Get out your striped socks and your blue foods for an ultra-listenable song that had massive success, and a cover that understood the assignment better than anyone could have expected. Riptide, originally by Vance Joy, covered by Stealth.

Outro music is Pokerface, by Lady Gaga.

Also we have a reading assignment for you this week, and we guarantee you'll thank us for it.

We're not saying that doubling down on emotionally abusive high school BS is the way to write great music, but wow, there's some great music steeped in emotionally abusive high school BS. Go Your Own Way, originally by Fleetwood Mac, covered by The Cranberries.

Outro music is (They Long To Be) Close To You, but the cover version by The Cranberries.

The most important song in the history of Heavy Metal has a lot more substance than you might think, as does that song's most unexpected cover. War Pigs, originally by Black Sabbath, covered by T-Pain.

Outro is Fortunate Son, by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

One of the biggest - and most impactful - songs of the 80s, when art rock turned into party rock without losing any of the art. And a cover that shows off a special kind of genius steeped in the purest fandom. Sledgehammer, originally by Peter Gabriel, covered by Lowland Hum.

Outro music is Higher Love, by Steve Winwood.

We start with an artist you know, but probably don't know you know, and finish with one you definitely know, but maybe didn't know like this. Just One Smile, originally by Gene Pitney, covered by Sheena Easton.

Outro music is A Love Bizarre, by Sheila E, because we couldn't help ourselves.

We kick off the new year with a foundational song by a tragic but influential artist, check out a cover by a band that learned all the right lessons, and listen to a version that only exists because network TV executives have no idea how to do their jobs. Twenty Flight Rock, originally by Eddie Cochran, covered by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, and by Conan O'Brien, featuring Jack White.

Outro music is 25 Minutes to Go, by Shel Silverstein.

An art project that had a shocking degree of influence on literally all of modern music, and a cover that tries really hard to … well, it tries really hard. Tom's Diner, originally by Suzanne Vega, covered by AnnenMayKantereit with Giant Rooks.

Outro music is Keep On Moving by Soul II Soul.

This week, we focus on New Wave greatness, Patriotism, and questionable sandwich spreads. Down Under, originally by Men At Work, covered by Nick Cunningham, and by Leftover Crack.

Outro music is Kookaburra, by Octopretzel.

You don't want to miss this. We find deep context, make profound connections, and enjoy some impossibly good — and important — tunes. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, originally by Wham!, covered by Shawn Mullins.

Outro music is Cecilia, by Simon and Garfunkel.

A brilliant but deeply troubled band, a band whose fame almost matches their egos, and an under appreciated band that knew exactly how to get the most out of their music. Wild Horses, originally by The Flying Burrito Brothers, covered by The Rolling Stones (yes, really, we explain it), and by The Sundays.

Outro music is She's a Rainbow, by The Rolling Stones, because even Rich will admit they have one good song.