10 Unheralded Covers That Deserve More Recognititon
3. Video Killed The Radio Star - The Presidents Of The USA (Original: The Buggles)
Depending on your definition, this one is technically a cover of a cover. While The Buggles had a massive hit with this song in 1979 the song was originally recorded and released (also in 1979) by Bruce Woolley and The Camera Club, the previous band of songwriters and Buggles members Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes (Bruce Woolley is also credited but wasn't in The Buggles).
Appearing on both 'The Wedding Singer' soundtrack and their album 'Pure Frosting' (released following their 1998 break up; though they would get back together, break up and reform again in the years since), Alt-Rock group The Presidents of the USA take an already quirky record and add their own quirky nature to their reinterpretation.
Like other songs on this list, it's success lies in the way it takes the song into another genre while keeping the feeling of the original. The quirky nature of both artists blends very well to produce a cover that, while harder and somewhat less showy than the original, is still fun, offbeat and smile-raising as the original.