There’s just something inherently cheerful about a great lounge cover.  Whether it’s Uwe Schmidt as Señor Coconut doing a merengue version of Kraftwerk’s “Autobahn” or Paul Anka’s big band take on Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” – it’s just damn hard to be in a bad mood while listening to these songs. 

Some, like Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine are inspired as much by Bill Murray’s Saturday Night Live lounge singer, as by Buddy Greco.  Others, like Kiki & Herb are pure thee-aye-tuh – cheekily blending humor and pathos and alcohol.

Following are some of the lounge acts I most enjoy, with a run-down of their shtick, my favorite covers, and the venue where I imagine them each performing in Las Vegas.

KIKI & HERB

SHTICK: Deranged and alcoholic one-time cruise-ship lounge duo who have lived a thousand lives

FAVORITE COVERS: “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You”|Stevie Nicks, “The Paris Match”|Style Council, “Running Up That Hill”|Kate Bush, “Rainbow Connection”|The Muppets

VEGAS VENUE:   The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

THE MIKE FLOWERS POPS

SHTICK:  Lush and mod (and very Brit) orchestrations of contemporary songs, with a smarmy twist

FAVORITE COVERS:  “Wonderwall”|Oasis, “1999”|Prince, “Light My Fire”|The Doors, “White Light/White Heat”|Velvet Underground

VEGAS VENUE:  Commonwealth

NOUVELLE VAGUE

SHTICK:  Breezy, syrupy, Euro-covers of New Wave hits and rarities

FAVORITE COVERS:  “Just Can’t Get Enough”|Depeche Mode, “Marian”|Sisters of Mercy, “Love Will Tear Us Apart Again”|Joy Division, “Guns of Brixton”|The Clash

VEGAS VENUE: Drai's Beach Club/The Cromwell

PAUL ANKA

SHTICK:  Big band takes on rock classics from the ‘80s and ‘90s, done his way

FAVORITE COVERS:  “Time After Time”|Cyndi Lauper, “Jump”|Van Halen, “Lovecats”|The Cure, “Eye of the Tiger”|Survivor

VEGAS VENUE:  Encore Theatre/Encore Las Vegas

RICHARD CHEESE & LOUNGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

SHTICK: Hip-hop, hard rock, and alternative hits by a Vegas lounge-lizard in a velvet dinner jacket

FAVORITE COVERS:  “Gin and Juice”|Snoop Dogg, “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)”|Khia, “Insane in the Membrane”|Cypress Hill, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”|U2, “Rock the Casbah”|The Clash

VEGAS VENUE:  The Sayers Club/SLS Las Vegas

SEÑOR COCONUT Y SU CONJUNTO

SHTICK:  Electrolatino interpretations of ‘70s and ‘80s classics, done with gusto

FAVORITE COVERS:  “Sweet Dreams”/Eurythmics, “Smooth Operator”/Sade, “Showroom Dummies”/Kraftwerk, “Smoke on the Water”|Deep Purple

VEGAS VENUE:  Ling Ling Club at Hakkasan Las Vegas/MGM Grand

STEVE & EYDIE (BONUS)

SHTICK:  Don’t have one: Don’t need one

FAVORITE COVER:  “Black Hole Sun”|Soundgarden

VEGAS VENUE:  St. Pete’s Lounge (VIP Room)/Heaven

Lounge Music à la Las Vegas

Get into it!