56. “Motownphilly”

By Boyz II Men

Performed: March 17, 2014, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Let’s give credit where credit is due. At least Arcade Fire veered wildly away from from when they opened their Philadelphia shows with this Boyz II Men R&B hit from 1991. Plus, the horn players must have been stoked to display their swinging chops. But Richard Reed Parry and his backing vocalists don’t have the same depth or tone as the original Philly boyz, leaving this version feeling more than a little flat and uninspiringly ironic. Perhaps we should be thankful they chose not to perform Michael Bivins’ rap (and subsequent a cappella breakdown). –Kristofer Lenz

55. “Dust in the Wind”

By Kansas

Performed: April 26, 2014, at The Starlight Theater in Kansas City, MO

The plucked first opening notes of Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind” manage to be both poignant and cheesy, depending on which perspective you take, but there’s no denying that this song is a latter-’70s classic. It was, obviously, a natural pick for a performance by William Butler and some bobbleheads at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City during the Reflektor Tour. There’s just one problem, as Win Butler points out near the end: “That’s a Kansas song, and we’re in Missouri. You fucked up.” The crowd, however, doesn’t seem to care. –Katherine Flynn

54. “Devil Inside”

By INXS

Performed: January 22 and 28, 2014, at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, AUS

For two nights, fans in Melbourne, Australia, were witnesses to a cover of native favorite INXS’ killer “Devil Inside”. The chugging guitar line is raunchy as ever and Richard Perry makes a commendable attempt to recreate Michael Huttchence’s original vocals, but ultimately the cover falls well short of the crystallized late-’80s glam perfection of the original. –Kristofer Lenz

53. “Dream Baby Dream”

By Suicide

Performed: August 24, 2014, at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

It’s hard to rag on any song featuring Arcade Fire accompanied by a vampiric David Byrne, but this is an odd choice performed … well, oddly. Byrne is entertaining as expected, doing his best Byrne dance and vocal stretching (while wearing a maestro’s tuxedo and white makeup, perhaps). Plus, the original is a haunting early example of pop electronic moodiness. But in Byrne and Arcade Fire’s rendition, it builds aimlessly toward a climax that never comes, as does the original, but live, it leaves one wondering, “Why?” –Kristofer Lenz

52. “Back in Time”

By Huey Lewis and the News

Performed: August 11, 2014, at Rexall Place, Edmonton, AB

For their stop in Edmonton, Arcade Fire paid homage to local son Michael J. Fox by performing this cover of the theme from Back to the Future. While Huey Lewis’ original stands tall among the pantheon of classic ’80s soundtrack songs, this version, while dutiful, trades in irony and little else. –Kristofer Lenz