Looking for covers of 80s synth-pop done in totally different genres!
September 26, 2024 2:16 PM

I do a weekly radio show that is pretty specific in genre, i.e. “stuff with synths and/or drum machines from the 60s to today”. (This would include Tangerine Dream, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, The Orb, Daft Punk, Boards of Canada, Hot Chip, Cat Temper… but not necessarily all 70s/80s new wave due to my personal rule of “must have synths”.)

For a super-special fundraiser show, I’m looking for covers of 80s synth songs (or 90s and even post-2000s electronic/synth songs) that are done in other not-so-synthy genres, such as this steel drum cover of Cars or this metal cover of Mexican Radio. So - please hit me with suggestions! The more the new genre differs from 80s/synth, the better!
posted by chr1sb0y to Media & Arts (49 answers total) 17 users marked this as a favorite
Well, there's obviously Reel Big Fish's ska cover of A-Ha's Take On Me.
posted by General Malaise at 2:31 PM on September 26


If you are into Detroit Techno, the Dirtbombs did a cover album of influential techno tracks.

Similarly, a brass band cover album of acid house tunes called Acid Brass.
posted by mkb at 2:35 PM on September 26


Sanchez - Lady in Red

(I first heard this version as part of Queen Majesty's compilation Trilla, a collection of Jamaican covers of '80s and '90s American songs--it might have some other stuff you like, e.g. Bounty Killer's 'Maniac.')
posted by box at 2:35 PM on September 26


I think you have to start with The Soul Rebels doing "Sweet Dreams".

Nouvelle Vague is usually reliable.

The Pickin' On series doesn't have a lot of synth-centric artists, but they did cover Air and Radiohead.

And of course there's VSQ.
posted by credulous at 2:43 PM on September 26


Nouvelle Vague, it's their whole deal.
posted by hydrophonic at 2:49 PM on September 26


Fear Factory Cars Gary Neuman
Face to Face has a punk cover album that's awesome. Heaven by the Psych Furs.
Face to Face - WHip It it's so good, they deserve 2 tracks. Originally by Devo

My Morning Jacket - West End Girls originally by Pet Shop Boys

Luna -
National Pretty in Pink originally Psych Furs.
Pernice Brothers Love My Way originally Psych Furs.
6ths Human originally Human League?

Red House Painters - All Mixed Up originally the Cars.

Foo Fighters - Down in the Park originally Gary Numan.

Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams originally Eurythmics

Turns Song into Dance/Synths
Unarmed Enemies - Going Blind Originally Go-Betweens
Reel Big Fish - Gigantic originally Pixies. I find most of Reel Big Fish's covers unlistenable, but this one is fire.

Capitol Taste of City orig Jesus and Mary Chain
Killers - Find Out for Yourself originally Morissey
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:49 PM on September 26


Does Jose Gonzalez' cover of The Knife's "Heartbeats" count?
posted by sacrifix at 2:51 PM on September 26


And I think we have to add Robyn Hitchcock's "The Ghost in You"
posted by credulous at 2:53 PM on September 26


Ghost's covers of It's a Sin and Missionary Man.
posted by bgrebs at 2:58 PM on September 26


Maybe a bit obscure, but there's an EP of lovely acoustic covers of Arthur Russell tunes.
Big Black covered Kraftwerk's The Model. So did Seu Jorge and Almaz.
posted by hydrophonic at 3:02 PM on September 26


Me First and the Gimme Gimmes have a few albums of punk covers, and do a version of I Melt with You that you might dig
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:03 PM on September 26




El Baile Alemán is an entire album of Latin-flavored covers of Kraftwerk.
Frente did a fairly popular acoustic cover of Bizarre Love Triangle back in 1994
Gary Jules' cover of Mad World is probably more popular than the original.
posted by O9scar at 3:38 PM on September 26




Don't overlook Sturgill Simpson's magnificent cover of When in Rome's "The Promise." Initially unrecognizable, but when it clicks, it clicks.
posted by Dr. Wu at 3:58 PM on September 26


I hope you're including Prince in your usual radio show; his use of the Linn drum machine and synths was completely epic, but I digress a bit...

...but on that note: Mariachi El Bronx' cover of "I Would Die 4 U" is awesome. In fact the record it's on (Purplish Rain) is worth checking out for your purpose.
posted by Molasses808 at 4:04 PM on September 26


80s synth/new wave:
I Would Die 4 U - Prince by Mariachi El Bronx (I genuinely love this cover as much as the original and that is a lot)

(on refresh - beaten to it, haha!)

Everybody Wants To Rule the World - Tears for Fears by Cory Henry (or this less-different one by Making Movies) (or the one from Bioshock Infinite by Scott Bradlee/Postmodern Jukebox)
Video Killed the Radio Star - the Buggles by Shugo Tokumaru (or this better but less-different one by the Presidents of the United States)

In general you can check out Postmodern Jukebox for a hell of a lot of this, of varying quality, and Bioshock Infinite presumably still with Scott Bradlee's help also did a calliope cover of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun that's like. Bad to listen to. But definitely super different!

2000s:
We Will Become Silhouettes - the Postal Service by the Shins
posted by peppercorn at 4:06 PM on September 26




Jerkin Back and Forth, little punkier/guitar, less 80s
posted by ctmf at 5:09 PM on September 26


Whoops cut/paste error: Jerkin Back and Forth
posted by ctmf at 5:13 PM on September 26


Just like heaven (the cure) by Dinosaur Jr. Live version.
posted by vrakatar at 5:48 PM on September 26


Ebony Steel Band's album Pan Machine is all-Kraftwerk and all steel-pan. And it so works, f'rinstance: Computer Love

Trevor Horn Reimagines the 80s is exactly that. Here's Trevor Horn (feat. The Rev Jimmie Wood & The Sarm Orchestra) - Blue Monday
posted by scruss at 7:24 PM on September 26


One of my favorite covers of all time is Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen doing a speed-metal cover of ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo3pfnldlD0

I believe that there are synths in the original version. Unfortunately, I see it was released in 1979, but I hope you can still squeeze it in.

Here's a link to the original ABBA version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEjLoHdbVeE


posted by alex1965 at 7:45 PM on September 26


Depeche Mode that "all I ever wanted" song--forget who covers it but I think someone does
posted by bookworm4125 at 7:52 PM on September 26


Basically the opposite of what you’re asking for, but listeners may be interested in the original non-synth version of a song that got much more famous as a synth cover, Gloria Jones’ 1964 r&b/soul single “Tainted Love”
posted by Jon_Evil at 8:23 PM on September 26


Smashing Pumpkins - Never Let Me Down Again

Also love this dad forcing his kids to play Everything Counts
posted by credulous at 8:24 PM on September 26


Aztec Camera - Jump

You might like the Before You Were Punk compilations.

Alt-country mainstay Robbie Fulks has an album of Michael Jackson covers.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:09 PM on September 26


Here are two late 90s hard rock versions of You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by bands with similar "soft drug"-related names that you now have no choice but to measure against one another and decide which one wins:

Caffeine - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (1998)

Dope - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (2000)
posted by wats at 9:28 PM on September 26


Cap’n Jazz - Take On Me

Midwest emo legends. A favorite.

David Gray - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
posted by wemayfreeze at 10:57 PM on September 26




Gary Jules' cover of Mad World is probably more popular than the original.
Don’t overlook Curt Smith covering the song with his daughter (Covid lockdown was a good time for stripped back acoustic covers)
posted by rongorongo at 12:35 AM on September 27


Love Will Tear Us Apart again, again
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 12:45 AM on September 27


The Flying Picket’s version of Yazoo’s Only You was the original cover of this type that I remember
posted by rongorongo at 1:17 AM on September 27


Big Black covered Kraftwerk's The Model. So did Seu Jorge and Almaz.

Rammstein too.
posted by Stoneshop at 1:18 AM on September 27


Depeche Mode that "all I ever wanted" song--forget who covers it but I think someone does

DM's "Stripped" was covered by Rammstein.
posted by Stoneshop at 1:21 AM on September 27


alex1965: One of my favorite covers of all time is Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen doing a speed-metal cover of ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!":

And a grunge-metal version by The Nomads, another bunch of Swedes.
posted by Stoneshop at 1:25 AM on September 27


A band called Superbeing did a fun stadium rock version of Hungry Like The Wolf. Ben Lee (and Kylie Minogue!) covered The Reflex. Ride did a (surprisingly faithful) version of The Model. Juliana Hatfield did a whole album of Olivia Newton John covers, as well as a whole album of The Police covers (and one for ELO!). She also did an earlier, grungier cover of Every Breath You Take.
posted by srednivashtar at 3:15 AM on September 27


Thanks so much! Lots of interesting suggestions here! Eventually the archived version of the show will be posted at the link in my profile. (November-ish)
posted by chr1sb0y at 5:26 AM on September 27


You could just put on DJ Food's Kraftwerk Kover Kollection (all eight volumes!) and take the night off.
posted by deeker at 5:34 AM on September 27




May have been listed here, but this amazing live cover of "Cars" by NIN, features Gary Numan.
posted by sundrop at 5:48 AM on September 27


Depeche Mode that "all I ever wanted" song--forget who covers it but I think someone does

Might be the Sylvain Chaveau album? Which is cool.
posted by ovvl at 6:14 AM on September 27


Dreampop-adjacent band Silver Bars covering Flock of Seagulls' Space Age Love Song
posted by troywestfield at 7:58 AM on September 27


I don't know if you'll be able to find this on a streaming platform, but Gwar's cover of Pet Shop Boys' West End Girls is amazing. There's some conversation/context at the beginning of the video but the song starts at about 0:55.

These lean more disco but they're great:
Camera Obscura - Super Trouper
Feist - Inside and Out
posted by urbanlenny at 8:01 AM on September 27


Balanescu Quartet covered big ol chunks of Kraftwerk as a string quartet, including Robots.
posted by Kyol at 8:22 AM on September 27


As everyone has already said, Nouvelle Vague.

Johnny Cash covered Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus.

Puddles Pity Party covered Tears For Fears' Mad World

Does The Specials cover of Talking Heads' Listening Wind count?

I just know there are lots more I'm forgetting.
posted by snarfois at 8:43 AM on September 27


Magnetic Fields do a great cover of Gary Numan’s I Die You Die.
posted by cakelite at 9:25 AM on September 27


Oh right, duh - "For the Masses", a 1998-era time capsule of Depeche Mode covers which are probably independently mentioned here previously.

"I Sometimes Wish I Was Famous" is a Swedish collection of Depeche Mode covers, Poupee Fabrikk's cover of Photographic might fit the bill? A lot of them are kind of too close to the originals to qualify, though.

KMFDM covered "Material Girl" but Bigod 20's "Like A Virgin" is probably the seminal industrial example...

Klack covered "Politics of Dancing", "Two Minute Warning" and "Believe".
posted by Kyol at 10:15 AM on September 27


Martin Luther Lennon's sparse acoustic cover of "Dancing With Myself" is on the Not Lame compilation disc "Sympophony #1". I heard it was controversial (for some reason). It looks like the song's not online anywhere, but hopefully you can dig up the CD.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 11:24 PM on September 29


EZ Band is great for this. They have a bunch of norteño covers of pop tunes. Here is their version of Take on Me.
posted by umbú at 12:57 AM on September 30


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