What covers do you think are better than the original?
 

I was thinking about the dynamic of a musical group/artist performing a song by another artist, and the different kinds of covers there are. Some covers are reimaginings of the originals, while others are more of a tribute/mimic.

What covers do you think are better than the original? Why do you like them better?

For me, the three songs that immediately come to mind are , covered by The Killers - originally from Joy Division, , covered by Grand Duchy - originally from The Cure, and , covered by the late Johnny Cash, originally performed by Nine Inch Nails.

I personally love the Killers sound and think most of Joy Division is somewhat annoying, so the first is a no brainer. I love the vocals of the songstress of Grand Duchy, and the effect with the lyrics and musical sound is kinda haunting. Hurt just should have been done by Johnny originally - even Trent Reznor said so. Not exactly a revolutionary opinion.

In Flames' cover of Genesis' "Land of Confusion". The song is well written, but In Flames brought a different degree and type of intensity to the song, I think the style fits the song much better than the original. Anders Friden's vocal style at this time fits is perfectly, it does bring a bit more of a chaotic feel to the song, but not excessive as his former death metal style would have. Disturbed butchered the song shortly after the IF version was released, it was pretty awful.

Although Badfinger was, in some ways, ahead of its time, O'Sullivan's rendition was classic, haunting and timeless. Although I'm not a huge fan of Mariah Carey, when I first heard her version, I was amazed at what she was able to bring to the song. Chills, baby.

Original:


1st Cover:


2nd Cover:

The most poignant one in my mind is Big Sugar's cover of BTO's "Let It Ride." If you haven't heard that cover, it will blow your mind. The difference is that Gordie Johnson's take uses that fusion of blues/rock/reggae that made the band famous, but it really comes down to his soloing, which is simply blazing. The cover is bolder and more meandering than the original, which, by comparison, sounds too straight-ahead.

Susan Marshall's cover of Steely Dan's "Dirty Work" blows me away. Actually, anything she covers is amazing.

Dave Cousar (local guitar player) does a cover of Prince's "Little Red Corvette" that I can't get enough of. It's possible that he will have a recording of it in our lifetime.

John Cale's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"

7 Seconds' version of Nena's "99 Red Balloons"

Gary Jule's version of Tears For Fears' "Mad World"

I like k.d. lang's.

Also awesome.

Let's spend the Night Together" by Bowie:

nico's cover of the doors song "the end"

Awesome song, no matter who does it... but I really, really like Jeff Buckley's version.


I'm also a big fan of the Bangles' cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter" (Simon & Garfunkel originally.)

Well I was going to say Cash's Hurt, but that was solidly covered by the OP.

So I'll go with Alien Ant Farm's "Smooth Criminal":



I think MJ did some great songs, but Smooth Criminal was always really flat. His voice was uncharacteristically wispy and flat, and there was almost no bass/environmental affect to the obviously snythesized main line. AAF backed it up with some solid guitar and and a little bit more depth of voice in the lyrics.

It's worth nothing that AAF did almost nothing good after or before this cover, though. :)

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I actually like Disturbed's version a lot better, for the same 'intensity' without the screaming and thrashing of a guitar that I dislike about most heavy metal.

yes Jeff Buckley's version owns the rest IMO.

anyone who covers Dylan. that's *always* an improvement.

A whole thread without mention of the Renegades cover album by Rage Against the Machine? I made a playlist with each song back to back with what it was a cover of, and in 80-90% of the cases, I like the RATM cover better.

As a rule, I usually don't like covers that much. I can't think of a single one I would call better than the original...

Though, when I was about 15 I stumbled across a cover band by the name of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. The only reason I checked them out is because Fat Mike (lead singer and bassist for NOFX, my favorite band) plays bass for them. I wouldn't say any of their covers are better than the original, but I think the concept of this band is really fun and I enjoy just about every cover they've done.

One other cover I've heard that I enjoyed:

I haven't heard Cale's version, but I have a lot of contempt for the kd lang and rufus wainwright covers of Hallelujah. Completely unnecessary - Buckley already did that version. Plus, I just hate lang in general. Along with "Helpless", she has a track record for sucking the life out of others' songs.

I'll enter the necessary cliche of Hendrix and "All Along the Watchtower".

I'll probably be contested here, but I prefer the Foo Fighters version of "Baker Street".

And I'll give a vote for A Perfect Circle's hybrid cover, "Diary of a Lovesong".

By his own admission Buckley was covering John Cale's version of the song.

I love Me First & the Gimme Gimmes! The fact that they're a cover BAND negates any bad feelings I have towards covers. "One Tin Soldier" & "Mandy" are probably my favorites.

Totally need to dig that CD out now...

I was just looking at the "What are you listening to now" thread and Squeeb mentioned he was listening to Bauhaus' cover of "Ziggy Stardust." I'd completely forgotten about that cover. It's better than the original ... it takes a lot for me to say that because I am a die-hard Bowie fan.

I also think that the 1000 Homo DJs cover of Black Sabbath's "Supernaut" is better ... especially the one with ogre singing instead of Trent Reznor.

I think it goes without saying the best cover ever is probably Jimi's version of "All Along the Watchtower". I think it was even debated on this board a while back.

My favorites are Earth Wind and Fire's version of "Got To Get You Into My Life"

and Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Update" of Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)

Children of Bodom's cover of the Ramones Somebody Put Something in My Drink is sooooooooo much better.


I also like 311's version of Love Song better.

Foo Fighters - Baker Street
Cake - I Will Survive

There's very little Stevie Ray did that I don't enjoy, and while I certainly appreciate his interpretation of Slight Return, I don't see it as being superior or indeed even equal to the Experience.

It's my opinion that in order to be fully appreciated, Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) needs to be consumed within the context of Electric Ladyland. On it's own it's a happenin' track, but as a part of the whole it's so much more.

I feel almost compelled to record my own version of Hallelujah. It's not that I think I could do it better or even as well as it's been done already, but more that I have an inexplicable urge to add my voice to the chorus. It feels almost like a rite of passage.

There's another track that's been covered ad infinitum. The most famous version is probably that of the Beatles, but I've always felt that Buddy Guy imparted a passion to it that was unrivaled by any of the other performers. To be fair, Buddy Guy seems to approach all of his music with that passion, which I sometimes think must be exhausting:



Naturally opinions vary. This is mine.

EDITED to add this one:



There's something compelling about Jack Johnson singing about drugs and desperation.

EDIT the second:

Now that I've started I keep thinking of others.

Reel Big Fish are a bit sophomoric, but this is one of the few cases where I think the cover really is unambiguously superior to the original.

in addition to many of the songs already listed.....

everything me first and the gimme gimmes have done.

metallica's version of whiskey in the jar'o

every cover social distortion ever did

and mike ness' version of don't think twice


and him's version of wicked game

I forgot about this one. Good choice...

i've never been able to find a hard copy, but Eric Johnson's live cover of Hendrix' "Waterfalls" actually made me step outside myself once. Of course, I was listening to it live, wrapped around my SO, to be able to stand up straight, but it was spectacular.

HIM's cover of Wicked Game is great.

One of my favorite covers by a non-mainstream musician is Carlos Vamos playing Little Wing on an acoustic guitar.


I wouldn't say it's better than the original, but instead pleasantly different.

Smash Mouth's cover of I'm a Believer

I like Nina Simone's cover of Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues



I'm a huge Dylan fan, most folks know that, but I enjoy this version more than Dylan's original.

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah


MGMT - This Must Be The Place (Talking Heads) [this is a bad live version from YEARS ago]



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Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

A classic:


And this ...

Now that you say that, I really dug Bram Tchaikovsky's cover of that Neil Diamond tune.



http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...0fallbackd.jpg

Music here:


Bram Tchaikovsky - I'm a Believer / MP3 & Music Blog Song / The Hype Machine


But then I liked everything Bram did...

shatner's version (with joe jackson) of common people. beats the shit out of the pulp version


edit: i changed the vid, cause this one is better. watch it, it's worth it.

ooh, and jane's addiction's version of "ripple."

I hate the Cash/Hurt cover. Just because it has deep "meaning" and background doesn't make it a good performance.

In general, I love covers. Everyone posting in this thread needs to subscribe to the podcast Coverville. 3x a week, about a half-hour each, all covers, tremendously put together.

For cover improvement, I'll have to go with the song "Metro" originally by Berlin. I couldn't stand it in the 80s as a teenager. However, System of a Down kicks it. Great stops, great chunkiness, and the intro is awesome.

I like the Shins' cover of The Postal Service's We Will Become Silhouettes. They're both so different that they are excellent companions:




Kind of reminds me of Toad The Wet Sprocket's cover of Kiss' Rock n' Roll All Night:

Originally performed by Roy Orbison.



The Cramps never received the full attention they deserved.

Good call on the Shins/Postal Service cover. I forgot a favorite of mine:


of this postal service song

I'm not much of a deadhead but Sublime's cover of Scarlet Begonias destroys the original. Seriously one of my favorite songs ever:

Zakk Wylde.......Going To California. Hard to track down, but well worth it.

99 Problems - Jay Z