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The Man Who Sold The World - covers you didn't know were covers

144 replies

VampireTheBuffetSlayer · 21/02/2021 01:04

I love this. It's my favourite Bowie song. Or so I thought.

It was on the radio yesterday and I was only half listening when they were talking about whether Nirvana's version was better than the original. I didn't really pay too much attention. But on Pointless Celebrities tonight they had The Man Who Sold The World as an answer as a Lulu/David Bowie collaboration. I've just googled it and it turns out that I love The Man Who Sold The World by Nirvana! My mind is blown!

Any covers that you love that you didn't know were covers?

OP posts:
AlecTrevelyan006 · 21/02/2021 13:41

Got my mind set on you - George Harrison

..
this is the original form 1962

HunterHearstHelmsley · 21/02/2021 13:55

@personwomanmancameratv

Oooops! Still learning then...
You were right first (Well, second) time. Its David Bowie and Queen not Queen ft. Bowie.
WitchWife · 21/02/2021 14:15

I’m shaken by this news about Try a Little Tenderness

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Music
bruffin · 21/02/2021 14:19

I was shocked when i found out Bye Bye Baby was originally by Frankie Valli and 4 seasons not Bay City Rollers

ratspeaker · 21/02/2021 14:19

Sailing by Rod Stewart is a cover of Sutherland Brothers song

1985 by Bowling for Soup is a cover

Tainted Love by both Soft Cell and Marilyn Manson are covers

My favourite covers are
Word Up - Korn
Enjoy the silence- Lacuna Coil
Sound of Silence- Disturbed
Land of Confusion - Disturbed

WitchWife · 21/02/2021 14:26

@NannyGythaOgg

When Alexander Bourke won X Factor with Hallelujah my daughter said 'It's nothing like as good as the original' I said that I didn't know she like Leonard Cohen but that I thought that was much better too. She looked very confused and said 'No - the original, original Jeff Buckley' She took some convincing that LC had actually written and recorded it years earlier. She still won't admit the Cohen has the best version Grin
I love Leonard and even I think the Buckley version is better.

Funnily though I just came on to say that I never realised that the amazing Superstar by Sonic Youth was originally by the Carpenters, but it turns out it was by Delaney and Bonnie in the 60s.

For me nothing compares to the Sonic Youth version though, so atmospheric and creepy. The fact that Richard Carpenter apparently hates it just makes it better.

Onlinedilema · 21/02/2021 14:28

Crazy in Love by Beyonce is sampled. Can't remember the original band but it's just taken straight from another song.

FreezerBird · 21/02/2021 14:51

The Specials' Message to Rudy is a cover. The original is by Dandy Livingstone from 1967 and is just beautiful. Such a lovely voice.

NannyGythaOgg · 21/02/2021 15:01

Madonna's cover of American Pie is diabolical compared to the original

MooseBeTimeForSummer · 21/02/2021 15:02

@Onlinedilema it’s Are you my Woman by the Chi-Lites

sashagabadon · 21/02/2021 15:07

Happy Mondays Step On. Found out that was cover last Sunday night watching The Serpent and the original song came on. I had no idea!

BikeRunSki · 21/02/2021 15:13

@MNerGoneRogueAgain

I must be getting REALLY old as the surprise on this thread shocks me.

Waiting for the poster who says tragedy isn't a song by steps....

That’s pretty much exactly what I’ve just said to DH.
ReleaseTheCracken · 21/02/2021 15:14

I didn't know until my husband told me that Without You by Harry Nilsson is a cover. Originally Badfinger. Mind Blown.

BikeRunSki · 21/02/2021 15:18

My favourite giver is Madness’ version of It Must Be Love.

BettysButtons · 21/02/2021 15:20

Waiting for the poster who says tragedy isn't a song by steps

This made me laugh!!
I’m feeling old too!!

BettysButtons · 21/02/2021 15:26

My DD refused to believe that ‘Make you feel my love’ was written by Dylan Angry

DarkDarkNight · 21/02/2021 15:27

I love Kurt Cobain’s voice singing that song, David Bowie was really touched they covered his song.

Yes I was v disappointed to discover that Johnny Cash's Hurt was a cover.
Why be disappointed? It’s a great interpretation of the song. It’s a great cover, he made it totally his own.

On the subject of David Bowie I love ‘Wild is the wind’ I had no idea it was originally recorded by Nina Simone. The Bowie version is just gorgeous though.

DarkDarkNight · 21/02/2021 15:36

To be a little bit pedantic about Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley’s cover version was based on the John Cale cover version rather than Leonard Cohen’s original Grin

I never knew that about the George Harrison song, I’ve always assumed it was his own.

I had to be told when I was young that How Deep is Your Love was the Bee Gees and Take That just covered it.

Mia184 · 21/02/2021 15:37

@DarkDarkNight

I love Kurt Cobain’s voice singing that song, David Bowie was really touched they covered his song.

Yes I was v disappointed to discover that Johnny Cash's Hurt was a cover.
Why be disappointed? It’s a great interpretation of the song. It’s a great cover, he made it totally his own.

On the subject of David Bowie I love ‘Wild is the wind’ I had no idea it was originally recorded by Nina Simone. The Bowie version is just gorgeous though.

I agree, the version by Johnny Cash is awesome.
CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/02/2021 15:39

We used to do a regular.pub quiz. The barman / quiz setter loved his music. He asked who wrote a specific lyric

Well my time went so quickly
It went lickety splicly
Out to my ol' 55

We answered Tom Waits and lost!

It took weeks, I even had to take the Eagles album I to the pub ( pre internet) and show him the writing credit.

I old. I am really enjoying the errors here. Some made me laugh out loud.

HeadNorth · 21/02/2021 15:42

The Bee Gees wrote for so many people - they were considered so uncool in the 80s they had to write for other people - Heartbreaker sung by Dionne Warwick, Woman in Love by Barbra Streisand; Islands in the Stream as mentioned previously; Chain Reaction by Diana Ross - they were prolific songwriters.

Mia184 · 21/02/2021 15:42

Btw, a bit off topic but since Nirvana was mentioned: someone once made a great mashup of Nirvana’s Smells like teen spirit and Rick Astley’s Never gonna give you up. I love this video ☺️

iklboo · 21/02/2021 16:19

You were right first (Well, second) time. Its David Bowie and Queen not Queen ft. Bowie.

Yes, of course! Doh.

the80sweregreat · 21/02/2021 16:40

How long will I love you ? Is a cover of a Waterboys 1990s song and not written by Ellie Goulding for the children in need charity ( as I thought)
The original is much faster and upbeat.

Mrsrightagain · 21/02/2021 16:44

@MNerGoneRogueAgain

I must be getting REALLY old as the surprise on this thread shocks me.

Waiting for the poster who says tragedy isn't a song by steps....

😂😂