The Beatles Reimagined
As featured on Verso’s Home Run show on Felixstowe Radio – Tuesday 11th April 2023
The Beatles’ music is timeless. Their influence still shapes modern songwriting, production, and performance decades after their peak. One of the greatest signs of their cultural staying power? The sheer volume—and quality—of cover versions produced by artists across every genre imaginable.
Some remain faithful to the originals. Others flip the script completely. But every great cover keeps The Beatles’ catalogue alive, relevant, and emotionally powerful.
Here are ten cover versions that do just that—each one offering something fresh, unexpected, and genuinely moving.
🔟 Al Green – I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Al Green swaps the youthful exuberance of the original for a slow, smoky soul ballad. His velvet vocals turn a teen anthem into something deeply sensual and emotionally grounded. Lush production and gospel-tinged delivery make this a standout reinterpretation—full of feeling and finesse.
9️⃣ Emmylou Harris – For No One
Emmylou Harris lends a soft melancholy to one of McCartney’s most introspective tracks. Her gentle phrasing and stripped-back country arrangement bring out the heartbreak and isolation that sometimes gets overlooked in the original. Understated but devastatingly effective.
8️⃣ Jeff Beck – She’s a Woman
Jeff Beck electrifies this Lennon–McCartney track with bluesy swagger and intricate guitar work. It’s no longer a rock ‘n’ roll throwback—it’s a technical masterclass. This version bursts with energy and innovation, showing how a skilled player can breathe new fire into familiar chords.
7️⃣ Joe Cocker – With a Little Help From My Friends
Joe Cocker took a pleasant singalong and turned it into a soul-powered anthem. His rasping vocals and emotional delivery make this one of the most iconic Beatles covers ever. It’s not just a new arrangement—it’s a reinvention that now lives as its own classic.
6️⃣ Billie Eilish – Something
With a whisper instead of a wail, Eilish strips “Something” down to its emotional core. The sparse instrumentation allows her voice to command full attention, reframing the song as fragile, haunted, and utterly modern. It’s proof that subtlety can be just as transformative as power.
5️⃣ The Cure – Hello Goodbye
The Cure twists this upbeat track into a moody, atmospheric slow-burn. Robert Smith’s haunting vocals and shimmering guitars recast the song as introspective and bittersweet. It’s a complete tonal shift—and a perfect example of how covers can challenge listener expectations.
4️⃣ Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Here Comes the Sun
A slightly theatrical take on Harrison’s ode to optimism, this 1976 version adds a soft-rock sheen and a more grounded vocal delivery. Harley doesn’t radically reinvent the track, but he adds just enough flair to make it distinctive—sincere and subtly powerful.
3️⃣ Oasis – I Am the Walrus (Live)
Loud, chaotic, and entirely on brand, Oasis brings swagger and distortion to Lennon’s surreal masterpiece. Liam growls through the verses while the band builds a wall of sound behind him. A fan-favourite encore track, this version is pure rock theatre—and pure Oasis.
2️⃣ Petty, Winwood, Lynne & Prince – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
This Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance is legendary. While the ensemble cast brings reverence, it’s Prince who owns the moment—his closing guitar solo is explosive, emotional, and unforgettable. It’s not just a tribute—it’s a masterclass in presence, precision, and passion.
1️⃣ Candy Flip – Strawberry Fields Forever
The most divisive choice on this list—and the boldest. Candy Flip’s 1990 version fuses electronic dance beats with psychedelic dreaminess. It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does. The synths, the Wonka sample, the trancey production—it all adds up to a totally different kind of trip.
📣 Final Thoughts
Covers like these remind us why The Beatles endure. Their songwriting was so strong—and so emotionally versatile—that it survives reinvention without losing meaning. Whether it’s Al Green’s soul, Billie’s whisper, or Prince’s fire, the message is clear: these songs still matter.