Favorite cover songs

[Pony_Boy]

I got into a discussion with a friend the other day about how the cover versions of some songs are as good or better then the original I thought it would be a fun topic to discuss here.

Some examples that jump to my mind are:

Chris Cornell's cover of Billie Jean
Metalica's cover of Turn the page
Johnny Cash's covers of Hurt and Personal Jesus

[pssorens]

Save Ferris's cover of Come on Eileen
Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal

[dalesys]

Blue Cheer's cover of the Rolling Stones (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower
Gideon Freudmann's cover of Somewhere Over The Rainbow - the haunted house version on a demented cello
Dee Carstensen's cover of Jimi Hendrix's Angel - on a harp

and a few hundred others.

[blas]

HIM's version of "Wicked Games" is way better than the original. Less whiney and creepy.

[AnaKhouri]

I like Elvis Costello just fine, but Duran Duran's version of "Watching the Detectives" is waaaay better than his. Much sexier and creepier. The same for their cover of Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay"; I like his version but theirs is sexy as Hell.

And Seu George's covers of David Bowie songs (acoustic, in Porteugese- I know I spelled that wrong) are amazing!

Oh, and Johnny Cash's "Hurt". Even dead, Cash > Nine Inch Nails.

[ArcticChicken]

Almost anybody's cover of Dylan, His voice makes me want to kill things.

[lupo pazzesco]

HIM's version of "Wicked Games" is way better than the original. Less whiney and creepy.

THIS!! X100

Also, HIM does a pretty good cover of Enjoy the Silence and Don't Fear the Reaper.

I like My Chemical Romance & The Used's cover of Queen/David Bowie Under Pressure

Seether did a kickass cover of Careless Whisper. LOVE it.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Gideon Freudmann's cover of Somewhere Over The Rainbow - the haunted house version on a demented cello

Have you ever heard Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version, mixed/fused with "It's a Wonderful World"? Hauntingly beautiful.

Other covers:
- Tom Jones and the Art of Noise' version of Prince's "Kiss".
- The Pursuit of Happiness' version of Prince's "When Doves Cry" (pretty much a straight, guitar-driven rock version of the song)
- Hellsong's version of Slayer's "Seasons in the Abyss" (makes it sound like a McLaughlan song)
- Franz Ferdinand's version of Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For?"
- Disturbed's version of Tears For Fears' "Shout" and Genesis "Land of Confusion"
- Koritni's version of "I Had The Time of My Life"
- Me First and the Gimme Gimme's "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina"
- Damone's version of Iron Maiden's "Wasted Years" and GnR's "You Could Be Mine" (if Axl could sing, this is what he'd sound like).

There's probably more...

[Crossbow]

Sisters of Mercy's version of "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones.

I like listening to the Coverville podcast. Some great stuff on there.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Dropkick Murphys- Fields of Athenry (does it count if it is a traditional? I'm throwing it out there because they did a rather different style on it)
Roy Orbison - I Drove All Night
Wine and Alchemy - Miserlou
Metallica-Whiskey In The Jar
Johnny Cash- Hurt
I heard a bluegrass version of Sing, Sing, Sing and I don't know the band. Wish I did.
Also heard a techno version of Rocky Top, same deal.
Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks - Needles and Pins
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts -Crimson and Clover

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Came across a couple more...

I have a CD where Heart does a kick-ass version of Zeppelin's "Black Dog".

I also found a CD that has The Flaming Lips doing Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head".

I don't like Nickelback, but I do like their version of Elton John's "Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting".



EDIT: forgot to add Korn's "Word Up", originally by Cameo.

[AccountingDrone]

Rammstein covering Stripped originally by depeche mode

I prefer the bass baritone of Til Lindemann, it is more sensual. The original is too light and 80s pop-y to me.

Sorry for the crappy video quality, sometimes you get lucky and get a good vid on youtube and sometimes it sucks =(

[fireheart]

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.

I AGREE

Doug Anthony All-Stars version of Throw Your Arms Around Me (original version was Crowded House)
The Corrs did an excellent version of Everybody Hurts
There's also a version of Numb by Linkin Park that sounds like it's from Evanescence but I'm not 100% sure on that one.

Link for the Numb/Evanescence Cover: (the video is from Call Me When you're Sober)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7gvOw91wjc

Link for the Everybody Hurts song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkp-U36c_wo

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

New Found Glory's cover of "Kiss Me."
Shades Apart's cover of "Tainted Love."

[RecoveringKinkoid]

How could I forget Helmet's cover of the theme from Gigantor and the Ramones covering Spiderman?