Tag Archives: Marilyn Manson

Sep 28 2026

My Top 20 Best Cover Songs

Most of the time, a great song should not be touched. Like a great movie, they just shouldn’t be remade. Saying that, every so often a cover song comes out that is just as good (and sometimes even better) than the original. I’m also keeping it to one song per artist (some bands I like are known for all their covers), so I’m choosing the best one. I’m also keeping it to one cover a certain song. So here are my top 20 best cover songs.

20 – Without Me by Flight Paths
Original by Halsey (2018)

I didn’t even know this was a cover when I first heard it. But having listened to the original, I can easily say that this is the superior version.

Released as a single in 2018.

19 – Another Brick in the Wall by Korn
Original by Pink Floyd (1979)

I’m generally not a fan of prog rock, so it’s no surprise that I prefer this version to the original.

Released in 2004, from the album Greatest Hits Vol 1.

18 – Headhunter by Icon of Coil
Original by Front 242 (1988)

I like these two equally, and they’re different enough that it’s not repetitive.

Released in 2003, from the album Android.

17 – Umbrella by Vanilla Sky
Original by Rihanna (2007)

The video for this song is absolutely hilarious, but the song is actually surprisingly great.

Released in 2007, from the album Changes.

16 – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Marilyn Manson
Original by Eurythmics (1983)

I like the original, but this cover really is so much better. Manson also did a great cover of Depeche mode’s Personal Jesus.

Released in 1995, from the album Smells Like Children.

15 – Careless Whisper by Seether
Original by George Michael (1984)

This cover just takes all the longing and regret of the original and dials it up to 11.

Released in 2007, from the album Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces.

14 – The Sound of Silence by Disturbed
Original by Simon and Garfunkel (1964)

It’s kind of not fair to compare these two, they’re on different levels. Disturbed also did a great cover of Genesis’ Land of Confusion.

Released in 2015, from the album Immortalized.

13 – Stripped by Rammstein
Original by Depeche Mode (1986)

The original is a classic, but I do prefer this hard rock cover of it. Palaye Royale also did a good cover of this song.

Released in 1998, from the Depeche Mode tribute album For the Masses.

12 – Shape of You by Fame on Fire
Original by Ed Sheeran (2017)

I’m actually not a fan of the original, but this rock version is awesome.

Released as a single in 2017.

11 – Running Up That Hill by Placebo
Original by Kate Bush (1985)

Not a huge fan of the original, but then I do always prefer male voices.

Released in 2003, from the album Covers.

10 – Every Breath You Take by Chase Holfelder
Original by The Police (1983)

Finally, a version of this song that matches the lyrics. And people think this is a love song. Pfft…

Released in 2015, from the album Major to Minor Vol 1.

9 – The Man Who Sold the World by Nirvana
Original by David Bowie (1970)

I love David Bowie, but Nirvana’s version of this song kind of blows the original out of the water.

Released in 1994, from the album MTV Unplugged in New York.

8 – Radioactive by Bullet for My Valentine
Original by Imagine Dragons (2012)

These two songs are similar, but I prefer the singer from Bullet for My Valentine’s voice a lot more. It’s also harder than the original.

Released in 2018, from the album Gravity.

7 – Zombie by Bad Wolves
Original by The Cranberries (1994)

Definitely not better than the original, but this version still rocks hard.

Released in 2018, from the album Disobey.

6 – The Hills by Solence
Original by The Weeknd (2015)

The original is fine, but this hard rock cover is so much better.

Released as a single in 2016.

5 – Blue Monday by Orgy
Original by New Order (1983)

Not a huge fan of the original, but Orgy really made it theirs.

Released in 1998, from the album Candyass.

4 – Wicked Game by HIM
Original by Chris Isaak (1989)

The original of this song is smooth and sultry, and the cover is harder and louder. Which one is better? No idea.

Released in 1997, from the album Greatest Lovesongs Vol 666.

3 – Set Fire to the Rain by No Resolve
Original by Adele (2011)

I do love me some rock covers, don’t I? Adele’s version is good, but I much prefer the cover.

Released in 2021, from the album A New Beginning.

2 – Someone You Loved by Our Last Night, with I See Stars, The Word Alive, and Ashland
Original by Lewis Capaldi (2018)

The original is good, but, for me, this cover is much better. I love all the different voices together. Our Last Night also did an amazing cover of Billie Eilish’s When the Party’s Over.

Released as a single in 2019.

1 – Closer by Palaye Royale
Original by Nine Inch Nails (1994)

I’m just gonna say it: this cover is way better than the original. Also, singer Remington Leith is one of the most beautiful men on the planet, and this video does things to me…

Released in 2023, from the album Sextape.

And that’s it! Are your favourite covers on the list? If not, what are they? Let me know!

M.

Aug 29 2026

My Top 20 Songs of the 2000’s

Another list that was painful to make. There are so many amazing songs that I wanted in the list, but I wanted to keep it at 20 songs. But I think this is as good as it’s going to get. Like last time, I kept it to one song per artist which was hard as hell. How do you choose between perfect songs? So here they are, my top 20 songs of the 2000’s.

20 – For All the Lost by Necessary Response

Such a great song to dance to. This brings me back… No video for this one, but I hope you enjoy the audio.

Released in 2007, from the album Blood Spills Not Far From The Wound.

19 – Mein Herz Brennt by Rammstein

Some people might have gone with Sonne or Mutter for this place, but I really prefer this lesser known song. So good.

Released in 2001, from the album Mutter.

18 – The Nobodies by Marilyn Manson

(s)AINT almost took this spot, but listening to them again, I realized that this is the superior song. Maybe. Did I mention this list was hell to make?

Released in 2000, from the album Holy Wood.

17 – Destroy Everything You Touch by Ladytron

I’d completely forgotten just how much I actually love this song. I haven’t heard it in a while, and I still remember all the lyrics (but not why I walked into the kitchen. Brains, am I right?)

Released in 2005, from the album Witching Hour.

16 – TZDV by Faderhead

I still remember the first time I heard this song. I was sitting in a club for a goth night in Quebec City just chatting with friends. This song came on and I was instantly in love. Love that pounding bass!

Released in 2008, from the album FH3.

15 – Military Fashion Show by And One

Such a great song to dance to. Man, do I ever miss dancing… *nostalgia kicking in* No video for this one.

Released in 2006, from the album Bodypop.

14 – Change (In the House of Flies) by Deftones

Passenger almost went here, but then I listened to this one again and was like, yup, that’s the one. Such a powerful song.

Released in 2000, from the album White Pony.

13 – Your Joy is My Low by IAMX

When I heard this for the first time, I was dancing in a goth club in Montreal (significantly more people in there than the club in Quebec City, lol) and this song came on. Halfway through the song I literally stopped dancing and just listened. So good.

Released in 2004, from the album Kiss + Swallow.

12 – Hellraiser (VNV Nation remix) by Suicide Commando

The original of this song is just so-so, but this VNV remix is awesome. They added some great melody to it. At around the 3 minute mark they added an instrumental bit that was heaven to dance to.

Released in 2000, from the album Hellraiser.

11 – Map of the Problematique by Muse

Singer Matthew Bellamy, besides being a cutie, has such an amazing voice. I had a hell of a time choosing just one Muse song, there are so many amazing ones. Undisclosed Desires had the spot before I went “hold on…” and remembered this song. This video is the only official one they have out, live at Wembley Stadium. But here you can hear just how good they are live.

Released in 2007. from the album Black Holes and Revelations.

10 – Judith by A Perfect Circle

Might seem like the obvious choice, but this really is an amazing song. Singer Maynard James Keenan’s voice is just so powerful. Shoutout to Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums, it was thisclose to being the one I picked.

Released in 2000, from the album Mer de Noms.

9 – Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes

Singer Jack White was made up to look like a pretty boy for this video, and the girls (and some guys, I’m sure) went crazy. Jack hated it and made sure he looked weird in videos from that point on. I was so disappointed, lol. Oh, and the song is an absolute banger. Simple but oh so effective.

Released in 2003, from the album Elephant.

8 – Exterminate Annihilate Destroy by Rotersand

Another one that’s just amazing to dance to. Plus it’s a little geeky, just like me! Unfortunately no video for this one. Not an official one anyhow. There’s a few that viewers made with clips of the Daleks, lol.

Released in 2005, from the album Welcome to Goodbye.

7 – Breath by Breaking Benjamin

Here’s another one that was hard to pick just one. But, listening to them again, this song is head and shoulders above the rest. I was so sure there was a video to this song…

Released in 2006, from the album Phobia.

6 – Like a Stone by Audioslave

Such a loss to the music world, singer Chris Cornell had a voice like butter. I love doing this song at karaoke. Or in the shower… lol.

Released in 2002, from their self-titled album.

5 – The Bitter End by Placebo

I was waffling between this song and Song to Say Goodbye for this spot, but this one won. And it has (almost) nothing to do with how hot singer Brian Molko is in it *fans self*.

Released in 2003, from the album Sleeping with Ghosts.

4 – In Repair by Our Lady Peace

I’d started listening to Our Lady Peace less in the 2000’s. A lot of the newer stuff I just didn’t like. This song is a massive exception. So good.

Released in 2000, from the album Spiritual Machines.

3 – I Don’t Care by Apocalyptica, with Adam Gontier

The 2000’s is when Apocalyptica started making their own music. Before then, they were doing Metallica covers on cello. On a few tracks per album from then on, they would borrow a singer from another band, in this case Three Days Grace’s Adam Gontier, and actually have lyrics. Their instrumental stuff is really nice, but I like to sing along. I also have a massive crush on “lead” cellist Eicca Toppinen (he’s the one with the long blond hair). Whew…

Released in 2007, from the album Worlds Collide.

2 – Crawling by Linkin Park

Choosing which Linkin Park song is the best of the decade was almost impossible, but I finally decided on Crawling. I always did prefer the songs that were heavier with Chester’s vocals more than Mike’s. He is sorely missed.

Released in 2001, from the album Hybrid Theory.

1 – Wreath of Barbs by :Wumpscut:

I was waffling a long time which should take first place, this or Crawling, but I finally decided on this. It might change tomorrow, but for now, this is it. I love everything about this song.

Released in 2001, from the album Wreath of Barbs.

And that’s it! As usual, a lot of the rankings are probably interchangeable, but for today, this is what I went with. I hope I was able to turn you on to some new music, and help revive old favourites. Next up, sometime in the not-too-distant future, the best of the 2010’s!!

M.

Jul 16 2026

My Top 20 Songs of the 90’s

This list was SO HARD to make, you guys, and I’m still not sure I got it totally right. I was in my formative teen years in the 90’s, and the stuff that I listened to then would form the kind of music that I would love for the rest of my life, mainly rock-alternative and electronic. Like my 80’s list, a lot of these songs are interchangable depending on my mood. I also decided to keep it to one song per artist, which was ridiculously hard. But here it is, the best I could make it, my favourite songs of the 90’s!

20 – Hate Me by Le­æther Strip

I wish I could say I was cool enough to love this while I was in high school, but most of my gothy music I discovered when I started going out to goth clubs, and that would be when I was 22. But this list is year released, not year discovered, so here it is!

Released in 1997, from the album Self-Inflicted.

19 – Resurrection by Moist

This one might not be known to anyone outside of Canada, but Moist was one of the biggest artists here in the mid-to-late 90’s. I remember all us girlies absolutely swooning over singer David Usher. He lives in the same city as I do, Montreal (last I heard, anyways), but I’ve never crossed him. We’re almost 2 million, though, so that’s really not that surprising.

Released in 1996, from the album Creature.

18 – Temptation by The Tea Party

Another Canadian goodie. The singer is (or was, at least) a real douche, but this song is so good that I try to not think of that. The song is amazing, and the video tickled teen me in a way that was a teaser of things to come, mainly my goth aesthetic.

Released in 1997, from the album Transmission.

17 – Tomorrow by Silverchair

Rewatching the video for this list, I’d forgotten just how attractive singer Daniel Johns was in this Australian alt group. There were so many songs by Silverchair that could have been in this list, but I decided Tomorrow was the best of them. I might change my mind *ahem* tomorrow.

Released in 1995, from the album Frogstomp.

16 – Otherside by Red Hot Chili Peppers

This might look like a cheat to people from the US since it was released early 2000 there. But here in Canada, it was released in December 1999. Made it by the skin of its teeth! I’m not the hugest Peppers fan, but this song is so different from their usual stuff. The video is also pretty darn cool.

Released in 1999, from the album Californication.

15 – Jeremy by Pearl Jam

I was having a real hard time deciding between Black, Alive, and Jeremy for this list. But today I decided that Jeremy was the best one. The video, banned in many places for a long time, is haunting and poignant, and unfortunately still very relevant. I guess it was banned because people don’t like to look in the mirror.

Released in 1992, from the album Ten.

14 – Coma White by Marilyn Manson

There could have been so many of Manson’s songs in this spot, but I decided on this one. I know a lot of hardcore Manson fans weren’t huge fans of the album Mechanical Animals when it came out, but honestly, I think it might be his best one (along with Antichrist Superstar). As a bonus, Manson looks stunning in this video. Yum.

Released in 1999, from the album Mechanical Animals.

13 – Eye by The Smashing Pumpkins

Ava Adore almost took this spot in the list, but then I remembered this song and it had to be the one. It unfortunately doesn’t have a video, but I hope you enjoy the audio.

Released in 1997, from the soundtrack of Lost Highway.

12 – Burn by The Cure

This song, made for the film The Crow, was written and recorded in just 2 days. Sometimes you just get lightning in a bottle. Not only is this the best The Cure song of the 90’s, it might just be their best song, full stop. It also doesn’t have a video, but I found one that has clips from the movie.

Released in 1994, from the soundtrack of The Crow.

11 – Every You Every Me by Placebo

Placebo is one of my very favourite bands. In fact, it’s the second part of my handle. When I became VampirePlacebo way back in 2000, I simply put two of my favourite things together, and voila! So many songs could have been in this spot. I’m still not sure I picked the right one, but I was agonizing over it for far too long, so I just picked one and moved on. I also have to mention singer Brian Molko, who I thought was the most beautiful creature on the planet. Oh lord… *fans self*

Released in 1998, from the album Without You I’m Nothing (then again in 1999 from the soundtrack of Cruel Intentions).

10 – Zombie by The Cranberries

On top of being stunningly beautiful, singer Dolores O’Riordan had what I think are the best female vocals of all time. I’m very sad I never got to see them live. This song is beautiful and poignant and while I wish I could say things have changed since this song was released, it’s more relevant now than maybe ever. Bad Wolves made an absolutely amazing cover of it in 2018 that Dolores was supposed to sing in, but she tragically passed away on the day they were to record. Bad Wolves went ahead with the song, and gave all proceeds to Dolores’s children.

Released in 1994, from the album No Need to Argue.

9 – Creep by Radiohead

Singer Thom Yorke famously despises this song and refuses to play it anymore. He felt it was whiny, angsty, and hated the fact that it became such a massive hit that fans would show up to concerts only to hear that song and leave right after. He felt it completely overshadowed their more experimental works, which is what he was more into. I think he’s a bit of a blow-hard. Hating something because it got popular? Talk about whiny and angsty. “Oh, I have a massive hit that millions of people love and want to hear all the time!” Wah Wah…

Released in 1992, from the album Pablo Honey.

8 – Blue Monday by Orgy

Almost every song on Orgy’s debut album Candyass is amazing, so I hard time picking just one. But I decided to go with their very first song, the cover of New Order’s Blue Monday. It’s so much better than the original, too. If I ever make a list of best cover songs, this will be near or on the top, for sure. Plus, singer Jay Gordon is a stone cold fox.

Released in 1999, from the album Candyass.

7 – Engel by Rammstein

Had a hard time choosing just one Rammstein song as well, there are so many bangers to choose from. Rewatching the video, I just noticed the hommage they paid to From Dusk Till Dawn, although I do think that Salma Hayek did it better.

Release in 1997, from the album Sehnsucht.

6 – One Man Army by Our Lady Peace

I originally had In Repair in this spot, but looking it up I realized that it came out in 2000. So I went with One Man Army instead. But really, there are so many Our Lady Peace songs that could have been here. They were my favourite band in high school, and I’ve seen them live at least 8 times (the first time when I was 14!) Singer Raine Maida was my ultimate high school crush.

Released in 1999, from the album Happiness… Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch.

5 – Forgive Me by :Wumpscut:

Another one that I discovered once I started going to goth clubs, it’s definitely one of my favourites. There’s only one :Wumpscut: song I like more, and that’ll be very high on my favourite songs of the 2000’s list. There’s no video for this song. In fact, I don’t think :Wumpscut: ever made videos for his songs.

Released in 1999, from the album Eevil Young Flesh (that’s not a typo, the double E is actually there).

4 – Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode

I was really torn between having this song or Precious in this spot. But, for today at least, this is my pick. Simply one of the best songs ever written, and not just from the 90’s. Just close your eyes and listen. Words are very unnecessary…

Released in 1990, from the album Violator.

3 – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day

Green Day has never been a favourite band of mine, but every so often they get it right. And this song is nearly perfect. The lyrics are haunting and hit right in the feels. This is also my favourite song to do at karaoke, the simple vocals are easier for me to sing.

Released in 1997, from the album Nimrod.

2 – Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

I know it’s the obvious choice, but it’s popular for a reason! I was debating on putting one of the lesser known songs in this spot, but I couldn’t justify it when this song is as good as it is. I’m still upset that I never got to see them live. Oh, and Kurt was murdered. Look at the details of the case. There’s no way he could have pulled that trigger.

Released in 1991, from the album Nevermind.

1 – Sober by Tool

Singer Maynard James Keenan has one hell of a set of pipes. This one might be another obvious choice, but it truly is an exceptional song. The video is weird as hell, but that’s Tool for you.

Released in 1993, from the album Undertow.

And in case you want to hear Maynard’s vocals live, here’s Tool performing Sober:

Don’t mind Maynard’s pajamas. Also, it’s ironic that he’s singing a song called Sober when he’s very clearly not…

And there it is! I hope you enjoyed the list and that I was able to turn you on to some new music, or bring back memories with songs you haven’t heard in a while. What are some of your favourite songs of the 90’s? Let me know!!

M.