Author: joehester

Actor, Recording Artist, Voice Actor, Producer, Karaoke DJ

“Girl On Fire” – Alicia Keys Cover by Blair Perkins

When I saw that a guy had done this, I didn’t think it would be any good. And it doesn’t stop here. His performance of “Georgia on My Mind” would give Ray Charles a run for his money. Blair Perkins doesn’t limit himself, either, with covers from John Denver all the way to Drake. His voice is a lot like Michael Jackson’s, so I HAD to see if he had done any MJ covers. He sure did! “I Can’t Help It”, “This Is It” and “Butterflies”. And, they’re amazing! Check them out!

“We Are Young” – FUN Cover by Jake Coco

Jake Coco’s YouTube channel looks like a Top 40 Pop sampler, offering covers from Jason Mraz, Carly Rae Jepsen, Pink, Demi Lovato and so many more! If you like this performance of Fun’s “We Are Young”, you’re definitely going to want to check out Jake’s cover of “Some Nights”; it is phenomenal!!! He certainly has an amazing voice, on his own, but these collaborations are out of this world!

“Black” – Pearl Jam Cover by Dave Roscoe


This artist doesn’t tell much about himself, but his music sure does! He offers up everything from Creed to Train . . . even some Frank Sinatra. “Luck Be a Lady” . . . Yep, she would be, that’s right, if she had Dave Roscoe serenading her. The good thing is, she won’t have to wait till then; it’s all on YouTube, right now. 😉

Looks like we might have our “Singer of the YEAR” winner. Guess we’ll have to see what the next few months hold.

Dream a Little Dream of Me – Cover by Leo Cagape

Self-described Piano Player/vocalist/Keyboardist/Synth/Tc Helicon user/Youtuber, Leo Cagape, hails from Baltimore, MD. His smooth voice is perfect for this classic oldie. The first thing I thought when I heard this, was “I’d love to hear him sing some Billy Joel”. Well, he didn’t disappoint me. With his rendition of “Honesty”, I listened intently, to every note. How beautiful! If you love ballads, you can get lost on his YouTube page, searching through 54 videos of purely amazing talent! Definitely one of my top 10 favorite cover artists!

What do you think about this week’s pick?

“Fragile” – Sting Cover by Carl Read


This honor is being awarded postumously, as this singer passed away in 2004. Sadly, New Zealander Carl Read died of a brain tumor, but his music lives on. “Fragile” was originally sung by Sting in 1987, along with a Portuguese version, titled “Fragilidad”. Carl adds a creative flare to this smooth tune, making it my pick of the week. While this is not a popular song, I hope it is one that you will find enjoyable.

Let me know what you think. Should I include lesser-known covers or should I stick to popular ones?

“Lights” – Ellie Goulding Cover by Megan and Liz


Wow! What an awesome cover! I was very surprised to learn that these girls are unsigned. Their YouTube Channel, alone, has over 178 million views! With covers of Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, One Direction, Carry Underwood and more, they certainly have a lot to choose from. But . . . the real treat is their original music.

You gotta check out this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo_XhsbwIVQ

I could definitely imagine hearing these girls, on the radio! What do you think?

Loving You – Minnie Riperton (Cover by Laura Broad)

This is definitely the first cover of this song, that I have ever enjoyed. Some singers have come very close, but when it comes to the whistle register, they fail miserably. Laura Broad, however, nailed it! And, she’s not a ‘one-hit wonder’, either! Just check out her rendition of Christina Perri’s, “Jar of Hearts”. But, don’t stop there, because this British Singer/Songwriter has 80 videos on her YouTube Channel!

Now that you’ve heard it, what is your opinion? Could she be our, “Singer of the Year”?

Meek Mill ft. Drake – Amen Remix


Self-named “PropaneLv”, this week’s winner has some serious lyrical skills. According to his YouTube Channel, “he’s passionate about Music, light skinned women, the Atlanta Hawks, and Tarvaris Jackson”. His musical influence is solely limited to Journey’s, “Don’t Stop Believing”. And, oddly enough, his covers range anywhere from Justin Beiber to Meek Mill. He also has some original work, to offer; check out “Cool Again”. Why is this guy not on the radio, yet?!

What do you think about this cover? Are you feelin’ it? Drop us a line and tell use how you feel.

Who’s Lovin’ You (Jackson 5 cover) – Emily Elbert

23-year-old Emily Elbert hails from Texas and has been playing guitar, since she was 14. Her music really shows the influences of Antonio Carlos Jobim and James Taylor. She has already played over 500 shows, throughout the U.S. and in 13 countries around the world!

Having opened for artists such as G. Love & Special Sauce, Tuck & Patti, Richie Havens, Kaki King, Joan Osbourne, Ryan Montbleau, Livingston Taylor, and Patty Larkin, one might expect that she would have been signed, by now. But, alas, she is self-releasing all of her albums. Of course, that hasn’t stopped her fame! With over 1.3 million views on her YouTube Channel, it’s apparent that this girl has what it takes!

If you owned a record label, would you sign Emily Elbert?

Glad You Came – The Wanted Cover

When I found this video, I wondered why Megan looked so familiar, until I realized that I recognized her from some of Boyce Avenue’s covers. Btw, if you haven’t experienced Boyce Avenue, you should REEEEEEALLLY check them out:

Boyce Avenue (YouTube Channel)

Anyway, back to Ms. Megan Nicole. I hesitated to listen to female covers of this particular song, because I didn’t think it could cross genders . . . BUT, she proved me wrong!

With songs from Justin Bieber all the way to Lil Wayne, there’s something for everyone, on her channel, so stop by and have a listen. You won’t be disappointed!

Mariah Carey – Vision of Love by Stacy Dudero

Stacy Dudero’s performance of “Vision of Love” would make Mariah proud! While searching for this week’s winner, I found a lot of great covers, but Stacy’s outshines them all! And, if this song isn’t your cup of tea, you might want to check out her channel. From The Carpenters to Bruno Mars, this girl definitely runs the gamut!

LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem (cover by Bruce & Fozoh)

Canada wins again, this week, with Bruce and Fozoh! If this doesn’t make you dance, I don’t know what will! Creativity to the Nth degree! These guys know how to entertain, and they’re multi-lingual, too! Click through to their channel, and check out their Korean love song, “Big Bang”; it is really catchy!  If you love Pop and R&B, this is the place to be, with covers of Usher, Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Adele, Drake, Alicia Keys and much more!

“Bring me to Life” – Evanescence Cover

This French Canadian has a phenomenal voice and had me on the edge of my seat, the entire time that I watched this! If you love it, as much as I do, you might want to check out her performance of “My Immortal”. Gave me chills! In fact, I had a difficult time, deciding on which one to feature. Make sure to show her some love, by clicking LIKE, commenting and subscribing. 🙂

Set Fire To The Rain – Adele Cover

With influences like Pink, Esthero, Sade, Hole and Alanis Morissette, “Masha” has a fierce sound! I’m keeping an eye on her page, hoping that she will perform Paramore’s “Brick By Boring Brick”. In the meantime, her rendition of “The Only Exception” will more than suffice. According to her Facebook page, she is working on a debut album with a man named Claude Kelly. To hear them sing, together, visit her YouTube Channel. Oh, and while you’re there, click LIKE on a video or two. 😉

You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban Cover by James Francis

James Francis, formerly of the performing group, “The Young Americans”, knocks this song out of the park! He had the honor of singing it, as part of an opening act for Restless Hearts, in Pigeon Forge’s annual fourth of July festivities, last year. James has released his first solo album, “Just the Beginning”, which was featured on 105.5 The Mixx. Unfortunately, this video is just a sample, but it’s enough to know that this guy can sing!

“Little Sparrow” – Dolly Parton Cover by Dominique Ventura

What a beautiful voice! It is very difficult to find good covers of Dolly Parton songs, so this was a real treat for me! Dominique Ventura’s accent lends a unique quality to her rendition of “Little Sparrow”. According to her bio, she is part of a group called, “No Degrees of Separation”, which writes professional jingles. If you’re in need of such services, check out their website, at:

https://www.nodegreesofseparation.com

Otherwise, hop on over to her YouTube Channel and check out some of her original music.

Krista Nicole – If I Die Young – The Band Perry Acoustic Cover

Introducing Krista Nicole, from the beautiful state of Oregon. She has a real passion, for music, and it shows! On her website, she explains, “Music is a beautiful thing and it brings people together. I would love to someday be able to share my music with the whole world!” She has already achieved that goal, through her YouTube Channel. And, loves reading the comments that she receives, so please stop by and leave one for her. 🙂

“Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum Cover by Ali Brustofski & Matthew Jordan

Winner of the 2011 Z100 & State Farm Hometown Hero Contest, Ali Brustofski is an 18 year old singer/songwriter from Oakland, NJ She also won the prestigious NY Songwriters Circle “Young Artist Award” in November of 2009. and has been writing and recording original songs and covers ever since.

Matthew Jordan is a keyboard player & singer-songwriter based in southern California. He has already released a full-length album, called “Horizon” (which is now available on iTunes and CDBaby).

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