Covers that exceed the original.

[Benfea]

• Original: Heartbeats by The Knife
  http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZatCZ1YWQeI&search=the%20knife%20heartbeats
  Cover: Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez
  http://youtube.com/watch?v=s4_4abCWw-w&search=jose%20gonzalez%20heartbeats
  
  I encountered this one almost by accident (the latter was used as background music for a WoW machinima video. The original is a sappy song that conjures up the worst of 80s electronic music, while the cover is a surprisingly moving voice + guitar affair that wouldn't be out of place in a folk singer's repertoire. I provided YouTube links because the song is a bit obscure.
  
  
  
• Original: Louie, Louie by The Kingsmen
  Cover: Loui, Louie by Motorhead
  
  Actually, the Kingsmen isn't the original, but for all intents and purposes people regard it as the original. No one would ever expect this, but the words are easier to understand in the Motorhead version, and Motorhead stays a little truer to the Carribean roots of the song. I expected the Motorhead cover to be a fast 'n sloppy job typical of these "ironic cover" songs, but Motorhead really did justice to it.
  
  
  
• Original: Hurt by Nine Inch Nails
  http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZtR2Q-edB_I&search=hurt%20nine%20inch%20nails
  Cover: Hurt by Johnny Cash
  http://youtube.com/watch?v=vln5C8kholg&search=hurt%20johnny%20cash
  
  Quite possibly the greatest cover song ever made. It cast new light on both Johnny Cash as a musician and Trent Reznor as a songsmith. Whoever encouraged Mr. Cash to perform this cover was a genius. After hearing the song, I have to admit that both men cover similar emotional ground, but I would never in a million years have put them in the same though much less playing the same song.
  
  
  
• Original: These Boots Were Made for Walking by Nancy Sinatra
  Cover: These Boots Were Made for Walking by Megadeth
  
  Dave Mustaine's drunken drawl absolutely butchered this song, but given that the original is a big steaming pile of crap, this is actually an improvement. Lots of people have since covered this song, but none as well as Megadeth. (PS this is from back before Mustaine sobered up and Megadeth started getting boring.)
  
  
  
• Original: Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? by Rod Stewart
  Cover: Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? by The Revolting Cocks
  http://youtube.com/watch?v=s6cHeNvzE30&search=do%20ya%20think%20i%27m%20sexy
  
  As with the Megadeth cover, The Revolting Cocks took a repulsive top 40 bubblegum pile of crap and made it interesting. In the words of one professional rock critic, they took a fairly innocent question and made it sound like a threat.
  
  
• Original: You Spin Me Right Round by Dead or Alive
  Cover: You Spin Me Right Round by Dope
  http://youtube.com/watch?v=o1fi8a_2BFM&search=dope%20you%20spin%20me
  
  Sappy love song from some Culture Club wannabe band from the 80s becomes a headbanging industrial nightmare. Gotta love it.
  

So share your favorites! Again, we're not after "best cover ever" or anything like that, just examples of covers that are better than their corresponding originals. The more obscure the better!

[everythingsxen]

1. Basically...

everything by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_First_and_the_Gimme_Gimmes

Brown Eyed Girl and Seasons in the Sun being at the top.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Bonzo Dog Band's "Sound of Music" versus the original

[democracyindanger]

3. SRV's "Little Wing" pwns Jimi's original.

Sorry, it's true. Bite me.

[chaska]

7. Sacrilege, and not true either.

Bite me back.

;)

[democracyindanger]

11. You must be hearing impaired

so I won't be as irritatingly condescending as I normally would be, considering your ears must have some sort of genetic defect from birth, or caked with layer upon layer of wax.

But as easily and willingly as I will say that Jimi Hendrix is one of a few that could be considered the greatest guitarist--nay, the greatest musician--EVAH, his "Little Wing" is a nice little tune, while SRV's expansive cover brings emotions out of the song far beyond anything Hendrix did.

Hendrix admitted as much to me (I have his phone number at his secret hideaway in Tacoma, Washington). Jimi laid the groundwork, but Stevie, knowing that he was covering a work of one of the Titans of guitar, put everything he had into it and doesn't disappoint. Jimi's version is a pleasant love song, where SRV's version is a torrid pouring out of emotion. Jimi's version makes you picture him taking a bong hit, staring off into space and tearing up; Stevie's version starts there and goes all the way to rending of clothes and hair.

:P

[chaska]

You must be young.

I don't get the Stevie worship thing. Okay, he was a good blues player. I'll leave it there.

Taste is subjective. Ain't no thang.

[democracyindanger]

18. C'mon

You missed the :P ?

[sendero]

99. I feel the same..

... SRV had exactly one "technique"/sound, Jimi had 50. If I hear SRV, I immediately know it is him, and that is not always a good thing.

[lildreamer316]

73. AMEN.

I hate to admit it, but you are SO right.
SRV slows it down so you can hear the beauty in it.

[xchrom]

4. you didn't include any willie nelson?

[Benfea]

22. Pleasse tell me you're not talking about his Ragae stuff. -NT

[fishwax]

43. hey, i liked his reggae album :)

I thought it was fun :) Some of it was far from great, but overall, I thought it was a good time.

[Benfea]

44. I have respect for Willie, even if I don't care for country...

...but the raggae stuff is some of the most cringeworthy crap I've heard.

[fishwax]

49. I think most people/critics would agree

I know I've seen a lot of people slam it. Maybe that's part of the appeal for me, though :rofl: Anyway, I liked his update of Darkness on the Face of the Earth, and found the cover of "The Harder They Come" interesting too. I will say, though, that much of his "reggae" album is far from good reggae, and in many cases could barely be considered reggae at all :) Some of it reminded me of the "reggae" background loop on the casio keyboard I had as a kid :rofl:. I approached it not as a reggae album, but rather as a willie album with some melted reggae cheese.

[SnohoDem]

5. The Dickies' cover of "Nights in White Satin"

was far better than the original.

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. But was it as good as their original

"Bowlin' with Bedrock Barney"? :thumbsup:

[SnohoDem]

14. I always loved Tricia Toyota, too.

Stuck in a pagoda
with Tricia Toyota
Watchin Abe Vigoda

To the Dickies!

:toast:

[MrSlayer]

6. Stone Cold Crazy.

Originally done by Queen made better by Metallica.

Dissident Aggressor.
Original by Judas Priest was good. Slayer made it better, darker, heavier.

[unpossibles]

146. I disagree strongly

but that is the beauty of opinions... lol

I like the Metallica one, but it's not better than the original by far. If I had to choose a better cover of that song, check out the Blue Meanies version - it's about twice as fast/manic.

[Fox Mulder]

8. Metallica's version of Astronomy

is waaaaaaaay better than Blue Oyster Cult's version, which was the original version.

[chaska]

9. 'Bang Bang' - Nancy Sinatra (youtube below)

Originally done by sonny and Cher. Sonny Bono actually wrote some pretty cool songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0aLuRrdxy8&search=nancy%20sinatra

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. 'Town Without Pity'

Original by Gene Pitney, covered without lyrics by Ronnie Montrose on "Open Fire."

[LeftyMom]

13. Respect, Aretha Franklin covering Otis Redding.

I win.

[blondeatlast]

16. Just cuz ya beat me to it. nt

[Benfea]

28. I have no idea if you win...

...because I never heard the original.

[txwhitedove]

48. You definitely win. Respect IS Aretha's song.

[taterguy]

15. Jason and the Scorchers did a lot of great covers

But my favorite is their version of Take Me Home Country Road

[chaska]

17. Damn, I'd like to hear that.

Can't imagine.

[taterguy]

20. It's on a Mammoth Records anthology

I found at my public library. Maybe yours has it too.

[blondeatlast]

19. "Freddie's Dead"--Fishbone. (Song, not the video)

Debatable, admittedly, but at least they did an original arrangement--and it's excellent.

The video, however--not good, IMHO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zICxh9kKZg&search=wrong

[blondeatlast]

21. "Dear Prudence" by Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Do not burn me for heresy, it's merely my opinion.

[CanuckAmok]

24. I'd buy that.

And I'd up the ante by adding the Breeders' version of "Happiness is a Warm Gun".

[khashka]

26. No heresy, that's a great choice!

:)

Khash.

[Benfea]

29. Who did the original? -NT

[blondeatlast]

58. Indeed...

:evilgrin:

[CanuckAmok]

23. More Revolting Cocks: "(Let's Get) Physical".

It was so good, in fact that WaxTrax was sued by ONJ's label, and took the single off the shelves.

Nick Cave's "All Tomorrow's Parties" (Velvet Underground)

Anal Cunt's "Can't Touch This" (MC Hammer)

Einsturzende Neubauten's "Sand" (Lee Hazelwood)

Forgotten Rebels' "Science Fiction Double Feature" (From the Rocky Horror soundtrack)

Rapeman's "Just Got Paid" I can't remember who recorded this dreck originally

Roxy Music's "Jealous Guy" (John Lennon)

Cradle of Filth's "No Time to Cry" (Sisters of Mercy)

Abdomen's "United" (Throbbing Gristle)

Slayer's "Sick Boy" (Charged GBH)

Happy Flowers' "Know" (Nick Drake)

Creaming Jesus' "A Forest" (The Cure)

Duran Duran's "White Lines" (Grandmaster Flash)

Birthday Party's "Loose" (Stooges)

Laibach's "Life is Life" (Opus)

Actually, any track off Laibach's re-interpretation of the Beatles' "Let it Be".

Anything the Ramones ever covered.

[Benfea]

27. RevCo was too cool. ;) -NT

[speedoo]

62. "Anything the Ramones ever covered." Amen to that.

(unless they were covering Roy Orbison. Extremely unlikely.)

What did they cover, anyhow?

[CanuckAmok]

74. Well....

Off the top of my head, I can think of:

Surfin' Bird, Rockaway Beach (I think that one's a cover), Somebody to Love, Time (Has Come Today).

And then there's their 1994 album "Acid Eaters" which is all covers:

Journey To The Center Of The Mind, Substitute - (with Pete Townshend), Out Of Time, The Shape Of Things To Come, Somebody To Love - (with Traci Lords), When I Was Young, 7 And 7 Is, My Back Pages, Can't Seem To Make You Mine, Have You Ever Seen The Rain?, I Can't Control Myself, Surf City

[speedoo]

86. Cool, thankyou.

I am a new fan of The Ramones, so please excuse what was probably a dumb question.

I love their music and I will definitely check those tunes out.

[Bucky]

96. I'm pretty sure Rockaway Beach is written by Joey. They hung out there.

I looked at a couple of lyrics websites but only found the Ramones listed with that song. I'd be pretty surprised if there was anyone else ever at Rockaway Beach who ever wrote a song about it. It's a real dregs site, according to Ramones mythology.

[khashka]

25. You Spin Me Round by Dope

The sappy 80's song by Dead or Alive becomes the anthem of all stalkers and serial killers everywhere.... and is so much better for it.


Khash.

[Benfea]

138. Yeah, that's a sweet one. -NT

[Jade Fox]

30. You're not getting "Boots".......

It's female empowerment song. Corny, yes, but empowering non the less.

Best cover: Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower".

[Benfea]

40. Female empowerment or not...

...the Nancy Sinatra version does nothing for me, but the Megadeth version cracks me up.

[Benfea]

31. Whoa. Bowie covered Springsteen?

I was doing a little research and came across an odd bit of trivia. Back in 1975, David Bowie did a cover of a Springsteen song released in 1973 (It's Hard to be a Saint in the City).

[6000eliot]

32. He did "Growing Up" in 1973

It's on the version of "Pin Ups" that I have.

[Floogeldy]

33. "My Way" - Sex Pistols

:)

[Benfea]

41. Yeah, I shouldn't have left that one off the list. -NT

[Dresden]

34. Sacrifice....

Elton John < Sinead O'Connor

[Fenris]

35. Billy Bragg's cover of "Never Had No One Ever"

The Barracudas' cover of "My Little Red Book"

The Untouchables' cover of "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone"

Thea Gilmore's cover of "I'm Not Down"

[jpgray]

36. Robert Wyatt's cover of Chic's "At Last I Am Free" is my fave of all time

Perfect example of how an artist's unique interpretation can totally change a song. I also like his version of Peter Gabriel's "Biko" better than the original, incidentally.

[KamaAina]

37. "Come Sail Away", Keali'i Reichel covering Styx.

Well, like, duh, he's covering Styx, dude! But seriously, Keali'i may possibly be the best living contemporary Hawaiian musician, while Styx... well, at least Dennis DeYoung's White Sox are world champs. :P

[KyndCulture]

39. Nah, the best cover of that song was Cartman on South Park.

[KamaAina]

42. Sure, but could Cartman cut it as a kumu hula?

leader of a hula halau, or school, which is what Reichel did bfore he broke through (and still does). I think not!

[KamaAina]

38. I was going to say "Time Is On My Side",

the Stones covering New Orleans R&B legend Irma Thomas (you heard right. Do not adjust your monitor.) -- but I've never heard Irma's version. For all I know, it might be better.

[fishwax]

45. I've always liked Cash's versions of "no expectations" and

"highway patrolman" (by the stones and springsteen, respectively) as well.

[fishwax]

46. I think Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" is often considered the prime

example of this phenomenon (though personally I love Dylan's original version as well).

[Benfea]

53. It's often near the top of such lists. -NT

[bridgit]

47. Hurra Torpedo covers "Total Eclipse of the Heart"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br-D7UneS0E&search=hurra%20torpedo :headbang:

[ghostsofgiants]

52. Fuck yes.

[Benfea]

54. That was undescribably awful. Funny, but awful.

I'm not sure whether to thank you or hate you for posting that.

[bridgit]

55. by the by...it's "indescribably"...

:dunce:
:rofl:

[Benfea]

80. Thanks for the correction. ;) -NT

[Telly Savalas]

144. "Hurra Torpedo is the world's leading kitchen appliance rock group."

:rofl:

[atomic-fly]

50. Walk on By and ALL Day and into the night.

Very different versions...
Older version (original By Burt Bacharach)DIONNE WARWICK Walk on by 1964

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nhZYJKK8riM&search=walk%20on%20by

Cover by The Stranglers.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=T9cE5Gt_rnU&search=walk%20on%20by



These two are close....both good versions.

Original: The Kinks
http://youtube.com/watch?v=M7ekXUBpp4U&search=kinks%20all%20day

Cover: the Stranglers (song...not video)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=a3EbpolzfFo&search=the%20stranglers

[sendero]

101. The Stranglers..

.. are as awesome as they are generally unknown in the US... I had forgotten about this cover, which is kind of a tongue in cheek version.

[ghostsofgiants]

51. "Burnin' Down The House" as covered by Children of Eve

Which I posted here.
http://subversive.trackiepro.com/stuff/BurninDowntheHouse.mp3 (3.94mb)

[ghostsofgiants]

65. Come on, it's a free MP3!

[CanuckAmok]

97. Reggie and the Full Effect - Raining Blood.

It's sublime.

Also, Modest Mouse and Califone doing Slayer's South of Heaven. Has to be heard. By you. Now.

NOW!

[ghostsofgiants]

106. Duly noted; downloading both.

[CanuckAmok]

118. Well...?

That Reggie thing........... :wtf:

[ghostsofgiants]

124. Haha, I dig both.

My first time ever listening to Reggie and the Full Effect. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[sendero]

103. Pretty cool...

... a spirited performance :toast:

[Floogeldy]

56. How about Paul Simon's "America" covered by Yes?

Okay, it may not be better than the original, but it was a great tribute! :)

[lildreamer316]

76. Hey..where can I get that??

DJ hubby and I would love to have that!! ALbum?

[Floogeldy]

82. It is on "Yesterdays"

Shouldn't be too hard to find. :)

It is awesome.

[lildreamer316]

93. Thanks!!

We are big fans of Yes-appparently not big enough; however.

[sendero]

102. Very early stuff..

... not much like the Yes you probably know, except for the vocals :)

[shawmut]

57. "Wild Horses" - The Sundays

[Floogeldy]

59. OH YEA!!!

[Book Lover]

66. Beat me to it! (nm)

[ornotna]

75. Dwight Yoakam - Suspicious Minds

I like it much better than the Elvis version.










Doh! posted in the wrong spot.

[DubyaSux]

60. Crying...

....by Don McLean - in my opinion - was better than Roy Orbison's version.

[speedoo]

61. That's just not possible.

With all due respect, and admitting I have never heard the McLean version, no one could ever sing anything as well as, much less better than, Roy Orbison.

[ghostsofgiants]

64. Rebekah Del Rio's version from Mulholland Dr. is interesting as well.

[stlsaxman]

63. Van Halen's "Jump" as played by Aztec Camera

First time i "heard" the song for everything it was meant to be, Aztec Camera played it.

[Nicole]

67. Black Magic Woman

Black Magic Woman by Santana beats Fleetwood Mac's earlier version.

[Nicole]

68. Proud Mary by Ike & Tina Turner

was better than CCR's original.

[LostInAnomie]

69. Children of the Grave by White Zombie

It is a hell of a lot better than the original Black Sabbath version. Really, if you listen to Nativity in Black Vol.1&2 a lot of the covers surpass the original Black Sabbath versions.

Here's a brief list:
Lord of This World by Corrosion of Conformity
Black Sabbath by Type O Negative
Hole in the Sky by Machine Head
Behind the Wall of Sleep by Static X
Snowblind by System of a Down
Electric Funeral by Pantera
Hand of Doom by Slayer
Under the Sun by Soulfly
Into the Void by Monster Magnet

[Benfea]

78. Don't forget "Supernaut" by 10000 Homo DJs -NT

[NMMNG]

70. "I Have The Touch" Originally by Peter Gabriel

Covered by Heather Nova


Tomorrow Never Knows: Originally by The Beatles, Covered by Our Lady Peace


I Put a Spell on You: Originally by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Covered by Marilyn Manson

[JCMach1]

71. White Stripes- Jolene

Original- Dolly Parton

[blonndee]

134. White STRIPES did "Jolene"?!?!

I gotta do some searching. I'm a big old Dolly Parton fan and I can't even fathom this!!

[catbert836]

72. A bunch of Dylan songs

"All Along the Watchtower" covered by Jimi Hendrix
"Mr. Tambourine Man" covered by the Byrds
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Guns & Roses
"Only A Hobo" by Rod Stewart
"With God on Our Side" by Judy Collins
"Masters of War" by Pearl Jam
"Queen Jane Approximately" by the Grateful Dead
"Like a Rolling Stone" by the Rolling Stones

And so many others. Bob's a great poet, but his voice and guitar playing leaves much to be desired. He writes such great songs that it takes others to do them justice.

[Benfea]

79. I agree with your assessment of Dylan.

Oft-told joke:

Q: What does Tom Petty sound like?
A: Bob Dylan after singing lessons.

[kariatari]

83. No way is the Stones' "Like a Rolling Stone" better than Dylan's

[speedoo]

91. Let me add The Band's cover of ...

When I Paint My Masterpiece.

[Burma Jones]

151. I must strongly disagree

Well, except for the Hendrix maybe.....

His voice fits his songs better than anyone else's.

[Benfea]

77. I forgot Metallica's cover of the Misfit's "Last Caress" -NT

[bicentennial_baby]

81. Shandi's Addiction, "Dr. Love"

:headbang:

[kariatari]

84. Smashing Pumpkins covering "Landslide" Houston's "I Will Always Love You"

[StellaBlue]

90. Totally agree AND

I think the Dixie Chicks' "Landslide" was even better. I was totally distracted the first time I heard it on the radio.

[cedahlia]

109. Right with you on "Landslide"

SP's version shames the original! So quietly beautiful...:thumbsup:

[StellaBlue]

85. And in the Evildoing American Imperialism category, the winner is:

http://www.theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1071337095931_2003/12/18/bushes,0.jpg

[speedoo]

87. Awwwww FUCK!!!

Why'd you have to ruin such a great thread with an image of those two scumbags?

Sheeesh.

[lildreamer316]

88. You ready? I have a list:

I will not say that all of thse exceed the originals, but are at least as good.
And for god's sake don't judge because of the artists! You'd be damn suprised.
Some of these, you have to like the genre to like the remake, so..as your taste goes.

Night Prowler--Dave Meniketti (cover off Remixed to Hell tribute album, GREAT redo)
Cinnamon Girl--Type O Negative
Summer Breeze--Type O Negative
Purple Haze--Winger
Scarborough Faire--Queensryche (you GOTTA hear this, remember Geoff Tate was opera trained!)
Let's Go All The Way--Insane Clown Posse
Shout--Disturbed
Land of Confusion--Disturbed (GREAT fight song for the times, go check it out!)
Relax--Powerman 5000
Smooth Criminal--Alien Ant Farm
Tainted Love--Marilyn Manson
Golden Years--Mariln Manson
Mony Mony--Billy Idol
Hot In The City--Billy Idol
LA Woman--Billy Idol (NOT better, but I think stands pretty well on its own)
Rock Candy--Bulletboys
Tobacco Road--David Lee Roth
Live and Let Die--Guns n Roses
Up Around The Bend--Hanoi Rocks
Whisky In A Jar--Metallica
Staying Alive--Ozzy (Gotta hear this one too--classic
Your Mamma Don't Dance--Poision
Cat's In The Cradle--Ugly Kid Joe (very good redo)
Fame--Tommy Lee
YOU REALLY GOT ME--VAN HALEN

{switched: band--song}

Carfax Abbey--Cry Little Sister
Fear Factory--Cars (Really good)
Foo Fighters--Baker Street
Four Non Blonds--Misty Mountain Hop (really not bad considering)
Godhead--Elanor Rigby (I swear it's not butchered unless you are a fanatic)
Goo Goo Dolls--Give A Little Bit
HIM--Wicked Game (ROCKS)
Hootie & Blowfish--Use Me
Lenny Kravitz--American Woman
Limp Bizkit--Behind Blue Eyes (go ahead; kill me; but it's done well)
Nickleback--Saturday Night's Alright (for a fight)
No Doubt--It's My Life
Nonpoint--In The Air Tonight (I really really like this one)
Orgy--Blue Monday(VERY good!!)
Pantera--Cat Scratch Fever
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS--HIGHER GROUND (BEST redo ever in this genre! IMHO)
Red Hot Chili Peppers--Love Rollercoaster
Rob Zombie--Brickhouse(um, it's not exactly comprable, but--you'd be suprised)
Smashmouth--Why Can't We Be Friends (Ska remake)
Uncle Kracker--Drift Away
White Zombie--Boogie Man (this is a strip club classic now)

I know I'm missing a few.
I'll do the dance redos next. They are harder to pick out......

[lildreamer316]

92. Added:

Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck--People Get Ready
Goldfinger--99 Red Balloons
Alana Davis--32 Flavors
Alanis Morissette--Crazy



Pusedo Echo--Funky Town
Janet Jackson--Got 'Till It's Gone
Love Spit Love--How Soon Is Now
Madonna--Fever (duh)
Soul System--It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day
Seal--Fly Like An Eagle (VERY good!!)
Bangles--Hazy Shade of Winter
George Michael & Queen--Papa Was A Rollin' Stone & Killer
Power Station--Bang a Gong (Get it On)
White Town--I Could Never Be Your Woman
Boogie Pimps--Sunny (not exactly a redo; but close)
Girls Aloud--Jump (Pointer Sisters)
Spiderbait--Black Betty (and of course the KMFDM redo; it's better actually)
**NOVASPACE--BEDS ARE BURNING (killer remake)
Unique II--Break My Stride


There are a ton more, but these are some of the best. I'll post more later.

[Benfea]

110. That's a nice, big list....

...but I'd have preferred more description with each item on the list. ;)

[BreweryYardRat]

89. I really like Little Richard's cover of 'Long Tall Sally'

but I haven't heard the original Elvis song, so YMMV.

[GaYellowDawg]

94. "You Shook Me All Night Long" - covered by Celine Dion

Beats the crap out of the AC/DC original. By a mile. No contest... bwah ha ha ha!! Just kidding... but I gotcha, didn't I?
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Bucky]

95. The Hoff's cover of "Hooked on a Feeling"

Altho I swear on one track it sounds like he's singing "Hooked on a Ceiling". Smoke that, BJ Thomas!

[entanglement]

98. Knocking on Heaven's Door - GNR

n/t

[grannylib]

117. Awww, man....that is SO sad....my oldest heard the GNR version, having

never heard the original, and she knew I hated Axl's voice and she BEGGED me to listed to this GREAT song, so I did, and nearly gagged all the way through it...and when I told her the original was much better and then told her who did it, she about had a hemmorhage...
Gotta disagree with you on this one! GNR music was good, but Axl's voice....ish.

[querelle]

100. Satisfaction

performed by Devo IMHO is way better than the Stones original version. Then again, I've never been a huge fan of the Rolling Stones.

Q

[Benfea]

111. That's an awesome cover

It's often cited on "best cover" lists I've seen.

The thing is, the cover isn't as ironic as some people think. The original Rolling Stones song was meant as a diatribe against consumerism gone amok. Devo by contrast was a concept band in which the whole point to the band was to decry modernism and the industrial age. Devo's argument was that all the modern conveniences we enjoyed were not necessarily a good thing, that they had a negative effect on both individuals and society, and thus were actually causing humans to devolve after a fashion.

Even if Devo and the Rolling Stones were 180 degrees from one another stylistically, thematically it's a perfect fit.

[blondeatlast]

104. "Stop Your Sobbing"--The Pretenders.

[wildhorses]

105. red red wine....UB40 vs whoever did it originally

Neil Diamond wrote it but, was he the one the released it?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zX2-51a0v0&search=red%20red%20wine

[BluePatriot]

107. Have to agree with "Hurt"

Really love the Cash version!

[Benfea]

112. Yep.

It's one of those covers that really makes you appreciate the artist doing the cover and the artist who originally wrote/performed the song in an entirely new light.

[speedoo]

114. The video is a tearjerker.

Makes me appreciate both Cash as a man, and his ability to look at his life in a way that I would like to be able to look at my own.

[cedahlia]

108. "Alone Again Or" by The Damned

(originally done by the band Love.)

Both versions are great, but The Damned version is one of the most beautifully haunting things I've ever heard...I sometimes tear up when I hear it.

I also am partial to:

Smashing Pumpkins cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Lanslide"

Jonatha Brooke's cover of "Eye in the Sky"

Chris Cornell and Eleven's cover of "Ave Maria"

and I am in love with a myriad of covers Tori Amos that has done, including Elton John's "Daniel", the classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Abraham, Martin, and John", and even "Reigning Blood" (originally by Slayer--my metalhead husband vehmetely disagrees with me on this one, though.) ;-)

[ghostsofgiants]

113. As CanuckAmok mentioned...

Reggie and the Full Effect's cover of "Raining Blood" is awesome.

[CanuckAmok]

120. I'm with your metalhead husband on that one.

I think you have to ben an ardent Tori Amos fan to enjoy her covers. She also 'reinterprets' Smells Like Teen Spirit to a point that I want to kill myself, but that's just a subjective matter of taste thingy.

[cedahlia]

126. I've found with Tori's music...

...that most people are either truly "ardent" fans, or they really can't stand her. I honestly can't think of one person I know who has merely a casual fondness for her music...it's either, her music is a vital part of their life, or they have an intense loathing for her. Guess which camp I'm in? :D

So yeah, I completely understand that a lot of people (Slayer enthusiasts like mr. cedahlia among them) probably wouldn't agree with my love of the Tori covers!

[speedoo]

115. Here's an interesting list...

Most of these I have not heard yet.

But based on the comments, I will be checking them out.

http://www.fiql.com/board.php?tid=146

[grannylib]

116. Santana's "Black Magic Woman" over the original Fleetwood Mac

I love the Mac, but Santana's version was way better

[CanuckAmok]

119. I'm gonna git in trouble, but Karma to Burn put Joy Div. to shame in...

...their cover of "24 Hours".

[Benfea]

135. I was never that crazy about Joy Division, to be honest. -NT

[Juffo Wup]

121. "Boys of Summer" - The Ataris

"Cat Scratch Fever" - Pantera
"Across The Universe" - Pantera

[ghostsofgiants]

125. Oh, you just reminded me: "Across The Universe" by Fiona Apple

[CanuckAmok]

122. Two more. The Slits and the Bangles!

The Slits do a fantastic version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", and the Bangles' cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter" is kick-ass.

[CanuckAmok]

123. Lydia Lunch and Nels Cline covering Tom Waits' "Heart Attack & Vine"

I think it's great, but apparently I'm the only one.

[atomic-fly]

127. i concure on hurt

Quite possibly the greatest cover song ever made. It cast new light on both Johnny Cash as a musician and Trent Reznor as a songsmith. Whoever encouraged Mr. Cash to perform this cover was a genius. After hearing the song, I have to admit that both men cover similar emotional ground, but I would never in a million years have put them in the same though much less playing the same song.

[taterguy]

128. REM covering Aerosmith's Toys In the Attic

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

129. Hendrix's 'All Along the Watchtower' was way better than the original

[siouxsiecreamcheese]

130. Nine Inch Nails cover Queen's "get down make love"

mmmmmm sing it to me Trent...

[electricmonk]

131. Heard it Through the Grapevine

One of those rare songs that it doesn't really matter who is doing it it still kicks ass. My fave version is by the Slits followed by CCR. The Slits version though is so cool it wins the contest.

[mark414]

132. this thread is filled with blasphemy and i will have nothing to do with it

[blonndee]

133. Now I won't claim this "exceeds" the original but "All Apologies"

by Sinead O'Connor rocks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVHr_my7YEo&search=all%20apologies%20sinead

As does "Sympathy for the Devil" by Natalie Merchant. (Can't find any videos for it, but she ROCKED on SNL). She also kicked ass on "Space Oddity," oddly enough.

[Benfea]

137. It's a matter of taste, I suppose.

I like the Nirvana version better.

[NNadir]

136. When Rikki Lee Jones does covers, she almost always wins.

Some of her covers that are outstanding:

Trouble Man, the Marvin Gaye song.

Coming Back to You, Marty Balin's Jefferson Airplane tune.

My Funny Valentine

Note that I love the originals of these, but hers are really, really wonderful.

[RedStateShame]

139. "Crush," by the Dismemberment Plan

It was the B-side on the "What Do You Want Me to Say" single. It was originally a mid-90s bubblegum dance song by a girl named Jennifer Paige, and, in all honesty, it wasn't all that memorable, but I used to work in chain record store, and it's stuck in my brain. They took out the beats altogether, added some 7th chords, and Travis Morrison's eerie vocals redefined the song. It's somewhat of a rarity, but quite a treat for any Plan fans.

[samfishX]

140. Tom Jones and Portishead's

Cover of 'Motherless Child', done originally by, I believe, Louis Armstrong.

I'd also throw in the Cardigan's cover of 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'

hmm...I don't know if it's BETTER (it feels like heresey just typing this), but Matthew Herbet's take on Radiohead's 'Nice Dream', sung by Mara Carlyle. I can't help but think of move 'La Cité des Enfants Perdus' (City of the Lost Children) everytime I hear it.

[JohnKleeb]

141. ok

I liked Cash's cover of Hurt and even Reznor said somethin like I've lost my girlfriend because that song isn't mine anymore. I really have in recent months come to really like Cash's music. Now my personal favorite is Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower because he makes it his own song honestly, I love Dylan's music like no other but Hendrix's version is far more superior. How I meausre covers is that if the artist can make it sound like that song is theirs than you got a good cover.

[progdonkey]

142. Jeff Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"

Really, listen to Buckley's version--just his aching voice and guitar--and then listen to Cohen's drone with full gospel backup choir, and tell me that Buckley's version is not a thousand times better in every considerable way.

:headbang:

[Stardust]

143. I love Cohen but Jennifer Warnes sings more purdy than he does

(Famous Blue Raincoat).

[Tenseiga]

145. Quoted.For.Truth

Original: These Boots Were Made for Walking by Nancy Sinatra
Cover: These Boots Were Made for Walking by Megadeth

Dave Mustaine's drunken drawl absolutely butchered this song, but given that the original is a big steaming pile of crap, this is actually an improvement. Lots of people have since covered this song, but none as well as Megadeth. (PS this is from back before Mustaine sobered up and Megadeth started getting boring.)

---History: Back in the 90's, a Sinatra representative actually heard the song and it was removed from subsequent pressings of the CD. No Boots for you!

[Roon]

147. Werewolfs of London

covered by Grateful Dead.

[long_green]

148. I can't believe no one has put up "House of the Rising Sun"

by the Animals. I can understand differences of opinion but in a thread this long I shouldn't have been the first person to bring this one up.

[CBGLuthier]

149. Mad World by Gary Jules

positively blows the Tears for Fears version out of the water and I am a big Tears for Fears fan.

Just proves how powerful the right arrangement can be.

[kwolf68]

150. My favorite covers

Boys of Summer-The Ataris doing Don Henley
We're Only Going to Die-Biohazard doing Bad Religion
Anyway You Want It-Rise Against doing Journey
All Along the Watchtower-Jimi Hendrix doing Dylan
Tambourine Man-Byrds doing Dylan
I Fought the Law-The Clash doing The Crickets (Bobby Fuller Four is probably the version many know)
Anarchy in the UK-Megadeth doing Sex Pistols

I have others I like just can't think of them right now.

[mtnester]

152. And of course props to Social Distortion for Ring of Fire...

I think Johnny would have absolutely approved. (Oh, and did ANYONE see the knockout performance of Dilana on Rockstar Supernova doing Ring of Fire? I loved it!)

Also Foo Fighters doing Jerry Rafferty's Baker Street

And not that they did it better (no one could do it better the Roberta Flack), but the Fugee's cover of Killing Me Softly was done very well IMO.