Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to covers week!

For the next seven days, I’ll be posting strictly cover songs, ones that I consider to be exemplary in some fashion or another.  For me personally, there is nothing better than a kick-ass cover of an already amazing song.  I especially love when an artist turns a track on its head and changes it entirely (see: The Fray’s version of Heartless by Kanye West).

This first cover is very dear to me, as it reminds me of my best friend.  In spite of how far away she is, I never let a day go by without thinking of her, never forget how when things are falling to pieces, she’s always been there to bring a smile back to my face and help me carry on.  This track also blew me away, in that it’s Mandy Moore not sucking.  R&B covers really tend to exemplify how lyrics can be so different when the context and delivery are changed.  This is a prime example.

I have eleven(!) covers of this track on my computer, but this remains my favourite one (second place:  the Manic Street Preachers version).  Love it, love it, love it.

Day 179:  Umbrella (Rihanna) – Mandy Moore