Covers that are better than the original - Page 2

Grand Skeem.

You rule! Thanks.

Not only do I think Nirvana's version smokes Bowie's, but Redd Kross also make a huge improvement on Saviour Mahcine.

Haven't heard it. But I've heard more than enough Nirvana, thanks.

Anthrax - Got The Time

Bad Brains with Rollins - Kick Out The Jams

Aretha Franklin - Respect

"Song To The Siren" - This Mortal Coil (orig. Tim Buckley)
"Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley (orig. Leonard Cohen)
"Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" - Stevie Ray Vaughan (orig. Jimi Hendrix)
"Silver Lining" - Bonnie Raitt (orig. David Gray)
"Sunrise" - Simply Red (orig. Hall & Oates as "Can't Go For That")
"Never Can Say Goodbye" - Jimmy Somerville (orig. Jackson 5)

There are others in my memory... I'll get them out in a minute.

This is blasphemy to some, but I actually prefer REM's cover of "Pale Blue Eyes" to the VU's original. The original version is fantastic, but something about REM's sweet, lilting country version just gets me every time. Also, their cover of Pylon's "Crazy" blows away the original in every possible way.

I'll take the minority view when it comes to Dylan covers. With the exception of "All Along the Watchtower" I prefer Dylan singing his own songs. He might not have the best voice in the world, but he's got so much character and he sings with so much passion and conviction that it more than makes up for it. Pretty much every cover I hear of a Dylan song reminds me of Manfred Mann's cover of "Blinded by the Light", a watered down and pale version of the original.

True, but don't you think that Dylan covers make for an excellent introduction to Dylan's work? Nothing is better than having someone like a song, telling them that it is actually a Bob Dylan work, then suggesting that they seek out the original.

Of course, I have to say that Nina Simone's version of "I'll Shall Be Released" might better Dylan's own.

I usually like Dylan's originals, too, but it's hard to argue with a lot of the Byrds' versions of his tunes and especially "All Along the Watchtower" (which Dylan himself now plays in the style of Hendrix).

I have sort of a soft spot for Neil Young's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," too, but I don't know if I'd call it better than Dylan's.

And, yes, Manfred Mann had a pretty good run of overdoing perfectly good Springsteen songs. I swear the guy must have covered (and fucked up) about 3/4s of Greetings from Asbury Park.

Yeah, that's a good point, it can make a nice introduction. I got turned onto a lot of bands through covers and influences. REM alone got me into The Velvet Underground, Mission of Burma, Television and Patti Smith.

And I've never heard the Nina Simone "I Shall Be Released". I might have to check that out. Springsteen did a pretty kickin version of "Chimes of Freedom" that's probably as good as the original.

There have been lots of great covers of Dylan tunes, but I don't really think any of them are BETTER than the Dylan versions. Hendrix excepted of course. The Byrds certainly did a job with their covers, but when I listen to Dylan perform "Mr. Tambourine Man" on the Royal Albert Hall cd it's just light years beyond The Byrds. But yeah, it's tough to argue with The Byrds, and afterall they brought a lot of recognition to Dylan by covering him and that certainly isn't a bad thing.

Neil Young's "Tom Thumb's Blues" is awesome.

I like REM's Pale Blue Eyes about equal to the original. I think their Femme Fatale is better than VU's version, but then I don't care for the original of that song. Big Star's Femme Fatale is better than VU's but not as good as REM's.

My complete and total dislike of Nico keeps me from enjoying the original Femme Fatale, so yeah I like the REM version better. The backing vocals in theirs rocks the pants off of the VU version.

Surf'n U.S.A. - by the Jesus and Mary Chain
World in My Eyes (Depeche Mode) - by the Cure
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - By Slayer
Save It For Later - by Harvey Danger

Pop Quiz: What is a bigger abortion?
It's my Life - by No Doubt
or
Pictures of You - by 311

Dixie Chicks-Landslide.

Just kidding.

Santa Esmerelda- Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Johnny Cash- Hurt

Beck's version of "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" on the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind OST is way better than the original...

Rage's cover of Devo's 'Beautiful World' was damn good. In fact, that Renegades record was fun all across the board.

As much as I dig the Cash, I can't agree his version of Hurt beats Reznor. It's great, but man, the original is just unbelievable.

Also, Letters to Cleo's version of 'I Want You To Want Me' from the 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU soundtrack was really really fun. But that's probably also because I hate Cheap Trick.

See, I didn't really like this cover. I felt like Rage didn't really GET this song. Maybe it's just me.

The Birthday Massacre-"Neverending Story"

Deftones-"The Chauffer" (Duran Duran)

Ministry-"Lay Lady Lay" (Bob Dylan-yeah that pisses you off, doesn't it? Let me say that this is most likely because I don't like Bob Dylan)

Revolting Cocks-"D'ya Think I'm Sexy?" (Rod Stewart-see Ministry explanation)

NIN-"Dead Souls" (Joy Division)



Not really better than the original but still very awesome:

Smashing Pumpkins-"Never Let Me Down Again" (Depeche Mode)

Deftones-"Say It Ain't So" (Weezer)

A Perfect Circle-"Ashes to Ashes" (David Bowie)

Moby-"New Dawn Fades" (Joy Division)



Also, as I was scanning this thread, I saw where one of you fruits said that Frente's version of "Bizarre Love Triangle" was better than the original. No. That is all.

Wesley Willis - Girls on Film

I liked No Doubts version.

Clash's version of I Fought the Law. the only cover that kicks ass IMO. most I can do without ie. Kid Rock, Limp Dick (I mean Bizcuit), and all the other crap out there now.

I thought our Alice Cooper was Rob Zombie. He's not really a zombie, you know. It's a stage act. Wheras Manson tries to make everyone believe that he's really like that offstage. Just my opinion.

led zeppelin- something else
led zeppelin- come on everybody

totally disagree. rage's original version of ghost was pretty great. far superior to the boss'.

i don't think you GET what rage attempted to do with the entire album of renegades. they weren't just trying to copycat all the songs. they were trying to recreate them into a rage song and they succeded in this. basically with 'beautiful world' they put a twist into it.

now onto my list...

rage - basically all of renegades
rage - fuck the police
tool - you lied
tool - no quarter
tool - demon cleaner
faith no more - war pigs
metallica - sabbra cadabra
cave in - n.i.b
system - metro
the blood brothers - under pressure

CYNDI LAUPER - When You Were Mine
SINEAD O CONNOR - Nothing Compares to You
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - Higher Ground
CHEAP TRICK - Don't Be Cruel
DAVID BOWIE - Sorrow
DURAN DURAN - White Lines
NINE INCH NAILS - Physical
THAT DOG (I think?) - Midnight at the OASIS
JOAN JETT - I Love Rock N Roll
SOFT CELL - Tainted Love
BOW WOW WOW - I Want Candy
BOY GEORGE - Funtime
JOAN JETT/ PAUL WESTERBERG- Let'd Do It
DAVID BOWIE - China Girl
INXS/JIMMY BARNES - Good Times
PSUEDO ECHO - Funky Town
BJORK - It's Oh So Quite (And I don't even like BJORK.)
JOAN JETT - Crimson and Clover
CONCRETE BLONDE - Everybody Knows
JOAN JETT - Love is All Around
DEAD OR ALIVE - Rebel Rebel
LICK the TINS - Can't Help Falling in Love
BERLIN - Live to Tell
ATARIS - Boys of Summer (Sorry, guys but I can't stand the original)
HUMAN LEAGUE - Rock N Roll
GUNS N ROSES - Since You've Been Gone
FASTER PUSSYCAT - Your'e So Vain
PET SHOP BOYS - It's Alright
KMFDM - Material Girl (Truely hilarious!)
AGE OF CHANCE - Kiss (A cut n paste punk/pop version of a Prince song....Brilliant!!)
PET (?) - Have You Never Been Mellow
GARTH BROOKS/KISS - Hard Luck Woman
WESLEY WILLIS - Girls on Film
DEAD OR ALIVE - Why's it So Hard?
BANANARAMA - Venus
KIM WILDE - You Keep Me Hangin' On
DIVINYLS - Hey Little Boy


I'm not sure if I agree(I haven't heard his version enough) but LOU REED once said that DURAN DURAN's version of his song PERFECT DAY was better than his original. He said their version was how he originally heard the song in his head but wasn't capable of making. Their version is quite good, fits SIMON's voice perfectly.

Covers I don't like/hate:

LAME BLONDE CHICK-Fell in Love with a Boy
PUFF DADDY- Anything and everything he's ever done using other people's music.
DYLAN's sons' band- Heroes
MARYLIN MANSON - Sweet Dreams (Pretty weak and bland.)
CYNDI LAUPER - Disco Inferno
DURAN DURAN - 911 is A Joke (Horrible song to begin with but their version is even worse.)
DURAN DURAN - Diamond Dogs (Oh so bland.)
SHERYL CROW - Sweet Child O Mine
NICK CARTER-I Want Candy
311 - Love Song (I mean, c'mon!)
MADONNA - American Pie
LENNY KRAVITZ - American Woman (Boring!)
BRITNEY SPEARS - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
SAMANTHA FOX - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
BANANARAMA - More, More, More
PET SHOP BOYS - Where the Streets Have No Name
AFTER the FIRE -Der Kommisar (Okay don't hate it just like the original better.)
PRETENDERS - Human (The original by the DIVINYLS rules!)




So, what I have learned from compiling this list is that JOAN JETT is the QUEEN of covers in my opinion. Most other artists are hit and miss.

Nope, I'm all man-the guy's voice kills me. I can't explain it better than that.

I just wanted to bump a thread about covers. BBC launched a album with covers. Listening to a Bowie cover I just thought there's no way anyone can match him. (yep the Zissou stuff was funny indeed)

Jazz artists are all about covers and I am surprised that noone has mentioned:
Coltrane - My Favorite Things

Another great more obscure jazz cover is Joshua Redman - St. Thomas.

99 Red Balloons - 7 Seconds

Day Tripper/She's a Rainbow - Bad Brains

Bring the Pain - Mindless Self Indulgence

I've always thought all the Rolling Stones early blues covers from when they were just starting out were better than the originals. No specifics, just all of them.

Faith No More: "Easy"
Dred Zeppelin: "Stairway to Heaven"
Goldfinger: "Stairway to Heaven"

"Tweeter and the monkey man" originaly by The Traveling Whilbury's
covered by the Headstones.

I'm gonna get blasted for this one but I prefer Metallica's "Turn the page" to Seger's.

A few I enjoy, although I wouldn't say there are better:

Korn: Word Up!
Anthrax: Got the Time
The Jesus and Mary Chain: Surf'n USA
Marilyn Manson: Golden Years
Sisters of Mercy: Give Me Shelter
Eric Clapton: I shot the Sheriff
The Cure: World in My Eyes
Depeche Mode: Route 66/Taking a Ride with My Best Friend
Mettalica: Last Caress

And if anyone says Gwen Stefani's "It's My Life" I'll cry.

I like "Come with Me" (Diddy) better than "Kashmir" (Zeppelin).

...


/runs

You better run!

You're a terrible man.

I really don't know what to add. Everything's been listed. Metallica's "Turn the Page" is somewhat okay, but it kinda misses the point of the song.

Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others - Placebo
Baker Street - Foo Fighters
Crazy Mary - Pearl Jam

Rufus Wainwright "One Man Guy" - covering his dad! irony in so many directions....

I had a joke about Rascal Flatts covering "Life is a Highway" from Cars, but I can't find it. I just know that song makes me want to stab my ears it's so fucking bad.

My uncle played that cover of "Life is a Highway" at a family party... twice. That's like playing "Our Country" by John Mellencamp at a party. And he's gay.

Pretty much proof that gay people can have no taste just like the rest of us.

I wanna fight you. I wanna bite you. Can't stand nobody like you, Luca.

Fuck off.

Between that and Puff Fuckin Daddy (who's a better designer than musician - and his clothing line sucks), I honestly don't know which one should be hated most.

Cash's cover of Hurt is by far the winner here.

"Across the Universe" - Fiona Apple

But it's close.