Cover versions

According to the old adage, you should never do a cover version of someone else's song, unless you can do it (a) much better or (b) very differently from them.

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?

2. Which are excitingly different?

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?

5. Any other thoughts on cover versions?

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?

Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah"

2. Which are excitingly different?
"House Of The Rising Sun" done by Muse. It's not out of this world different but it's great. Also "Tainted Love' by Marilyn Manson.

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?
Pretty much all of them. Oh "Jai Ho" done by the Pussycat Dolls. Blasphemy IMO :no:

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?
Pretty much anything by Muse and/or Radiohead though I'd be pretty offended if any songs by my favourite bands were re-done. I'm not really into that.

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
I agree with Hysteria, Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah.

2. Which are excitingly different?
Right Round by Flo Rida. He redid the song You Spin Me Right Round and I like the newer version much better than the older. That and Marilyn Manson's version of Sweet Dreams. I like the original better, but his version is cool and definitely a lot different.

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?

Marilyn Manson's version of Tainted Love. Soft Cell will always be the best at that song.

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?
There are many songs that I can name that would completely suck if done by someone else. I guess I would say anything done by Evanescence or Muse because those two bands are my absolute favorite and have amazing songs that I doubt anyone else can do better.

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
Honestly, all of the cover songs I have ever heard made me go *cringe*.

2. Which are excitingly different?
Um I guess "This Is Halloween" cover by Panic(!) at the Disco, was...ok..I liked the creepiness...^_^

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?
Tokio Hotel's cover of "Instant Karma" and NeverShoutNevers! "Hey Jude". Sorry guys, I love you. But no, just..no. And Avril's cover of Iris. Not meaning to offend her fans, but her performance made me bang my head on my table.

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?
Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. Any other song, it's semi-okay. But no-one, at all can cover Iris. Sorry, no way. No how. Johnny did that song perfectly. No.Covers.Please!

5. Any other thoughts on cover versions?
Nope

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?

The two songs which immediately spring to mind as ones which no-one should ever cover, under any circumstances, and any cover versions done so far have been deeply, deeply misguided are "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin and "American Pie" by Don McLean.

Trouble is, I have no idea why I think this, as there are songs I like just as much (e.g. "Ever Fallen n Love With Someone You Shouldn't have" by The Buzzcocks) which I am happy to see covered.

Another cover I like more than the original, Personal Jesus by Marilyn Manson (originally by Depeche Mode)

For Personal Jesus I would go with Johnny Cash's version. Love it. :D

There are quite a few good versions of Personal Jesus. I like Cash's too :)

Another cover I like more than the original, Personal Jesus by Marilyn Manson (originally by Depeche Mode)

:wow: Blasphemy!! Nobody could possibly EVER do this utter masterpiece by Martin Gore better than Depeche Mode!

Now I expect all of you above me who have slandered the absolutely perfect original of this genius song to apologise and hang your heads in shame.

Ok, I'm joking, but I do think that in this case, the original's brilliance is unattainable.

Does anybody like Nouvelle Vague? They're a tribute band and have made bossa nova interpretations of bands like The Clash, Depeche Mode, Joy Division, The Cure, Yazoo, Blondie, New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc. My fvourite one by them is Guns of Brixton, it's very dramatic. :)

Jeff Buckley & Hallelujah comes to mind right away...

But what about Cat Power? Like her cover of Wonderwall... It's haunting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeR1Mo8S7cs

Does anybody like Nouvelle Vague? They're a tribute band and have made bossa nova interpretations of bands like The Clash, Depeche Mode, Joy Division, The Cure, Yazoo, Blondie, New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc. My fvourite one by them is Guns of Brixton, it's very dramatic. :)

They're so good! In a manner of speaking... *sigh*

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley, its gotta be the best ever

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley, its gotta be the best ever

I came across this song the other day and read it's about orgasm :err: I had no idea. I had associated it with being spiritual... :whistle:

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
Feeling Good by Muse. I don't know who the original is by but I love this version!

2. Which are excitingly different?
Tainted Love - Marilyn Manson. Love it
Snow Patrol did a cover of Wonderwall by Oasis at the V festival, which was quite good.

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?
New Found Glory did a cover of the song Kiss Me and I thought it was awful and a band called PlayRadioPlay! did a cover of The Killer's Mr Brightside which I thought was worst cover version I have ever heard!

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?
Mmm, I would of said anything by Coldplay, Jack's Mannequin and Jimmy Eat World. Their songs are beyond perfect ... :lol:

5. Any other thoughts on cover versions?
Nope:lol:

TOOL's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdQGSykj6vo) of Zeppelin's "No Quarter" is better than the original by a long shot. The best part of the song is from 3:54 - 6:17.

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
Feeling Good by Muse. I don't know who the original is by but I love this version!
Nina Simone

I agree that's a great cover. So is Tainted Love (by Skinny Puppy), Milkshake (by Goodnight Nurse) and Like A Rolling Stone (by Anberlin) and I know the whole world loves Bob Dylan but I don't so I feel the Anberlin version is actually better...

Can I just add re the Marilyn Manson/ Soft Cell versions of Tainted Love- the Soft Cell version itself was a cover of a song originally recorded by Gloria Jones

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?

"Mad World" by Gary Jules is so much better than Tears for Fears' version.

2. Which are excitingly different?

I'm listening to "Heartbeats" by José González and I like it a lot. It's a completely different sound from the original, but that's what makes me like it - it's more of what I'd listen to.

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?

I habitually avoid covers of songs that are, to me, untouchable. All covers of the songs that fall in that category fail to me. :p

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?

I pretty much hate it when people cover The Beatles. Not only because I like their songs, but they mean so much to people who were alive in that time and evoked so much emotion out of others. I hate covers of Queen because Freddie Mercury's voice is so profound; very few can compare to him. Radiohead is so different, so hauntingly beautiful that covers with that would bother me.

I could go on and on. :lol: If I could pick one song, it would be "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin.

5. Any other thoughts on cover versions?
I think they're fine because it's usually a tribute to the artist. Or it's an attempt to better a song that has so much potential wasn't sung/played well. While I may not like all covers because I'm usually too attached to the original, I have no qualms with them.

I pretty much hate it when people cover The Beatles. Not only because I like their songs, but they mean so much to people who were alive in that time and evoked so much emotion out of others.

I don't like covers at all and I am a really obsessed Beatles fan, but I have to admmit to liking a cover of A Day in the Life by the Fall.

I also like the Byrds version of Tamborine Man much better than the Bob Dylan version.

I see it as more of a homage when a band like The Fall, who are credible with loads of talent do a cover version.

"Mad World" by Gary Jules is so much better than Tears for Fears' version.

It is lovely, but I love the original, too.

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
There is a song called America by Yes. I believe it was done by Simon and Garfunkel before Yes.

2. Which are excitingly different?
I don't really do cover versions of any songs....something just doesn't sit right with me.

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?
I wouldn't know, since i refuse to listen to them.

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?
look at 2 and 3

5. Any other thoughts on cover versions?
Don't do them when they sound like ****.

Just today I heard a country cover (not sure who sings it) on the radio of "Gotta Be Somebody" by Nickelback...ugh, it was truly awful! :argh:

Reminded me of Jack Ingram's cover of Hinder's "Lips of an Angel" from a few years ago, although that one actually sounded halfway decent

I love country, but when artists try to cover rock songs in a countrified manner it doesn't usually work :lol: They ruined 2 great songs... :relax:

^ While I dislike both of those songs an awful lot, I agree that country covers of other genres are generally not good. Crossing over genres with covers seems to be very much hit and miss from what I can tell, unless you get songs like White Wedding which has been covered by quite a few artists spanning various genres and all have a different, but good, take on it. Same with Depeche Mode's Enjoy The Silence.

I don't like covers at all and I am a really obsessed Beatles fan, but I have to admmit to liking a cover of A Day in the Life by the Fall.

Quite a few of Beatles' songs were covers.

^ While I dislike both of those songs an awful lot, I agree that country covers of other genres are generally not good. Crossing over genres with covers seems to be very much hit and miss from what I can tell, unless you get songs like White Wedding which has been covered by quite a few artists spanning various genres and all have a different, but good, take on it. Same with Depeche Mode's Enjoy The Silence.

But when crossover covers work they really work. And even if they fail cringeably, in a way I prefer that to people who cover a song and make it sound exactly the same as the original (or, in some cases, an earlier cover), copying every single detail of the previous singer's phrasing. Why bother doing a cover at all if you're not going to make it your own?

e.g. I used to love Simply Red's cover of "Money's Too Tight To Mention" until i heard the original and realised how slavishly Hucknall had copied the phrasing.

Nouvelle Vague make bossa nova covers of (mostly) new wave songs (all three expressions mean "new wave" in French, Potuguese, and English (obviously) respectively, which I find very neat) and they do it superbly. I especially love their rendition of The Clash's Guns Of Brixton - the original is heavily influenced by reggae, and the cover version is bossa nova, of course, but it works like clockwork. If you are into cover versions but haven't listened to them, I'd highly recommend their stuff. Very imaginatively done.

Nouvelle Vague make bossa nova covers of (mostly) new wave songs (all three expressions mean "new wave" in French, Potuguese, and English (obviously) respectively, which I find very neat)

:lol: That's a really clever conceit. I've just checked out their stuff on last.fm (which was probably a bad idea, as they're just going to chuck even more chillout and ambient at me in their recommendations. I don't know why they think that if you like TGU and folk then you must really love ambient. I do like some ambient, usually in small doses, but most of what last is throwing at me makes me feel like I'm at a yoga class or am on the telephone and have been put on hold.). Anyway, back to Nouvelle Vague - very clever, beautifully done, but I'm probably a bit too attached to the originals - New Wave really was my era.

I do like Limp Bizkit's version of 'Behind Blue Eyes' over The Who's IMO. Maybe it's because I heard Limp Bizkit's version first. I don't like any other Limp Bizkit's songs.

Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall' over Korn's version. I do like Korn's version, but I think the original is better.

and any cover versions done so far have been deeply, deeply misguided are "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin

There is an album Stairways to Heaven which compiles a series of covers done (mostly) by Australian tribute bands in the style of the band they play but without the tedious guitar solo. So the Beatnix played a Beatle-esque version, Rock Lobsters did it in the style of the B-52s.

Rolf Harris went to number one in the UK with his version I believe.

There is an album Stairways to Heaven which compiles a series of covers done (mostly) by Australian tribute bands in the style of the band they play but without the tedious guitar solo.

Ooh, sacrilege! You're trying to annoy me now, aren't you? :p

So the Beatnix played a Beatle-esque version, Rock Lobsters did it in the style of the B-52s.

Actually, that does sound kind of interesting.

Rolf Harris went to number one in the UK with his version I believe.

So? Being number one is not, in itself, an indicator of quality.

So? Being number one is not, in itself, an indicator of quality.

Of course not. Speaks volumes of the British record buying public though.

As an aside- you're talking about the country that made "Whats'a Matter You?" number one over Vienna by Ultravox...


There's a band that my brother likes that does rock versions of songs such as Brown Eyed Girl, Blowin in the Wind, and I can't remember what they're called...they're American I think...and I quite like their cover versions

As an aside- you're talking about the country that made "Whats'a Matter You?" number one over Vienna by Ultravox...

I was thinking of that, but hadn't mentioned it out of loyalty to my nation :lol:

I quite like the cover version of Guns'n'Roses' Sweet Child Of Mine they're using on the John Lewis Christmas ads. I read who it was by this morning, but I've forgotten. Very, very different from the original, but not in a car crash sense.

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
4hero's cover of Les Fleurs, originally by Minnie Ripperton
D'Influence's cover of Rock With You, originally by Michael Jackson


2. Which are excitingly different?
Not exactly cover versions, more reinterpretations, but Ready or Not by The Fugees (originally by The Delfonics) and Young Forever by Jay-Z (originally by Alphaville) would both qualify for me.


3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?
Just Can't Get Enough by The Saturdays, originally by Depeche Mode
Atomic by Sleeper, originally by Blondie
Pretty much every version of Stand By Me by Ben E. King


4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart by Al Green
Don't Stop Believing by Journey (Which unfortunately I have read is going to be the single for the X-Factor winner)
Sister Christian by Night Ranger
The Universal by Blur

I was thinking of that, but hadn't mentioned it out of loyalty to my nation :lol:

Haha, yeah, I did hesitate myself but I thought, what better proof to show that certain people in my country have more money than sense?

I actually like a cover version by the Simpsons- I can't remember what it was but it was on their Simpsons Sing the Blues CD

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?


The Monster Goes Rawrr's cover of Tik Tok http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5-25Ne47DY

Mindy White's and Anthony Green's Baby It's Cold Outside http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st3OshYNVBA


2. Which are excitingly different?
This guy's cover of Bad Romance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we9GWLC1xl8


3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?
Christofer Drew's Seven Years cover.


4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?

Any cover of any song sang by Craig Owens or Anthony Green will never ever be even worth listening to.
Especially Seven Years by Anthony Green and Lindsay Quit Lollygagging by Chiodos(Craig Owens sings it)

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
Johnny Cash's rendition of NIN's Hurt was brilliantly creepy and spine-tingling. IMO it's the gold standard for covers. Of course Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah was awesome as well. Tool once did a pretty good cover of Kyuss' Demon Cleaner. And there was Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance where they covered the old Leadbelly song Where Did You Sleep Last Night? which was also hauntingly brilliant.

2. Which are excitingly different?
Once again, the Cash version of Hurt. Marilyn Manson's Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This was pretty wierd and cool as well. Then, once again, Nirvana's acoustic cover of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World.

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?
I saw a Metallica tribute concert where Avril covered Fuel. It was terrible. Also no list of **** covers can not mention Celine Dion murdering the almighty Acca Dacca's You Shook Me All Night Long.

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?
There are a few. Stairway to Heaven, Smells Like Teen Spirit, most Jam songs, you get the picture.

5. Any other thoughts on cover versions?
If you're gonna cover a song, put your own spin on it.

"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye is another song that seems to be almost impossible to do a bad cover of - I've heard it done so many times, in so many genres, and it almost always sounds fantastic. I recently heard The Slits' punk/reggae version which is awesome and I've also heard Billy Bragg do a great folk acoustic version live.

Mind you, I think this goes for a lot of Motown, which is probably testimony to the quality of the songwriting.

One cover version which I prefer to the original is David Bowie's rendition of Across The Universe. I find John's singing in the original to be a little lacklustre at certain points, whereas Bowie never stops putting the feeling into it, IMO. I also love the fact that the backing vocals are done by John.

^ I'd agree with you on that one.

Covers which are, in my opinion, better than the original-
1. Just about every single version of White Wedding (love the song but think other artists have vastly improved on the original).
2. The Damned's cover of Ballroom Blitz by The Sweet (no particular reason, just personal taste).
3. Placebo's cover of Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush (this is an example of a cover being very different to the original. Kate Bush's version is far more upbeat and happy. Placebo's version is quite depressing IMO but I honestly think it suits the lyrics better. They do a beautiful job of it, it's haunting). Placebo also do a great cover of 20th Century Boy by T.Rex (but the original is unbeatable IMO).
4. Goon Moon's cover of Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You by the Bee Gees.
5. Anberlin's cover of Like A Rolling Stone I think is just as good as the original (but wouldn't dare say it's better, I fear the angry mob).

I really love Taylor Swift's cover of the song "Drive" originally by Alan Jackson. She also does a great cover of "Run" by George Strait and another song called "Untouchable".
Everything she sings is great, though! =)

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?
I actually hear covers before I hear the original a lot of times. Kind of puts a bias. Just today I found out The Killers "Romeo and Juliet" is a Dire Straits cover. When I heard the Dire Straits version, I couldn't listen to it.
Others that aren't necessarily better, but good:
Metallica - Turn the Page (Bog Seger)

2. Which are excitingly different?
Guns N Roses version of Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney)
Framing Hanley version of Lollipop (Lil Wayne)
Alien Ant Farm version of Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson)

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?
Forever the Sickest Kids covered Crazy Train (Ozzy) on some weird Punk Goes Classic Rock album. No good.

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?
Bohemian Rhapsody. And people have committed that sacrilege.

5. Any other thoughts on cover versions?
I have nothing against covers when done well

This is ever so slightly/not necessarily completely relevant to cover versions. But I found it amusing in the way it shows similarities between songs.


Word of warning: there's a couple of expletives along the way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pidokakU4I&feature=player_embedded

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?

Mad World by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews. I found their cover for it, for the movie 'Donnie Darko', to be better than the original by Tears for Fears. Just thought they got the emotions right for the song itself.

2. Which are excitingly different?

Land of Confusion by Disturbed. It was an interesting remake of the original song by Genesis.

Behind Blue Eyes by Limp Bizkit. Thought that their version of the song was ok enough.

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?

Bringin' on the Heartbreak by Mariah Carey. This version was so bad that even the disc jockies on the radio hated it :yuhup:. Just listening to it made my ears bleed. She managed to ruin a perfectly good song by Def Leppard.

Just found out that the Jonas Bros. did a remake of the song Take On Me by A-Ha. :eeep:. Don't think I'd ever want to hear it...

link to the site where I found out about it (http://www.badcoverversions.com/)

Disclaimer: from badcoverversions.com

Crazy Train by Pat Boone... :eeep: Heard it once, don't want to hear it again.

link to it and a pic of him on the cover of said cd that has the song on it (http://www.whosampled.com/cover/view/25171/Pat%20Boone-Crazy%20Train_Ozzy%20Osbourne-Crazy%20Train/)

Disclaimer: from whosampled.com

Smells like Teen Spirit by Paul Anka :huh:... now this one kind of creeped me out.

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?

Bringin' on the Heartbreak by Def Leppard, Crazy Train by Ozzy Osborne, Shot in the Dark by Ozzy Osborne and others.

5. Any other thoughts on cover versions?

If they're done ok, fine... but if they're not... run :eeep:.

1. Which cover versions, in your opinion, are much better than the original?

I like the Glee cover of "Shake It Out" better than the Florance & The Machine because I think the harmonizing in the Glee version works better. Though I know many Florance fans would disagree with my assessments.

2. Which are excitingly different?

Marilyn Mason's take on Sweet Dreams. Though I prefer the one Britney Spears used in her Circus Tour of the Mason cover.

I also really liked the Glee cover of "Imagine" by John Lennon.

3. Which cover versions, in your opinion, fail to live up to the original?

Can't think of any at the moment. Oh, wait, can I lump like 90% of the American Idol auditions/covers as one thing?

4. Are there any songs which, in your view, were done so perfectly by the original artist that any attempt to cover them is something akin to sacrilege?

Sad to say, but I actually preferred Nicki Mìnaj`s version of `Starships` over the horrid Glee cover.

5. Any other thoughts on cover versions?

I think that some of them can be really good if you aren`t automatically going to hate each and every potential cover. I mean, some of those Glee cover`s aren`t half bad, but if you mention that you like the Glee cover better than the original on Youtube, people are going to be mean and tell you you`re an idiot.

Not what you'd expect from this particular band, but I'd put it the category of "excitingly different": Johnny B Goode - Judas Priest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zxoGFjFJlk)

Also, I can't find a link to this anywhere, and it's not strictly a cover - the great Ben E King was performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival (I forget the year) and his band were late, so he took to the stage to perform "Stand By Me" with backing guitars by Def Leppard!

A couple of tracks that I don't think could ever be bettered by a cover version would be the aforementioned "Stand By Me" by Ben E King, and one of my all-time favourite songs, "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding.

Just heard an incredible version of 'Stairway to Heaven' by Led Zepplin, redone by Heart. It was on this year's Kennedy Center honors. Both Ann and Nancy Wilson blew me away with their cover of that song. They really did it justice :). Just found out that it's available on itunes for $1.29 tonight. Will definitely be getting this song when I can.