Welcome back, readers! I’ve been meaning to do the inevitable Rolling Stones-esque post for a while now and my reasons were threefold: 1) They’re only one of the best fucking bands on the planet (still) .. 2) The Rolling Stones are about as relevant to me now as a child growing up on classic rock .. and 3) It is safe to say that “Wild Horses” is the earliest song I can remember absolutely falling in love with the instant I heard it. It is quite possibly one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard and if I ever became a musician, I would probably cite “Wild Horses” as the defining moment when I decided to pick up a guitar. 
Suffice it to say, the Stones got me into rock n’ roll and it’s been a lifelong love affair ever since. The quintessential “sad love song,” it’s a little bit country, it’s a little bit rock n’ roll, but it’s all kinds of incredible and the lyrics are as poetic as they are universally relatable. I’ve been known to tell people my favorite Stones song is “Beast of Burden” because I listen to it more, but truth be told it really is “Wild Horses.” Mick Jagger poignantly suggests “Let’s do some living, after we die” in the last verse. I’m down for that… as long as that includes listening to this song. And the Stones. Forever. There are about a zillion covers of this song, so I figured I would do a little Top 5 list of my personal favorites. But first the song that started it all, the original Rolling Stones version:
.The Rolling Stones - “Wild Horses”
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#5 – Garbage [live] cover
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Garbage is one the most underrated bands ever. Shirley Manson’s raspy vocals are in a class of her own and her backup band are capable of some serious instrumentation. I actually don’t know where this one was played or even when, but performing such an unlikely country-fied live cover of this song only adds to their coolness factor. In fact, I would never expect to hear such bluesy guitar work from Garbage if they weren’t doing a cover; it almost kind of suits them, and in a way I can’t help but wonder about the possibilities if they decided to widen their musical range. Manson’s monotonous vocal delivery may annoy some people and it may be hard to believe her undying love when she sings “No sweeping exits or offstage lines / Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind.” I actually dig her delivery; she may sound like she couldt care less, but I like to think she’s gone numb for feeling so much in spite of everything that has transpired. To be fair, I may just enjoy this cover due to my love of Garbage and not so much because it’s highly inventive or adds something more to the original, but at least I’m being honest.
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#4 – Elvis Costello with Lucinda Williams [live] cover
I’m such a fan of the artist testimonial, so it’s neat hearing how much other equally incredibly performers love this song, as well. Again, to be fair, I love Elvis Costello and I may be guilty of nepotism for featuring him here but that’s allowed when it’s your own Top 5 list. Enlisting the help of Lucinda Williams, these two put out an uber-country tinged duet with lingering backing guitars that seem to croon and moan as much as they do. This one doesn’t shine like the original, but that’s okay since this is merely in homage to such an untouchable classic rock gem. And to my knowledge, this is the only duet I’ve ever stumbled upon. With twangy guitars, soft piano licks, and a seemingly slower pace, this rendition almost lulls the listener’s heart to a more peaceful albeit painful place.
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#3 – Jewel [live] cover
Do they even have wild horses in Alaska? I was actually researching the inevitable Tori Amos cover and shockingly found nothing, but I did stumble upon Jewel’s surprisingly awesome piano rendition. I felt I also had to feature this since she prefaces her song saying “This is possibly one of the first songs I fell in love with,” just like me! Having never particularly been the hugest Jewel fan, I figured she would yodel all over this song especially during the “wild horses couldn’t drag me awaaaaaaay” in the chorus, but thankfully she contained herself. Instead, she allowed her struggling voice to strain and crack which I found much more appealing. Not only does it represent the painfully sad nature of the song, but it almost sounds much more natural and raw, all of which enhances performance. In a way, it almost sounds like she smoked a pack of cigarettes pre-song which adds a sexy, huskier texture husky to her voice I’ve never heard before. Wow, this may be the first time I’ve ever promoted cigarette smoking.
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#2 – Iron & Wine with Calexico [live] cover
This one is smooth like a fine wine and the pairing of Iron & Wine’s (aka, Samuel Beam) folk rock sensibility with the dusty southwestern rock styling of Calexico makes for some gorgeous music, on or off the trail. If a truly unique mash-up between two indie rock outfits weren’t mind-blowing as is, wait ’til you hear this one. It’s folky, jazzy southwestern rock, pseudo-country, mellow, soft, melodic, lush, it’s just a really rendition that I like to leave on in the background when I’m laying around doing nothing. There is so much going on in this version that’s it’s almost impossible to put into words all the different layers of instrumentation and vocal harmony. And when Calexico adds their signature southwestern rock charm to the mix, I actually believe it when they sing “Wild, wild horses / We’ll ride them someday.”
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#1 – The Sundays cover
No contest! No, it’s not The Cranberries. No, it’s not Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star. These hauntingly beautiful vocals belong to Harriet Wheeler, lead singer of British alternative band The Sundays. Some may recognize this track from the Fear soundtrack, particularly that “climactic” roller coaster scene when Mark Wahlberg, well, takes his hand on a little trip South of the Border with Reese Witherspoon. Anyway, this cover song has extreme sentimental value for me since it’s been known to have gotten me through some rough and trying times. I love the jangly guitars, her incredibly resonant voice, the overall ethereal quality and the fact that this sounds like the sweet indie dream pop I live for. I could listen to this song on loop for hours, I have and I do. And when she sings, “Oh, I watched you suffer, a dull aching pain / Now you’ve decided to show me the same,” I actually want to call up Mick Jagger and tell him “Oh man, I know what you mean.” Not only is this my pick for the #1 cover of “Wild Horses” of all time, but it is arguably my pick for best/favorite cover song of all time, too. As the Cowboy Junkies did for The Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane”, The Sundays took a Stones hit, stripped it down, and made it entirely their own and it’s hard to believe this isn’t an original tune of theirs. I particularly love when Wheeler harmonizes with herself in the closing chorus, which only highlights how gorgeous her voice is. And wild, wild horses couldn’t possibly take me away from such a classic cover song.
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