A cover song is a new recording or performance of a previously released song by an artist other than the original artist or songwriter. Cover songs can be faithful to the original recording or can depart significantly from it, sometimes radically re-interpreting the song. Cover songs are often used to pay tribute to the original artist or songwriter, to introduce a song to a new audience, or to simply experiment with different musical styles.
Cover songs have been a part of popular music since the beginning of the 20th century, and many of the most famous and beloved songs in history are cover versions. Some of the most iconic cover songs include “Yesterday” by The Beatles (originally by The Beatles), “Hurt” by Johnny Cash (originally by Nine Inch Nails), and “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston (originally by Dolly Parton).