Excellent Cocteau Twins Covers

For this week’s music post, I thought I’d do something a little different and point people toward some amazing covers of one of my all-time favorite bands, Cocteau Twins…..who are on my list to cover in my Blue Plate Special series later this year. If you’re unfamiliar with this influential band, Cocteau Twins were a Scottish post-punk and dream-pop band who created music that spanned genres from gothic to ethereal, forming in 1979 and disbanding in 1997. Their music has influenced many artists, including my Bloody valentine, The Sugarcubes (Bjork’s band), Slowdive, Ride, Julee Cruise, Lush, The Weeknd, Napalm Death, The Sundays, and even Prince. I’ll share more on their history and influence in the BPS post later this year.

Here are the covers I’d like to share:

Heaven or Las Vegas – from the album Heaven or Las Vegas (1990)

A few weeks back, I came across an unlikely cover of this song by Miley Cyrus. While I think that Miley has an incredible voice, I’m not generally a fan of her music. However, she did this amazing cover at a show in Las Vegas in 2021, and it inspired this list. (Original version)

 

Wax and Wane – from the album Garlands (1982)

I’ve long been a fan of the Deftones version of the early Cocteau Twins single “Wax and Wane,” which you can find on the Deftones’ 2005 B-Sides & Rarities album. (Original version)

 

Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops – from the album The Pink Opaque (1986)

Next up is a cover of Scottish composer and musician C Duncan with a softer, more effervescent rendition of “Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops” that adds a slight jangly pop vibe to the song. (Original version)

 

Ivo – from the album Treasure (1984)

Next up is a cover of “Ivo” by shoegaze band Bethany Curve, who are somewhat is the same genre/category as Cocteau Twins. It’s a recognizable cover, yet still sounds very much like Bethany Curve. (Original version)

 

Touch Upon Touch – from the compilation Treasure Hiding: The Fontana Years (2018)

And finally, a cover of “Touch Upon Touch” by Chinese-Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actress Faye Wong, who proves that regardless of the language they are sung, the Cocteau Twins wrote beautiful music that translates. (Original version)

 

Of course, if you’d like to hear more covers, check out these compilations from the Cocteau Twins site.