1. Sinéad O’Connor – “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince)
Originally written by Prince, Sinéad stripped the song to its emotional core and rebuilt it in her own image. Her vocal delivery, the stark arrangement, and that unforgettable single tear in the video made it a cultural touchstone. It’s no longer Prince’s song—it’s hers.

2. Tori Amos – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana)
Tori transformed this grunge anthem into a ghostly piano ballad. Stripped of distortion and rage, her version is haunting, intimate, and achingly vulnerable. What was once a scream became a whisper, and somehow, it hit just as hard.

3. Whitney Houston – “I Will Always Love You” (Dolly Parton)
Dolly wrote it, but Whitney turned it into a global phenomenon. Her soaring vocals, that iconic a cappella intro, and the emotional force she brings to each line made it feel like the song had been waiting for her all along.

4. Paloma Faith – “Never Tear Us Apart” (INXS) Paloma Faith’s cover of this INXS classic is lush, dramatic, and emotionally raw. With orchestral backing and a soulful vocal delivery, she transforms the track into something cinematic and aching. Where the original was smooth and restrained, Faith’s version spills over with feeling.

5. Tracy Chapman – “Stand by Me” (Ben E. King)
Chapman doesn’t over-sing or overplay. Her version is grounded and steady, like a promise whispered rather than shouted. Quietly powerful and deeply rooted in feeling, it’s a masterclass in restraint.

6. Angel Olsen – “Gloria” (Laura Branigan)
Olsen slows the tempo to a crawl, transforming the bright, urgent pop hit into something mournful and hypnotic. In her hands, “Gloria” becomes a song of isolation and longing, haunting in its stillness.

7. Yola – “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (Elton John) Yola brings powerful soul and emotional nuance to Elton John’s classic. Her rich, expressive vocals uncover new layers of longing and reflection, grounding the glam-pop original in something deeply human. It’s a heartfelt tribute that feels entirely her own.

8. Cat Power – “Sea of Love” (Phil Phillips)
Cat Power’s cover is practically a whisper. Minimal and aching, she peels away the nostalgia of the original and replaces it with solitude. It feels like a secret you weren’t meant to hear, which makes it all the more affecting.

9. Amythyst Kiah – “Sugar” (Tori Amos) Amythyst Kiah brings fierce vulnerability to her cover of Tori Amos’s “Sugar.” Originally part of her Pensive Pop EP, this version leans into the song’s haunting atmosphere while adding a raw, bluesy grit all her own. Kiah’s voice moves between subtle restraint and explosive emotion, revealing the undercurrent of ache and intensity that’s always lived inside the lyrics.

10. Annie Lennox – “I Put a Spell on You” (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins)
Lennox doesn’t just cover this song—she embodies it. Her voice moves from a whisper to a roar, channeling theatrical power and control in equal measure. It’s seductive, eerie, and entirely her own.

There’s something deeply powerful about reinterpretation. A cover, at its best, isn’t imitation—it’s a conversation across time, a reshaping of story and sound. These artists didn’t just cover songs; they uncovered new meanings within them. What are some of your favorite cover songs? Drop them in the comments—we would love to hear what moved you.