By Elizabeth Grace ’15, Perspectives Co Section Editor

Whether you’re anxious for variety, or you like a song’s lyrics but hate the voice that originally sings them, YouTube covers (and covers in general) open up a whole new world of musical possibilities. Some may be worse than the original, or equally as bad in some cases, but there are many cover artists out there with amazing voices. These are my top 10 covers on YouTube:

10. Maroon 5 Medley (Max Schneider and Victoria Justice cover)

While Max Schneider and Victoria Justice (yes, the one from Nickelodeon’s Victorious) have amazing voices, my favorite part of this video is, well, the video. Shot in one take, it probably took forever to film, especially considering all the running involved. That said, the vocals were great, and I love Maroon 5. So watch it. And listen to it. If you enjoy this cover, the duo has a few other medleys worth listening to.

9. “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction (The Piano Guys cover)

Despite the lack of singing, this is as good a cover as any other. As their name may suggest, this version of the song is done entirely with piano; however, it isn’t your typical piano cover. With five guys crowded around the instrument, the group uses more than just the keys to perform their amazing rendition of “What Makes You Beautiful.” I would recommend this not only for “Directioners,” but for anyone who enjoys unique videos and great talent. Afterwards, check out every single one of their other videos. They’re pretty amazing.

8. Medley of Owl City’s “Fireflies” and “Meteor Shower” (Michael Henry and Justin Robinett cover)

While both Michael Henry and Justin Robinett have amazing voices, they’re even better when blended together. Seriously, it’s one of my favorite voice combinations ever. Not only can they sing, but they can also rock a piano duet (plus an extra hand for the high notes). An added amusement, a man in a tuxedo is playing Mario Kart in the background; he and other extras are so popular in Henry and Robinett’s videos that they have their own Facebook page with over 5,000 likes: “those guys in the background of Michael Henry and Justin Robinett videos.” All of their videos are great, so watch them all.

7. Medley of Les Miserable songs (Nick Pitera cover)

One Nick Pitera is good enough, but this one-man Les Miserables medley

incorporates nine of him. His range is unbelievable; he can sing both Cosette and Jean Valjean. For those who haven’t seen the musical or movie (you should if you haven’t), that’s kind of amazing. Not only is he a brilliant vocalist, but his facial expressions are spot on. Oh, also, he’s actually an animator for Pixar, not an actor or singer for Disney princes and princesses. After enjoying this, you must listen to all of his other covers, medleys, and originals.

6. “12 Days of Christmas” (Straight No Chaser cover)

This a cappella version of a classic Christmas carol is nothing short of perfection. Though first performed by this Indiana University group in 1998, it really never gets old. Ever. It starts off the same way the traditional carol does, but don’t be fooled. Their hilarious rendition incorporates many other songs, which I will not spoil; you have to find out yourself!

5. “One More Night” by Maroon 5 (Alex Goot, Chrissy Costanza, Julia Sheer, Chad Sugg, Ingrid Nilsen, and Corey Gray cover)

A collaboration with most of my favorite cover artists, this cover is undoubtedly one of my all-time favorites. Though I love everyone involved, my favorite artists in the video are probably Alex Goot, who is playing piano, drums, and guitar as well as singing, and Chrissy Costanza, who is the singer in a band called Against the Current. After watching this video, check out all of their individual channels for

more amazing covers.

4. “Let Her Go” by Passenger (Tyler Ward and Kurt Hugo Schneider cover)

Tyler Ward’s clear, sweet voice is perfect for this song. Though traditionally backed by acoustic guitar, this version sounds amazing with Kurt’s amazing piano-playing, as well as his backup vocals. I even slightly prefer this version to the original, which I love quite a lot. Whenever you feel like sad, slow music, definitely give this cover a listen.

3. “Cups (When I’m Gone)” by The Carter Family/Lulu and the Lampshades/Anna Kendrick (Sam Tsui, Alex G, Kina Grannis, and Kurt Hugo Schneider cover)

A unique version of this well-known song, this cover provides relief from the slightly overplayed version with its beautiful harmonies and an “instrumental” break with a different cup routine. Even if you’re sick of the song by now, you’ll probably enjoy this cover. While you enjoy the sound of their amazing vocals, make sure to watch the video for their unique cup routine (if you don’t get dizzy with the camera constantly turning).

2. “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO (Noah cover)

Don’t be daunted by Noah’s tendency to talk to viewers at the beginning of his videos; be patient or skip ahead to the song. It’s definitely worth it. This acoustic version of a definitely-not-acoustic song is not only unique but surprisingly amazing. So amazing, in fact, that he recently performed his version on Dancing with the Stars as Bill Engvall and Emma Slater danced the Argentine tango. No matter how weird it sounds, please listen to it. And then proceed to subscribe to Noah (username “only1noah”) and listen to all of his other covers and his recent album, Among the Wildest Things.

1. “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me” by Hunter Hayes (Hunter Hayes, Jason Mraz, Echosmith, Brandyn Burnette, Sam Tsui, Peter Hollens, Tyler Ward, Kina Grannis, TJ Smith, Brian Landau, and Tessa Violet cover)

A collaboration between several artists who have done solo covers of Hunter Hayes’s “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me,” this version showcases their great talents as well as the original artists’. Though this was already one of my favorite songs, adding in a lot of my favorite cover artists somehow made it even better. The video, filmed in one take, is also very enjoyable, so be sure to watch while you listen. Then, you should go check out all of the solo versions as well; they’re all fantastic.

Honorable Mentions:

11. “Good Time” by Owl City (Alex Goot and Against the Current cover)

12. “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons (Pentatonix and Lindsey Stirling cover)

13. “Just a Dream” by Nelly (Sam Tsui and Christina Grimmie cover)

14. “Just the Way you Are” by Bruno Mars (Boyce Avenue cover)

15. “The Only Hope for Me is You” by My Chemical Romance (Gavin Mikhail cover)