Bruce Springsteen has penned and produced so many cover-worthy songs, it’s not exactly surprising that his contemporaries have given their own renditions of some of his greatest hits. However, some of those covers are a bit underrated in our opinion. Let’s dive into just a handful of Bruce Springsteen covers that (arguably) rival the original songs themselves!
Videos by American Songwriter
1. “Atlantic City” by The Band
“Atlantic City” is a standout track on Springsteen’s magnum opus, Nebraska. It’s not easy to cover a song quite that powerful, but that didn’t stop The Band from giving it a shot.
The legendary roots rock outfit took “Atlantic City” and brought it into new territory with a notable change of pace and accordion introduction. It’s a dark song originally, and even with the new instrumentation and subtle changes, The Band maintained that dark vibe throughout their cover.
2. “I’m Goin’ Down” by Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend’s acoustic cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m Goin’ Down” isn’t exactly what anyone expected. However, Ezra Koenig managed to cover something radically different from his own music and make it sound like an original track.
With nothing more than vocals, a tambourine, and a soft piano melody, Vampire Weekend gave “I’m Goin’ Down” a refreshing yet somewhat vintage-sounding twist.
3. “I’m On Fire” by Bat For Lashes
Natasha Khan’s voice wouldn’t be most Bruce Springsteen fans’ first choice for a cover song, namely because she sounds so different from The Boss. Still, this underrated indie pop darling covered Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” so beautifully back in the day. With a few lyrical changes and an added richness, Bat For Lashes transformed a soft rock classic into something totally her own.
4. “Johnny 99” by Johnny Cash
Bruce Springsteen covers have come from a few big names in the industry, but few are bigger than country king Johnny Cash. Cash aptly covered Springsteen’s “Johnny 99”, and it was the perfect choice for the Man in Black outside of the “Johnny” connection.
Cash and Springsteen are more or less two sides of the same coin. Both artists have some history as excellent storytellers, and they’re both icons in Americana music. It only makes sense that Cash would take on one of Springsteen’s very best tunes.
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images
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