Sixteen Genre-Defying Covers: Half Real, Half Imagined

It’s not every day you get word of an aria-belting soprano covering bands like Arcade Fire or Band of Horses. But opera singer Renée Fleming is doing just that with her new album, Dark Hope, which she describes as a “visit to a new, parallel universe.” The 11-track album, due out May 18, features the Grammy-winning Fleming putting her own spin on classics like Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and Jefferson Airplane’s “Today.” New territory for Fleming, sure, but she’s not the first to wander a bit outside her musical realm. Here’s a handful of genre-bending covers from years past and some that we can only hope to hear in the future.

1. Britney Spears’ “Toxic” – Nickel Creek

2. T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” – Anya Marina

3. Dr. Dre’s “Bitches Ain’t Shit” – Ben Folds

4. Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’” – Robbie Williams

5. Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Paul Anka

6. The Beatles’ “Nowhere Man” – Randy Travis

7. Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” – The Flaming Lips

8. Lil Wayne’s "Lollipop – jj’s “Ecstasy”

And a few we’d like to see…

Sigur Rós’ “Hoppípolla” – Whitney Houston
Will we always love you, Whitney, if you try to sing the Hopelandic lyrics of this iconic Icelandic band? Answer: probably. [Editor’s note: alas, this wasn’t to be. RIP Whitney]

Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer” – Michael Bublé
Just imagine the throwback crooner’s smooth voice belting out the infamous lyrics of this song’s chorus.

OutKast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” – She & Him
“Fresh” and “clean” take on a literal meaning coming from this adorable folk-pop duo. But we can’t decide who would be Big Boi and who would be Andre 3000.

Ray LaMontagne’s “Hold You In My Arms” – Hopesfall
Hearing the hardcore band’s treatment of the whispery quiet, bearded soulman’s emotional music would give a whole new meaning to “screamo.” Also, it might be the most unintentionally hilarious thing we’ve seen since this.

Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” – Three 6 Mafia
Both are Tennesseans, and wouldn’t you just love to hear the Oscar-winning gents behind “Hard Out Here for a Pimp” add some street cred to the Grammy-winning country darling’s ditty about Romeo?

Bon Iver’s “Woods” – Miley Cyrus
Miley listed “Bob” as one of her favorite musicians, so she’d probably like to take a crack at one of his songs.

Nickelback’s “Photograph” – Damien Rice
Because we can’t wait to see what Damien will do with the lyric: “What the hell is on Joey’s head?” Bonus points to Rice if he can somehow incorporate a “brine-soaked cucumber” into the song.

Joanna Newsom’s “Kingfisher” – Daft Punk
Because, really, we’d love to see anyone try to cover a Joanna Newsom nymph-inspired forest hymn well. But especially our favorite French robot dance duo.

Avett Brothers’ “Paranoia In B Major” – Vampire Weekend
New York Ivy-league gloss slathered atop a raggedy old Avetts song? Yes, please.