Post Malone’s 10 Best Covers, From Pearl Jam to Sublime
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The post Post Malone’s 10 Best Covers, From Pearl Jam to Sublime appeared first on Consequence.
While he might be on top of the rap world with his auto-crooned trap bangers, Post Malone comes from a surprisingly varied musical background. Before “White Iverson” took Posty into the stratosphere, Austin Richard Post simply wanted to learn guitar because of his love for Guitar Hero 3. The rhythm game — which sees players face off against Tom Morello and Slash and features songs like “Paranoid,” “Even Flow,” and, of course, “Through the Fire and Flames” — quietly remains one of Malone’s biggest influences.
Though his biggest hits usually feature Malone strutting over expensive-sounding beats, he just can’t seem to keep the guitar out of his hands. During his live shows, Posty breaking out his acoustic to cover one of his favorite tunes gets just as much applause as when the first notes of “Congratulations” or “Rockstar” play over the PA. It’s also earned him a begrudging respect from the rock and metal communities.
And with a background in metalcore, the kid’s got chops. More often than not, his renditions of grunge, metal, or country classics are embraced by both fans of Post Malone and those of the original artist. There’s something about his earnest love for the songs he chooses to cover that wins over fans of any genre. Even if you have a bias against face tattoos or solid gold grills, how could you deny the smile on his face when he’s playing the solo from “Santeria”?
Post Malone Delivers Another Classic Grunge Cover with Pearl Jam’s “Better Man”: Watch
By all accounts, Malone has no intention of ceasing his practice of publicly honoring his favorite musicians. Fresh off the back of his latest album, Twelve Carat Toothache, he unleashed a cover of Pearl Jam’s “Better Man.” At least over here at Consequence, Malone channeling his inner Eddie Vedder is already going over better than anything off of Twelve Carat Toothache.
So, though we might have recently bemoaned his skills as a songwriter, let’s celebrate Malone’s undeniable talents as a song stylist. And, hey, if Elvis Presley is anything to go by, that’s really what makes an icon anyways. Check out our picks for the 10 best Post Malone covers below, in no particular order.
— Jonah Krueger
Nirvana – “All Apologies”
It’s no secret that Posty loves himself some Nirvana. He has several Nirvana tattoos, performed a full Nirvana cover set (for which he received Frances Bean Cobain’s blessing), and “All Apologies” isn’t even the only Nirvana track featured on this list. One might expect the Cobain worship to run stale, but, damn, can Malone play the hell out of those songs.
The top comment on a 2017 video of Malone performing “All Apologies” at the House of Blues in Massachusetts sums it up nicely: “Wow, I heard about it and thought to myself, ‘This fucker is gonna butcher it’ then I watched it, and was completely surprised, he fucking killed it!” Yes he did, humble commenter, yes he did. — J.K.
Green Day – “Basket Case”
There is nothing quite as exhilarating as watching your favorite artist perform live with only a
guitar in hand. In 2017, the people of Silver Springs, Maryland didn’t know what they were in for when Post Malone sat in front of them and covered Green Day’s infamous “Basket Case.” The intimate cover was early proof that the multi-faceted artist can do far more than pop-rap. — Kelly Park
Bob Dylan – “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”
Ten years ago, when he was still Austin Richard Post, the singer-songwriter uploaded a video to his YouTube channel. In contrast to the production level of most of his later discography, Post Malone’s Dylan cover cut through with its simplicity, while bringing a tinge of country. The artist signed his no-frills cover with the description, “Excuse my hair haha. Thanks for watching.” — K.P.
Brad Paisley – “I’m Going to Miss Her”
For all of the tumultuous emotions Post Malone injects into his music, you wouldn’t expect him to relate much to a carefree song about choosing fishing over your wife. But dangnabbit, his version of “I’m Gonna Miss Her” is more convincing than a fish-loving husband swearing that “work” called him early on a Sunday morning.
Backed by Dwight Yoakam’s band, Posty doesn’t hold back. He leans into a slight country accent and sounds right at home surrounded by a fiddle and a steel guitar. Throw in Malone and the band’s beautiful harmonies, and there’s really only one question left: Post Malone country album when? — J.K.
Metallica – “Nothing Else Matters”
In the universe of covers, Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” proves itself to be wildly popular — a long list of artists have taken to the task, including Miley Cyrus and Phoebe Bridgers. Then there’s Post Malone’s live cover of the six-minute magnum opus.
Posty’s skill at expressing each note, paired with his unrelenting voice, proves to be a feat — not to mention that he announced that he was far from sober during the performance, making it all the more impressive. His cover asserts his rightfully-earned name as a through and through “rockstar.” — K.P.
Sturgill Simpson – “You Can Have the Crown”
Post Malone’s fantastic cover of Sturgill Simpson’s “You Can Have the Crown” puts his Texas boy roots on full display. For any doubters who see him as someone coasting by on good vibes, Posty’s musicality gets to be on full display here, and it certainly doesn’t hurt to have the backup band be made up of musicians who play for Dwight Yoakam.
The cover retains the edgy, outlaw nature of Simpson’s original and offers a chance for Post Malone to flex his storytelling skills. It’s energetic, gritty, and just plain good. — Mary Siroky
Pearl Jam – “Better Man”
Anyone who knows Pearl Jam’s “Better Man” knows that what makes it a standout is the spirit behind it. Post Malone dedicated the rendition to his brother, who he thinks of whenever he hears the song. Backed by only his guitarist, Posty then did the tune justice, putting on an epic performance live on the Howard Stern Show. Cigarette in hand, Posty effortlessly leaned in, capturing the true essence of the Pearl Jam classic. — K.P.
Nirvana – “Come As You Are”
“Come As You Are” naturally fits the caliber of Post’s musicianship; it’s just as rowdy and lively as the artist himself. For this three-minute live performance, Post exaggerated his naturally raspy sound, giving his take character and spice. He ended the jam session with a triumphant “fuck yeah,” which is all anyone can really follow up with after pulling off a brilliant cover. — K.P.
Kanye West – “Heartless”
Listen, we know that covering a rap song with an acoustic guitar — or worse yet, a Ukulele — is a cardinal sin for certain fans of hip-hop. There’s even an episode of Atlanta that satirizes that exact phenomenon. But if there was ever a song that might survive the translation to the fretboard, Ye’s “Heartless” is a favored contender. And if there was ever an artist with the right musical interests to pay homage to the original track while fitting in with the folk aesthetic, it’d be Post Malone.
Performing for the cover for BBC, a young Post Malone showcases why he turned so many heads in 2015. Insults like “he relies on autotune to sound good” or “he can’t even play an instrument” were put to rest in the four minutes and fifty-five seconds it takes Malone to tell the coldest story ever told. — J.K.
Sublime – “Santeria”
Who doesn’t get excited when “Santeria” comes on? Like most of us, Post Malone clearly has a love for the laid back ‘90s hit. Unlike most of us, however, he can also rip the solo with ease, as he’s proven when performing the song solo or with Sublime and Rome. “Santeria” is already a feel-good jam that invites you to sing along, and not even one of the biggest artists in the world is immune to its charm. — J.K.
Post Malone’s 10 Best Covers, From Pearl Jam to Sublime
Consequence Staff
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