# Favourite cover songs played with unusual instruments **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492 "2018-02-24T20:36:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/21 "2018-02-25T17:04:56Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > [“Sultans of Swing”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFiyZB5ucgo) (Dire Straits) performed by [Luna Lee](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQASKpYeiD7Eh_mfhaTrS0Q) on a [gayageum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayageum), a traditional zither-like instrument from Korea I like Luna Lee’s stuff, but that one’s definitely not my favourite…Gorillaz’ [Feel Good Inc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPAg7ODubB4), or Bowie’s [Space Oddity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IUhqhkmd3g) probably take that place. [This ukulele cover of Hurt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujUN9GXR0L0) (specifically based on Cash’s cover), by a lady named Mary Red, was surprisingly good, albeit weird. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/22 "2018-02-25T17:08:43Z")
Some good suggestions in this thread: [Peculiar versions of songs and other musical works](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=765413) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/23 "2018-02-25T17:29:59Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > For a few weeks now, I’ve been fascinated by this cover of Toto’s Africa on the harpejji: > [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pv0q6oBmZxo](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pv0q6oBmZxo) > > The musician has other covers up on youtube as well. > I’d love to try this unusual instrument but they’re a couple grand. I’d never heard of the harpejji before, but I’m glad I have now! Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/24 "2018-02-25T17:32:57Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Also here is [Stairway To Heaven on 20 String Koto with flute accompaniment.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZPnt4tKGdU) How about Vivaldi’s _Four Seasons_ on several Kotos? Here are [“Spring”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h37mpAqkUBg) and [“Winter”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFOYkRY720M). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/25 "2018-02-25T17:51:45Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Regina Spektor does a beautiful version of [While My Guitar Gently Weeps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hUOKjy-9-o) with shamisen accompaniment. Also more people should watch _Kubo and the Two Strings_. How about [While My Keytar Gently Weeps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ioD3KcVSE), on a synthesizer. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/26 "2018-02-25T17:57:19Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Some good suggestions in this thread: [Peculiar versions of songs and other musical works](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=765413) Thanks! I did a search for similar threads before starting this one, but evidently I didn’t cover all the right keywords. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/27 "2018-02-25T19:25:22Z")
[Rondellus: Sabbatum](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKmP61RAypY) – an album of Black Sabbath songs sung in Latin with traditional medieval instruments. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/28 "2018-02-25T19:30:43Z")
[Purple Haze on three cellos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlrE_WqD8gE) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/29 "2018-02-25T20:26:55Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > [Rondellus: Sabbatum](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKmP61RAypY) – an album of Black Sabbath songs sung in Latin with traditional medieval instruments. Awesome! Even better than [Ensemble Ambrosius doing Zappa.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSOyVJ6i4dc) ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/30 "2018-02-25T20:29:09Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > [Purple Haze on three cellos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlrE_WqD8gE) [Metallica on four cellos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhTHaGgwig) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/31 "2018-02-25T20:58:47Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > [Rondellus: Sabbatum](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKmP61RAypY) – an album of Black Sabbath songs sung in Latin with traditional medieval instruments. Love this. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/32 "2018-02-25T21:04:28Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > [Metallica on four cellos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhTHaGgwig) 😉 [A _Crazy Train_/_YMCA_ mashup on cello and bass](https://youtu.be/yasVLmSKzPs). ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/33 "2018-02-25T21:15:39Z")
[quote=“Snowboarder\_Bo, post:8, topic:809492”] How about playing a modern (metal) song on modern instruments, but recording it with 100 year old equipment? Rob Scanlon is a guitarist/songwriter who recorded his metal band on a wax cylinder. [/QUOTE] For some reason that reminds me of [Deathgasm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg-c7UpJZLQ). Which, if you haven’t seen, you completely should. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/34 "2018-02-27T18:13:02Z")
This kind of thing is not as uncommon as it used to be (Iron Horse, etc.) but these guys were first. “Brain Damage” [The Austin Lounge Lizards...Brain Damage - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q75qJ3vCmBw&list=RDQ75qJ3vCmBw&t=37) One of the best versions of “Take Five” you will ever hear. [TAKE FIVE - Camaleon Bassoons - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKBrnjxlKgU) I do love jazz bassoon, and one of the earliest and best is Michael Rabinowitz. “Alone Together” [Michael Rabinowitz playing jazz bassoon on Alone Together - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqFhbOL1WPA) Nowadays we have the fabulous Gunhild Carling, multi-instrumentalist, she can play most anything, including bagpipes. (Google her and listen up, she’s great!) But before there was Gunhild, there was the iconoclast Rufus Harley, jazz bagpiper. Played with Sun Ra, Sonny Rollins, lotsa other people. “A Love Supreme” [Rufus Harley - A LOVE SUPREME - Coltrane with BAGPIPES - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmaicurzPb0) “Feeling Good” [RUFUS HARLEY- Feeling Good - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QVLSzZChwc) Oh hell, Gunhild Carling on 10 Different Instruments and Postmodern Jukebox … tap dancing and being all “Happy”: [http://postmodernjukebox.com/video/#happy-pharrell-williams-on-10-different-musical-instruments-cover-ft-gunhild-carling](http://postmodernjukebox.com/video/#happy-pharrell-williams-on-10-different-musical-instruments-cover-ft-gunhild-carling) How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/35 "2018-02-27T19:54:20Z")
“Thunderstruck” [by a Scots-Australian with a bagpipe that shoots flames](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Op1Mng4oY). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/36 "2018-02-27T19:56:58Z")
[David Chen on Cello, Annie Jantzer vocals](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv9Yx_ZsA1o) covering _Wicked Game_. If you enjoy David’s cello work, listen to his other covers, including a bunch of looping covers. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/37 "2018-02-27T20:16:23Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > One of the best versions of “Take Five” you will ever hear. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKBrnjxlKgU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKBrnjxlKgU) Ooh, that reminds me to post [this vocal version by Al Jarreau](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhq7fSrXn0c). I suppose that vocals aren’t a particularly unusual instrument (or maybe not even an instrument at all) but I would never have imagined they’d be suited to this piece. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/38 "2018-02-27T20:50:10Z")
How about Dolly Parton’s [Stairway to Heaven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw_Codf29Pw) I always thought that song needed a banjo. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/39 "2018-02-27T21:00:16Z")
I don’t know that I have a favorite, and these are not that unusual instruments, but [Vitamin String Quartet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_String_Quartet) has tributes to many acts and genres. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492/40 "2018-02-28T00:30:03Z")
I’m kinda partial to [Ravel’s Bolero](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U14IBek-wNU) done in its entirety with kazoo. Especially the crescendo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-cover-songs-played-with-unusual-instruments/809492.md?page=3)