Totally improbable cover versions

[Sebastian Doyle]

Post a band doing a song that you would never think they would play if you hadn't seen it for yourself.


Starting us off, it's Van Halen singing "Heartbreak Hotel"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9lr8osxwyc

[Archae]

1. Ozzy Osbourne and Dweezil Zappa, "Staying Alive."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_D4QhevNPw

:rofl:

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Now that's truly frightening!

Would have been better with a video of Ozzy biting off Barry Gibb's head though :evilgrin:

[TBreeze]

56. wow

That gave me an almost uncontrollable giggle fit. Awesome. :rofl:

[Twillig]

2. Floyd's "Time- Dark side of the Moon" by Dream Theater

DT covering Iron Maiden, sure.

I never expected them to do Pink Floyd. They have the most talented players in rock and roll though, they can play anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN7mdpRUTsA&feature=related

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. Musically, I'd say they play it just as well as any of the sidemen either Waters or Gilmour

have been touring with since the REAL Pink Floyd split up. Don't really dig the vocals on this one though, but that's probably because I'm not used to Dream Theater. No particular reason why, just never got into 'em.

[Twillig]

6. Yeah, LaBrie's vocals are the weakest part of DT.

No doubt.

Petrucci on guitar.
Pornoy on drums.

Best in the Bidness.

Myung obviously damn good.
Rudess, I dunno enough about keyboards to say. Others rave.

[mcctatas]

5. How about...

The Sex Pistols doing "My Way"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIXg9KUiy00

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. Ironic that Sid and Elvis both went out with the same song, ain't it?

Though drastically different interpretations, obviously.

[enigmatic]

7. "Video Killed The Radio Star"- The Wrong Trousers

http://recluseshow.blogspot.com/2007/06/video-killed-radio-star-wrong-trousers.html

[enigmatic]

8. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Teenage Kicks"- Ukulele Orchestra Of Grat Britain

Both are great, but "Teenage Kicks" is majestic:


http://recluseshow.blogspot.com/2008/06/smells-like-teen-spiritteenage-kicks.html

[Richardo]

10. Pink Floyd's "Brain Damage" by Austin Lounge Lizards

Speed bluegrass - hilarious.

[Orsino]

11. Devo's "Satisfaction"

Weird, but great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8fORGIhbAc

[EstimatedProphet]

12. The Grateful Dead - "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"

[nomorenomore08]

70. Is that really so ironic?

I mean, weren't the Dead all about roots/Americana type music? But yeah, I can see the contrast between the hippie image and anything to do with "Dixie."

[baldguy]

13. Bruce Springsteen's Atlantic City

by Hank Williams III

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNRWpMw9SXc

Funny thing is - it works

[MissMillie]

14. Celine Dion singing AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" and

Dolly Parton singing "Stairway to Heaven"

[qb]

15. Veruca Salt - My Sharona (awesome version, btw)

I don't know if there's a youtube of it.

[Common Sense Party]

44. Just the audio...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw-GDfTcAvI

I prefer the original.

[old mark]

16. Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music covered Bob Dylan's

"It's a Hard Rain's Gonna Fall".

I laughed till I cried.

Very different, but good in an odd way.

mark

[Sebastian Doyle]

20. Pretty much every Bryan Ferry cover version I've ever heard has been "improbable"

with or without Roxy Music. He sounds like he enjoys "reinterpreting" other people's songs, but some of the results, as you say, make you laugh.

And for even funnier Dylan covers, nobody does it "better" than U2....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hY_mVnBhzs

[mitchum]

26. Here's Ferry in the absolute creepiest video of all time....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdAIQ4gdeuk

That look and those mannerisms just scream "predatory grad student"

Nice version of the song, though

[old mark]

35. Thanks so much for the link - several Ferry covers are posted nearby

including several versions of "Hard Rain".

I watched the video,and my wife, an old time dylan fan, would vomit.

Makes me laugh.

Have to see his version of "Positively Fourth Street".

Too bizarre for American pop tastes?

mark

[jobycom]

17. The Fray "Hips Don't Lie"

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6s5R2c23XYs

[jobycom]

18. Or, Bowling for Soup's cover of Fergie's "London Bridge"

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XXbgSMT-0j4

[Mad_Dem_X]

67. That's f'ing awesome!

Much better than the original. LOL!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

19. I think I heard William Shatner doing something about a father trying

to re-establish his neglected relationship with his daughter. I caught the latter part of it on the radio yesterday. I wonder if it is a re-make and who did the original. Trying to google it now.

[taterguy]

77. Song is That's Me Trying from the Has Been album

It was written by Ben Folds and Nick Hornby for Shatner

[flvegan]

21. Faith No More doing the Nestle "Sweet Dreams" commercial song.

Forward to around 4:00 if you want to skip the first song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veKZ_wcXbis&feature=related

That, and "Easy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH7J3G7Qtt0

[Forkboy]

22. The Residents doing Teddy Bear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLVSn3LCJXk

[Tommy_Carcetti]

23. Tori Amos' "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcHNZVrxEts

I always appreciated Nirvana for what they did for the rock scene in the 1990s, but was never a huge fan personally. However, I've always been a big Amos fan, and I do love her unique take on the classic.

[cyberswede]

24. Didn't William Shatner cover Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds? n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

25. Indeed he did

And whether or not John Lennon was writing about LSD, the Captain sounds like he was definitely frying Tribbles when he recorded his version....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-yy2URAYqU

[deucemagnet]

28. I think Shatner's cover of "Common People" qualifies.

Some clever person with way too much time on their hands made this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXWEM4gZhg4

[mitchum]

27. Paul Anka does "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsS811o21-k

[bbernardini]

38. Those Paul Anka albums are BRILLIANT.

Especially the first one. Amazing and imaginative arrangements, and great players. We actually use a lot of those tunes for dinner music at wedding gigs.

[mitchum]

61. I have to admit that I expected cheap, two bit camp, but you are absolutely correct....

those albums are brilliant

[JCMach1]

29. The White Stripes- "Jolene"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE3-q-aoFZI



Original was Dolly Parton of course

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEbh0SWandU&feature=related

[tigereye]

30. Alannis Morisette's cover of the Police, King of Pain, I think

it was the first time I really HEARD the words. I wasn't a big fan of hers, actually, but that was a very good cover, made me think of the song in a totally different way. Before I think I just listened to it as a "Police" fan and never really thought about what it said.

[Nickster]

43. I'll do you one better. Alanis doing Fergie's My Humps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W91sqAs-_-g

[anneboleyn]

45. Yes, that video is hilarious! n/t

[tigereye]

54. ya know, I think I did hear that

:scared: :rofl:

[auburngrad82]

31. Dolly Parton "Stairway To Heaven"

I shit you not. No link, sorry, but it's available on Amazon.

[intheflow]

65. I was going to post Parton's cover of REO Speedwagon's

"Time for me to Fly". Turns it from a somewhat mournful rock ballad lamenting a failed relationship to a banjo-pumping country women's liberation anthem. Kind of creepy, really.

[intheflow]

66. Wynona Judd covering Skynyrd's Freebird.

Makes my ears bleed every time I hear it.

Oops, posted in the wrong place, but what the hell. It's only the Lounge. :)

[KamaAina]

32. Johnny Cash covering Nine Inch Nails??!!

I mean, really, NIN covering Cash would be weird, but comprehensible. But the other way around??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

And the hell of it is -- it's good! It's damn good!

[nomorenomore08]

71. He also covered Depeche Mode, Soundgarden, and Nick Cave, so it's not like he was totally oblivious

to contemporary music. Unlike, say, Rod Stewart, Cash actually became a possibly BETTER interpreter of songs as he got older.

[lady raven]

33. Public Image Limited covering Springsteen's "Born in the USA"

I don't know where the video is anymore, but a friend sent me the link a couple of years ago. It was just part of the song and followed by some rude commentary (of course), but I never imagined they'd even touch that.

[Sebastian Doyle]

39. Couldn't find that one, but this one is just as weird

A rap version by a Jazz guy - Stanley Clarke

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZhNQhl6qUQ


I do have to admit, now I'm curious as to what Mr. Lydon would have done with that song.

[Ptah]

34. I'm an Old Cowhand on Lawrence Welk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej-gAKR6OMI

[Sebastian Doyle]

42. That's not the funniest Lawrence Welk cover version though

This is......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye3ecDYxOkg

...especially the opening commentary by Myron Floren and the closing comments by old man Welk himself. Modern spiritual, huh? :rofl:

[Ptah]

50. I had forgotten about that one!

Thanks for the spiritual!

:applause:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

36. Chrissie Hyne singing "Have Yourself Merry Little Christmas".

It is truly hideous -- and I love Chrissie. Some things just should never be.

[southpaw]

37. Dynamite Hack doing NWA's "Boys in the Hood"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMlPVpXtkJY

[Sebastian Doyle]

40. If you gotta be a one hit wonder, might as well do it right.

I remember that one when it originally came out. I think I even synced up my NWA CD to it once, so they were singing along with the original version. Excellent choice!

[Nickster]

41. Insane Clown Posse-Let's Go All The Way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKbdoRnmEbs

[anneboleyn]

46. Siouxsie and the Banshees doing "Dear Prudence"! It's awesome, and it's hard to do a Beatles tune

well. This version is really striking -- Siouxsie's vocals are just smashing.

[Kutjara]

47. Oasis's "Wonderwall" as performed by...

...Mike Flowers Pops:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15YA0nHpGfI

Or how about the (thankfully) inimitable William Shatner's version of Pulp's "Common People"?

http://www.last.fm/music/William+Shatner/+videos/+1-SRPa0GhxGUs

[anneboleyn]

48. There is also a great version of "Wonderwall" by Wellesley's acapella singing group

It is really a lovely version of the song. Very ethereal and haunting. I think it can be found on ITunes.

[greendog]

49. Heartbreak Hotel - John Cale & Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDe-HcHJsX0

[mitchum]

62. That is exquisite

a favorite

[JVS]

51. Lawrence Welk does "One Toke Over The Line"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye3ecDYxOkg

[Sebastian Doyle]

53. Uhh.... see post #42

Worth a repeat though. :evilgrin:

[JCMach1]

55. That has completely thrown my day sideways

:wtf: :wow:

[behave]

52. Wayne Newton...Blowin' In the Wind

[MrSlayer]

57. Tori Amos covering Slayer's "Raining Blood".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz0Q91VFsOk

[SeattleGirl]

58. The Lawrence Welk Orchestra, doing "Hound Dog", featuring

Norma Zimmer, "The Champagne Lady."

:rofl:

[jeff30997]

59. Celine Dion : You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEswnMQRsYU

Baaarf! :puke:

[TBreeze]

60. Mandy Moore sings Rihanna's 'Umbrella'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMB6YOWzQMY

[bbernardini]

75. That's nothing...here she is singing XTC's "Senses Working Overtime":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CBitiaTkdY

[bbernardini]

76. And Todd Rundgren's "Can We Still Be Friends":

With a stupid fan-made Star Wars video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rAc22l07F8

[Radical Activist]

63. White Stripes doing Jolene.

Great version.

[bettyellen]

64. Prince does Joni Mitchell's "Case of You" I can't find a video but i love his version

[cemaphonic]

72. That does sound cool.

It's not actually all that surprising though. Prince used to be a huge Joni Mitchell fanboy before he hit it big, with fanmail and everything.

Ah, here we go:
http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/music/pop/11888/

But even when you were somewhat obscure, so many musicians were citing you as an influence or even name-checking you in songs. Of all the musicians and rappers who have cited you as an influence, whose work do you appreciate most?
Prince. Prince attended one of my concerts in Minnesota. I remember seeing him sitting in the front row when he was very young. He must have been about 15. He was in an aisle seat and he had unusually big eyes. He watched the whole show with his collar up, looking side to side. You couldn’t miss him—he was a little Prince-ling. Prince used to write me fan mail with all of the U’s and hearts that way that he writes. And the office took it as mail from the lunatic fringe and just tossed it!

[Tikki]

68. Improbable?....I don't know...but a long, long time apart....

Like over 50 years...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b70WeV7cu8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDtP9zEY3Y

Leadbelly sang this song, also.

Tikki

[hellbound-liberal]

69. Masters of Chant doing Stairway to Heaven-The way God wanted it done!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGv97-9N5rc

[nomorenomore08]

73. Easy answer: 'Pat Boone in a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8zi4oFdUek

[cemaphonic]

74. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings do a number of fun, improbable covers.

Manic Depression and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun come to mind.

As well as some non-improbable, but excellent covers like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXf-SuBbJa0

[Sebastian Doyle]

78. Black Flag - Louie Louie

Actually this is more like a cover version of a cover version, because it's nothing at all like the version they released as a single......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlB8FEwKNcM

[hellbound-liberal]

79. Jethro Tull doing Led Zeppelin's Kashmir with Lucia Micarelli

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHsxmjpkeFI

[PVnRT]

80. "Viva Las Vegas" - Dead Kennedys

And it's not ironic or changed, like "I Fought The Law."

[Tommy_Carcetti]

81. The Gypsy Kings' spanish version of "Hotel California"

Best known as the song Jesus bowls to in The Big Lebowski.