When Is It Too Soon to Cover a Country Song?
I've heard Kenny Chesney do Conway Twitty. Dierks Bentley do Johnny Cash. Miranda Lambert do Steve Earle. Darius Rucker do Hank Williams Jr. Tim McGraw do David Allan Coe. And Luke Bryan do John Anderson. And I love when country stars cover other country stars, much more so than, say, Martina McBride doing a Journey song or Joe Nichols trying to pull off Nickelback's "Rockstar. " But all those country singers getting covered have legend cred. They're seasoned artists who've been around long enough to earn a spot in a newer artist's set list. But lately, I've been noticing very current, very contemporary artists getting covered.
A few months ago, a video of Bucky Covington performing Dierks Bentley's "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)" was floating around. Now, I like Covington and I like Bentley. But has Bentley reached that point in his career where artists will start covering his songs? And how did Covington chose that song over all the standard Cash/Haggard/Jennings/Williams/Nelson covers? I felt the same way when I saw Chuck Wicks do a Brad Paisley song, Lambert doing a Jack Ingram song and Blake Shelton doing a Lambert song.
Maybe it's just me and my reluctance to grow old gracefully. Or grow old at all, really. Or maybe it's the artists who keep getting younger and younger and come to the stage influenced not by the music of the '60s but by the music of the past five years or so. If that's the case, I guess I'd better steel myself for the day some new artist gets up on stage to sing "Baby Girl," "You Look Good in My Shirt" and "Chicken Fried."
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Kevin says:
I dont think its a big deal if artists do covers of other current artists. I think it is just the artists having fun doing their shows. Those are probably songs that they sing along with if they hear them on the radio..so they just figure it would be fun to do them live in their own shows. I dont think they are trying to pay tribute to these new artists or anything like that.
Jarod says:
I agree with Alison. The reason for covers is to pay homage to people you grew up listening to as well as those who came before you.
Leeann says:
I think it’s probably kind of fun at concerts, though it would be ridiculous if they put them on albums for sure.
Mindy says:
I love it when Kenny Chesney covers Conway’s Lay You Down!
countryiscool says:
Jeff Bates “covers” Conway’s stuff down to a T.
Sarah says:
I think it’s really fun when artists do both older & younger songs! Artists know their audiences & they choose the songs that they can relate to. Either way, I love to hear their versions!
Melissa says:
I think it’s cool when artists do songs from artists that they’re fans of. Whether they’re older or younger than you, it’s still an honor because then you know people like your songs…
Kim says:
Blake shelton’s cover of “home” worked for him. didn’t he and Michael Buble do it together live?
dan says:
i think there should be about a 15 to 20 yr waiting period for a singer to cover anothers song some sing it good as the real singer but very few. and by the looks of this blog some people probably want to hear carrie’s before he cheats or taylor’s love story song by everyone else because they are good song
dan says:
songs songs dang i spelled wrong
katie says:
As far as Lambert covering Jack Ingram goes, she’s a Texas gal and Mr. Ingram pretty much is a legend here in Texas. It makes perfect sense to me. Blake Shelton covered Lambert’s “Famous in a Small Town” as a kind of fun thing during Miranda’s birthday party/concert. There’s nothing wrong with covering a good song, whether it’s old, new, or not yet released by the original artist, as long as credit is given where credit is due.
Emily_T says:
i agree but i think some times it works and other times it does not but i very excitied for Carrie Underwoods cover of Randy Travis “I Told you So” its was such a good song when Randy sang it and i think Carrie does it just as good i mean you cant out do the original but Carrie comes realy close
SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB ON IT. Hear it for yourself and you will agree CARRIE IS THE BEST PERSON OUT THERE
MUCH LOVE FOR CARRIE
Mike says:
Covering current songs has been going on for years. Everyone has their own opinion as to whether it’s appropriate or not. Good music is good music as long as the listener enjoys it. Ernest Tubb used to play other performers songs if he thought they fit his voice and he thought his fans would enjoy it. I was pleasantly surprised a couple of weeks ago hearing Alan Jackson singing “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
Jan says:
Love Carrie’s cover of Randy’s “I Told You So” and Hey Mike…I would have loved to hear Alan Jackson sing “He Stopped Loving Her Today” I get a tear when George Jones sings that (and most of George’s songs).
CJ says:
It depends on how it is done. I think there should be a large span between artists. Also it depends if they are doing it for fun or to honor that star. Sometimes they sing it better than the original.
DJ says:
I think it would be an honor to sing someone you admire songs or like most people agree if it a good song and you just enjoy singing it. I can’t see anything wrong with that. Home was a great cover for Blake Shelton. Carrie’s cover of Randy Travis’ I Told You So is awesome, too! Carrie has said she listened to Randy growing up and has always admired him and loved his music. I think she recorded ITYS out of love and respect for him. Plus ITYS is a great country song!
buffalogrrl says:
A cover is nothing but singing a song that has been sung by someone else. Who says it has to do anything with paying tribute to anyone or any particular music? A good song is a good song, what else more is there? Playing other people’s music used to be common in the industry. I remember Miles Davis covering a Cindy Lauper song once and people getting all upset. Davis responded by saying “I hear a song I like I play it, I don’t give a f*** who else has played it”. Basically that’s how I feel too.
hotelmotel says:
I agree with buffalogrrl.
Jessica says:
i love carries cover of I Told You So, its great, next #1 for Ms Underwood
jason gould says:
i thik kenny chesney is a good contry music man and would make a good dad for someone
MiaT says:
I Love to hear artists do “Cover” tunes. I like that that tey always put alittle spin on it just to make it their own. BTW: Blake doing “Home” nothing like it…I am in love with it!
Janet says:
I’ve heard Tim Mcgraw do Keith Whitely, Conway, Elvis, Merle Haggard and would love Tim do Keith’s song Don’t Close Your Eyes or I’m No Stranger to the Rain. Have seen him do them in concert and he sounds Tim sounds awesome.
I have also seen and heard Tim do Mama Tried and Workin Man Blues a cover of Merle. In fact I have it on tape, he was doing a special with Merle on the old TNN station.
He did great with both.
Janet says:
No one can do Conway justice, no one and its ok to do them in concert but why try to mess with the perferction of Conway. Kenny’s version of Conway’s song is a joke and doesn’t if come close to Conway.
Mindy says:
Kenny’s version is very good and he does a great tribute to Conway when he plays it live.
And know way is it a JOKE!! Kenny loves Conway!!
Kgator says:
Dierks and Bucky toured together last year and formed a close friendship. In turn Bucky now covers one of Dierks past hit singles because he likes it and heard it every night performed by Dierks!
countryiscool says:
Janet, have you heard Jeff Bates? He’s got that same low, gravelly voice and believe me, his female fans rave about him. Listen to one of his mushy songs and see if he doesn’t
remind you of Conway. I agree though, Conway is Conway.
john says:
Chesney cover of conway is great! I almost like it better thean the original!
lolhorse6375 says:
I love Kenny Chesney a lot and I hope he stay around till he is 45-50 years old. He is my FAv courty singer love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mindy says:
Well I hope Kenny’s like Wille and never stops touring past his 50’s.
sam says:
I agree with Mindy
Thorg says:
I don’t think any of the artist are “new” or as new as you think they may be. Jack Ingram has been playin Texas for years and Miranda has been a fan of his since she was 16, I think it shows respect in it’s sincerest form to cover an artist who has been making great music for a long time and is just now being heard on a national level.
Ms. Feathers says:
I’m of the “a good song is a good song” opinion, too. I also think that the artist should cover songs that make sense for him/her - songs that work for his/her voice and style. American Idol has shown us that some people just shouldn’t sing songs from certain genres or eras, even tho they can nail other songs.
And we can’t just consider “country-country” crosses either. Like Blake’s version of “Home” (which has more depth of feeling than the original, IMO), or Jack Ingram’s version of Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel”, this shows how really talented country music singers are. Personally, I would love to hear someone like Trace Adkins record covers of a few “Sinatra era” standards (”Funny Valentine” etc).
If anyone cares, Keith Urban has a cover song on each of his albums. He’s covered “Stuck in the Middle” (Steeler’s Wheel), “Jeans On” (David Dundas), “Country Comfort” (Elton John & Juice Newton), and “I Can’t Stop Loving You” (Leo Sayer & Phil Collins). He has also covered “Free Fallin’” (Tom Petty) in concert. All of these songs suit Keith’s voice and style, but are not “country” per se.
Enlargement says:
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Greatdivide08 says:
I seen newcomer Michael Scott do “I Saw God Today” last June in concert.He said he knew it was suppose to be a no-no to cover a song that is currentley a hit, but said he didn’t care because he felt it was the most beautiful songs King George has ever done.And he pulled it off very nicely.
I also seen Gretchen Wilson last summer at the same event doing Seperate Ways by Journey and Baracuda by Heart.Yawn.And I too seen Joe Nichols singing Rockstar at yet the same 4 day event and agree 100% it was horrid.He made up for it by also covering Okie From Mussoggee.
I don’t think it matters when the song came out,it just depends on how well it is preformed.
Horeokyprieri says:
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