Tag Archives: New Order

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.

Jun 10 2026

My Top 20 Songs from the 80’s

Having been born in ’81, I grew up with 80’s music playing in my house all the time. We even had vinyls of our favourite bands. There are so many bangers to have come out of this decade that I had a real hard time deciding on just 20. I put them in order, but really, a good few of these can be inter-changable depending on my mood. I may look at this list next month and say “what was I thinking??”, but this is how I feel right now. I won’t be adding songs that were written for movies, so no Disney songs or anything like that.

20 – I Walk the Line by Alien Sex Fiend

I’m sure there aren’t a lot of people that would add this one in their top 20, and it almost didn’t make mine, but I just really like this song, hehe.

19 – The Passion of Lovers by Bauhaus

So many great ones by Bauhaus, but I had to go with this one. I just love Peter Murphy’s voice!

18 – Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart

Oh my lord, did I have a crush on Corey Hart when I was a wee one. I wanted to marry him when I was 5 years old, hehe. It’s no wonder I fell in love with Jensen Ackles when Supernatural came out, they really do look similar!

17 – Love Like Blood by Killing Joke

I can’t honestly say I know a whole lot of Killing Joke’s music, cause I just never looked into it, but if it’s anywhere near as good as this song is, I’m really missing out!!

16 – Lovesong by The Cure

I love a lot of The Cure’s music, but this has to be the best one to come out of the 80’s. Incidentally, it was my “first dance” at my wedding!

15 – Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

There have been many, many covers of this song (my favourite among them being the one by HIM), but the OG remains the best. And how sexy is this video??

14 – True Faith by New Order

New Order is one of only 2 artists (the other being Bowie) that has 2 songs on the list, simply because I couldn’t leave either of them out. I don’t think I’d ever actually seen this video before now. The 80’s were weird, man!

13 – Thriller by Michael Jackson

I don’t think anyone is surprised to see this on my list. Not only is it a great song, but the video is simply epic. Michael always went all out on his videos, but this one takes the cake. Still has some of the best makeups to ever hit the screen. Thanks Rick Baker. Plus, bonus Vincent Price!

12 – Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode

So many great songs by Depeche Mode, but this is the best one to come out of the 80’s.

11 – How Soon is Now? by The Smiths

And now for a little depression brought to you by The Smiths. Morrisey’s voice is like butter (and boy does he ever know it, what a douche… lol).

10 – Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds

The Breakfast Club is one of my favourite films to come from the 80’s (which I criminally forgot to add to my “Top 30 Films of the 80’s”), and this banger was the perfect end to the movie. I had a massive crush on Judd Nelson in this. But the video… does he know his suit is 3 times too big..?

9 – Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order

Boy, do I love synth-pop when it’s done right. And this one is near perfect! Sometimes I wish I were older so I could have experienced going out in the 80’s.

8 – Lucretia My Reflection by Sisters of Mercy

Probably the best goth song ever written. I love a lot of Sisters’ music, but this was the first one I heard, and remains my favourite.

7 – Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie

David Bowie probably has one of my favourite voices in the business. It’s a good thing that I decided to not put songs written specifically for movies, otherwise a good chunk of my list would be songs from Labyrinth (shout-out to Within You, though, that song always gets me). This song is my favourite of his outside of movie music.

6 – Still Loving You by The Scorpions

One of my all-time favourite love songs. It’s literally the only song I know by The Scorpions (I think), but his voice is just wonderful. This song is poignant, so full of longing, it hits me in the feels. Funny side note, did you know they are a German band and barely spoke english at the time? I don’t know if they’ve learned since then, but really, you could have fooled me.

5 – I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock of Seagulls

Sometimes you listen to these one hit wonders and the song is so bloody good that it literally makes you angry that there aren’t more albums. This is one of those songs. And the singer’s kinda cute, in a weird way. That hair, though…

4 – In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel

And here, the best love song ever. May be cliché, but it’s popular for a reason. Hold up a boombox and play it for your girl. She’ll melt, I guarantee it!

3 – Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie

I’m not a huge Queen fan, but I can’t deny the man had some crazy pipes. This song with Bowie is a perfect mix of each other’s styles. Not only one of my favourite 80’s songs, but one of my favourite songs, full stop. Bowie’s solo at the end of the song gives me chills every time.

2 – Take On Me by a-ha

Everything about this song is perfect; the music, the video, and the singer. Morten Harket has one of the most unique, beautiful faces in the business. And that voice! I love to sing along to this song, but I stop just before that part. You know the one.

1 – Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division

And finally, we have the ultimate goth anthem. Such an amazing, poignant song, Ian Curtis’s voice giving it that extra gravitas over the almost joyful music. It’s such a shame, he was so tortured, and took his own life at 23, just a month before the album that would define a whole subculture would be released.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my list! I hope I was able to turn you on to some new music, or to revisit songs you haven’t heard in decades. What are your favourite 80’s songs? Let me know!

M.