Examples of cover songs better than the original

When I saw this thread, Cake's "I Will Survive" came to mind instantly. So nice call on that one Cake.

By the way AB, as a founding member of "White boys who like Eazy E" I can't believe you think that fake ass band Dynamite Hack's version of Boyz in the Hood is better than Eazy's. Comments like that make me sick.

you are all dumbasses, the original is always better than the cover because it is played the way the writer wanted it to be. If they wanted it to sound different they would have wrote it differently.

Knock yourselves out.

libertino wrote:

Patti Smith's cover of 'Gloria' is legendary.

I'm a big Doors fan, so I will nominate their versions of "Gloria" and "Who Do You Love?" Also Hendrix's version of Johnny B. Goode.

I would say the BEST cover songs are the ones that are not really remembered as covers. Such as "Hey Joe", "Somebody to Love", "Unchained Melody", and all Zeppelin blues remakes.

My favorite covers are those that are remakes of already recognizable songs. From the list posted earlier....

Across The Universe" - Fiona Apple / Beatles

Crimson And Clover" - Joan Jett / Tommy James and the Shondells

First I Look At The Purse" - J. Geils Band (live) / Contours

I Fought The Law" - The Clash / Bobby Fuller Four / Crickets

Johnny B. Goode" - Johnny Winters (live) / Chuck Berry

Little Wing" - Stevie Ray Vaughn / Jimi Hendrix

My Generation” - Oasis / The Who

Sweet Jane" - Cowboy Junkies / Velvet Underground

Take Me to the River" - Talking Heads / Al Green

Train Kept-a-Rollin'" - Aerosmith / Johnny Burnette Trio

Twist and Shout" - The Beatles / Isley Brothers

The Beatles version of "Twist and Shout" is amazing because Lennon layed down the vocals in one take. Amazing when you consider how he is screaming.

Though not better than the originals, two good covers are the Janes Addiction versions of "LA Woman" and "Sympathy for the Devil".

Also RATM's "Ghost of Tom Joad".

Joss wrote:

"Fell In Love With A Boy" by Joss Stone. Much better than "Fell In Love With A Girl" by whoever that band was. Her voice is sexy and Jazzy.

Please tell me that's a joke

actually, "angel from montgomery" is a john PRINE song.

forgot one- "carmelita"- written by warren zevon, done by himself and several others, but never better than by dwight yoakum and flaco jimenez.

No woman No Cry: Fugees > Bob Marley

Bring tha Noize: PE/Anthrax > PE (Limb Biskit < either)

Walk This Way: Run DMC/Aerosmith > Aerosmith

Express Yourself: NWA > Charles Wright

the truth wrote:

you are all dumbasses, the original is always better than the cover because it is played the way the writer wanted it to be. If they wanted it to sound different they would have wrote it differently.

the way the writer wanted it to be is not always better. sometimes the way the writer wanted it to be sucks. sometimes the writer can't sing worth a damn.

s56 wrote:

Actually Dave does that song the best jackass. It's just true, he's got a better voice than either Dylan or Hendrix (both of whom I do like), and they just put that song together very well.

Dave Matthews is the one of the most boring, bland, forgettable artists to hit the big time in a long while. If you honestly think that his version of "All Along the Watchtower" is even in the same league as that of Jimi Hendrix OR Dylan, you need to get back to us after you are finished with puberty.

they both did.

Amen that. Also War by Frankie was way better than the boss's version. And talking about 80's covers, I saw Echo And The Bunneymen's live cover of Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones which was so much better than the original.

Holland Nass wrote:

Along those lines, Frankie Goes to Hollywood's cover of "Born to Run" is better than Springsteen. Much faster beat; really good "pump up" song. My opinion.

gustave flaubert wrote:

one thing i forgot to mention was sonic youth's cover of "superstar" on the carpenters' tribute. that might be the most superlative performance.

Sonic youth did a cover of Madonnas into the Groove under the name Ciccone Youth (Madonnas last name). I think it was called Into the Groovy and it was hilarious because they butchered it so badly.

Someone mentioned "Paint It Black"....Eric Burdon and The Animals do a version on "Monterrey Pop" that's better than the Stones did.

And Santana's "Black Magic Woman," which they performed very much with Peter Green's blessings, is better than the original by Peter Green and the pre-Buckingham/Nicks Fleetwood Mac

Route 66 Depeche Mode...much better than the original. Especially when thrown in with Behind the Wheel.

Agree that Frente's Bizarre Love Triangle was not too bad, and Orgy's Blue Monday has nothing on the original. And Smashing Pumpkins Never Let Me Down Again is pretty good, but not as good as the original.

Um, wallflower's cover of bowie's "heroes" was better?

I haven't gone through all the pages of this thread and wasn't sure if anybody correcetd this blasphemous statement, but that assertion is laughable. Heroes is perhaps Bowie's finest work along with a slew of other songs. dont say such insane bullshit, that upsets me, and I'm ashamed any other person would let this statement would go unanswered

nice point on the pixies cover of "head on," frank's (or as he was at the time black francis) vocals are insane on that, great stuff.

Great cover by the pixies if you can find it: what the world needs now, is love sweet love, takes a somewhat irritable burt bacrach song and makes it rock

not involved wrote:

s56 wrote:

Actually Dave does that song the best jackass. It's just true, he's got a better voice than either Dylan or Hendrix (both of whom I do like), and they just put that song together very well.

Dave Matthews is the one of the most boring, bland, forgettable artists to hit the big time in a long while. If you honestly think that his version of "All Along the Watchtower" is even in the same league as that of Jimi Hendrix OR Dylan, you need to get back to us after you are finished with puberty.

Dave Mason also recorded an excellent version of "All Along the Watchtower", certainly better than the Matthews version.

Mason also played accoustic guitar on the Hendrix version which is, by far, the best version.

Early in his career, Joe Cocker used to do some covers that surpassed the originals, including "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" by the Beatles, "Darling Be Home Soon" by The Loving Spponful, and "Delta Lady" by Leon Russell. Of course, Leon played on and arranged and co-produced the record.