Greatest Cover Songs

[NeoCracker]

You guessed it, what are your favorite Cover Songs?

Most recently for me would be Cake - War Pigs (Black Sabbath Cover)

A couple other greats are Marlyn Manson - PPersonal Jesus, and Korn - Word up.

Though no cover has ever met the level of Awesome that is

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal (http://youtube.com/watch?v=hxeNZOLNh4c)

[Rengori]

Guns n' Roses' cover of the Rolling Stones', "Sympathy for the Devil."

[El Bandito]

Jimi Hendrix - "All Along the Watchtower"
The Specials - "A Message to You Rudy"
Reel Big Fish - "Take on Me"

Those are the ones that come immediately to mind.

[charliepanayi]

Jeff Buckey - Hallelujah
PJ Harvey - Highway 61 Revisited

[Ouch!]

Jeff Buckey - Hallelujah
Yes.

Also, Cake's version of "I Will Survive" is perhaps the most awesome thing since sliced bread. I really respect covers more when a band takes a song and manages to make it different enough that it actually warrants a cover.

[Germ Hamee]

Smells Like Teen Spirit ~ Tori Amos
Orestes ~ Evanescence

[Breine]

Jeff Buckey - Hallelujah
Yes.

I third that. Also, Johnny Cash - "Hurt" is an amazing cover song. Fiona Apple - "Across the Universe" is also pretty good.

There are definitely are more out there, but I couldn't think of more.

[blim]

One of Les Claypools side projects (cant remember which) do agreat cover of King Crimsons Theela Hun Ginjeet

[Rye]

Johnny Cash - Hurt is the single best cover in the world. It surpasses the original on so many levels.

[Resha]

Jeff Buckey - Hallelujah
Yes.

I third that. Also, Johnny Cash - "Hurt" is an amazing cover song. Fiona Apple - "Across the Universe" is also pretty good.


I fourth that. I came into this thread with only that song in my mind xD

But seconded Johnny Cash's "Hurt", Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" (although I think the Dylan version is hugely underrated; but I'm a sucker for acoustic guitar!) and also Cash's "One Love".

[Loony BoB]

Jeff Buckey - Hallelujah
This is arguably the most beautiful song I have ever heard. Other people have sung the song and it was nice, but Jeff's version is stunningly beautiful. I was making a list of 'masterpieces' about a year ago and this made it. Beyond words, really.

I also agree with Johnny Cash - Hurt and Reel Big Fish - Take On Me

Here's a few others for people to think over... the bold ones in particular I'm personally quite fond of. A lot of them I've just listed because they're incredibly famous rather than I personally like them, though.
Gene Kelly - Singin' in the Rain
Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from My Friends
The Beach Boys - Barbara Ann
Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton - Big Yellow Taxi
DJ Sammy - The Boys of Summer
David Bowie - China Girl
N-Trance - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Elvis Presley - Hound Dog
The Clash - I Fought The Law
Green Day - I Fought The Law
UB40 with Chrissie Hynde - I Got You Babe
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
Diana Ross - I Will Survive
Mariah Carey & Trey Lorenz - I'll Be There
Smash Mouth - I'm A Believer
Guns N' Roses - Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Pearl Jam - Last Kiss
Eric Clapton - Layla
Club Nouveau - Lean On Me
Guns N' Roses - Live and Let Die
Gary Jules - Mad World
Louis Armstrong - Moon River
Annie Lennox - No More I Love You's
Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
Dean Martin - Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
UB40 - Red Red Wine
Aretha Franklin - Respect
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Sixpence None the Richer - There She Goes
Go West - The Tracks of My Tears
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
My Chemical Romance and The Used - Under Pressure (for months, I refused to listen to this cover because the original was so great and I didn't think they'd do it any justice - I accidentally heard it some day and admittedly liked it)
Run DMC and Aerosmith - Walk This Way (not sure if this one counts)
Bette Midler - The Wind Beneath My Wings
Dusty Springfield - You've Got a Friend
Quindon Tarver - When Doves Cry

Some of these I was really surprised to discover they were covers, though.

[Monsey]

Manic Street Preachers covering Chuck Berry- Rock'n'Roll Music is a classic

[Shiny]

Gary Jules - Mad World
Soft Cell - Tainted Love

Love these two. The original Mad World by Tears for Fears was less subtle. The cover by Jules is both subtle and soothing with an eerie touch. The sad music matches the makes a sad lyrics more sad whereas the original made it all upbeat and what not.

As for Tainted Love, out of all the covers I've heard of this song (and there is a crap load) I liked Soft Cell's the most.

[Spatvark]

Nothing Compares 2 U or Wild World by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

[blim]

Also Jimi Hendrix's version of Hey Joe is obviously a great tune.

[El Bandito]

Eric Clapton - Layla

Er...the original was by Derek and the Dominoes AKA Eric Clapton and Duane Allman's blues-rock supergroup. The song is about Eric Clapton's love for then-George Harrison wife Pattie Boyd. I'd say he deserves to be considered its original performer.:tongue:

Oh, and I forgot:

Manfred Mann's Earth Band - "Blinded by the Light"

I like Springsteen, but this cover is the one that ended up being a classic.

[Ramza Beoulve]

Jhonny Cash - Hurt
Megadeth - Paranoid
Evanescence - Thoughtless

Apocalyptica - Nothing Else Matters

[Resha]

I can't believe I missed this one out! Hoho.

"Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" -- Led Zeppelin. This cover rips me up, it's so gosh-darned gorgeous.

"Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" -- Joan Baez and the Indigo Girls. One of the prettiest versions of this song, and that's quite a compliment, as the original was itself really beautiful.

"Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" -- Joan Baez

[shuyin_zer0]

Utada-With Or Without You
Living on my own
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams

[Momiji]

I loved the Guns N' Roses cover of 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'. I forgot who did the original, though.

[charliepanayi]

I loved the Guns N' Roses cover of 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'. I forgot who did the original, though.

The great that is Bob Dylan!

[SammieBabe]

Jane's Addiction - Sympathy for the Devil - Its a live, acoustic version and its glorious..
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
Anything by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.
Goldfinger - 99 Luftballoons
Fiona Apple - Across the Universe
Save Ferris - Come on, Eileen
:)

[Roto13]

Joe Cocker does a fantastic cover of Come Together in the movie Across the Universe. Actually, that whole soundtrack (comprised entirely of Beatles covers) is pretty awesome. I think Dana Fuch's version of Helter Skelter on there is actually better than the original.

[Markus. D]

Fionna Apple - Sally's Song.

annnnd

Maralyn (sp?) Manson - This Is Halloween.

BEST THINGS EVER!

[I Took the Red Pill]

I've always been a bigger fan of Rufus Wainwright's version of Hallelujah than Buckley's.

[NeoCracker]

I think Maryln Manson would have been better for the Oogie Boogie song myself.

Panic! At the Disco's version of This is Halloween was much better. As is Fall Out Boy - Whats this.

[Roto13]

Oh god. Those are two of the worst covers I've ever heard. Are these people 12? Because they sound 12.

[Seraphic]

lol
Dana Fuchs Helter Skelter is godly imho
And Fiona Apples and Rufus Wainrights covers of Across The Universe are quite nice, Fiona Apples is better though.
Her cover of Sallys song is also a favorite of mine.
Oh and The Dresden Dolls cover of War Pigs <3

EDIT: Sarah Sleans cover of Karma Police by Radiohead is neato ;D

[Germ Hamee]

I think Maryln Manson would have been better for the Oogie Boogie song myself.

Panic! At the Disco's version of This is Halloween was much better. As is Fall Out Boy - Whats this.


Oh god. Those are two of the worst covers I've ever heard. Are these people 12? Because they sound 12.

Yeah, the Fall Out Boy one is pretty awful. But I really liked Panic! At the Disco's...

[tailz]

I'll make a small list first

nightwish- overthe hills and far away
nightwish- highest hopes

i cant help it I really like those songs and marco's voice on highest hopes is just awesome.

metallica- wiskey in the jar
metallica- brothers in arms

I think metallica's version of whiskey has way more power to it then thin lizzy's version (niet that that one is bad or anything) and brothers in arms is one of my favorite dire straits songs when i heard tallica covered it I really hope they did a good job, and well they did, I hope they are going to play this one more often.

offspring - total immortal
offspring - sin city

total immortal is imo way better then the original dexters voice fits this song perfectly.

and I also really like the ataris version of boys of summer.

and also a lot of punk/ska covers are pretty cool :)

[Big D]

William Shatner - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

So fundamentally bad, it's great.

[Seraphic]

My Humps - Alanis Morissette

Best thing in the world <3

[blim]

William Shatner - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

So fundamentally bad, it's great.

His cover of "Common People" is even better/worse

[Vincent, Thunder God]

Yes' version of Paul Simon's America immediately comes to mind.

Also, The Nice's version of Bernstein's America as well.

[Sing the Sorrow]

I like Killswitch Engaged's cover of Holy Diver by Dio. Good stuff

[Captain Maxx Power]

William Shatner - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

So fundamentally bad, it's great.

Everything Shatner covers becomes a bazillion times more awesome.

I'm going to go ahead and have a scan through my Winamp for cover songs;

Apocalyptica - Domination
Faith No More - War Pigs
Lacuna Coil - Enjoy The Silence
Metallica - Am I Evil?

That's about it.

[Tallulah]

Manic Street Preachers covering Chuck Berry- Rock'n'Roll Music is a classic

Agreed. I stuck this on my iTunes a couple of weeks ago; I had to downsize my single CD collection... :(

The Klaxon's version of It's Not Over Yet is much much better than the original by Grace. And Leonna Lewis' version of Snow Patrol's Run is much more beautiful and less depressing than the original (even though I'm still not that keen on it)

[LunarWeaver]

My Humps - Alanis Morissette

Best thing in the world <3

Hahaha yes. :aimkiss:


I like a ton that have already been mentioned =O Especially the covers done for Nightmare Before Christmas (even the Panic and Fallout Boy, whooa!) I also really like Local H's cover of Toxic. Grunged up pop is the bestie best.

[ff7+ff10 gurl 100]

Panic! at the Disco - Karma Police

Seriously, it's amazing. See for yourself. :)

YouTube - Panic! At the Disco- Karma Police (Live in Denver) (http://youtube.com/watch?v=wXhtX_xjRBc)

[El Bandito]

Panic! at the Disco - Karma Police

Seriously, it's amazing. See for yourself. :)

YouTube - Panic! At the Disco- Karma Police (Live in Denver) (http://youtube.com/watch?v=wXhtX_xjRBc)

Wow, that sounds like karaoke. It doesn't nearly have the same soul that it does with Thom singing. It's just kinda...hollow.

oh, and I forgot some sarcastic gangsta rap covers that I enjoy:

Ben Folds - "Bitches Ain't :skull::skull::skull::skull:"
Dynamite Hack - "Boyz in the Hood"

[Roto13]

Mat Weddle - Hey Ya. :P

[NeoCracker]

I forgot about Boyz in the Hood, another thats epic win .

And of course, Joss Stone - Fell in love with a Boy. (A cover of the White Stripes - Fell in love with a Girl)

[Shiny]

Also, Lauryn's Hills cover of Can't Take my Eyes Off You.

[Bunny]

"Baby Got Back" by Jonathan Coulton and anything by Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine.

[o_O]

Mat Weddle - Hey Ya. :P

Yeah, I was gonna post that. :p

[Momiji]

I like Killswitch Engage's cover of Holy Diver by Dio. Good stuff

I didn't like that one at first, but I'm warming up to it. :D

[blim]

i hated the original but i love what they did with Flaming Lips - Can't Get You Out Of My Head (live) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbrpsan8mTQ&feature=related)