Greetings and salutations Hivers. Today let’s go into another Three Tune Tuesday post.
As always, thanks to @ablaze for making this series. Lots of people participate in it! Follow the tags to find a ton of good music recommendations.
Today I’ve got another trio of covers, and all three come from artists or performers who probably never would’ve made it past the gatekeepers in the old music industry.
Back in the day, you needed connections, a label, a ton of luck, or a willingness to schmooze with record executives just to get in the door. Talent helped, sure, but it wasn’t enough and was probably the least important factor to making it. Now with YouTube, the rules have changed. It’s not always for the better, but one of the great things about this shift is how many insanely talented people we get to hear who otherwise would’ve gone unnoticed.
So today, let’s celebrate that. Three covers, all excellent, all unexpected.
Video Killed The Radio Star - Walk off the Earth Ft. Sarah Silverman
How could I not click on this one?
This song is wired into my nervous system at this point. So many of us Gen X grew up hearing it on MTV, in the background of parties, or in random movie trailers. It’s nostalgia, but it’s also catchy as hell.
But here’s the twist: Sarah Silverman’s in it. And she sings.
I’ll be honest: Sarah often rubs me the wrong way. She often pushes her jokes just a little too far, even though it’s the same style of dry sarcasm I grew up with and is part of my lifeblood too. But here? She’s surprisingly earnest, and her voice is… kind of great?
Walk off the Earth is always creative with their arrangements, and this one feels joyful, layered, and just weird enough to work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVqnL0nkfPY
Puddles Pity Party - WAR PIGS
Yes, a clown sings Sabbath.
If you don’t know Puddles yet, you’re in for something weird and wonderful. He’s 7 feet tall, painted like a sad Pierrot, and sings with a deep operatic baritone that somehow works perfectly with everything from Bowie to Metallica.
Here he takes on Black Sabbath’s War Pigs, and it’s phenomenal. The anti-war rage is still there, but filtered through a haunted-circus lens. It’s both powerful and absurd.
And fantastic!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT8t3i8CkMQ
Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) - Connie Talbot
This song was peak Phil Collins. Back when he could break your heart in three chords and a good drum fill.
Connie Talbot, who you might remember from Britain’s Got Talent years ago, has grown into a powerhouse vocalist. She takes this track and leans into its emotional core without over-singing it. That’s harder than it looks.
There’s no flash here. Just piano, voice, and feeling. A solid reminder that “cover” doesn’t have to mean “show off.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsAxogtqerY
So what’s your favorite? Have you stumbled across any unexpected YouTube covers that blew your mind lately? Drop them in the comments — I’d love to hear them.
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David is an American teacher and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Bluesky. |