Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Entertainment

9 Phoebe Bridgers Covers That Are Just As Good As The Original

Hear the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter take on The Cure, Radiohead, and Elliott Smith.

by Claire Valentine and Steffanee Wang
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

Grammy-nominated Phoebe Bridgers (and NYLON cover girl) has always had a knack for embodying songs that aren't her own. From the classics at her shows, to studio recorded renditions of her favorite songs, we rounded up her best 10, that just might be better than the originals.

Phoebe Bridgers Covers The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love."

Can guarantee that you won't be able to listen to Bridgers' stunning cover of this Cure classic just once.

Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst cover Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's "Shallow".

Yes — Phoebe Bridgers does the Lady Gaga belt, and she does it beautifully.

PYMCA/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Phoebe Bridgers Covers The 1975's "Girls".

Just what the doctor ordered: Phoebe Bridgers in her pjs with her guitar, singing about girls.

YouTube

Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers cover The Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris."

Easily the best cover of 2020, it's worth digging on the internet to find a wayward stream of Bridgers' and Rogers' immaculate rendition of The Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris."

Phoebe Bridgers & Conor Oberst cover "Human" by the Killers.

Bridgers and Oberst turn this infamous Killers tune into a duet, and slow it down for maximum heart-hitting impact.

YouTube

Phoebe Bridgers and Arlo Parks cover Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees."

Just two of indie rock's best singer-songwriters duetting this mind-bogglingly good cover of Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees."

YouTube

Phoebe Bridgers covers Merle Haggard's "If We Make It Through December."

Though marketed as a Christmas song, Bridgers' sweet take on Merle Haggard's melancholic tune easily makes it a year-round listen.

Phoebe Bridgers covers Neutral Milk Hotel's "Two-Headed Boy (Part 2)."

As YouTube commenter David Scandura says: "It's 1:15 AM and I have chosen pain."

YouTube

Phoebe Bridgers covers Elliott Smith's "Whatever (folk song in C)."

A self-admitted Elliott Smith stan, Bridgers performs a faithful rendition of this posthumous-released deep-cut.

YouTube