29 Killer Cover Songs: The Ultimate Setlist for Your Band

1. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

Iconic riff: The instantly recognizable opening guitar riff is incredibly easy to learn, yet still sounds powerful and impactful live.

Crowd-pleasing anthem: Its powerful chorus and driving rhythm will get any audience singing along and moving—guaranteed to ignite your crowd.

Relatable energy: The raw, energetic performance style is relatively straightforward to emulate, making it a great choice for showcasing your band's passion.

2. Sweet Child O' Mine

Iconic Guitar Riff: Sweet Child o' Mine boasts one of the most recognizable and easily replicated guitar riffs in rock history, making it a crowd-pleaser for cover bands of all skill levels.

Singalong Chorus: The chorus is incredibly catchy and audience participation is practically guaranteed, creating a high-energy atmosphere during performances.

Relatively Straightforward Arrangement: While the guitar solo is challenging, the song's overall structure is relatively simple to learn and reproduce, making it accessible for cover bands with varying levels of experience.

3. Every Breath You Take (The Police)

Memorable Melody: "Every Breath You Take" boasts an instantly recognizable and highly singable melody, perfect for audience participation.

Strong Rhythmic Groove: The song's reggae-infused rhythm provides a solid, danceable foundation that's easy for a cover band to replicate.

Versatile Arrangement: Its structure allows for creative instrumental arrangements and improvisation, making it adaptable to different band styles and skill levels.

4. Livin' On A Prayer (Bon Jovi)

Anthemic Chorus: "Livin' on a Prayer" boasts a singalong chorus that's incredibly easy for crowds to pick up, guaranteeing audience participation and a high-energy performance.

Classic Rock Sound: The song's iconic guitar riff and driving rhythm section provide a solid foundation for a cover band to build upon, allowing for creative instrumental improvisation.

Vocal Dynamics: Jon Bon Jovi's powerful vocals offer a challenging yet rewarding target for a lead singer, with opportunities to showcase range and charisma.

5. We Found Love

Catchy Hook: "We Found Love" boasts a memorable chorus that's incredibly easy for audiences to sing along to, a crucial element for any cover band.

Danceable Beat: The song's driving beat and infectious rhythm are guaranteed to get the crowd moving, creating a high-energy performance.

Vocal Range: Rihanna's vocal performance offers a challenging yet rewarding range for the lead singer, allowing for impressive displays of vocal ability.

6. Locked out of Heaven (Bruno Mars)

Upbeat Tempo and Catchy Hook: "Locked Out of Heaven" boasts an irresistible groove that's incredibly danceable and easy for audiences to sing along to, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Strong Vocal Performance: Bruno Mars' powerful and soulful vocals are iconic, providing a fantastic challenge and reward for a cover band vocalist to emulate.

Relatively Simple Arrangement (for its impact): While sonically rich, the song's core structure is accessible for cover bands of varying skill levels to tackle, allowing for creative instrumental additions.

7. Moves Like Jagger (2011)

Strong Vocal Dynamics: Christina Aguilera's powerful vocals blend seamlessly with Adam Levine's signature rasp, creating a dynamic and engaging performance perfect for showcasing vocal range.

Catchy Hook and Danceable Beat: The song's infectious hook and driving beat are guaranteed to get the crowd moving, making it ideal for a lively setlist.

Relatively Easy Arrangement: While the original features intricate layers, a simplified cover version remains impactful, making it accessible for cover bands of varying skill levels.

8. Mr. Brightside (The Killers)

Anthemic Chorus: Mr. Brightside boasts a powerful, instantly recognizable chorus that's perfect for audience singalongs, guaranteeing a high-energy performance.

Relatable Lyrics: The song's themes of jealousy and betrayal resonate deeply with audiences, creating a strong emotional connection during the performance.

Moderate Difficulty: While musically rich, the arrangement isn't overly complex, making it achievable for cover bands of varying skill levels.

9. Take Me Home, Country Roads

Easy to Learn Arrangement: "Take Me Home, Country Roads" features a relatively simple chord structure and melody, making it accessible for cover bands of varying skill levels.

Crowd-Pleasing Appeal: Its familiar tune and nostalgic lyrics guarantee audience singalongs, creating a fun and interactive performance experience.

Instrumental Versatility: The song lends itself well to instrumental improvisation, allowing for creative reinterpretations and showcasing the band's musicianship.

10. Wonderwall - (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (Deluxe Remastered Edition)

Relatable Lyrics: Wonderwall's introspective lyrics about longing and connection resonate deeply with audiences, making it instantly relatable for both the band and the crowd.

Iconic Guitar Riff: The instantly recognizable and relatively straightforward guitar riff is a crowd-pleaser, easy for cover bands to learn and perform convincingly.

Singalong Chorus: The powerful, anthemic chorus is perfect for audience participation, creating a strong sense of shared experience – vital for a memorable cover performance.