A Collection of Punk-Covered Classics
Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams and Bob Marley get the punk makeover. A playlist of classics played faster, dirtier and a whole lot louder.
Punk music has been around since the 70s; however, with each new generation, a new sound evolves. Borrowing from the older generations, as well as creating new, never-heard-before sounds of their own, punk artists are drawing from past and present to create new sub-genres of punk music.
If you’ve ever asked yourself what a Rod Stewart song would sound like a little faster, a bit dirtier and definitely louder, you’ll want to read further to see our favorite collection of songs that received the punk makeover treatment. Each of our picks has mixed punk with vastly different genres to create a wholly new song with a delightful twist.
Child of the 80s
Let’s face it: the 80s were the epitome of creative expression. From the way teens dressed, danced and did their hair, to popular music, everything was bursting with energy. And if John Hughes’s movies have taught us anything, it is that the music sets the mood to any occasion. These covers add a little something special to these classic 80s hits that will take you back to a time of boys holding boom boxes over their heads and riding off into the sunset on lawn mowers.
- “Take On Me” by Reel Big Fish
- “Forever Young” by So They Say
- “Time After Time” by Spoken
Your Dad’s Faves
There are some songs that are burned into our brains after a childhood filled with a soundtrack of classic rock circa 1960. These songs have been reimagined by punk artists in a way that fuses the music of two generations. Although your dad might not appreciate these aggressive covers, any child of the pop-punk era will find these songs a refreshing take on the originals.
- “Summer of ’69” by MxPx
- “Happy Together” by New Found Glory
- “What a Wonderful World” by Joey Ramone
- “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Muse
- “Roxanne” by Fall Out Boy
- “Mr. Jones” by Hidden in Plain View
Parts Reggae and One Part Punk
Punk and reggae: two genres that seem as mismatched as peanut butter and Oreos, but an equally delicious combination. These two covers still have that unmistakable reggae beat that makes us want to light up while lying on the beach with an “in-your-face” attitude. It is no easy task to take two well-known reggae songs and give them a punk makeover, especially without corrupting the original work, by giving typically mellow songs a more hyped-up punk vibe.
- “No Woman, No Cry” by Spunge
- “I Fought the Law” by Dead Kennedys
From the MO print archive: this playlist first ran in The Punk Issue of Meets Obsession Magazine.
- Words: Maggie Stamets
- Illustration: From The Punk Issue of MO
Keep it loud
