A cover, or cover version, refers to a new performance or recording of a previously recorded song by someone other than the original artist. Cover songs can vary greatly in style and interpretation from the original. They can be performed live, recorded for an album, or released as a single.
Cover songs are a popular way for artists to pay tribute to their influences, showcase their musical range, or reinterpret a well-known song in a new style. Covers can range from faithful recreations of the original to radically different interpretations. For example, Jimi Hendrix’s version of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” is a famous cover that significantly transformed the original.
Legally, artists are generally allowed to cover any song without needing to seek permission from the original artist, as long as they pay the appropriate royalties, typically a mechanical royalty, to the copyright holder of the original composition.
Covers should not be confused with sampling or interpolation, where portions of the original recording are used in a new song, or with derivative works, where the composition itself is modified.
For more comprehensive information, visit the Cover Version page on Wikipedia.