Clash of the Cover Songs: Katy Perry vs. A B and the Sea

The Rules for Battle: For each contest, 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: 'California Gurls'

The Contestants: Katy Perry vs. A B and the Sea

In this corner – Katy Perry: Unless you've been vacationing on the moon, it's likely you heard Katy Perry's summer anthem 'California Gurls,' a song that's undeniably about celebrating pleasure and, well, girls. While Perry's not your typical California bleach blonde, she's said the song pays homage to not only the fairer sex but to the Beach Boys and '70s power pop band Big Star (that spelling of "Gurls" is supposedly a reference to the band's song 'September Gurls,' released back in 1974). Perry's version was a No. 1 single in the US, UK, Canada and many other nations, while also spawning a rather randy video that featured Perry in a Candy Land-type board-game world with Snoop Dogg.

Katy Perry, 'California Gurls'


In this corner – A B and the Sea: Noticing that Perry's paying tribute to their home state, San Francisco indie five-piece A B and the Sea put a washed-out, acoustic-rock spin on the tune, weaving a bit more Beach Boys into the track than Perry's original. "In the spirit of summertime, we decided to do a little cover," lead guitarist Joe Spargur tells Spinner. "All of us in the band have a crush on Katy Perry and her version of 'California Gurls,' and of course we love the Beach Boys song 'California Girls,' as well, so we thought we would mix 'em together for an A B & The Sea take." If nothing else, hearing a bunch of dudes try out some falsettos while telling West Coast girls to represent is worth a listen. Check out the exclusive stream of 'California Gurls' below.

A B and the Sea, 'California Gurls'


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