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U2 Cover Songs

I love a good cover song. The only podcast I listen to consistently is Coverville. It’s not a fantastic article, but it’s an interesting overview of covers of U2’s music:

Starring in the role as a favorite to be covered by all angles of the musical community is “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Cher who opened both her 1999 “Believe” and recent “Farewell” tours with a more up-tempo version of the U2 classic, performed with the inclusion of an electric guitar solo while Cher sat atop a chandelier. The group Negativland made its mark on the song in 1991 with its kazoo version but an injunction by Island Records prevented further distribution as the record company felt the song’s cover artwork would mislead fans into thinking they were buying a new record by U2 itself.

While they mention the bluegrass compilations (a desperate marketing gesture by the bluegrass enthusiasts, methinks), they ignored the strings. There’s both Strung Out on U2 and Still Strung Out on U2. I’m currently listening to a heartfelt instrumental cover of “The Sweetest Thing”.

U2 actually covers a lot of songs in concert. I only have 62 U2 songs in my collection, but I’ve got live covers of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, “I Shall Be Released”, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, “Unchained Meloday”, “Sweet Caroline” and “Sweet Jane” (I have 13 covers of this last song–it’s a long story).

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Darren Barefoot is an author, speaker and digital strategist. He’s the co-founder of Capulet Communications, and co-author of “Friends With Benefits: A Social Media Marketing Handbook”.

5 comments

  2. They missed an especially good one – notable given how few U2 covers there are and how poor they usually are. Jazz/blues singer Cassandra Wilson does Love Is Blindness on her New Moon Daughetr album. Good stuff.

  3. I want to add to what John C. said about Cassandra Wilson’s version of U2’s “Love Is Blindness”. I didn’t realize it was a U2 song until I read the liner notes, and still couldn’t place them doing the song until the original actually fell into my lap in a very mysterious way. I like Wilson’s version better…

  4. Hey guys! I’ve been looking everywhere for a U2 cover! It’s the song “One”. I heard a contry version once that I could never find to download. Maybe you can help me… I need to know who’s it it!! Hahaa
    Thanx!!

  5. Maria T: It’s Johnny Cash and you’ll find it on the album ”American III: Solitary Man” (track 4).

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