6 Best Live Cover Songs of 2024

Cover songs are more than celebrations of the long, rich history of popular music.

It's a way for the audience to hear a new twist on an old chestnut. A good cover can say as much about the originator as the imitator because sometimes the lyrics strike home harder when heard from a different voice.

Here are some of the best covers of 2024.

The Cover Ups featuring Courtney Love, "Surrender"

Courtney Love turned 60 years old this summer and was thriving while covering Cheap Trick's "Surrender" with Billie Joe Armstrong's The Cover Ups in February (2/27).

It's clearly a song that's near to her heart as it is to most Gen Xers who came of age to Cheap Trick At Budokan. Your girl belts it out with that familiar Hole snarl that we forgot we missed.

Weezer, "Celebrity Skin"

Before Weezer traveled the world for the anniversary tour of The Blue Album, they performed a few shows in Southern California to warm up a bit.

In April (4/29), while in Santa Ana (a neighbor of Anaheim), Rivers Cuomo told the crowd they were going to play some shows in Europe with Smashing Pumpkins, and introduced "Celebrity Skin" as a song head Pumpkin, Billy Corgan, co-wrote. Which is true, and a funny way to look at it, but not wrong.

Rivers' sincerity when he covers songs is so sweet even when he's singing how he's waking up in his makeup.

The Fray, "vampire"

Unlike some of these examples which are one-offs, The Fray has played "vampire" several times.

During this year's The Fray Is Back Tour, the band performed Olivia Rodrigo's breakthrough banger eight times.

Olivia Rodrigo featuring Chappell Roan, "Hot To Go"

If MTV was still a thing this recording from Olivia Rodrigo's Netflix Guts Tour concert would have not only been a hit on the station, in heavy rotation, but this version might have been released as its own single because it's perfect and giddy and so much fun.

No disrespect to the original, but these lucky fans at the newly opened Intuit Dome in August (8/20) got to see two giant stars sing one of the biggest songs of the year and all that joy sparkles here. It's a great example of what makes live albums and good video recordings of concerts so special. With all of Netflix's cameras you do feel like you're there. The good place.

Add this to the list of 10 other Chappell Roan covers this year.

Chappell Roan, "Barracuda"

Chappell's songs are well-written structurally and lyrically, no doubt. But people often overlook her powerful vocal range.

That's why covering Heart's "Barracuda" like she did on two nights in October (10/3) was genius. You can't fake singing like Ann Wilson. Either you got it or you're gonna be laughed off the stage.

Astoundingly, it's a walk in the park for Chappell who hits the high notes with the greatest of ease.

The Cretin Commandos, "Do You Wanna Dance"

At the end of a June (6/2) tribute concert in honor of Johnny Ramone, The Cretin Commandos, led by Rancid's Tim Armstrong and featuring CJ Ramone, Billy Idol got on the stage and sang a few numbers including "Do You Wanna Dance?"

The tune is a Bobby Freeman cover The Ramones recorded for their 1977 classic album Rocket To Russia.

Billy Idol will be at the Forever Now Festival, the British sister fest of The Cruel World Fest in California. On the bill will be numerous '80s bands including Kraftwerk, PiL, Johnny Marr, and The The. Get your tickets here.

The concert was held before a screening of the 30th anniversary of Pulp Fiction.

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Last updated: 18 Feb 2025, 10:56 UTC

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