# What Song would you cover if you actually had talent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089 "2003-07-26T14:32:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nvme77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Nvme77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nvme77)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/41 "2003-07-28T04:00:48Z")
You’re no good by Linda Ronstadt Anything by Blondie. ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/42 "2003-07-28T05:12:46Z")
I’ve been talking about this one for years. And it fits the bill perfectly, since I have no talent. “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass. With a ska/punk feel to it. Imagine the chorus with horns, instead of backup singers. Now double the tempo. It’d work. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/43 "2003-07-28T10:01:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Winterwren \* > \*\*There is, gods help us all, an album called JESUS CHRIST SURFERSTAR. And, yes, it is the entire musical done in Dick Dale and Beach Boys style surfer music. \*\* Still better than a rap version. “Yo, Jesus - how’s it hanging? You lookin’ cross today, bro! Shit, if I got me nailed three times in an hour, I’d be in Heaven…” Ahem. Getting back to the point, I’d cover To Live Is To Fly by the Cowboy Junkies - just because it’s a really good song. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/44 "2003-07-28T10:03:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quack \* > \*\*Goldfinger’s version of Nena’s _99 Red Balloons_. > It’s just really fun. \*\* So if you could cover any song, you’d cover a cover of a cover? You’re weird. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/45 "2003-07-28T14:02:35Z")
I’ve always wanted to start a country cover band, doing pop, rock, R&B, and other Top 40 songs countrified. I’d like to hear Prince’s “Gett Off,” NSync’s “Pop,” Green Day’s “Longview,” and Busta Rhymes’ “I Know What You Want” with a fiddle, steel guitar and banjo. Happy ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/46 "2003-07-28T14:12:28Z")
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” The male half of the Ray Charles / Betty Carter version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” U2’s “40.” Midge Ure’s “No Regrets.” “One Song Glory,” “Without You,” and “In My Eyes” from _Rent_. “Dulcinea” from _Man of La Mancha_. Unfortunately, I sing in the key of “off.” ---
**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:** [July 28, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/47 "2003-07-28T18:17:14Z")
Unlike some of the others here, I _can_ sing. I have a wav of me covering “Jambalaya” and people don’t believe it’s me. If only I wasn’t too old for American Idol. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/48 "2003-07-28T18:40:55Z")
There are many I’d like to cover, but one is over all others: “Dur Dur D’etre bébé”, by Jordy. I’m envisioning an early-90s alt.rock style cover, complete with angsty screaming. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/49 "2003-07-30T01:20:52Z")
Oh, if only I could sing well… I’d change “girl” to “guy” in the lyrics but other than that I would like to do a faithful cover of **Mekong** by the Refreshments. _No one_ knows that song, and it’s just so damn good that it deserves a cover - not to mention I think it’d be interesting sung by a woman instead of a man 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/50 "2003-07-30T02:12:17Z")
Two from U2. Pride (in the name of love) and One. Pride carrys a sense of nobility with it that is just perfect. ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/51 "2003-07-30T02:20:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dutchboy208 \* > \*\*Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus > > or Ring of Fire, by Johnny Cash… greatest country tune ever 🙂 \*\* Why not cover the Johnny Cash cover of “Personal Jesus”? Two birds, one stone. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089/52 "2003-07-31T17:03:40Z")
Naked Eyes–“Always Something There to Remind Me” Michael Jackson–“Remember the Time” Soundgarden–“Fell on Black Days” Lita Ford–“Kiss Me Deadly” Hootie and the Blowfish–“Only Lonely” Level 42–“Something About You” Duran Duran–“New Moon on Monday”, “Planet Earth”, “Serious” Sting–“If I Ever Lose My Faith in You” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-would-you-cover-if-you-actually-had-talent/191089.md?page=2)