As covers go, it's hard to find a better one than what I'm kicking off this medley with. Most of you are probably familiar with English rocker Billy Idol's hit "Rebel Yell," with its catchy riff and equally memorable chorus, so here's a bit of a twist on it, courtesy of Finnish extreme metal band Children of Bodom. The cover hews pretty closely to the original in most ways, but Alexi Laiho adds a bit of zing with his growling vocals. 

I've made no bones about trying to convert people to the gospel that is Rex Orange County, a self-made musical up-and-comer out of Surrey, UK. What I like about Rex is that his voice has a dash of The Strokes' Julian Casablancas in it, but with something extra, something...funky. What I also like about Rex is how willing he is in his music to tear his heart open and bare every chamber and artery for all to see. This is a song called "Four Seasons." 

Next up is a classic from Biggie Smalls, who is likely the single most important figure in the history of East Coast rap. You probably all know this one: "Big Poppa." 

Last up is a song that always takes me back to the early 2000s, when I was a kid who had no idea what he wanted to do with his life, but even then I was pretty sure I probably didn't want to spend all day every day break dancing in the hope my ex would come back to me, as the protagonist of this music video does. This is "Days Go By" by Dirty Vegas.