Playlist: White singers, Beyoncé songs

I don’t usually go the bootleg/illegal download route. Because I respect copyright laws, and I don’t mind paying for good music.

But yesterday I stumbled on an enchanting cover of Beyoncé’s “Crazy In Love” by Antony and the Johnsons, from a live bootleg. So I just had to put together a playlist of Beyoncé covers. By any means necessary.

Click the song titles below to stream the music on my Vox blog.

1. “Crazy In Love” – Antony and the Johnsons

Tell me this track ain’t hot.

Idiosyncratic balladeer Antony Hegarty is sort of like a 21st-Century Boy George, except ten times hipper. Dude has worked with Lou Reed, Bryan Ferry, Rufus Wainwright and Björk. (And Boy George.) I think he’s, like, transgender or something.

Antony and the Johnsons released their new studio album this week. I wish this song were on it.

2. “Irreplaceable” – Kate Nash

Kate Nash is one of England’s rising stars. She just slays me with her working-class London accent. I don’t care if it’s fake like people say.

This is a poorly recorded live cover of Beyoncé’s second-biggest hit. But it’s cute.

3. “Bootylicious” – Flamboyant Bella

Flamboyant Bella is an unsigned British pop band that has developed a following on MySpace. Sounds like they covered this Destiny’s Child tune as a goof.

UPDATE (01/21/09): Big thanks to Kellybelle for adding this Lelia Broussard performance to the gumbo...