31 very interesting things: 5. Madeleine Peyroux

I’ve never signed up to the theory that cover versions are rubbish. They’re rubbish if they’re just a cheap attempt to fill an album slot or add five minutes to your live set. But taking a song from one genre into another has provided unexpected delights. Until now, my favourite was The Ramones’ version of Baby I Love You (although most Ramones fans despise it). From last week, my favourite is Madeleine Peyroux’s version of Dylan’s You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go. Remarkably she is sometimes criticised for sounding too much like Billie Holiday. I didn’t realise that was a bad thing…