Adam Lambert, who Natasha assures me was on American Idol once, kicks off his US tour tonight in Wilkes-Barre at the FM Kirby Center, and apparently some people believe that it’s kind of a big deal.

I have to tell you that I don’t know much about Lambert’s music, though I fiercely support his right to make out with as many guys on stage at major awards shows as he wants.  Here’s Adam Lambert performing a cover of “Mad World,” a beautiful song that is often known as “the Donnie Darko theme” or “that song from the Gears of War commercial.”

Adam Lambert – Mad World (Tears For Fears cover)

In my post about last Friday’s Josh Ritter concert, I teased that I’d be posting this gem – with vocals by the Royal City Band’s Zack Hickman with Josh Ritter and Austin Nevins on backing vocals.  Well, here it is. Unfortunately, it’s a .wav file, because I don’t have anything handy to convert it with.  But still, enjoy.

Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band – Wicked Game

Aziz Ansari, in his RAAAAAAAANDY persona from the movie Funny People, is making a mixtape with TV On the Radio’s Dave Sitek. Their first track? A cover of Justin Bieber’s “Baby”.

Aziz Ansari featuring DJ Ol’ Youngin’ – Baby Baby (Justin Bieber cover)

I believe if you say Justin Bieber’s name three times, he comes out of the closest mirror and kills you.

The AV Club – the most worthwhile part of The Onion – is a few weeks into its’ Starbucks-sponsored Under Cover.  The premise – a setlist of 25 songs that each week’s guest artist must choose one song to cover from ranging from megapopular to obscure, from easy to cover to M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes,” which someone is eventually going to have to do.  The series has been a lot of fun so far, with appearances from Justin Townes Earle, Alkaline Trio and perennial Friday Cover Songs favorite Ted Leo and the Pharmacists.  Check out the current episodes and keep coming back each week for more.

A belated RIP to Alex Chilton.  I was planning on using a cover of “In the Street” from last week’s Wilco concert, but the sound quality I managed to get was awful, sadly. Not so with these three:

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – The Ballad of El Goodo (Big Star cover)

Elliot Smith – Thirteen (Big Star cover)

The Decemberists – Nighttime (Big Star cover)

Back during Project: Mixtape week, one of the mixes included a cover of “Kangaroo” by Bat For Lashes. You can find that here.

I had a few different ideas for how to kick off April (including an untimely Alex Chilton tribute that will be coming next Friday, actually) and I decided that some covers of “Bad Romance” was somehow a good idea.  Enjoy!

Just one for this week.  Idiot Glee is an a capella soul group from Kentucky, and based on what little I’ve heard of them, they’re a little alright.  Just listen to this cover of “Ain’t No Sunshine” and don’t get all goosebumpy. I dare you.

Idiot Glee – Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers cover)

Let’s play a variation on the game I played with Glen Phillips and Chris Thile a while back.

Laura Marling – Roll Away Your Stone (Mumford and Sons cover)

Mumford and Sons – Cousins (Vampire Weekend cover)

Vampire Weekend – Have I The Right? (The Honeycombs cover)

If I had more stamina, I’d have opted for a Radiohead cover instead of that Honeycombs cover (and it’s just a beautiful song, really), and then Radiohead covering Neil Young covering Bob Dylan.

That’s right…it’s PHIL COLLINS TIME.

First, check out this atrocious nu-metal cover of “In The Air Tonight” from the Miami Vice soundtrack.

Now, a brassy take on “That’s All” from Clare Muldaur’s band Clare and the Reasons, and a beep-boop-beep-y cover of “Against All Odds,” the best overwrought pop power ballad of all time*, by The Postal Service.

Clare and the Reasons – That’s All (Genesis cover)

The Postal Service – Against All Odds (Phil Collins cover)

Wax poetic about No Jacket Required or talk about the Mike Tyson scene in The Hangover in the comments.

*of all time.

Gorillaz next album drops on Tuesday, and in its honor here’s an all-Gorillaz edition of Friday Cover Songs, including “Feel Good Inc.” from Editors and a really catchy version of “Dare” from Swedish indie rockers Melpo Mene.

Editors – Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz cover)

Melpo Mene – Dare (Gorillaz cover)