The problem with Cover Tunes

Cover tunes are everywhere right now thanks to GLEE, American Idol and YouTube.  In case you don't know, a cover tune is when an artist sings a song originally performed by a different artist.  It really isn't anything new.  Joe Cocker had a huge hit when he covered The Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends" back in the late 60's.  Some really good cover albums have come out by the likes of Erasure, Wilson Phillips, Mandy Moore & Phil Keaggy.   A great song can sound great again when a different artist puts there own touch on it.

Or it could sound like Britney Spears awful version of "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones. Or it could end up sounding like a bad night at Karaoke. The problem with cover tunes that I am noticing lately is that a lot of young singers who I thought had potential seem to be stuck doing cover tunes on YouTube.  I am thinking in particular of three young reality show contestants who I thought had potential: Katie Stevens (American Idol Season 9), Mia Boostrom (AGT season 4?), and Drew Ryniewicz (X Factor season 1).  Now Drew is less than a year away from her appearance, and it is understandable to still be feeling the water, but Katie & Mia need to concentrate on recording there own music and stop doing covers, other wise instead of becoming stars you are going to end up being "That cute girl from that singing show who does covers on YouTube."  It's time to come out of the covers.  Give us a real album!