We are creators and consumers of music. While we’re partial to our tunes, we can’t ignore the good feels we’ve had or the musical influence that resulted from playing songs that we didn’t write.

So, we decided to put together a list of our favorite cover songs from past and present to share those good feels and influence.

First up is Chemcoma’s cover of “Runaway” by Bon Jovi:

Em: More shots and beers were purchased for us as a result of playing this song than probably all the others combined. People love them some Bon Jovi. And cowbell.

Chris: My Walkman and my four-year-old self wore out Bon Jovi cassettes in the 80’s. Slippery When Wet was my fave, but “Runaway” from the self-titled album was my jam too. Although we never had a keyboard player, Chemcoma had an electronic element thanks to our backing tracks. I spent some time transcribing/programming those keyboard lines (some guitar parts moved to synth too) at our rehearsal space in the old Crouch School on Union Street and we worked up the tune for live shows. I am pretty sure Emily, Cody and Matthew thought I was joking when I pitched the idea of covering “Runaway,” but after we divvied up the parts and jammed it for the first time, we were all smiles. That song slayed at every show.

Bonus: Here’s a video our friend Scott shot back in January 2008 of Chemcoma playing “Runaway” at Jerilee’s (now North End Pub).