What's not to love about covers? People are already emotionally invested in them, they spark memories of the year in which they were first released, it gives artists an opportunity to turn it on its head and shower it with some of their own flair and everyone already knows the words. It's a win/win/win/win situation!
But it seems that the days in which covers were tacky and uncool are long gone. Splendour In The Grass 2018 was absolutely brimming with covers from new artists, established artists and everyone in between, and they reinvented songs from '80s, '90s and the 2000s.
We're sure we missed some, but here are some of our favourites.
Dune Rats x Basement Jaxx/Justice Vs Simian
Where do we start with Dune Rats? Their set spanned an array of all-star guests, including WAAX, AB Original, Mallrat, Alex Lahey, Tkay Maidza, DZ Deathrays and Hockey Dad and they even got their mates to chip in on some covers. AB Original helped the trio out to cover Basement Jaxx's Where's Your Head At, which was absolutely mental, and the band got everyone up for a big finale performing Justice Vs Simian's We Are Your Friends, confetti and all.
DZ Deathrays x AC/DC
Brissy duo DZ Deathrays made headlines over the weekend for bringing up our favourite Hot Potato, Murray Cook (ie. the Red Wiggle) to slay his guitar for a raucous cover of AC/DC's Highway To Hell. It's not the first time the DZ boys have been hanging out with Murray - he also featured in their video for Like People.
@DZDEATHRAYS keeping the Aussie rock dream alive at #SITG2018 pic.twitter.com/wxkAoYeMow
— Paulina Vidal (@vidalnews) July 20, 2018
Lorde x Powderfinger
Lorde's known to rip out covers when she's playing live: in the past we've seen her cover Frank Ocean's Solo, Drake's Shot For Me, Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight. This year, she pulled out the Powderfinger classic, My Happiness, for her Splendour crowd, turning it seamlessly into Melodrama cut, Perfect Places.
Alex Lahey x Avril Lavigne
We already saw Alex Lahey give Natalie Imbruglia's Torn an awesome indie rock overhaul on triple j's Like A Version, and now Alex has thrown it back to our very first sk8r grl, Avril Lavigne. This isn't the first time she's given Complicated a go live - it looks like she's been flogging it around her Europe tour but we're glad she gave Splendour a chance to sing along to this teen pop classic.
Where my sk8er bois at? @AlexLahey does @AvrilLavigne’s “Complicated” live at @SITG #SITG18 pic.twitter.com/I9B5eMctaW
— rage (@rageABC) July 21, 2018
Kwame x Nirvana
Winner of the triple j Unearthed competition this year, Sydney hip hop upstart Kwame made us say "wow" again with his little cover of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit. Given how new he is to the scene, this crowd connection is epic.
First #SITG2018 highlight: @thattboykwame covers Nirvana pic.twitter.com/5h9uulXyvp
— triple j (@triplej) July 20, 2018
DMA'S x Cher
Rumours have it that this is the first and last time we'll hear DMA'S breathtaking cover of Cher's Believe live. Of course, their Like A Version cover will live on forever online.
Ooooft. Look at this magic #SITG2018 Moment from @dmasmusic pic.twitter.com/i0F3M0uI9q
— triple j (@triplej) July 20, 2018
Amy Shark x Wheatus
Amy Shark's a teenage dirtbag no longer, baby. Having found out she debuted her debut album at #1 on the ARIA Charts mere minutes before taking the Splendour stage, Amy's cover of Wheatus' Teenage Dirtbag showed fans that she's come super far already and still has the stars in her sights.
Another for the #SITG2018 cover tally: @amyshark is covering @wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag” pic.twitter.com/mdLmfPxPPU
— triple j (@triplej) July 21, 2018
Eves Karydas x Kylie Minogue
Young pop newcomer Eves Karydas threw it back to pop veteran Kylie Minogue at Splendour this year, covering the golden oldie Can't Get You Out Of My Head. We can't seem to find footage of this but you'll just have to trust us.
Oh damnnnn she’s doing Kylie Minogue’s ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.’
SO FUN.— triple j (@triplej) July 22, 2018
