Get ready to rewind more unforgettable sounds of the '80s as we count down the Top Cover Songs of a decade full of them. From unexpected twists on classics to fresh takes that outshone the originals, these songs left an indelible mark on the music world... including one where The Bangles transformed a Simon and Garfunkel folk song into a driving rocker and another where the wailing banshee from Led Zeppelin had a smash hit by crooning a 50s tune that to this day most people have no clue it’s him, and another one by Paul Young became one of the funniest misheard lyrics of the decade and a Los Lobos cover that was first all Spanish song to hit #1 in the rock era. We break down the stories behind these iconic covers, the magic they brought to the table, and how they became monster hits in their own right. The countdown is NEXT on Professor of Rock.
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We’re gonna have a lot of fun with our countdown of the Top 6 Covers of the 80s, even though one of the songs on the list is related to one of the saddest days of the Rock Era. Keep in mind, the six covers we’ve chosen are remakes of hit originals, in other words, the first version, and the cover had to make the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 to quality for the countdown or be truly famous before so we have something to compare it to. OK, let’s go!!! At #6 on the Countdown, it’s The Bangles re-imagining of a Simon & Garfunkel tune. The song: “A Hazy Shade of Winter:”
Paul Simon composed "A Hazy Shade of Winter" as a poetic reflection on the passage of time and the shifting seasons of life. The song captures the transition from fall to winter, both in nature and in the human experience—a metaphor for the inevitable changes and challenges we all face. Its lyrics weave together themes of searching, longing, and the haunting realization that time is slipping away. With each verse, Paul explores the yearning for meaning and connection and the quiet urgency that comes with recognizing life’s fleeting moments. The imagery of barren branches and fading leaves paints a vivid picture of life’s cycles, serving as a poignant reminder to cherish the present even as we search for what’s next. In ’87, the Bangles put their own spin on a classic, recording a cover of “Hazy Shade of Winter” for the soundtrack of Less Than Zero, starring Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz, and Robert Downey Jr. Their version, with its gritty guitars and driving beat, soared up the charts, reaching #2—a significant leap from Simon & Garfunkel’s original #13 peak.
Before the opportunity to record their version for Less Than Zero, The Bangles had already connected with Simon & Garfunkel’s original. By 1983, the band had made the song a staple in their setlist, electrifying audiences with their raw, energetic take on Paul Simon’s introspective classic. For Susanna Hoffs, the connection to the song was immediate and unforgettable. “I was alone in this dark room, just the radio and me,” Hoffs recalled in 2021, reminiscing about a late-night moment listening to K-EARTH 101, an oldies station...