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It ’s heavy to reckon anyone in 2025 who does not knowPearl Jamor its lead vocalist , Eddie Vedder . His deep , baritone voice voice embodies the sound of Gen X and the ' XC grime drift , alongside other icons like Chris Cornell of Soundgarden , Layne Staley of Alice In Chains , and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana . But once upon a meter , Vedder was a San Diego surferwho got a tape of instrumentals from a ring in Seattle call Temple Of The Dogthat take a new vocalist .
Vedder get the job with the group that eventually change their name and morphed into Pearl Jam , and with that transformation came the ill fame we ’re so familiar with today . With that success , Vedder has not only belt out originals , buthe has also utilise his standout voice tocover other creative person ' song . From U2 to Crowded House , there ’s seemingly no musical genre or artist Vedder ’s articulation ca n’t wield .
1You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away (The Beatles)
A Rugged Take On a Beatles Classic
Originally unloose by The Beatles on their 1965 albumHelp!,Vedder recorded his own faithful version of " You ’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away"in the studio as part of the soundtrack for the 2001 filmI Am Sam , which was made up totally of covers of the Fab Four by various artists . Written by the Beatles ' John Lennon in a style Lennon allow was influenced by Bob Dylan , " You ’ve Got To Hide Your sexual love Away " has very equivocal language about the nature of sexual love and feelings of it that can be painted in various ways .
Beatles ' 64 chronicles the Fab Four ’s first trip to the United States in 1964 , is n’t needs the devotee - pleasing documentary film one would expect .
That vague tone clear " You ’ve Got To hide out Your beloved off " a clean canvas for other artists to carry themselves with , which Vedder certainly uses to his reward here . While the instrumentality endure or in the studio apartment has the same basic financial support as the original ( right down to the harmonica ) , Vedder’sweary , rag - and - bone , smoky vocalism adds more clay to a neat - gash Beatles interpretation . It also evince Vedder had just as much skill for the restrained acoustic style as he did for forte and galvanising rock .
2Under Pressure (Queen)
A Duet Fit For Queen
" Under Pressure " was first put out into the world by famed rock bandQueen as a 1981 single before being released in 1982 as part of the group ’s albumHot Space . Featuring fabled guest David Bowie,“Under Pressure " is a duet between Bowie and Queen singer Freddie Mercurythat ’s immediately recognizable the moment you hear the rumbling , funkified bassline . That bassline was so iconic , in fact , it would be sampled nine geezerhood by and by by rapperVanilla chicken feed for his own track " Ice Ice Baby . "
But in this variation , we have Vedder adding his stamp to it along with the expectant singer / songwriterBen Harper . Much like Mercury and Bowie before them , the duo take a similar instrumental musical arrangement and intermix their own voice together quite well . While Harper is certainly no Mercury ( no one could be ) , hissweet - honeyed rasp represent well against Vedder ’s growling foil in the Bowie function . The two add more of a rocked - out quality than the glam of the original , and it make this version of " Under press " stand out .
3My City Of Ruins (Bruce Springsteen)
Singing Out To The Boss
The legendaryBruce Springsteen wrote " My City of Ruins " for his 2002 album , The Rising . Originally meant to be a subject matter of promise and rebirth after the concentrated times that had happen his hometown of Asbury Park , New Jersey , Springsteen ’s Sung took on a whole new perspective after the tragic terror attack in New York City on September 11 , 2001.“My City of Ruins " still eerily fits those frightful and harrowing daysand gives Springsteen ’s evangel - inflect message even profoundly , more stirring emotions .
We go behind the scene of Bruce Springsteen ’s approaching Tracks II sacking and the seven record album he ’s set to uncover to the universe for the first clip .
In 2009,Vedder covered " My City of Ruins " for a Kennedy Center tribute to Springsteen , which strips back the layers of the Sung dynasty down to its very roots . But despite lesser instrumentation ( and having to spill the beans mightily to Springsteen front - and - center ) , Vedder only need the trustworthy instrument of his vox to give his own version of this song all the emotional squawk that it needs .
4One (U2)
Another Fitting Tribute To Icons
The capital Irish ring U2 wrote and recorded what ’s arguably one of their best songs,“One , " for their 1991 record album titledAchtung Baby . On the one hand , it ’s an engaging sway rail , but the lyric are really what slay the arduous on this one . While the group has had a assortment of stories over the years about the source of the words on " One , " ranging from difference in the dance orchestra at the clip to philosophic discussions , there ’s just a timeless tautness in thefeelingof the dialogue . It almost becomes uncomfortable with emotion .
Luckily , those rocky areas are where the route - worn voice of Vedder shines the brightest . During a 2022 Kennedy Center tribute to U2 , he cover " One " while the band ( much like Springsteen for " My City in Ruins " ) sat front and center looking on . Vedder has the kind of clear-cut spokesperson that would make you conceive any song is his own , ashe can just take on almost any lyrical role ’s crown and comfortably have on it . You believe the earthly concern he sets out for you , and it makes this version of " One " a beautiful thing .
5Keep Me In Your Heart (Warren Zevon)
A Touching Tribute To A Loss
The sorely underratedsinger / songwriter Warren Zevon released his final record album , The Wind , in 2003 , which he recorded briefly after receiving a medical diagnosis of terminal lung cancer . The disk was actually unfreeze just after Zevon passed aside from the malady ; the last birdsong onThe Wind , called " Keep Me In Your Heart , " was a heart - rick reflection on death . realise the end was near , but permit his family and friend know he ’d be close to them even after he was gone .
The final song onThe Wind , scream " Keep Me In Your Heart , " was a heart - rick rumination on expiry .
Vedder play the song beautifully here acoustically during an appearance on theHoward Stern Show , which lets the stark , sad beauty of the words on " Keep Me In Your Heart " hang out in their supererogatory threads . Vedder is so sweet close to the content of the racetrack and at keeping the prolific spirit of Zevon alive and thriving . His songwriting is too good to miss or be forget .
6Hard Sun (Indio)
A Wildly Good Cover Take
Canadian singer - songwriterGordon Peterson wrote the song " Hard Sun"under the stage nameIndio for his lone studio album , 1989’sBig Harvest . The record is mostly witness as a cult classic , with " Hard Sun " being the only strain to extend to a Top 10 chart rack up in Canada . Peterson walked aside from the medicine diligence curtly after the disk ’s release due to his sexual love for the music coming into conflict with the expectations being placed upon him by the occupation side of things .
Vedder brood " Hard Sun " on the 2007 soundtrack forInto The Wild , which is technically his first solo record album . While his version is mostly standardised ( other than some pocket-sized lyric alterations ) , Vedder ’s has a snatch of a sharper , rockier edge to it that tote up more energy to the birdsong . The track fits well into the theme of the film with its clearly environmental - slant report , and Vedder sends it home with his directly charming way .
7Wildflowers (Tom Petty)
This Cover Belongs Somewhere Free
The late , with child Tom Petty ’s second solo album , Wildflowers(produced by Rick Rubin ) , come out in 1994 and remains a classic piece of music in Petty ’s catalog to this sidereal day . The title path feels like Petty distilled down to his most essentially small - pace fashion , incorporatinga mixture of nation folk tilt and the eccentric of signature Petty mood chillthat make it easy to see why " Wildflowers " was always a fan preferent during his career .
Tom Petty was a lawful picture of American medicine . His songs seem in a diverseness of movies and TV shows , from Lethal Weapon 2 to The Simpsons .
Vedder picks up the billy of this chilled - out vallecula perfectly on his take on " Wildflowers , " needing only an acoustic guitar and his earmark husky tone to take on the song lovingly , specially with Petty no longer with us . We take practiced voices to run on the legacy of tracks like " Wildflowers , " and Vedder is more than eager to deliver . Get felicitous and give this one a listen .
8Don’t Dream It’s Over (Crowded House)
A Refreshed Take On An 80s Ballad
I ’m sure that Crowded House ’s 1986 lay " Do n’t daydream It ’s Over " would be well - rank on most lists immortalise the best songs from that decennary , and justly so . There ’s just something about the longing in lead man Neil Finn ’s spokesperson that gives the song such an authentic hoop , even inthe more stylized case of bigger product that the ' eighty were so well - lie with for . It never finger phoney or put on ; there ’s just such a feeling in it .
That belief is carried over well here by Vedder and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin during a undress - down 2016 performance at the Global Citizens Festival . founder " Do n’t Dream It ’s Over " down to just a guitar and piano is a great thing ; it allows the feeling and vibe of the lyrics to respire more openly and in greater detail . It does n’t suffer thatVedder and Martin flow really well together here as a duo , bringing their ( somewhat ) contrasting flair together in upright concord .
9Throw Your Arms Around Me (Hunters & Collectors)
Hunting And Collecting This Class Cover Version
Australian rockers Hunters & Collectors had one of their biggest hits in 1984 with"Throw Your Arms Around Me , " which was a chart - high hat for years in Australiaand handle by groups ranging from the aforesaid Crowded House to Canadian band Spirit of the West . The song illustrated the teller ’s intense physical love for their partner , giving the caterpillar track an informal , up - tight flavor .
Vedder was able to body forth the spirit of " Throw Your Arms Around Me " while covering the song with Crowded House ’s Neil Finn during a alive session in 2014 . The distich make a smooth twosome between Vedder ’s baritone voice and Finn ’s higher timbre , and it ’s clearly evident thepair have a fear for each other ’s employment . The cover strips by that ' 80s production once again and just leaves some bare finger cymbals that are a joy to hear .
10Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd)
A Fitting Ode To Floyd Feeling
Just hearing the lyric " Comfortably Numb " by Pink Floyd evokes such an exhilarating tone of timeless classic rock music and knowing that you ’re about to find out a strain that go down swimmingly with a tangible electrical energy every time . Recorded for Pink Floyd ’s 1979 conceptual assertion albumThe Wall , " Comfortably Numb " arrive from lyric poem bassist Roger Waters developed from an experience wherehe was given tranquilizers by a doc so he could perform at a show .
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As a resultant , the strain has this weirdly torpid power that very much experience like it ’s being listen to in a filter through those tranquilizers . Vedder ’s vocal ( as common ) bring a great layer to this cover with Waters himself , and he sing his lines with a passion for the material that he never seems to leave home without . As always , Veddermakes you trust in the story even if it was n’t his own to start with , and that ’s just one understanding why he ’s just so good at cover Greco-Roman stuff like this .