Music - Covers that are better than the Originals

[paulgould]

Got to thinking about this this morning while rowing - one of my favourites came up on my MP3 and I played it on repeat 3 times

As a general rule I prefer the original to cover versions but I thought I would make a list of some covers which I think are better than the originals - purely subjective, of course - and I would be interested to see what others come up with :

My top 5 would be(by Song, Cover Artist and Original Artist) :

1. Sounds Of Silence The Disturbed Simon and Garfunkel
2. Creep - Michelle Branch Radiohead
3. Woodstock Matthew's Southern Comfort Joni Mitchell
4. Me and Bobby McGee Pink Kris Kristofferson
5. Tainted Love Soft Cell Gloria Jones

Paul G

[plummy]

Love is all around by Wet Wet Wet versus The Troggs
I can't make you love me by George Michael versus Bonnie Raitt (but it's a close run thing)
I will always love you by Whitney versus Dolly
Going to a town by George Michael versus Rufus Wainwright

[Jill]

My choice:
Come on - Rolling Stones - Chuck Berry
As The Crow Flies - Rory Gallagher - Tony Joe White
Every Little Thing - Yes - The Beatles
Every Time We say Goodbye - Ella Fitzgerald - Nan Wynn
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - Bill Bailey's Death Metal Version - Some Deranged Young Mum Trying To Get Her Child To Sleep.

Richard's choice:
Young Man Blues - Who - Mose Allison
Carry On My Wayward Son - Yngwie Marmsteen - Kansas
Wings Of A Nightingale - Everly Brothers - Paul McCartney

Paul, it would be impossible to put a full list, especially as so many original songs have so many different covers. Richard said that Led Zep was a good example.

I like your choice of Disturbed, Matthews Southern Comfort and Plummy's Wet Wet Wet.

By the way, that is not a criticism of your other choices.

[paulgould]

Thank Jill, Dave

Always interesting to see people’s music tastes and be introduced to something new

I never knew that Wet Wet Wet number wasn’t the original, and am very keen to hear Yngwe Malmsteens take on Carry on My Wayward Son - one of my all time favourites.
I really like some of the covers done by Viking Metal bands, “Rasputin” by Turisas, and “Lady in Black” covered by Ensiferum in particular.

In most cases, I enjoy the original too but often only hear the cover first, not even knowing it isn’t the original - The Man Who Sold The World covered by Nirvana being one of those for me

Paul G

[JonT]

Like Someone in Love by Bjork has always blown me away - it quite frequently reduces me to tears! Original recording was Bing Crosby I think, but there have been hundreds, and no doubt there will be hundreds more.

The rumour is she recorded it staning in the middle of a street. I assume the harpist wasn't with her at the time

[paulgould]

I think that my all-time favourite has to be "Ken Lee(Without You)" by Valentina Hasan, the original by Mariah Carey - breathed new life into one of the truly most dreadful songs ever made - well worth a watch on YouTube

Paul G

[Paul Victory]

I think that my all-time favourite has to be "Ken Lee(Without You)" by Valentina Hasan, the original by Mariah Carey - breathed new life into one of the truly most dreadful songs ever made - well worth a watch on YouTube

Paul G

Actually, that song was originally recorded by Badfinger in 1970 and was a big hit for Harry Nilsson in 1971, long before Mariah Carey recorded her version. I had a look at the version you recommended just now - absolutely hilarious!

When I think of cover versions that surpassed the original, the first song that springs to mind is Nothing Compares 2U by Sinead O'Connor.

Paul V

[paulgould]

I think that my all-time favourite has to be "Ken Lee(Without You)" by Valentina Hasan, the original by Mariah Carey - breathed new life into one of the truly most dreadful songs ever made - well worth a watch on YouTube

Paul G

Actually, that song was originally recorded by Badfinger in 1970 and was a big hit for Harry Nilsson in 1971, long before Mariah Carey recorded her version. I had a look at the version you recommended just now - absolutely hilarious!

When I think of cover versions that surpassed the original, the first song that springs to mind is Nothing Compares 2U by Sinead O'Connor.

Paul V

Thanks for the correction Paul - I suppose I should have known that Mariah Carey couldn't do anything original
Have to agree with you about Sinead O'Connor - her Nothing Compares 2U is something special.

Paul G

[Draggon]

As a general rule I prefer the original to cover versions

Me too, but several times I've been surprised that the song I'm groovin' on IS a cover, and I wasn't even aware of it...

Doin' Time/Summertime - Lana Del Ray vs Sublime
Last Kiss - Pearl Jam vs (technically) Wayne Cochran but (more popularly) J Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers