Between the Covers

Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Fallon (as Neil Young) Cover LMFAO’s “Sexy And I Know It” Click here to listen!

As a viral-destined finale to Bruce Springsteen Week on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” last month, The Boss and Jimmy Fallon did a hilarious cover of the LMFAO hit “Sexy And I Know It.” While Fallon did his surprisingly spot-on Neil Young impression during the song, busting out a harmonica, acoustic guitar and cowboy hat, Bruce Springsteen did his own impersonation – of himself. In a cut-off jean jacket, aviators and a red forehead bandana, Springsteen sang “Girl I got that body / I work out” with his straightest face and lowest voice, flexing his biceps to prove the lyrics true, even after 62 years. As the cover followed the unlikely duo’s 2010 performance of Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair,” hopefully they’ll give more modern hits the classic rock treatment soon.

Ben l’Oncle Covers The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” Since covers come after the original song is recorded, you’d expect remixes to have a more modern flare . But sometimes they rewind the sound a little back in time, like French soul singer Ben l’Oncle’s rendition of The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army.” Jack and Meg White’s minimalist guitar and drums are expanded into an upbeat orchestra of muted horns, rich vocals and screaming organ solo, leaving the telltale bass line (which is actually Jack White’s Kay Hollowbody guitar run through a DigiTech Whammy pedal set down an octave). Although rock fans are usually quite protective when it comes to preserving the dignity of an original classic like this one, crossovers into unexpected territory do stretch the songs into intriguing forms, giving them a new life – or at least new YouTube comments. Nevertheless, the Grammy-winning, chart-topping song has made quite the journey since Jack first named it after a misheard pronunciation of “Salvation Army” when he was little.

RAC Covers The Smashing Pumpkins’ “1979” Remix Artist Collective (RAC) continues to build its remix empire (which includes The Shins, Kings of Leon, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Edward Sharpe) with this ‘90s alt-rock cover of The Smashing Pumpkins. Sung by RAC founder André Allen Anjos’ wife Liz Anjos, the song turns Billy Corgan’s characteristically coarse vocals into silky female melodies that glide over ethereal electricity. More synth than guitar-driven, this bubbly electronic remix emphasizes the more kinetic side of apathy in the lyrics “We don't even care as restless as we are…The street heats the urgency of now / As you see there's no one around.”

Check Out Vitamin String Quart tributes to: The String Quartet Tribute to Bruce Springsteen Available at iTunes and Amazon

The String Quartet Tribute to White Stripes Available at iTunes and Amazon

The String Quartet Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins Available at iTunes and Amazon