So, just a few little rules here, list some covers you think are just as good as the original but not only that, add a little bit of explanation so there's a bit of discussion going on, as long as no one's at eachother's throats or being overtly super serial then I see it as being no problem at all.
I can trust my fellow EoFFers to behave in a musical discussion. Right? RIIGHT?
Right.
For me I'd have to say for just as good:
Metallica - Blitzkrieg
I know the band's current lineup personally quite well but also some of the musicians who originally did this song and this is actually a very fitting cover. Metallica always did good covers though. It has the original feel and flow of the original with James Hetfield's then raspy voice fitting it perfectly.
Iced Earth - Hallowed Be Thy Name
Its hard to do an Iron Maiden cover I always reckoned, the synergy between Dave Murray and Adrian Smith even in recordings is at such a level it has this feel, some sort of spirit of its own which I think is why some of the songs from Iron Maiden in the 90's flopped as I think it was Adrian Smith that left the band.
But the baritone vocals from Matt Barlow here and the downtuned guitars here really do not only make the song their own but also make for a very fitting cover.
Blind Guardian - Beyond The Realms of Death
I'm a huge Judas Priest fanboy and I've seen some horrible, HORRIBLE covers done but this is the opposite, a fantastic cover I'd have never thought possible. The original emotion of Halford's voice and the way its sang is not only replicated well but its done so freely. The guitars are heavy and they are loud, yeah but they're like that to make up for the fact they got some of the tight licks from the original missed out but that's no bother, the drums and vocals and even the bass and hell, even the end solo is done so bloody well.
Judas Priest - Diamonds and Rust
Heard the original but although I have no love for it there's a shadow of emotion and feeling in there that's just quite missed in this innocent and informal leather and studs NWOBHM take of a slow ballad. Still, Priest made it such a catchy and iconic song somewhat and though it lacks the emotion in the recording, live, oh live it takes an entirely different form.
Judas Priest - The Green Manalishi
Yeah, I've heard the Fleetwood Mac version and well, although its not as dark I think Judas Priest just almost steal this song as their own. Putting in some grinding, haunting riffs and some air guitarrable lush-ness. With some awesome screaming at the end which has become as iconic as the song itself. Yep, good cover, in fact, my inner fanboy says its better! *gasp*
I'd list more but I can't really be arsed. So yeah, what about you guys?