Cover songs, especially of artists both classy and classic like Simon and Garfunkel, are usually marginally good or undeniably terrible (see Limp Bizkit, "Behind Blue Eyes".) That makes The Bangles' version of S+G's "Hazy Shade of Winter" from the soundtrack to Less Than Zero all the more exceptional. It's a little unfortunate that The Bangles, a great band in their own right, has their finest moment locked in a song they didn't write (and another with "Manic Monday", penned by Prince,) but clearly their tense instrumental interplay and whimsical vocal harmonies tapped into a dark and electric subtext that the original composers may not have even realized was there.
That's why this is my favorite cover song of all time, hands down. What's yours?
