Yes, but the contestant WANTS IT!

Wow! This is almost EXACTLY like the GX version, except for the instrumental intro prior to 1:11, the short a capella bit at 3:18-3:25, and the vocalizations/refrains after 4:25. The arrangement is almost the same. The way she bends her voice as she sings each note is even the same. It's awesome.

That being said, Ringo's voice has a certain quality hers lacks, and since she is imitating Ringo's performance so closely, it's hard not to notice when she comes up a bit short. In particular I think Ringo pushed her voice a bit harder.

ETA: Scribble R is right, her recent performances of the old songs have been quite good IMO.

IMO this cover sounds forced and awkward
the same way koda kumi, ayumi and mika nakashima have been sounding for a while in their live performances
the same way any japanese boyband choreography has always made me feel
a little bit embarassed in empathy for the person doing that

and I don't know why Kameda is giving me funny pedo vibes in the background XD

Ringo no uta

Charan Po Rantan - Ringo no Uta

It's excellent. And they did a bit of a deep cut- not just Marounichi or Kabukicho like every other band.

I wish they did Sakana, it would be so nice!

I was scrolling down on youtube when I suddenly stumbled on this guy doing a good cover of Plastic Love
when I checked his profile I discovered a lot of Ringo/Jihen covers
some are just ok, others really good

Nagaku mijikai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsUL1X9aojU

Kabukicho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A_70YPVNfY

MaruSadi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXL9sQMjRSM

ariamaru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTmmDdPFBvY

3min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3YFIXdv0i0

suberidai 1 and 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2FIM_tpsew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf3elHMg_Kc

gunjou
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5bZ9J3IBQk

gips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXqwc_GVZQI

jinsei wa yume darake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovj-urx8W_8

shuraba (single version?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtdVXCRPjUQ

my favorites are shuraba and gips <3

BONUS:
plastic love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgcsNqlM2Co

That guy did it again
with honnou this time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTPWjB07Q4U

I enjoyed those.

His Shuraba and Marunouchi covers were really good. I also really liked the Nagaku Mijikai instrumental. I agree the others are a mixed bag. He also has a really good instrumental cover of Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" and a pretty solid version of "September" on his channel too.

OMG
it seems that guy from the covers I posted is now super famous
O.o'