JoyInTheNew.com: Andersen Silva's Cover Songs

I was enjoying other people's music long before I ever tried making my own, so once I had learned to play some guitar and keyboards, I occasionally recorded someone else's song in addition to my own. Take a listen for yourself:

Tomorrow Never Knows [2009]
The Beatles' Revolver is the first album I ever really got into, but the idea to do this cover just popped into my head one day, and I recorded it just a few days later. In fact, it kick-started the recording process again; I did this one on a Saturday, and "Loster" the next day

Fourth of July [2006]
Another holiday song... I've always enjoyed the original by X; I recorded this twelve-string rendition on the 4th, and you can hear some of Lyndhurst's fireworks crackling in the background

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) [2004]
U2's cover has always been one of my favorite Christmas songs, and I recorded it myself while missing my (then) baby during that holiday season; I ended up seeing her on Christmas Eve

Dirty Water [2003]
An old Standells song about Boston; they weren't actually from there, either

Powerhouse (excerpt) [2003]
You probably don't know "Powerhouse" by name, but you may have heard this part of it before

Rockin' in the Free World '03 [2003]
I redid this cover, partly at the request of a friend, and coincidentally I recorded it the day Dubya started his Illegal War

How Much More [2002]
Yes, a Go-Go's song; hey, the Go-Go's kicked some major ass! I've wanted to record this one for a long time

Rockin' in the Free World [2002]
This track holds two distinctions: it's the first I recorded directly to the iBook, using an iMic USB audio converter/interface, and it's the first time I recorded myself singing and playing the guitar at the same time. It's got a very unpolished live sound, but then that's what I was going for

Just Like Heaven [2001]
She almost did run away with me

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) [2000]
if you want it...

Terrible Lie [2000]
Hey, God, this has always been one of my favorite NIN tunes

Not Fade Away [1999]
I tip my hat to Bo Diddley, George Thorogood, and a few others in this Buddy Holly cover

Rebel Rebel [1997]
I know, it sounds like I borrowed the Human League's drum machine...

(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone [1997]
Not the first punk rendition of this pop classic, and probably not the last

Can't Stand Losing You [1997]
An early Police tune

Rainbow Connection [1996]
The 'Muppet Movie' song, featuring a Commodore 128 playing rhythm but no frogs