The Cure has quite a colorful discography. Some of the gothic rock outfit’s songs are quite easy and fun to cover, while others are more difficult to take on. Regardless of ease, the following four bands and musicians delivered some of the greatest covers of The Cure ever heard by mortal ears. And I think a few of them might be even better than the original songs. What do you think?
“Lovesong” by Adele
“Lovesong” is a popular Cure song to take on, but nobody has done it quite like famous crooner Adele did back in 2011. This gorgeous cover of The Cure classic was released on her enormously popular album 21. It has all of the sweet yet melancholic elements of the original, but the instrumentation of Adele’s version, coupled with her powerful voice, makes it nearly better than the original.
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“Seventeen Seconds” by Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies and Margo Timmins did one heck of a job with The Cure’s “Seventeen Seconds”. And, honestly, it couldn’t be more different than the original. The OG 1980 version is a gothic rock post-punk with a “gloomscape” unlike many other songs of its time. Cowboy Junkies’ version is a folky country-rock version that maintains that gloomy energy, just through a different genre medium.
“Friday I’m In Love” by Phoebe Bridgers
Phoebe Bridgers is really an incredible singer/songwriter, and she knows how to take on a cover with the right level of reverence for the original. Her rendition of The Cure classic “Friday I’m In Love” has the pop energy of the original song, but her passionate voice makes the song even more endearing. She recorded this cover as part of her singles session on Spotify, and I think it would be gorgeous as a formal release.
“High” by The Wedding Present
This standout entry on our list of Cure covers was provided to the tribute album Just Like Heaven, A Tribute To The Cure. It’s a favorite among fans of both bands for a good reason. The indie rock outfit approaches this 1992 alt-pop track with incredible reverence for their English contemporaries. It has a punk rock vibe to it, and it might even convert you into a Wedding Present fan. This one is a really stunning interpretation.
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