When the cover beats the original

[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.

[Inferno]

YouTube - Johnny Cash - 'Hurt"

Sweet stuff, really

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

David Bowie

Nirvana

[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"

Sweet stuff, really

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

David Bowie

Nirvana

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"

Sweet stuff, really

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

David Bowie

Nirvana

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.

[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" to the original.

I also prefer Cascada's "What Hurts the Most" over the original by far.

And I really prefer Deja Vu's cover of "Against All Odds".

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"

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" has Beatles' version beat by a mile imo. She does Elvis Costello's "I Want You" 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"
The Byrds - "Mr. Tambourine Man"
Meaghan Smith - "Here Comes Your Man" (totally cute live video!)
Nostalgia 77/Alice Russell - "Seven Nation Army" (hells yeah outclasses the original so hard)
Marilyn Manson - "Tainted Love"
She & Him - "I Should Have Known Better"
Hanne Hukkelberg - "Break My Body"

[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.