Iron Maiden’s The Trooper. We’re surprised their bows have any hairs left on them by the time it’s over.

NeoGeofanatic shreds a rockin’ new version of Michael Sembello’s cheesetastic classic Maniac from the 1983 film Flashdance. We’re picturing Jennifer Beals welding and pouring a huge bucket of water over herself – not at the same time.

Fafa the groundhog and Gorilla of Glove and Boots dust off their big hair and the Mr. Big ballad To Be with You and put their own simultaneously whimsical and apathetic spin on the 1991 track. Pretzel bun I know you feel it too…

Nick Proch’s epic arrangement of Rage Against the Machine’s 1992 anthem Killing in the Name played on flutes, clarinets, bassoons, trumpets, violins, cellos, piano and any other instrument the band never used. Want more? Hit Kickstarter.

Goosebumps are coming. Cellocyl – a club of cello players in Castilla de Leon, Spain – covers the Game of Thrones opening theme. We’re not sure if this is just a practice run – there are hiccups here and there – but it’s still well done.

BenDan Productions puts a unique spin on Ramin Djawadi’s Game of Thrones theme, turning it into the music for an old spaghetti western, complete with jangly guitars and whistling. Move ’em out, head ’em up… Rawhide!

Musician Andrew Huang decided to play a rendition of the 1980s new wave hit 99 Red Balloons using nothing but actual red balloons – and a ton of editing. We’re not sure if these are the German or the English lyrics though.

Leave it to heavy metal guitarist Charlie Parra del Riego to find a way to take Gershon Kingsley’s head-boppingly catchy classic 1969 synthpop tune Popcorn and make it rock. It’s the official theme song for making popcorn this way.

Anthony Vincent of Ten Second Songs covers one of Linkin Park’s first hits by imitating 20 different artists, including Boyz II Men and Eminem. His Backstreet Boys impression made it sound like it was the boy band’s original song.

Electric violinist Bryson Andres turns in an impressive and unique arrangement of Sia’s powerful hit track Chandelier using a combination of live string playing and his digital loop pedal. Check out more of his tracks on YouTube.

We’re enjoying this alternate old-timey, BioShock Inifinite-styled waltz arrangement of Cyndi Lauper’s pop anthem Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by the Postmodern Jukebox. No Elizabeth or Captain Lou Albano either. (Thanks Molly!)

Musician NeWT put together this awesome medley of some of the greatest keyboard solos from the 1980s, from The Final Coutdown to the theme from Knight Rider to She Blinded Me with Science and a little Super Mario Bros. on the side.

Xanthocroid frontman Sam Meador uses his lightning quick fingers in his acoustic cover Avicii’s Wake Me Up, turning the country-house track into a math ballad. What is it with metalheads and awesome acoustic guitar skills?

Musician Sam Edelston rocks out with his dulcimer out in this performance of Led Zeppelin’s classic Whole Lotta Love. His Psycho Killer and 19th Nervous Breakdown covers ain’t too shabby either.

LA indie rockers Warpaint turn in a download-worthy rendition of David Bowie’s 1980 classic in a backstage performance during Glastonbury 2014. Fortunately, you can find the track on the 2010 tribute album We Were So Turned On.

New Orleans Dixieland jazz band Swamp Donkeys performs the most upbeat version of Ramin Djawadi imposing Game of Thrones theme song we’ve ever heard. Perhaps it’ll come in handy for jazz funerals.

Musician PelleK covered classic cartoon theme songs from the 1980s and 1990s with his flamboyant power ballad vocalizations, 4-octave range, and a cheesetastic music video to go along with. Oh, and if you’re craving some DuckTales…

We’ve been watching Game of Thrones, so now we have that Rains of Castamere song stuck in our heads. We can bang our heads to it now, courtesy of Eric Calderone. As one commenter put it “A Lannister always slays his frets.”

As a shout out to Hamburg’s 825th port anniversary, the MSC Magnifica tooted out the opening bass line of Seven Nation Army. The result is something in between a Sith salute and Droopy Dog’s White Stripes impression.

Andrea Vadrucci aka Vadrum covers Leroy Anderson’s lighthearted piece, The Typewriter. Much of the humor is lost in the cover – you have to see it performed as intended – but Andrea’s a beast with the sticks.

Anthony Vincent Valbiro of Ten Second Songs follows up his Katy Perry cover with another line of musical impressions. This time he covers Talk Dirty in the style of the Bee Gees, Slick Rick, System of a Down and more.

Jimmy Fallon, The Ragtime Gals and guest member Kevin Spacey take on Jason Derulo’s Talk Dirty. We like their take on Ignition better, but this one’s worth watching, if only so you’ll realize that Kevin Spacey can’t help but be creepy.

Slow down and enjoy a Saturday morning classic theme song, as interpreted by the always awesome Scott Bradlee and friends, with POW!GRL dishing out the sultry vocals. Part of the new Saturday Morning Slow Jams series.