Clash of the Cover Songs: Lady Gaga vs. Orba Squara

The Rules for Battle: Each week, we pit versions of the same song by two different artists in a head-to-head death match for musical supremacy. (Sometimes it will be the original recording vs. a cover version; other times it will be two different covers.) Then it's up to you to decide: Listen to and vote on which version you think should emerge victorious and which should be sent packing. May the best band win!



The Song: 'Poker Face' (original version by Lady Gaga)

The Contestants: Lady Gaga vs. Orba Squara

In This Corner -- Lady Gaga: Bonkers and from Yonkers, Stefani 'Gaga' Germanotta's second single from her debut album, 'The Fame,' is a sexually charged barnstormer of a tune boasting a robotic hook and innuendo-laden lyrics. Gaga's blend of trashy electropop seems to have hit the masses' sweet spot with this track garnering No. 1 placings globally. She regularly performs an acoustic version of the track, which aficionados can sample here.

Lady Gaga, 'Poker Face'




In This Corner -- Orba Squara: We've got another New Yorker squaring (hah!) up to Gaga in this clash: Orba Squara or, to use the name his folks gave him, Mitch Davis. Taking his cues from the likes of Elliott Smith, the Apple-ad-friendly Orba has an ear for stripped-down instrumentation and simple, pleasant melodies -- his rendering of Lady Gaga's disco behemoth sticks to this approach with a tinkling toy piano and muted guitar strumming. Lower-fi fanciers will not disappointed.

Orba Squara, 'Poker Face'