We all know YouTube is one of the most dangerous places on the Internet. You’ll go on really quick to check out that one video a friend sent you, but end up just clicking and clicking those videos on the right before you realize in horror that it’s already 2 A.M. and you haven’t done any of your homework yet. Your friendly neighborhood idobi staff is here to save you from that misery. We’ve done all the searching and incessant clicking for you to compile what we think are the coolest covers on YouTube of pop punk and alternative music.
KeezyKabeezy – Feeling This (blink-182)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDCBtT07aMQ
Every pop punk band starts off as a blink-182 cover band, whether they like to admit it or not. But Kyle, better known by his YouTube name as KeezyKabeezy, proves that you don’t need a band to produce an awesome cover. The self-proclaimed “purveyor of bedroom rock” records all the parts himself, including some vocals that strike a remarkable resemblance to both Mark Hoppus and Tom Delonge. Adding layer upon layer of acoustic guitar and keyboards, this is a refreshing take on a classic that highlights the beauty of the song’s lyrical harmonies. If Blink-182 ever need someone to fill in, this is the guy to call. (Alex Bear)
Dolly Denko – Flicker, Fade (Taking Back Sunday)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e-snjs9-KQ
The great thing about YouTube is that you can just keep clicking, and sometimes that’s how you find a great cover artist. I may have started out searching for the new “Flicker, Fade” video from Taking Back Sunday, but it wasn’t hard to stumble upon the talented Dolly Denko, who provides a very real and raw cover of the song. Denko’s voice is soft on the verses, but shows a strong range throughout the song. Although the original has a rougher feel due to Adam Lazzara’s incomparable vocals, Denko shows that it is just as powerful when rendered acoustic. (Hannah Pierangelo)
Lou Foulkes – All I Want (A Day To Remember)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkymO6_G9nI
One of the most popular A Day To Remember singles to date, “All I Want” takes on a more somber form than its fast-paced original in this cover by Lou Foulkes. Kicking off with arpeggiated chords to give more focus to the soulful lyrics, Lou’s vocals is what makes the cover truly impressive, with every word sung with the kind of passion that hits close to home. It reminds us of how powerful the lyrics really are without anything else detracting from it, and drives home that this song is all about taking chances and doing what you think is right. This cover is just as memorable as the original, and it’s definitely going to be on repeat for a while. (Emily Yee)
Mitchell Emmen – Therapy (All Time Low)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VfuuVjVX7M
We’ve heard plenty noble covers of All Time Low’s “Therapy,” but none quite as well done as Mitchell Emmen’s bedroom ballad. Emmen takes the song’s emotion and portrays it in a way that original songwriter and vocalist Alex Gaskarth would be proud to hear. In fact, Emmen even sounds similar to Gaskarth in the finest moments of his falsetto. But let’s face it, you don’t listen to covers to find an identical version of the song you already know. What makes Emmen’s performance stand out from the crowd, separating it from All Time Low’s beloved anthem, is the sheer quality of his voice. Emmen is one of the best talents YouTube has, and proves it with “Therapy.” (Emillie Marvel)
Town Hall – The Middle (Jimmy Eat World)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR3oa2r5qtE
There are people who enjoy when artists cover another piece of music and do their best to leave as much of the initial song intact as possible. I am not one of those people. I love hearing bands take a song (especially a well-known song) and put their own spin on it. For a song like Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” a different take can breathe new life into a song we’ve all heard a thousand times. Town Hall, an indie folk band from New York City, do just that with their cover of this classic tune. Hearing this song played acoustically with shakers, a double bass, and even a xylophone, gives it an entirely new feel. The video is now two years old and the band have since broken up, but a good cover is a good cover. (Taylor Lima)
Stephen Cornwell – Pompeii (Bastille)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QaALA1_DMc
UK band Bastille are the new princes of indie, providing a fresh burst of energy into the music scene. They’re definitely not afraid to experiment musically, and this cover of “Pompeii” shows how creative inspiration is infectious. Stephen Cornwell from Kent, UK, transforms his bedroom into a makeshift studio of sweet melodies, completely stripping down this epic indie anthem into a beautiful acoustic ballad. He captures the soaring vocals with ease, their simplicity adding a softer touch that compliments the muted guitars and percussion perfectly. (Alex Bear)
Austin Veldman – No One’s Gonna Need You More (The Dangerous Summer)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05KYZ1bjTgs
YouTube is full of talent these days. Some popular artists have professional quality sound and production for just a few short minutes of video, and yet they have a large (and loyal) fan base just as easily as any other musician. But, sometimes it’s best to go back to the basics, and that’s exactly what Austin Veldman does with his cover of The Dangerous Summer’s “No One’s Gonna Need You More.” Just a guy and his guitar in the candid setting of a bedroom, this cover doesn’t need extravagance. It has a simple flair. Veldman sings with soft vocals and plays a twangy acoustic guitar, both which lighten and relax the song in comparison to its grittier original. Veldman is no AJ Perdomo, but his rendition of the song makes for a charming, enjoyable cover that would feel comfortable in any setting for any listener. (Hannah Pierangelo)
Doug – My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Fall Out Boy)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVFOq7PQgEw&feature=youtu.be
Everyone knows the best covers are those that don’t just rip off a song’s exact structure but enhance it into something new and interesting while still retaining the song’s spirit. In this case, a man in a fedora named Doug takes Fall Out Boy’s fiery anthem “My Songs (Know What You Did In The Dark)” and completely rearranges it into a soulful jazz ballad. It’s the last way you’d expect to hear a Fall Out Boy song, which is what makes it so enjoyable. For those of you looking for more, Doug also has a cover of “Dance, Dance” floating somewhere on YouTube. (Catherine Yi)
Patty Walters – Bite My Tongue (You Me At Six)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRUUhXppekE
You Me At Six’s “Bite My Tongue” was so well loved that it ended up resulting in far too many half-hearted covers. But digging through the sea of bedroom performances can be well worth the reward, and of the gems, Patty Walters’ rendition is the brightest. Nothing short of a YouTube sensation, Walters puts every ounce of power he has ever shown behind the song. Standout moments galore, soaring clean vocals, and hard-hitting screaming add up to Walters’ best performance to date. (Emillie Marvel)
Michael Henry and Justin Robinett – Airplanes / Brick By Boring Brick (B.O.B. ft. Hayley Williams / Paramore)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbu4jP9JPRY
YouTubers Michael Henry and Justin Robinett tribute Hayley Williams in their “Airplanes / Brick by Boring Brick” medley. The singing is pretty on point considering Williams’ range, but what makes this cover really special is the piano interpretation. The two-person instrumentals keep the cover fresh and exciting (otherwise, everyone would just listen to the original versions). For what — production-wise — looks like two guys who convinced their friends to spend the afternoon making a YouTube video, the finished product is something to be admired. The cover really makes an impression at the end when the two pianists layer Hayley’s “Airplanes” vocals over the chorus’ ba-da-ba’s of “Brick by Boring Brick,” making us wish B.O.B. had thought to team up with Paramore for this exact mix. (Alyssa Dempsey)
