Do cover bands add artistic value to original music works?

CAIRO – 26 February 2018: Cover bands have a long history in Egypt, from the beginning of the seventies to this day, they have filled a niche demand; their music is for those who love foreign music whether it is pop or other genres.

However, people are asking some questions about this segment of music: what is the story of the cover bands in Egypt? What are the types of cover music performances? What do they bring for the audience? Why do many people adore cover music shows? Are Egyptian cover bands an evolving platform for culture exposure?

The Story

A cover band is a musical group which plays music they don’t own; not their original compositions, productions or lyrics, but a collection of music pieces either instrumental or with lyrics, usually made by world famous musicians. Examples of cover bands include AndrOmidA, an Egyptian band that performs covers of Pink Floyd and Egyptian tribute band Glass Onion who perform covers of the Beatles. Others include Strawberry Swing who perform covers of Coldplay and Les Petit Chat.

The concept of covering songs or musical pieces – for Egyptians - is part of a rich tradition; during musical education, all musicians cover the work of others to practice and improve. When immigrants came to Egypt during the British occupation, they brought brand new musical styles that cemented their place in the Egyptian tradition through cinema.

Some musicians use covering as a way to add a unique twist to the oriental music scene; the legendary singer and composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab did so through his music which has been influenced by western rhythms.

The 70’s was a game changer for cover projects when the Egyptian music scene was turned on its head by a cover band named les Petit Chats.

Les Petit Chats has proved that a cover band could entertain the masses and was capable of performing big concerts. The cover bands scene evolved to become a very important sector of musical entertainment, so much so that some venues rely on it completely and some audiences would prefer cover bands over any other performances.



Types of cover bands and where to find them

The first type of cover bands is tribute bands; this type of projects takes place in big halls that can host a full orchestra such as the Cairo opera house and also simple stages in closed venues and cultural art spaces.

Tribute bands represent the work of important musicians who have passed away and left a powerful impact on the music scene. They can include classical music, oriental music or iconic foreign music.

The second type is oriental modern music cover projects; these performances usually take place in local pubs, and they usually cover pop Egyptian stars and the top Arabic hits that entertain audiences easily.

The third type is modern foreign music cover bands; they are considered the most in demand type of them all, as this type is performed in high rated clubs, lounges, weddings and sometimes big concerts.

How has the concept of cover bands benefited some musicians and harmed others?

The benefit for a musician when playing others’ tracks is being able to delve into the mind of the original composer and analyze how they reached such a level, as well as practicing different techniques.

However, there is a thin line between covering to improve and copying others because of a lack of originality. There can also be difficulty in terms of finding demand for some cover music. For example, modern Arabic music cover bands are often in low demand, as audiences would prefer to see the original artist when available rather than watching the cover band.



Importance of cover bands in the music scene


Each type of cover bands has its own style in capturing the audiences’ attention; they also play an important role in exposing different types of music to the masses.

The quality of tribute bands and orchestras are improving due to the increased demand for their musical style throughout Egypt and the world. Egyptian orchestras are famous worldwide, have participated in many international events and earned many awards through covering pieces from remarkable composers.

Without covering such pieces the country would not have witnessed many great maestros, conductors, and musicians who all perfected their craft through practicing the works of great composers.

In terms of classic oriental music cover groups, they highlight the importance of our classic oriental pieces; legends such as Um Kalthoum and Abdel Halim Hafez are considered as an important part of our heritage and Egyptian identity, and covering their work immortalizes it for generations to come.

Finally, the value of foreign modern music cover projects lies in their availability; in Egypt, we wait for decades to see an international artist live. The huge popularity of foreign – especially American – music is what attracts audiences to this type of cover band as they are the audiences' only chance to hear those hits in a live setting.


Covering songs, or copying a show is not so harmful after all; it may help to open a musician’s mind to new ideas, brand new experiences and creating different music. The concept of cover bands provides audiences with an exposure to cultures different than their own. It is not only a revenue magnet; it also has the goal of innovation and improvement.