Following in the footsteps of her Ontario peer Justin Bieber, musician Alessia Cara quickly gained a following on YouTube for her incredible cover performances. Even with her debut EP Four Pink Walls making major waves in the music industry, Cara is still showing off her cover skills with her newfound fame, most recently taking on Nick Jonas’ funky pop track Levels.
We’re not the only ones obsessed with Cara’s covers. The Brampton native has received big name shout-outs from artists, including Jonas and Taylor Swift, and we totally get it.
From her take on the biggest British singer of the past three years to reinventing a 2006 hit, here are Alessia Cara’s nine best covers.
10. Sweater Weather, The Neighborhood
One of Cara’s first covers uploaded to YouTube is her simple, stripped down version of The Neighborhood’s Sweater Weather. The cover cemented Cara as a young singer with vocals and emotional maturity far beyond her years.
9. Riptide, Vance Joy
Alessia Cara shows off her ukelele skills with her cover of Vance Joy’s Riptide, giving the slightly dark pop track a sunny lift.
8. What Do You Mean, Justin Bieber
We have an idea. When Bieber eventually hits the road in 2016 to support his new album Purpose, he should snatch up Alessia Cara as his opening act before every other superstar comes to their senses and locks the young singer down for a tour. That way we can hear these two duet on What Do You Mean every night of the tour.
7. Stay With Me, Sam Smith
It takes some serious pipes to even think about covering Sam Smith…unless you’re Alessia Cara and then you just do it and spend three minutes slaying.
6. Crazy, Gnarls Barkley
It’s been close to ten years since Gnarls Barkley released their hit song Crazy and we had almost forgotten what a great track it still is. Thankfully, Cara hit YouTube and breathed new life into the single.
5. Can’t Feel My Face, The Weeknd
Alessia starts her cover of The Weeknd’s Can’t Feel My Face by saying she ‘hopes she does it justice’. Mission accomplished.
4. Levels, Nick Jonas
Giving the song a bluesy, folk makeover, Alessia Cara takes Nick Jonas’ single Levels and brings it to, well, another level.
3. Hotline Bling, Drake
Did you know Hotline Bling was a sunny love song that could be a Norah Jones single? Neither did we, but Alessia Cara did.
2. Valerie, Amy Winehouse
For those who first heard Alessia Cara on her breakout single Here and thought the teen had some serious Amy Winehouse vibes, just wait til you hear her cover the late British singer. #Chills
1. Bad Blood, Taylor Swift
Alessia covered Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood during her session at the famous BBC 1 Radio Station and brought a new layer of emotional depth to the monster hit. Cara even included Kendrick Lamar’s verses on her cover, showing that Ed Sheeran isn’t the only current pop artist killing the rap/sing game. Taylor tweeted her love of the cover, saying ‘You’re amazing, love this.’ We hear ya, Taylor.