Who sang it better?

Hello there,

If you’re an avid listener of song covers, you probably grew up listening to artists like Boyce Avenue, Sam Tsui, and Kurt Schneider during YouTube’s golden days.

Now that we have Instagram and Tiktok, even more talented singers have joined the scene, and every time, I’ve always been amazed at how they put their own spin on popular songs. While coming from the same vein, the the singers’ own personal touch on the covers still make them worth sharing.

So this week, let’s explore the same songs, reimagined. I’ve got some curated selections that’s sure to leave you in awe ✨

If you’ve been following along since the first Music Musings mixtape, thanks for tuning in! And if you’re new here, welcome to the community! I’d love to get to know everyone a little better – head over to the end of this newsletter to take part in a fun, little game and get your ideas moving 🎧

Happy listening!

Your music fanatic,

Val ♫

(P.S If you are reading this in your email, please click “Read Online” at the top-right corner next to the date for a better reading experience!)

In this week's setlist:

• 🎤 Cover Artists of the Week

• 🎧 Under The Covers

• 🌟 Contest Hits

• 🎶 New Music This Week

🎤 Cover Artists of the Week

When I think of the best artists of this generation who can truly make a cover their own, Kelly Clarkson is definitely in my top 5 list. Her vocal prowess and the way her music moves you are unmatched.

Not to mention that she’s doing a real service to fans with her weekly late-night show, where she delivers top-notch performances of popular songs every week – I highly recommend you give her Kelly-oke covers a listen on Youtube!

Here’s her take of My Kink Is Karma by Chappell Roan:

And my current personal favourite, My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. Trust me, this performance is out of this world:

Best of the best aside, here are some up-and-coming artists I discovered online that have stuck with me ever since:

Rylee Wilson

Okay who is this diva! 🤩

If you recognise the name Ryley Tate Wilson from The Voice Season 23, Reid Wilson is his equally talented younger brother. Already making his mark in the music scene for a few years, he was rediscovered again on the latest season of America’s Got Talent, and made it to the semifinals.

Reid draws inspiration from iconic divas of the 1980s through 2000s, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Jennifer Hudson, which is evident in his powerful belters and tasteful runs. He’s definitely the young artist to watch!

Listen to his soulful performances on AGT:

Elliot Greer

This NYC-based singer-songwriter is like a deeper, country-tinged baritone of Bon Iver, with an indie storytelling style that pulls you in. Elliot’s music is as folk and soulful as you’d expect, with emotionally poignant lyrics that resonate deeply with more introspective listeners.

Recently, his renditions of Taylor Swift’s folk-inspired songs have gone viral on Tiktok, and they’re some of the better male covers I’ve listened to. As a musician who enjoys turning upbeat songs into more sentimental covers, I appreciate his artistic vision.

Check out his covers of Betty and The Black Dog here:

He also recently released a full music video for The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, featuring his soulful guitar playing against a city window backdrop at dusk. It’s the perfect intimate, quiet indie vibe.

🎧 Under The Covers

Ever heard of hit songs that sound so good that you would never guess they’re actually covers? As much as new music is constantly being released, many artists are still repurposing songs from previous decades, or even from the previous century.

Fancy a different version of your favourite songs? Here are some covers that could rival their original counterparts:

• breathin by Ariana Grande (covered by David Vogel)

• Alaska by Maggie Rogers (covered by Francisco Martin)

• The Winner Takes It All by Abba (covered by Mack Lorén)

• Moving Closer by Never The Strangers (covered by Felip)

🌟 Contest Hits

As an avid watcher of reality TV shows, I’ve discovered some of the best song renditions through talent shows. Occasionally, a contestant comes along and delivers a song so well, you never forget it.

Here are some performances that gave me the chills:

• Head and Heart performed by Jordan Fuller

• Monsters performed by Iam Tongi

• Tomorrow by Sydnie Christmas

🎶 New Music This Week

Ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine (covered by Nico Annello and Marisa McKaye): This duo’s vocals create a dreamy glow on an already ethereal vibe, with harmonies flowing rhythmically like the strings of a lyre.

Juno by Sabrina Carpenter (covered by NYA): Have you ever tried this one? The cover, I mean! This R&B take of one of today’s biggest hits will get you vibin’.

My Patience by Emerson Azarian: If you’re thinking this might be one of Ariana Grande’s unreleased tracks, think again. Emerson’s vocals are so strikingly similar that they’ll have you doing a rewind.

📼 Your Regular Mixtape

Best of 2024: My best music finds this year, in one playlist. Save this to your Spotify and stay updated with new songs till the end of 2024 👌🏻

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