1. Angelique Kidjo: Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads)
Like last week, I'm starting with another great Talking Heads cover (and an awesome video). Earlier this year, Kidjo released a cover of the entire Remain in Light album, bringing it full circle to its Afrobeat roots. Her Crosseyed and Painless is another gem.

Watch this video on YouTube


2. Emiliana Torrini: The Sound of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel)
Slowing it down now. There is another cover of this song that CBers love/hate, but Iceland's Torrini, who I've mentioned before, is far more to my liking.


3. Nouvelle Vague: In a Manner of Speaking (Martin Gore)
Even slower. I've featured Nouvelle Vague before, but this is their best, in my opinion. Martin Gore may have brought this song more attention, but it was originally a Tuxedomoon track.

Watch this video on YouTube


4. Morrissey: Satellite of Love (Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground)
Still slow. I love everything Morrissey does, even his off the deep end political stuff. Still, nothing touches the original, especially with Bowie's backup vocals. Not Morrissey's live cover. Not U2. Not Perry Farrell or Beck or Eurythmics. Milla's spoken word approach is interesting, but like all her later work it only makes me pine for The Divine Comedy. RIP Lou Reed.


5. Laibach: Across the Universe (The Beatles)
I've featured Laibach before, and I'm not sure I always get what they're saying-without-saying-it. But they make me smile sideways, which I enjoy. They actually covered the entire Let It Be album. Of course, like Lou Reed's Satellite of Love, this Beatles song has been buried in covers. Fiona Apple's may be the best of them. At least it's the best video. Rufus Wainwright's is also nice (he's been featured already). Even the Scorpions, Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, and Seether have gotten in on the action.

Watch this video on YouTube


Bonus. The Primitives: Turn off the Moon (Sue Lyon)
Probably my favorite power pop act, still going strong. Here they cover the bubblegum B-side from Lolita's Sue Lyon as part of their all-covers LP Echoes and Rhymes.

Watch this video on YouTube


A few other interesting covers
Cramming some in because I want to move on to something besides covers next week.
• Robyn Hitchcock has a very nice cover of the Psychedelic Furs' The Ghost in You.
• Simple Minds covered Patti Smith's Dancing Barefoot. For my money, not as good as U2's version.
• Hungry Lucy has a beautiful cover of Depeche Mode's Blue Dress.