I Love A Good Cover Song, But When Artists Actually Trade Covers, A Unique Kind of Magic Happens
Let me explain
In late 2023 I was enjoying BBC Live Lounge like I always do when something remarkable occurred. I was hearing Noah Kahan cover Olivia Rodrigo’s “Lacy” in RESPONSE to her covering his viral hit “Stick Season.”
Immediately I thought that this was a sweet and one-of-a-kind moment. This thought of course led me to ponder if it actually was rare, and if there were traded coves that I had enjoyed in the past.
Before I reveal those tunes, let’s discuss the value of cover music. In the music industry, covers help us understand the community and universality of art form. In addition to live shows, covers are an excellent way for artists to share and celebrate music. I’ve already written about how songs live forever through covers. In this piece, I want to highlight artists who decided to cover each other’s music.
This phenomenon is captivating because it involves two artists intentionally covering one another. These artists are trading songs — a cover for a cover. Not only are these instances less common nowadays, but the sincerity in this transaction is special. Most musicians consider their songs to be like their children.
