Today, Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers teamed up to release an epic cover of Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.” In honour of the unbelievable collaboration, we’ve put together a list of some amazing covers of 90s tracks.
Check out 9 covers of iconic 90s anthems below.
This Indie88 feature is presented with Hush.
Phoebe Bridgers, Maggie Rogers – “Iris (Goo Goo Dolls cover)”
On Election Day, Phoebe Bridgers tweeted, “if Trump loses I will cover ‘Iris’ by the Goo Goo Dolls,” to which Maggie Rogers responded, “u need some harmonies for that special tune?” Now, we’ve been gifted with the collaboration of the year, as Bridgers and Rogers worked together on a stunning cover of the track. The renowned indie artists turned the ’90s power ballad into a soft acoustic track that sounds like it could be a melancholic Phoebe Bridgers original. The cover may be in celebration of Bridgers’ defeat, but Bridgers knows there’s still lots of work to do, so proceeds from the cover will benefit Fair Fight.
Billie Joe Armstrong – “That Thing You Do (No Fun Mondays cover)”
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s pandemic quest to cover every song you know continued on Monday when he shared a rendition of the song “That Thing You Do,” in a tribute to songwriter Adam Schlesinger. Schlesinger, who passed away on April 1 from COVID-19 complications, not only crafted songs for Fountains of Wayne, but for numerous films and television programs. He earned an Oscar nomination for his work on the 1996 Tom Hanks film That Thing That You Do!
Hozier – “Say My Name (Destiny’s Child cover)
Hozier released a cover of Destiny Child’s hit song “Say My Name” as part of the Spotify Singles Series. Hozier’s version of the iconic 1999 tune is stripped back and slower than the original, as Hozier’s deep vocals add a little more blues to the R&B original. “During rehearsals for the recent tour, the band and I would throw around a few progressions and grooves while on break,” Hozier said in a statement. “We fell into this bass line and just started singing the Destiny’s Child classic over it.”
Ralph – “Crush (Jennifer Paige cover)
Toronto pop queen Ralph recently covered Jennifer Paige’s “Crush.” Ralph created this sweet pop track as an ode to the world of female pop she grew up with, with artists like Mandy Moore, Robyn, and Jennifer Paige’s “Crush.” The accompanying ultra-nostalgic video, which was animated by Amika Cooper (AKA blackpowerbarbie), sees an animated pre-teen in a distinctly Y2K bedroom.
Pup – “A.M. 180 (Grandaddy cover)”
Toronto punk outfit PUP have shared a cover of Grandaddy’s “A.M. 180” from their 1997 album Under the Western Freeway. The cover was recorded by PUP bassist Nestor Chumak and mixed by Dave Schiffman. “Grandaddy are one of the unsung hero bands of indie rock,” says PUP’s drummer Zack Mykula in a release. “A best kept secret. I mean, forgive me for going ham, but this song is like a lily in an otherwise barren valley. An outstanding piece of songwriting, doing more with less than most any other song of the same caliber. So, that’s why we decided to cover it.”
St. Vincent – Piggy (Nine Inch Nails cover)”
In the lead up to the 2020 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame induction, St. Vincent shared a cover of Nine Inch Nails’ 1994 track, “Piggy.” The cover was shared as part of a partnership with Amazon Music, and it featured several artists covering some of this year’s nominees, including Savages’ Jehnny Beth has covered the band’s “Closer,” Real Estate have paid tribute to Doobie Brothers with a cover of “What A Fool Believes,” and the Kills have performed T. Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer.”
Big Red Machine – “Wise Up (Aimee Mann cover)”
The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon have shared a cover of Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up” as Big Red Machine for the Eaux Claires Festival voting initiative “For Wisconsin.” The track sees Dessner taking the lead, with layers of electronic drums, brass, guitars, and Vernon’s backing vocals. Additionally, their cover features guests like Mina Tindle, Jon Low, Ben Lanz, and fellow the National members Bryce Dessner, Bryan Devendorf, and Scott Devendorf.
Overcoast – “No Surprises (Radiohead cover)”
Following the release of The Fight earlier this year, Overcoats are back with a cover of Radiohead’s “No Surprises.” “Our album, The Fight, is all about having hope through political and personal turmoil,” Overcoats explain. “It’s important to us to make music that can invoke a positive response in people. ‘No Surprises,’ however, is a more intimate look at the hopelessness that we also experience. We’ve been especially relating to this song because it voices a desire for escapism, and to just unplug from it all. Quarantine has felt like a constant oscillation between those two poles.”
Mo Kenney – “Game Of Pricks (Guided By Voices cover)”
Mo Kenney has shared a cover of Guided By Voices’ classic track “Game of Pricks” that is a fittingly stripped-back and haunting number for these times. Kenney is accompanied by Joel Plaskett on the piano for this rendition of the cut from GBV’s 1995 lo-fi masterpiece Alien Lanes. “I hope Guided by Voices fans enjoy my take on the song. I slowed it right down and set it to piano. You can really hear how cool the lyrics are,” says Kenney (via The East Mag).
