When the cover beats the original

[Inferno]

Usually, I'm not a big cover fan, but sometimes we discover that the original version doesn't meet our expectations ! Here's an example...

Song : Love don't live here anymore

Cover by City and Colour (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVaA81Gl9xM)

Original version by Rose Royce (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5gFAiPJhvI)

I have another one in mind... but come on and post some.

[Vyk]

I posted in a thread of this sort a while back. And was deemed inhuman for preferring Tool's cover of "Imagine" to the original Lenon. It sounds depressing and creepy and I love it

I have a massive collection of Paint it Black covers. The one by GOB for the Stir of Echoes soundtrack was really good. And there's one done by the London Symphony Orchestra I believe which is an -amazing- orchestral rendition

[Moon Rabbits]

I posted in a thread of this sort a while back. And was deemed inhuman for preferring Tool's cover of "Imagine" to the original Lenon. It sounds depressing and creepy and I love it

I thought that was APC and not Tool? Either way, I prefer the APC version.

One thing I won't stand for is people saying Placebo's version of Running Up That Hill is better than Kate Bush's. Because it isn't. It's good, just not that good.

[Slothy]

I posted in a thread of this sort a while back. And was deemed inhuman for preferring Tool's cover of "Imagine" to the original Lenon. It sounds depressing and creepy and I love it

I thought that was APC and not Tool? Either way, I prefer the APC version.

It was APC, and I prefer it as well. But then, I've never been a fan of the Beatles or any of their subsequent projects after they split up. I also like APC's cover of When the Levee Breaks. Not more than the original but it was a pretty cool take on it.

I have to say that I like the Tea Party's cover of Paint it Black. I'm not to surprised that I like a cover of the only Stone's song I find decent by one of my favourite bands more than the original.

[TheAbominatrix]

I've never heard that cover of Imagine, now I'm intrigued.

As I just woke up all I can think of is the obvious, Hendrix's cover of Dylan's All Along the Watchtower. I love Dylan, but I much prefer Hendrix's version. Way more fun.

I heard a rare Clapton cover of a Hendrix song and I was completely in love with it... but now I cant remember what that song was. Oh well.

[Vyk]

I've only heard it once. It was on the radio. And introduced as Tool. So that's the radio announcer dude's bad, not mine :P Thanks for the correction though

[Bunny]

YouTube - Johnny Cash - 'Hurt" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)

I'm just going to leave this here.

[I Don't Need A Name]

I can't really think of anything...

But if anyone says Leona Lewis' cover of 'Run' then all their opinions shall become invalid.

[Raistlin]

YouTube - Johnny Cash - 'Hurt" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)

YES. I'm also going to have to second APC's "Imagine."

[demondude]

imo Florence + The Machine's version of 'you got the love' is pretty win.

[NorthernChaosGod]

As I just woke up all I can think of is the obvious, Hendrix's cover of Dylan's All Along the Watchtower. I love Dylan, but I much prefer Hendrix's version. Way more fun.
YES. So much better.


YouTube - Johnny Cash - 'Hurt" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)

I'm just going to leave this here.

YES

I think APC's Imagine is pretty good too.

[Imperfectionist]

Ooh Johnny Cash - Hurt and Florence + the Machine definately :D

Also, Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah is pretty good

[Quindiana Jones]

All three of my favourite covers have been covered here. Cash, Buckley, Hendrix.

[Kossage]

"Mombasa" by Denigrate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DIlHCdVg4A), definitely. :)

[Moon Rabbits]

YouTube - Johnny Cash - 'Hurt" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)

I'm just going to leave this here.

Oh yes.

[Cuchulainn]

My Friend Died So I Slightly Altered My Old Song Elton John's version of 'Candle In The Wind' was much better than Hat Wearing Never Knew You But Here You Go Elton John's version.

[Slothy]

I've only heard it once. It was on the radio. And introduced as Tool. So that's the radio announcer dude's bad, not mine :P Thanks for the correction though

It's cool. You may have mis-heard or the radio announcer may have gotten mixed up since Maynard James Keenan sings in both bands.

I also can't believe I forgot Hendrix's version of Watchtower. Mind you, I'm a fan of pretty much every version I've heard, whether it's by Dylan, Dave Matthews Band or Bear McCreary.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Jeff Buckley's and Rufus Wainright's covers of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

[I Took the Red Pill]

There is no such thing as "opinion" in matters such as this; if you think A Perfect Circle's cover of Imagine is better than Lennon's version, you are wrong.

but yeah chalk up another one for mr. cash.

[Slothy]

There is no such thing as "opinion" in matters such as this; if you think A Perfect Circle's cover of Imagine is better than Lennon's version, you are wrong.

The only opinion that is wrong is that there can be a wrong opinion regarding music.

So I'm going to go right on not liking Lennon's music thanks. :p

[Inferno]

YouTube - Johnny Cash - 'Hurt" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)
Sweet stuff, really

Here's another obvious one : The man who sold the world

David Bowie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x5OubSeb-U)

Nirvana (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fregObNcHC8)

[scrumpleberry]

One thing I won't stand for is people saying Placebo's version of Running Up That Hill is better than Kate Bush's. Because it isn't. It's good, just not that good.

No, it's just plain awful. (I think the Futureheads' version of Hounds of Love is a decent cover.)

Hmm. I might edit some in later, nothing comes to mind right now.

I like Nouvelle Vague, I think they're a great cover band and they've pwned some of the original songs.

[TheAbominatrix]

YouTube - Johnny Cash - 'Hurt" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)
Sweet stuff, really

Here's another obvious one : The man who sold the world

David Bowie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x5OubSeb-U)

Nirvana (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fregObNcHC8)

Damn, how did I forget that? Win win win. The cover is so superior to the original, and I say that as a huge Bowie fan.

[Vyk]

I just heard Metallica on the radio today and remembered they used to be a good band. And when they were a good band, they did a pretty good cover of Turn The Page (At least I think that's the name of the song)

[Quindiana Jones]

YouTube - Johnny Cash - 'Hurt" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)
Sweet stuff, really

Here's another obvious one : The man who sold the world

David Bowie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x5OubSeb-U)

Nirvana (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fregObNcHC8)

Damn, how did I forget that? Win win win. The cover is so superior to the original, and I say that as a huge Bowie fan.

Aw man, I'm on the same page as The Abominatrix here. I can't believe I forgot this. :blush:

[NorthernChaosGod]

I just heard Metallica on the radio today and remembered they used to be a good band. And when they were a good band, they did a pretty good cover of Turn The Page (At least I think that's the name of the song)

Yeah, that's it. It's pretty good stuff too.

[Rad Bromance]

I much prefer Bjork's cover of "It's Oh So Quiet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1A_uSEjTIQ)" to the original (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=horRWtbAJoI&feature=related).

I also prefer Cascada's "What Hurts the Most (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBl3yrXqrUE)" over the original by far.

And I really prefer Deja Vu's cover of "Against All Odds (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDMDOa10Gvs)".

I also, like others in this thread, prefer Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt" waaaaay more than the original.

I know there's several other examples for me but I can't think of them right off hand.

[Rantz]

YouTube - Johnny Cash - 'Hurt" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)

Also, Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah is pretty good

Here's another obvious one : The man who sold the world

I like Nouvelle Vague, I think they're a great cover band and they've pwned some of the original songs.

I agree with all of these. My favourite Nouvelle Vague cover would be "Come on Eileen"! I also love Mason Jennings cover of Dylan's "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll". The original is hard to beat, but I think Mason does it. Cat Power has some original artists beat on her album "The Covers Record", same with Patti Smith on her "12" (her "Gloria" is also the best version of that song).

Oh, and let's not forget Fiona Apple! Her cover of "Across the Universe" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gLWTtlMwo4) has Beatles' version beat by a mile imo. She does Elvis Costello's "I Want You" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiOmhOumh-w) really well, too.

Uh... what else? Ooh, I just found this new artist, Anna von Hausswolff, who recorded a version of "Gloomy Sunday" which surpasses any other version I've heard of it yet including Billie Holiday's. Can't find a link, sadly.

Others in no particular order:
Amy Winehouse - "Valerie" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU8npcrD448)
The Byrds - "Mr. Tambourine Man" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVnU_WaTvdc)
Meaghan Smith - "Here Comes Your Man" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6xTUrntTno) (totally cute live video!)
Nostalgia 77/Alice Russell - "Seven Nation Army" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNpidAAMQSo) (hells yeah outclasses the original so hard)
Marilyn Manson - "Tainted Love" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rUD2HQrIjE)
She & Him - "I Should Have Known Better" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9ogvC-r8xI)
Hanne Hukkelberg - "Break My Body" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVByiY_ExQ0)

[Vyk]

Ohh... Marilyn Manson, that reminds me, I liked his version of Sweet Dreams

[Bunny]

There is no such thing as "opinion" in matters such as this; if you think A Perfect Circle's cover of Imagine is better than Lennon's version, you are wrong.

I'm going to have to agree with this. I like APC and I've never been a fan of the Beatles but that cover was horrible.

[I Don't Need A Name]

New Found Glory do a few good covers, like Kiss Me and Lovefool, which can be more bareable than the originals

[Inferno]

Cake - I will survive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=596qaxm-u4o)

I hate the original version so much... maybe the most overplayed song of all time

[LunarWeaver]

I like Fiona Apple's cover of Across the Universe and Sally's Song. :mymelbert:

[Cuchulainn]

I also prefer Cascada's "What Hurts the Most (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBl3yrXqrUE)" over the original by far..

Are you sure Far sung that? Far are one of the greatest bands ever and I've pretty much their whole CD collection. I do not remember this :bou::bou::bou::bou:, they were post-grunge. Anyway Cascada? Seriously? That 'act' is probably the first thing I'd point to if someone asked me to show them one soulless, over-produced, under-talented act what disgusts you in the music industry.

[Slothy]

Are you sure Far sung that? Far are one of the greatest bands ever and I've pretty much their whole CD collection. I do not remember this :bou::bou::bou::bou:, they were post-grunge.

I'm really not sure if you're joking here.

Just in case, "by far" is an expression. In this case it means they like that version of the song a lot more than the original.

[Rad Bromance]

I also prefer Cascada's "What Hurts the Most (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBl3yrXqrUE)" over the original by far..

Are you sure Far sung that? Far are one of the greatest bands ever and I've pretty much their whole CD collection. I do not remember this :bou::bou::bou::bou:, they were post-grunge. Anyway Cascada? Seriously? That 'act' is probably the first thing I'd point to if someone asked me to show them one soulless, over-produced, under-talented act what disgusts you in the music industry.
Huh? I didn't even know there was a band called "Far". :p

[Cuchulainn]

Are you sure Far sung that? Far are one of the greatest bands ever and I've pretty much their whole CD collection. I do not remember this :bou::bou::bou::bou:, they were post-grunge.

I'm really not sure if you're joking here.

Just in case, "by far" is an expression. In this case it means they like that version of the song a lot more than the original.

There really is a band called Far.

Far on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads (http://www.myspace.com/far)

[I Don't Need A Name]

Amy Winehouse - "Valerie" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU8npcrD448)

WHY RANTZ WHY! This cover is dreadfully painful :cry:


Marilyn Manson - "Tainted Love" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rUD2HQrIjE)

This, on the other hand, is good.

[charliepanayi]

Don't forget, the Soft Call version of Tainted Love is a cover too.

The original of Valerie isn't much good to start with, Winehouse's cover makes it even worse.

[Rantz]

;} I think it's pretty great, at least when heard on proper speakers. Listening to it on my laptop makes it pretty meh in my opinion. And the version featuring Mark Ronson is terrible.

[Jowy]

sup guys

<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gStGhm_qi98>"Pony" originally by Ginuwine. This is the best one I'm going to post.</a>

<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH_IG5tB5pU>"Sympathy for the Devil", Guns and Roses.</a>

<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upgejnlYgSE>"Optimistic" by Radiohead, sounds NOTHING like who it was covered by. </a> 8-)

<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inpKD4vXxZ4>"I Don't Wanna Grow Up", not as good as the original but it's still good.</a> It's hard to top Tom Waits <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo4Y0TxW41g>dressed as the devil, riding a tricycle, playing a tiny guitar, and being Tom Waits.</a>

Also I didn't read the first page so I'll assume someone already posted Nirvana's cover of "Man Who Sold The World".

And here's a horrible cover. <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5B1HqumqcM>Anywhere I Lay My Head.</a>

[I Don't Need A Name]

Not forgetting that Thin Lizzy - Whiskey In The Jar is (technically) a cover of a folk song, and that is awesome.

Arctic Monkeys - Love Machine is a good cover
Flyleaf - Stay (Far Away, So Close), mainly cause I HATE U2
I much prefer Jimmy Eat World's cover of Firestarter by the Prodigy.
Word Up - KoRn is better than Cameos.
And finally, Triviums cover of Iron Maiden is pretty good, not better than the original though. Maybe on par? Just like Machine Heads cover of Hallowed Be Thy Name.

[Fatal Impurity]

I can't believe no one mentioned Guns 'N Rose's cover of "Knockin' on heavens door" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcWTTs8QVRc) by Bob Dylan.

Also anyone who mentioned Johnny Cash's Hurt deserves praise.

[Bunny]

sup guys
<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upgejnlYgSE>"Optimistic" by Radiohead, sounds NOTHING like who it was covered by. </a> 8-)

sup eric

not better than the original though, but still oddly good


Also anyone who mentioned Johnny Cash's Hurt deserves praise.

get to it then

[Pheesh]

APC's cover/mesh-up of Love Song by The Cure and Diary of a Madman by Ozzy Osbourne is one of the most clever covers I've ever heard.

link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwxkuR4uzDs)

Also, It took me a while to get into it, but I do like Sarah Blasko's cover of Flame Trees (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKjd41WZygU) by Cold Chisel. It's probably not as good as the original, but it's different, and beautiful for different reasons.