Disco dominated the airwaves in the 1970s, spawning a parade of unforgettable anthems like “You Should Be Dancing,” “Rock The Boat,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” and “Le Freak.” Over the decades, artists from every corner of the music world have put their own spin on these timeless tracks, delivering fresh versions that still make you want to tap your foot. Below are ten (plus one bonus) foot‑tapping covers that prove the disco spirit never truly died.

11 Steps

ABBA blended Euro‑pop, rock, and disco to create a global phenomenon, and their catalog has been re‑imagined countless times. “Dancing Queen,” the Swedish group’s sole U.S. number‑one hit, first dazzled listeners in 1976 with its shimmering blend of disco‑era sparkle and pop‑catchiness. In 1999, the British pop outfit S Club 7 took a nostalgic 1990s spin on the classic, delivering a version that, while not flawless, certainly gets any dance floor moving.

The original track remains a staple at parties worldwide, and this playful rendition adds a dash of ’90s flair that keeps the groove alive for a new generation of listeners.

10 Foo Fighters

The Bee Gees earned the moniker “Disco Kings,” penning hits such as “Night Fever,” “Stayin’ Alive,” and “Tragedy.” Released in 1979, “Tragedy” vaulted to the top of the charts in both the United Kingdom and the United States, even displacing Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” from the American summit. Remarkably, the song’s lyrics were crafted in a single afternoon, alongside the companion piece “Too Much Heaven.”

Fast forward to 2021, when rock veterans Foo Fighters launched a disco‑infused side project called the Dee Gees. Their album “Hail Satin” features a bold cover of “Tragedy,” with frontman Dave Grohl soaring in falsetto, paying homage to the original while injecting a modern rock energy.

10 Foot Tapping Energy

9 Blondie

Donna Summer, hailed as the “Queen of Disco,” amassed 42 Billboard Hot 100 hits, sold over 100 million records, and collected five Grammy Awards during her illustrious career. One of her most iconic tracks, “I Feel Love,” is credited with laying the groundwork for electronic dance music and is frequently cited as one of the most influential recordings ever made. Its futuristic synth‑driven sound inspired acts ranging from the Human League to David Bowie and, of course, Blondie.

Blondie, famous for the 1979 smash “Heart of Glass,” followed up that success by delivering a live rendition of “I Feel Love” at London’s Hammersmith Apollo in 1990. The performance later appeared on the re‑issued single “Union City Blue” in 1995, cementing the band’s ability to reinterpret disco classics through a new‑wave lens.

The cover showcases Debbie Harry’s unmistakable vocals over a sleek, synth‑laden arrangement, proving that the song’s hypnotic pulse transcends genre boundaries.

8 Kirk Franklin

Maurice White and Allee Willis penned “September” for Earth, Wind & Fire in just one month, creating a timeless hit that cracked the top ten across multiple charts. A 1999 remix, “September 99,” revived the groove for a new wave of club‑goers.

In 2007, gospel powerhouse Kirk Franklin re‑imagined the track, delivering a foot‑stomping rendition that landed on both the Billboard Adult R&B Songs and Hot Gospel Songs charts. Franklin rewrote the lyrics to reflect his Christian faith and included the version on the tribute compilation “Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire.”

7 CAKE

Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” remains a definitive 1970s disco anthem, preserved in the National Recording Registry and honored with a Grammy for Best Disco Recording in 1980. The track topped the list of the 100 Greatest Dance Songs in 2000, cementing its place in musical history.

Countless artists have tackled the classic, from Diana Ross to Demi Lovato. In 1996, alternative rock outfit CAKE recorded a sardonic version for their “Fashion Nugget” album, after years of performing it live. Gaynor later expressed that she disliked CAKE’s take, citing the added profanity as a point of contention.

6 Alex Chilton

K C and the Sunshine Band delivered “Boogie Shoes” in 1975, a catchy anthem that surged to fame after appearing on the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack. The track also popped up in movies such as “Boogie Nights,” “The Wedding Date,” “No Escape,” and “Mallrats.”

Alex Chilton, known for his work with the Box Tops and Big Star, earned a reputation as an influential figure for alternative bands like the Posies and R E M. In 1979, he released the limited‑edition album “Like Flies on Sherbert,” which featured an eclectic mix of covers—including a distinctive rendition of “Boogie Shoes.”

5 Tina Turner

The Trammps only broke into mainstream consciousness when “Disco Inferno” landed on the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, propelling the song to number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.

Tina Turner began incorporating the track into her live sets early on and eventually laid down a studio version for her 1993 soundtrack album “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” Turner’s take stands alongside Cyndi Lauper’s 1998 version as one of the most notable covers of the fiery anthem.

4 Hideki Saijo

Village People’s 1978 smash “Y.M.C.A.” remains one of the most instantly recognizable disco songs, a staple at sporting events across Europe and America, and a Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. Its ubiquitous chorus still fuels karaoke nights worldwide.

Japanese pop sensation Hideki Saijo seized the moment, releasing a localized version titled “Young Man (Y.M.C.A.)” in 1979. The single dominated Japan’s Oricon chart for five weeks and secured a spot among the year’s top‑ten best‑selling singles.

3 RuPaul

Donna Summer was originally offered “It’s Raining Men” in 1979 but declined, citing concerns over the lyrical content. Songwriters Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer then pitched the tune to Diana Ross, Cher, and Barbra Streisand, all of whom passed. In 1982, the duo convinced The Two Tons (later the Weather Girls) to record it, and the track exploded onto U.S. dance‑club playlists, eventually earning a Grammy nomination in 1983.

The Weather Girls’ Martha Wash teamed up with drag icon RuPaul in 1998 to release “It’s Raining Men, The Sequel,” which peaked at number 22 on the Billboard chart, adding a fresh, flamboyant twist to the classic anthem.

2 Pseudo Echo

Lipps Inc.’s 1980 hit “Funkytown” topped charts worldwide, cementing its status as a disco staple and finding its way onto numerous film and TV soundtracks.

Australian synth‑pop outfit Pseudo Echo covered the track in the mid‑80s, propelling it to number one in Australia, number six in the United States, and number one in Canada. Though the single marked their biggest international success, replicating that level of fame proved elusive for both Lipps Inc. and Pseudo Echo.

1 Gloria Trevi

Laura Branigan’s 1982 rendition of “Gloria” dominated the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for 36 weeks, peaking at No. 2. The original Italian love song, crafted by Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi in 1979, was later translated into English by Jonathan King.

Mexican pop powerhouse Gloria Trevi, dubbed “The Supreme Diva of Mexican Pop,” recorded a vibrant Spanish version for her 2012 “Gloria Live” album, delivering a lively performance that captivated fans worldwide.

Trevi’s spirited take on “Gloria” showcases her dynamic vocal style and reaffirmed her status as an international pop icon.

Cover songs walk a fine line between homage and reinvention. A good rendition must be distinct enough to earn its own identity, yet familiar enough to remind listeners of the original. When artists decide to step far outside the comfort zone, the outcome can be brilliant—or downright baffling. Below, we dive into ten unbelievably strange reinterpretations that left fans scratching their heads.

ten unbelievably strange Covers Unpacked

10 Elton John (originally by Nina Simone)

Peeling back the layers of this track raises more questions than answers. Back in 1970, before Elton John became a household name, he was hired to produce low‑budget “sound‑alike” recordings for bargain labels that churned out knock‑offs of chart‑topping hits. The puzzling part is why a market existed for such cheap imitations, though the practice still lingers in various forms today.

The real mystery lies in why Elton John, of all people, was chosen to tackle a civil‑rights anthem celebrating Black pride. The twist comes from the version being duplicated: a 1969 UK top‑five rendition by Jamaican duo Bob and Marcia, which turned the original into a male‑female duet. To mirror that structure, Elton paired with Clare Torry—renowned for her soaring vocals on Pink Floyd’s “The Great Gig in the Sky.”

Ill‑advised.

9 Duran Duran (originally by Public Enemy)

Duran Duran’s 1995 covers collection Thank You featured several daring picks, but none as bold as this one. Like Elton’s version, it places a song rooted in the African‑American experience into the mouths of white British pop stars. Unlike John’s assignment, however, no one commissioned Duran Duran to record it—so the question becomes: what were they thinking?

The track manages to spin the original’s urgent message into a commentary on affluent Englishmen struggling to summon emergency services abroad. While the choice seems questionable, the band managed to inject fresh energy, shedding their dated ’80s sound and proving they could still evolve. Rolling Stone even labeled the effort “demented genius.”

Still, ill‑advised.

8 Jackie Chan and Ani DiFranco (originally by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole)

The compilation When Pigs Fly curates a handful of wildly unexpected covers, and “Unforgettable” tops the list. It features martial‑arts legend Jackie Chan, who, despite his global fame, maintains a surprisingly prolific singing career across Cantonese, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Japanese, and English albums since 1984. He frequently provides theme songs for his movies, making his vocal chops less of a surprise in Asia.

The oddity emerges when Chan attempts the classic duet with folk‑rock singer Ani DiFranco. Chan’s broken English and rough delivery clash with the smooth, polished original, prompting DiFranco to step in and smooth over the rough edges. One can only imagine how much more cohesive the piece might have been if Chan sang in his native Cantonese.

Ill‑advised (but charming).

7 Devo (originally by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young)

When Pigs Fly opened its set with Devo’s take on “Ohio,” a decision that instantly grabs attention. To understand why it feels so out‑of‑place, we need the backstory: Neil Young penned “Ohio” as a protest anthem after the 1970 Kent State shootings, where four anti‑war demonstrators were killed and nine wounded by the National Guard.

Both Devo members, Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh, attended Kent State, and Casale witnessed the tragedy firsthand. He once told Young’s biographer that “rich hippies were making money off something horrible they didn’t grasp.” Devo’s cold, industrial sound makes it impossible to tell whether their rendition serves as personal catharsis or a detached commentary. In a 2020 interview, Casale recalled the guard’s warning, “This is an unlawful assembly, you must disperse,” a line that eerily opens their version.

Strange.

6 Lesley Gore (originally by AC/DC)

Rounding out the When Pigs Fly collection, Lesley Gore delivers a delightfully unexpected spin on AC/DC’s hard‑rock staple. Gore, who shot to fame in 1963 with the teen anthem “It’s My Party,” reimagines “Dirty Deeds” as a cheeky, elderly‑woman perspective, playing the role of a sweet‑but‑sassy matriarch who’s still up for some mischievous fun—think Betty White delivering a filthy joke.

The original’s gritty guitars and thundering bass are replaced with brassy horns and a playful piano arrangement, giving the track an R&B‑flavored vibe reminiscent of Otis Redding. Notably, Gore altered the lyric “happy to be your back‑door man” to better suit her character’s voice, ensuring the cover feels fresh while retaining the song’s mischievous spirit.

Strange.

5 Charles Bradley (originally by Black Sabbath and Nirvana, respectively)

Charles Bradley’s journey reads like a Hollywood script. Born in 1948, he spent decades impersonating James Brown under the moniker Black Velvet, only breaking through at age 53 when Daptone Records co‑founder Bosco Mann discovered him. He released his debut album in 2002 and, tragically, passed away in 2017 from stomach cancer.

Bradley’s brief recording career bookended two astonishing hard‑rock covers. In 2011, he tackled Nirvana’s “Stay Away” for a Spin tribute, delivering a psychedelic reinterpretation that even required a note explaining why the lyric “God is gay” was omitted. Six years later, he recorded Black Sabbath’s ballad “Changes,” which found new life as the theme for Netflix’s raunchy animated series Big Mouth, showcasing his ability to bridge soul and metal.

Strange.

4 Faith No More (originally by the Bee Gees)

Faith No More, known for their gritty, genre‑bending sound, surprised everyone by covering the Bee Gees’ gentle pop classic “I Started a Joke.” The band’s history of covering unlikely tracks—like Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and Van Halen’s “Jump”—was a deliberate move to irritate their art‑punk fanbase. Their most successful single, a faithful rendition of the Commodores’ “Easy,” proved they could strike gold with a well‑chosen cover.

“I Started a Joke” follows that formula: a spot‑on recreation with no hint of irony. Frontman Mike Patton adopts a soaring falsetto that mirrors the Bee Gees’ style, but he injects a queer, androgynous edge that recontextualizes the melancholy lyrics. The accompanying video, a swan song after the band’s 1998 breakup, features drag queen David Hoyle karaoke‑singing alongside UK actor Martin Freeman, adding an extra layer of eccentricity.

Strange.

3 Kesha (originally by Bob Dylan)

Amnesty International’s 2012 Dylan tribute, Chimes of Freedom, spanned four CDs and 76 tracks, showcasing the sheer breadth of Dylan covers. Among the sea of familiar renditions, Kesha’s a‑capella‑ish take on “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” stands out as a bold, unconventional choice.

She delivers the song almost entirely without instrumentation, punctuated only by a brief, eerie string passage. Her vocal delivery oscillates between a sobbing whisper and a spoken‑word cadence, creating an intimate, uncomfortable atmosphere. The sparse arrangement forces the listener to confront the raw emotion of a breakup, making the track unforgettable despite—or because of—its stark minimalism.

Strange.

2 Tina Turner and David Bowie (originally by Iggy Pop)

While some argue that Bowie’s version of “Tonight” isn’t a true cover—since he co‑wrote the song with Iggy Pop—it remains a perplexing entry. Bowie originally crafted the track for Iggy’s 1977 album The Idiot, and later recorded his own take during the commercial peak of his career, pairing his voice with Tina Turner’s powerhouse vocals.

The original lyrics describe a fatal drug overdose, complete with Iggy’s spoken intro spelling out the grim narrative. Bowie omitted that spoken segment, opting instead for a languid, calypso‑infused duet that contrasts sharply with the dark subject matter. Most listeners at the time likely missed the underlying tragedy, focusing instead on the smooth, mainstream vibe.

Strange and ill‑advised.

1 Barbra Streisand (originally by David Bowie)

When the original artist publicly denounces a cover—calling it “bloody awful” and “atrocious”—the odds of redemption are slim. David Bowie lambasted Barbra Streisand’s 1976 rendition of “Life on Mars” in a Playboy interview, later reiterating his disdain on VH1’s Storytellers in 1999, joking that her husband‑hairdresser Jon Peters produced, arranged, and even blow‑dried the track.

Despite the scathing criticism, Streisand’s formidable vocal range lends a certain gravitas to Bowie’s soaring melody. Produced by Peters—who had no prior experience in music production—the arrangement is widely regarded as disastrous, yet Streisand’s voice still manages to shine through the questionable orchestration.

Ill‑advised.