Which Artists Covered Should We Stay Or Should We Go?

I get picky about covers in a way that's almost embarrassing—I'm the friend who shushes people in playlists when a cover just doesn't land. For me the litmus test for whether a cover of 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' (or any iconic track) should stay or should go is simple: does it bring something honest and new, or is it just a note-for-note rerun? If a band or singer flips the mood entirely—say they take that punchy punk guitar and turn it into a fragile acoustic prayer, or they pump it full of synth and turn it cinematic—I'm instantly interested. Those reinterpretations make the song feel alive again, and those are the covers I want in my library and on repeat.

On the flip side, I drop covers that feel like karaoke with a studio budget. When the artist copies phrasing and production slavishly without adding character, it comes across as a tribute without heart. Also, painfully generic genre-swaps where you could swap in any other hit and get the same arrangement—those covers get the boot. Live versions, though, deserve a different lens: if a live cover improves on the original energy or gives a raw moment of vulnerability, it earns a stay. If a live cut is sloppy purely for shock value, then it goes.

I love imagining alternate covers: a slow, nearby-mic folk take on 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' that makes the chorus feel like a conversation; an unexpected jazz trio version that plays with rhythm and harmony; or a dramatic orchestral rework that turns the song into a mini-movie. Those creative gambits show respect and curiosity about the song's core. Meanwhile, the covers that try to mimic the original just to bank on nostalgia? They rarely survive more than one listen for me.

So my rule of thumb: keep the covers that risk something and reveal a new facet of the melody or lyrics, and ditch the ones that simply copy. I keep my playlists full of daring reworks and heartfelt live twists, and I enjoy culling the rest—makes me feel like a curator, honestly.

My take is blunt and a little old-school: when deciding which artists' covers of 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' should stay or go, think about intent and execution. If the performer reimagines the song with a distinct voice, fresh arrangement, or emotional recontextualization, it should stay. Those covers teach you both about the original and the covering artist—two conversations in one.

Conversely, if the cover exists mainly to chase clicks or mimic the original without interpretation, toss it. Also be wary of covers that strip all personality; technical competence isn't enough. I appreciate stripped-down acoustic versions when they expose the lyrics, or bold stylistic flips that reveal hidden harmonies. Live covers that capture a moment of raw connection are worth keeping even if they're imperfect—there's charm in imperfection.

In short: keep the creative, risk-taking, or emotionally resonant renditions; let go of the safe clones and the cash-grabs. That approach keeps my collection interesting and honest, and I usually end up discovering unexpected favorites this way.