Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

If you know me, you know that I'm a huge fan of music. (anything but country) This post is inspired by a facebook post from my friend Jordan Cornwell. He posted a link to a song saying that he couldn't stop listening to it. That song is a cover song of peter schillings "major tom" . I happen to like this song quite a bit. In fact I have it as my notification ring tone for receiving emails on my phone. The cover is by a group called "Shiny Toy Guns" I also am a big fan of this group so I was pretty excited to discover the major tom cover and like Jordan, couldn't stop listening to it.


After listening to it over and over I decided that I needed to post a blog about some of my favorite cover songs.

so here they are in no particular order:

codename rocky "just like heaven"

The cure is probably in my top 25 artists of all time and codename rocky is probably in my top 10 favorite ska-bands of all time so how could I not enjoy this cover. It's a shame that codename rocky broke up but if you have never heard of them and you like ska music you should check them out.

New found glory "kiss me"

A new found glory has two albums dedicated to doing cover songs. They have several good cover songs but this one is probably my favorite out of them all. I really enjoy the original by six pence none the richer and NFG gives it a little bit of pep making it not so queer to listen to while working with a bunch of guys. For Christmas Kyle got me tickets to go see NFG with Saves the Day and Hello Goodbye. I doubt they will play this song but I would be stoked if they did.

New Found Glory "Heaven"

Another song by NFG. I'm not a huge fan of the original but the cover is great.

Alien Ant Farm "smooth Criminal"

Most of you have probably heard this cover. That's because it got played out. I normally skip this song on my MP3 player now because I've heard it too many times. It's still a great cover and the video is really good too.
All Time Low "umberella"

I don't know much about the group All Time Low. I've heard a few of their songs and I like them but this song off of the cover album "Punk Goes Crunk" is a great cover of a catchy song by Rihanna.

Bowling For Soup "Gilligans Island"

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Buck O Nine "sound system"

Buck O Nine is a ska band that is hit and miss with me. They have several good songs spread over many albums. But this cover of an Operation Ivy song is great. They also do a great cover of Musical Youths "Pass the dutchie" but all I could find were low quality live versions. so I didn't post a video.

Candy Flip "Strawberry Fields Forever"

Candy Flip is another band I don't Know much about but this is a great Beatles cover.

Death Cab For Cutie "This Charming Man"

Deathcab for Cutie is another hit and miss band for me. I love Ben Giffords work with the postal service (who will make an appearance later) and Morissey and the Smith's, despite my wife telling me I'm gay for listening to them, are another group that make it to my top 25 of all time list.

Elefant "Please Please Please"

Disregard the video, I couldn't find any other links to this song. Again a good cover of a Smiths song. Elefant is a group that took a little bit to grow on me but I like them now. I saw them live at a Morrissey concert and thought they were horrible. As I listened to them more on their album they became better.

Frou Frou "holding out for a hero"

This cover is from the movie Shrek (so I've been told, I've never seen it) but It's a great cover of an 80's song by bonnie tyler. If you haven't checked out any of Frou Frou's other works I would highly recommend it. Check out "let go" it is very catchy.
Postal Service "Do You Realize"

This is a great re-mix of The Flaming Lips song. I don't know if it classifies as a cover but I will count it.

The Hippos "so lonely"

This is a live cover but you can find the album version on their album (how bout that) This is a great cover of the Police.

Homegrown " Barbie Girl"

Again, disregard the video but a great cover of the Aqua song "barbie girl" Homegrown was one of my favorite pop punk bands in high school and if you've never heard them check them out.

Home Grown "planet earth"

Another good cover by Home Grown. This time "planet earth" by Duran Duran.


Johnathan Coultan "baby got back"

The song speaks for itself.
Knockout "survivor"

This is a cover of Destiny's childs "survivor" again another song that I can now listen to at work and not feel gay.

The Langley School Music Project "sweet Caroline"

These 4th Grade kids have put out an album of several cover songs. This one is one of my favs from them. It doesn't remind me of the Red Sox as much as the original so I don't hate it.


Less Than Jake "dope man"

Okay, Less Than Jake is probably my favorite ska band of all time and this cover is great. Not to mention that the video has Fred "rerun" Barry and Ponch. Less Than Jake also covered the entire Greese soundtrack if you like that kind of stuff. but they have several other good covers. here's a couple more:





Love Spit Love "how soon is now"

Another great Smiths cover. You may recognize it from the T.V. show Charmed.

Madbones "all the things you said"

This is a cover of a Ta Tu' song. I know nothing about ta tu' other than i think the singers are a couple of lesbians. I've heard the original of this song but I like this cover better.

Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies "the phantom of the opera"

My mother is a huge Andrew Loyd Weber fan. Growing up I got to listen to a lot of his music. The Phantom of the Opera was one that I could actually tolerate and maybe even enjoyed a little. This cover is probably in my top 10 favorite covers. For those of you who have never heard of Me First and The Gimmie Gimmies, they colaboration of several punk band members who formed a cover band. they have several good covers. I'll list just a few but if you like what you hear check out their other stuff.

"somewhere over the rainbow"
"I believe I can fly"



"isn't she lovely"

Midtown "your love"

Another Cover that I like better than the original.

Five Iron Frenzy "mamma Mia"

I hate the original of this song, but the cover is by a great christian ska band that just makes you happy when you listen to them.

Lemonheads "mrs. robinson"

great cover too bad it was one of the lemonheads only hits. Thanks simon and garfunkle

Mustard Plug "the freshman"

This is about the gayest video I have ever seen but the only non-live version i could find. This is probably in my top 10 favorite covers. The original by the Verve Pipe is good also.

MXPX "take on me"

MXPX is a christian melodic punk band. They are one of the first melodic punk bands that I listened to. Melodic punk is now one of my favorite genres. They have a hole album of covers. check out "Oh donna" also it's good.

Reel Big Fish "Take on Me"

another cover of take on me. this time by Reel big fish. I think I like this one better.

Nada Surf "there is a light that never goes out"

I've mentioned already how much I like the smiths. This is my favorite song by the smiths. You might remember Nada surf as being "popular" not so much. one and done guys. thanks

Nerf Herder "mr. blue sky"

I really enjoy the original of this song by Electric Light Orchestra. This one is a little more up beat and poppy. I like it.

I couldn't find a video of this one but here is a link to "final countdown" by Nicotine. This song has been covered more times than I can count (i can only count to 5) and this is my favorite version.

No Use for a Name "turning Japanese"

I like the original but this is much better. I use this as my ring tone for my friend Erick Kinoshita.

NOFX "Electricity"

NOFX is another melodic punk band (the exact opposite of christian melodic punk like MXPX, what a difference a few letters make) that got me into this genre. Orchestrial Menuevers in the Dark (OMD) who they are covering are one of my favorite new wave bands.

Paramore "hero"

Pretty tough to make the original by the Foo Fighters better but Paramore did it. Paramore is another great band to check out if you have never listened to them.

Postal Service "against all odds"

As promised, The postal service. The Postal Service is hands down my favorite electronica group. This cover is awesome and I will not let you convince me otherwise.

Postal Service "grow old with me"

Another postal service cover. Far off of the mark from their normal sound but this John Lennon cover is definately worth giving a spin (like anyone still owns a record player)

Rage Against the Machine "renegades of funk"

Both the original and cover are great. Rage Against the Machine is another group that did an entire album of cover songs. I recommend checking them out.


Reel Big Fish "unity"

Another great Operation Ivy cover

Reel Big Fish "we hate it when our friends become successful"

Another Great smiths cover. probably top 3 smiths covers.

Richard Cheese "chop suey"
Richard Cheese "beat it"


If you haven't heard of Richard Cheese and you like a little bit of humor mixed in with your cover songs then check him out. He is a lounge singer that does all genre's. Highly recommended.

River Fenix, AKA Fenix TX " ordinary world"

Another great duran duran cover.

Rufio "like a prayer"

Yet another now I can listen to this at work and not be gay song (plenty of other reasons for people to think I'm gay I don't need the music to add to the list; beat you to the punch Josh, George, Johnny G., Cyndi)

Save Ferris "come on Eileen"

This one is for sure better than the original. They also do a cover of The Foundations "build me up buttercup" but I couldn't find a link.

Vanilla Sky "A thousand miles"

Great original and even better cover.

Shiny Toy Guns "Ritz"

Shiny Toy Guns, The reason for this blog. This is another great cover. There is not much from this band that I don't like.

Shiny Toy Guns "burning for you"

Another Shiny Toy Guns cover. This one is another one that is better than the original.

Shiny Toy Guns "nothing compares to you"

A cover of a cover. This is far from the original but I still enjoy.

Shiny Toy Guns "stipped"

Depech Mode is probably my all time favorite new wave band and so by default I like this cover. Last one by Shiny Toy Guns.

Johnny Cash "hurt"

Altough I don't like NiN for being anti-christs this is a good cover. I think Johnny Cash believes in God so I'll say it's okay to listen to.

Johnny Cash "personal Jesus"

See I told you.

AFI "head like a hole"

Another NIN cover. Don't know about AFI's religious views but I still enjoy the cover.

Cake "I will survive"

He should have changed that "Lucky" lock. Cake is another artist that is hit and miss for me. He's got songs that I either Love or don't like. Nothing in between. I would still recommend him to people that haven't heard his stuff.

I could go on for ever with this list but It's getting late and I need to get some shut eye so I can go kill more people tomorrow.

Below are some cover albums that you should check out:

Punk goes (multiple discs)
Before you were punk
Before you were punk 2
Punk chartbusters (multiple discs)
Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies (multiple discs)
From your screen to your stereo
From your screen to your stereo 2
and out come the covers (a tribute to rancid)
Boys on top Avril Lavene tribute
Pretending to See the Future: A Tribute to OMD
A tribute to AFI
Electro Cured

If you have a favorite cover song that I didn't list I'd love to hear about it.


P.S. I'm not going to go back and proof read this so even though the wordsmith was uninvited to my blog I will re-iterate.