4 Fabulous Covers of “Waterloo Sunset” by David Bowie, Def Leppard, and More

On May 5, 1967, The Kinks released their classic song “Waterloo Sunset” as a single in the U.K. The Ray Davies-penned tune was a major hit in the band’s home country, peaking at No. 2 on the singles tally. The song also reached the Top 10 in many other countries, although it failed to chart in the U.S.

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Regardless, “Waterloo Sunset” has become one of the best-loved and most acclaimed songs in The Kinks’ vast catalog. The tune struck an emotional chord in music fans and musicians alike, with its gentle melody and harmonies and Davies’ introspective lyrics sung from the perspective of a solitary observer watching two lovers cross the bridge over the Thames River near Waterloo Station in London.

[RELATED: The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” Was Supposed To Have a Different Name, but The Beatles Foiled Their Plan]

In Rolling Stone’s 2024 list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” “Waterloo Sunset” ranked No. 14.

Not surprisingly, a wide variety of artists have tried putting their own spin on “Waterloo Sunset” over the years. Here’s a look of four noteworthy covers of the beloved Kinks song:

Cathy Dennis (1996)

British pop singer/songwriter Cathy Dennis recorded a version of “Waterloo Sunset” for her 1996 album Am I the Kinda Girl? Dennis’ rendition of the song was the only cover on the album. Released as a single, it went on to become one of her biggest U.K. hits, peaking at No. 11.

Dennis offered up a bright, upbeat contemporary pop take on “Waterloo Sunset.” A music video for the tune featured Cathy riding around London in a taxicab driven by none other than Ray Davies.

David Bowie (2003)

David Bowie was a longtime Kinks fan dating back to the band’s early days. In 1973, Bowie celebrated his love of British Invasion bands with the covers album Pin Ups, which included a version of the 1965 Kinks tune “Where Have All the Good Times Gone.”

Bowie recorded a rendition of “Waterloo Sunset” that was released as a bonus track on the “Japanese Tour Edition” of his 2003 studio album Reality.

David’s version featured a harder-rocking arrangement that included a more aggressive guitar sound and insistent synthesizer lines. Bowie got to perform “Waterloo Sunset” with Davies at the 2003 Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Def Leppard (2004)

Def Leppard put a hard rock-meets-glam spin on “Waterloo Sunset.” The British band’s cover of the tune was first released as a bonus track on the 2004 U.K. compilation Best of Def Leppard. It also was included of Def Leppard’s 2006 covers album Yeah!, which featured mostly versions of songs from the 1970s glam-rock era.

Peter Gabriel (2010)

Peter Gabriel recorded a beautiful version of “Waterloo Sunset” featuring only his vocals and orchestral instruments. The tune was featured as a bonus track on the special edition of Gabriel’s 2010 covers album, Scratch My Back.