Timeless Tracks: How Covers Bridge Music Across Generations
By Samantha Jordan, Content Operations Coordinator
The music industry continues to reinforce the phrase, “history repeats itself,” especially when it comes to hit songs. Artists of today have played a major role in reviving iconic tracks by covering songs through re-releases, live performances, and creating modernized versions. These refreshed versions of the classics have not only transported listeners back into what they call “the good old days” but have also connected legacy artists and tracks with new audiences, allowing them to climb the charts and reach new heights once again.
We’ve seen this through Olivia Rodrigo’s cover of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” at the Glastonbury Festival this past June. The performance made a major splash across social media, leaving fans not only saying, “What a great performance,” but also, “How could I forget about this one?” Rodrigo’s younger fan base has sparked a resurgence of this classic song, introducing it to a new generation. Currently, the original version has over 647 million streams.
Another hit that has stood out is country singer Luke Combs’ version of “Fast Car,” released in 2023, paying homage to Tracy Chapman’s original. Similar to the effect Olivia Rodrigo had with “Just Like Heaven,” his modernized “Fast Car” successfully introduced this classic to a whole new generation. The success with this song came quickly, reaching the #2 spot on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, while also being #1 on several country charts. In turn, this also impacted streams on the Tracy Chapman version. Chapman’s overall catalog experienced an 18.4% increase in streams, and the original song also reentered the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time in 35 years.
We have also seen classics resurge, like Whitney Houston’s timeless, “I Will Always Love You.” Many don’t know that this was actually written by Dolly Parton, who released her version in 1973. In 1992, Whitney Houston put her own pop ballad twist on the song. While Dolly Parton’s version was a success in itself, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and selling over 20 million copies, Whitney Houston’s version became an even bigger hit that has remained a staple in pop culture across generations. Whitney Houston’s rendition sold over 25 million copies, and also garnered new attention with being in The Bodyguard.
Another standout revival was through Royel Otis’s cover of “Linger” at Sirius XM, which was originally by The Cranberries. After the release of the cover in May 2024 racked up 31 million views on YouTube, The Cranberries’ original version had a 12% increase in streams.
These are just a few examples of how artists can reignite interest in classic hits. They show how timeless music can bridge generations, inspire younger audiences for decades, and give the original songs a second life.
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