Like it or not, there is undoubtedly an ongoing trend for remakes and covers in the music industry, just as there has been oodles of television reboots and movie remakes in recent years.

Author Stephen King wrote, “Sooner or later, everything old is new again.” 

If done right, a cover version of a classic can reach a broader audience. Older generations who were around for the original might appreciate a fresh, new take on a song they grew up to, while younger generations will be introduced to some brilliant songwriting that they otherwise may have not discovered. 

It's a tricky business re-doing a classic. Some artists compose a shiny new, refreshed version of an old forgotten song, bringing it right into the present, while some others, to be completely honest, give us watered down, weaker versions of a beloved gem. 

As a DJ and music lover always on the lookout for new music, many remakes and covers have come my way in the past few months. Here are 10 in my opinion that have gotten it right.

1. Dubdogz & Ghostt Featuring Giana - Beggin

What makes this selection different from the rest is that this is a remake of a current hit. I was searching for remixes of Måneskin's 2021 hit, "Beggin" and found this amazing cover from Brazilian Superstar DJs  Dubdogz & Ghostt featuring the captivating vocals of Giana Althaus, who is quite the TikTok star. Her raw, passionate and throaty vocals compliment this EDM anthem. This was a surprising discovery and goes to show you, you never know what can come out of a popular TikTok profile!

2. Debby Holiday, Russ Rich - I Can't Stand the Rain (Russ Rich & Andy Allder Club Mix)

Wow. Just Wow. This is a cover of a cover...of a cover, and I am obsessed. It's just a great song and has been performed by a handful of powerhouse vocalists. Originally recorded by Ann Peebles in 1973, and written by Peebles, Don Bryant, and Bernard "Bernie" Miller. Other hit versions were later recorded by Eruption, Tina Turner and Lowell George. The original version is ranked at 197 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The latest version to come down the pike is by multiple Billboard charting singer/songwriter Debby Holiday and produced by Russ Rich. With so many great versions of this song already recorded, (My personal favorite, Tina Turner's), It's difficult to imagine reaching the greatness of the previous versions, but they deliver with a fresh, up-to-date rendition and Debby's soulful vocal stylings are a perfect match for this all-time classic!

The Spotify playlist below features the new versions by Debbie Holiday and Russ Rich, as well as previous versions by Tina Turner, Erruption, Lowell George, and Ann Peebles.

3. Revival, A. Lamala, G. Gould, Kathy Brown, P. Edwards & GeO Gospel Choir- Earth Song (What About Us)

This is a spellbinding rendition of the Michael Jackson masterpiece, "Earth Song." This one's got it all with a commanding beat, a funky bassline, the heartfelt, soulful vocals by dance and house legend Kathy Brown, all backed by the breathtakingly talented GeO Gospel choir. This astounding track will put any dance floor into a state of euphoria. See video below and for more of Kathy Brown, check out the Spotify playlist below for her extensive contributions to dance music. 

4. Bernadette Bohan - The Flame

The Cheap Trick Classic gets a fierce dance makeover by production team Cerchio and Frappier. This feel-good anthem is sure to have you singing along. Performed by San Francisco diva Bernadette Bohan, The Flame 2k22 is setting fire to dance floors worldwide!

5. Stephen Jusko & DJ Blacklow ft. Brian Kent - Believe It Or Not

After a string of successful dance floor hits covering iconic 80s anthems including Pat Benatar’s “Shadows of The Night” and Scandal’s “The Warrior,” Stephen Jusko & DJ Blacklow return with their latest smash, “Believe It or Not.’ Teaming up with Billboard Recording Artist Brian Kent, the three take on the theme song to the much-beloved American television series, The Greatest American Hero. Written by Joey Scarbury in 1981, the theme song took on a life of its own as it became a radio staple topping the Billboard Hot 100 & US Adult charts at #2 & #3. Now 40 years later, it’s taking dance floors by storm.

 Brian Kent – About Brian (brian-kent.com)

I love a good remake from a popular song from my youth, and this one hits hard!

You can check out the collection of remixes as well as his other hits here on Brian Kent's Website. 

6. Dillon Francis - Goodies

Super DJ Dillon Francis brings us his rendering of the 2009 (has it been that long?) Ciara banger, "Goodies."

Francis kept all the elements in this track that make it great, gave it a new beat and an up-to-date production. My only issue? It only clocks in at a 2:02 minutes long. Well, that's what extended remixes are for!

This one will surely slay on the dance floors worldwide!

7. Disco Gurls, The Soul Gang - U're Simply The Best

Guareber Recordings artists Disco Gurls have been pumping out covers and refreshed versions of classic after classic, much like the amazing Block & Crown. 

Who the "gurls" are is a mystery to me. I have yet to find a bio of them or even an Instagram account. I will keep an eye out for more information on them because they are pumping out track after track of our favorite classics and bringing them right into the present day.

One of their latest is a cover of the Tina Turner signature anthem, "The Best." In this latest version, "U're Siimply The Best," with the Soul Gang, is sure to have the dancefloor singing along word for word to this timeless feel-good classic.

You can watch the video below as well as all of their tracks on Spotify.

8. Dave Audé and LeAnn Rimes - Uninvited

Grammy winning and billboard dance chart topper Dave Audé has teamed up with country music superstar LeAnn Rimes!

The reimagined rendition of the hit single, originally written and performed by Alanis Morissette, is featured on the producer’s new album, ‘Motions."

“It was such a joy to collaborate with Dave on one of the most epic songs ever,” says LeAnn. “Dave and I have been working together for years, but this was the first time we joined forces to create a track from start to finish."

With Leann's souring vocals and Dave's top-notch production, they have taken an iconic song and brought it front and center to the present day!

9. David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - I'm Good (Blue)

Currently at number one on Billboard's "Hot Dance/ Electronic Songs" chart, "I'm Good' from David Guetta & Bebe Rexha is just a fun, upbeat dance bop that has taken over the airwaves and dancefloors everywhere. 

The song heavily samples Eiffel 65's 1998 single "Blue (Da Ba Dee)"; as such, Eiffel 65 members Jeffrey Jey and Maurizio Lobina, as well as the original track's co-producer Massimo Gabutti, are given writing credits.^[1]

Not so much a cover per-se, but I have included this one because you just cannot hear this song without thinking about the original smash. 

10. Get Here - Dawn Tallman (DJ Spen, Gary Hudgins, & David Harness Vocal Mix)

"Get Here" is a pop ballad written by American singer and songwriter Brenda Russell. The title track of her fourth studio album, Get Here (1988), it became a moderate hit on the Billboard R&B chart on the heels of the album's massive first hit, "Piano in the Dark". American vocalist Oleta Adams covered and released the song in 1990, reaching the top five in both the US and the UK with her version. Adams's version of "Get Here", co-produced by Roland Orzabal from the band Tears for Fears (for whom she had performed the female vocals on the hit single "Woman in Chains" a year earlier), became her signature song.

Wikipedia contributors. (2022, November 13). Get Here. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 06:31, November 25, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Get_Here&oldid=1121729693

The latest version is sung by Dawn Tallman, marketed as "The Queen of Gospel Energy" by her record company and she proves them right in this one. "Get Here" is a fresh, up-tempo composition by Spen, Hudgins and Harness that will leave you uplifted. 

Here is what the record company, Quantize had to say:

Quantize Recordings celebrates its 400th release with Dawn Tallman’s Beautiful rendition of “Get Here”.

Music lovers across the globe love this timeless classic by Brenda Russell and Olita Adams and we are proud to present a fresh, up-tempo composition by Spen, Hudgins and Harness that will please a variety of musical tastes.

Featuring Dawn Tallman’s unique and amazingly powerful vocal performance this remake contains the authenticity that music aficionados across the globe are sure to love."

Dawn Tallman - Get Here on Traxsource

I couldn't agree more. Have a listen!