I forget how I stumbled upon this but I’ve been listening to Paul Anka’s new release Rock Swings. It’s quite an enjoyable series of tracks from the legendary Canadian crooner. Anka has done fourteen covers of some of the most well-known songs in popular culture. He managed to put his own smooth and laid back signature on these songs making them versions you no doubt have never heard before. The complete track list is as follows:
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
Jump – Van Halen
Everybody Hurts – REM
Wonderwall – Oasis
Blackhole Sun – Soundgarden
It’s My Life – Bon Jovi
It’s a Sin – Pet Shop Boys
True – Spandau Ballet
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Hello – Lionel Richie
Eyes Without a Face – Billy Idol
Lovecats – The Cure
The Way You Make Me Feel- Michael Jackson
Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
My own favourites include his renditions of Everybody Hurts and It’s a Sin. An odd choice is Smells Like Teen Spirit but Anka manages to pull it off without sounding awkward. Why don’t you listen for yourself?
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Paul Anka (3.7 Mb mp3)
If you like the track, I encourage you check out his CD on Amazon.ca.