4 Amazing Female-Sung Covers of Male-Sung Songs

When it comes down to it, a good song is a good song. It doesn’t matter if one gender sings it over another, unless the song’s subject matter is relevant to gender in some way. However, it’s always a unique treat when a woman covers a man’s song and adds her own unique energy to it. That’s what the following four incredible female vocalists did with their covers of famous male-written and recorded tracks. Let’s take a look!

Videos by American Songwriter

“Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinéad O’Connor

We couldn’t leave the incomparable Sinéad O’Connor off this list. I still can’t believe that she is technically a one-hit wonder with her massive international hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U”. Though, few would ever label her as a one-hit wonder. Even though this cover of a Prince song was her biggest hit, her whole personality, musical talents, and activism efforts ended up being much bigger than just one song. But that one song is an absolutely breathtaking and intimate rendition of a classic from one of pop music’s biggest male artists of the 80s.

“Song To The Siren” by This Mortal Coil (Elizabeth Fraser)

People are still talking about This Mortal Coil for a reason. This music collective lasted just short of a decade, starting in the 80s, but the music they produced was gorgeous. Just one example of a memorable track from the collective’s heyday has to be “Song To The Siren”, sung by Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser. It’s a very synthy rendition of a Tim Buckley classic from 1970, but the song manages to also be minimalist and stripped-down in the best way possible. Nobody had an ethereal voice quite like Fraser.

“Dear Prudence” by Siouxsie And The Banshees

“Dear Prudence” was a substantial hit for Siouxsie And The Banshees. I can certainly see why. The original Beatles song was a massive hit and one of the most memorable songs from the Fab Four’s time in the spotlight. And Siouxsie Sioux’s vocal prowess is legendary. This 80s reimagining of the 1968 track is swimming in reverb and has an almost haunting quality to it. Adding the harpsichord to the mix made this cover even better.

“Rocket Man” by Kate Bush

I have to admit, it’s difficult to imagine anyone other than Elton John singing “Rocket Man”. However, Kate Bush has always been the kind of artist who could turn someone else’s song into her own with her extremely unique vocals and magical flair. This example of excellent female covers of male songs is a classic, and you can tell Bush had a lot of love for John with how she handled this rendition.

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