Beatles Covers by Female Artists That Are Absolutely Fab
The Beatles‘ songs have inspired covers of every flavor. Some women have reinterpreted the Lennon-McCartney catalog in fantastic ways. One gospel singer even blew The Beatles’ “Let It Be” out of the water.
1. Katy Perry’s ‘All You Need Is Love’
Katy Perry is most known for empowering anthems like “Firework,” “Part of Me,” and “Roar.” She was the perfect choice to cover “All You Need Is Love,” one of The Beatles’ most uplifting songs. Her version takes some of the lowkey psychedelic elements out of the original in favor of a stripped-down coffee shop approach.
The end result is that it feels like Perry is talking directly right to you and encouraging you to focus on what really matters. It works so much better than old-school Beatles fans might expect. Hopefully, she finally gives us that rock album she’s always had in her.
2. Aretha Franklin’s ‘Let It Be’
When she got religious on record, Aretha Franklin was one of the greatest gospel singers who ever lived. “Let It Be” is perhaps the world’s best secular gospel song. With that in mind, Franklin was meant to cover “Let It Be.” Whether you are spiritual or not, it’s impossible not to feel some uplift when Franklin sings this song.
Franklin recorded several Beatles covers, including “Eleanor Rigby,” “The Long and Winding Road,” and “The Foll on the Hill.” Each of her Fab Four reduxes is worth a listen. However, her “Let It Be” isn’t just a song — it’s an experience.
3. Fiona Apple’s ‘Across the Universe’
While The Beatles put smiles on millions of faces with “Let It Be,” “Hey Jude,” and “The Long and Winding Road,” they also knew how to explore the darker side of life. “Across the Universe” is breathtakingly defeatist, especially with the refrain “Nothing’s gonna change my world.”
If any woman from the 1990s alternate scene knew how to be downbeat, it was Fiona Apple. She recorded “Across the Universe” for the soundtrack of the anti-nostalgia film Pleasantville. She makes the original song sound so much more downbeat with her signature singing style.
4. Nancy Sinatra’s ‘Run for Your Life’
And now for something completely different! Nancy Sinatra flipped The Beatles’ most sexist song, “Run for Your Life,” on its head. During a 2013 interview with Vice, she explained her approach to covers. “I think sometimes I did do it better than the original,” she said. “Like ‘Bang Bang.’ And no offense to Cher, because her record is great and it sold millions of copies. But I like turning a song around and really hearing what the lyric says.”
Sinatra had her own approach to The Beatles. “Another thing I like to do is take guy songs and make them girly,” she said. “Like ‘Day Tripper’ and some of the Beatles things. ‘Run for your life, little boy.'”
5. Beyoncé’s ‘Blackbird’
The Beatles weren’t a country band, but they took more ideas from country music than fans realize. Beyoncé’s cover of “Blackbird” sounded right at home on her country album Cowboy Carter. Queen B’s heavenly voice was made for this song. Sorry, Paul, but you are going to have to step up your game if you ever want to perform “Blackbird” again!
Cowboy Carter is an album that deals with a lot of difficult emotions. On “Blackbird,” we get to hear something beautiful and cozy. All these years later, The Beatles’ music still makes everything feel better.
