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
Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
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Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
Last edited by paulgould on Fri Sep 10, 2021 5:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
- plummy
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Re: Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
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
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
61 yrs old, 81kg, 5' 10"
43Mm metres rowed. Re-setting the bar much lower now. Getting too old and brittle for this malarky
43Mm metres rowed. Re-setting the bar much lower now. Getting too old and brittle for this malarky
- Jill
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Re: Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
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.
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.
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Re: Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
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
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
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
- JonT
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Re: Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
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
The rumour is she recorded it staning in the middle of a street. I assume the harpist wasn't with her at the time
58 years old, 5"10', clinging on to 75kg and frustratingly but understandably inconsistent
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Re: Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
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 G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
- Paul Victory
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Re: Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
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
M 68 6'1" 124kg (May05), 92kg (Feb06), 122kg (Aug10), 95kg (Sep11), 117kg (Jun13), now 98kg
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Re: Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
Thanks for the correction Paul - I suppose I should have known that Mariah Carey couldn't do anything originalPaul Victory wrote: ↑Tue Sep 14, 2021 4:42 pmActually, 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
Have to agree with you about Sinead O'Connor - her Nothing Compares 2U is something special.
Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
- Draggon
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Re: Music - Covers that are better than the Originals
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