Cover songs that are better than the original

[chomalungma]

Inspired by The Man who sold the world

I'll go with Somewhere over the Rainbow.
There are 2 versions that I like
Eva Cassidy and also Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

Someone's going to say an original singer who isn't...but no doubt someone will tell them

Jealous Guy by Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music is better than John Lennon's earlier version.

@Taikoo

Jealous Guy by Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music is better than John Lennon's earlier version.

It's a great version.

All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix. Better than Dylan’s original.

Disturbed - The Sound of Silence. It’s absolutely amazing...gives me goosebumps.

The drugs don’t work by Ben Harper. I don’t like the original anyway so I’m biased!

Also re the somewhere over the rainbow - I do love Israel’s version, but I once accidentally bought a version that was a cover of his cover, which I preferred slightly! No idea who it was, very similar voice just slightly preferred the tone I suppose.

Also, most covers of Hallelujah - unpopular opinion but I really don’t like the original. Pentatonix is my favourite by far but I like Rufus Wainwright, and there was a version of it at the end of some channel four show about teens in a music college?! I quite liked that version.

Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy - prefer it to Sting's own.

Bryan Ferry covered Song to the Siren (originally by Tim Buckley) for his album Olympia.

It's very Ferry; lush production, several guitar solos. But it's oddly brilliant.

I also like Maxwell's version of This Woman's Work (Kate Bush).

Pentatonix are great. I like most of their covers better than the originals tbh.

Also this version of Stacey's Mom:

And I know it's from 50 Shades of crap but I love the Sofia Karlberg version of Crazy in Love

Umbrella by manic street preachers is way better than the Orignal

Kirsty Macoll's Days, the cover of the old kinks song.

Just about anything by Bob Dylan.

The most obvious one is Valerie - Amy winehouse IMO.
That drumbeat/upbeat tempo mark ronson added plus Amy’s gutsy vocals just transformed what was a totally forgettable song into a classic.

I used to love Boyce Avenue and their covers, so good.

Janis Joplin's version of Me And Bobby McGee. Best ever.

Joe Cocker I get by with a little help from friends

Muse's Feeling Good:

"The most obvious one is Valerie - Amy winehouse IMO.
That drumbeat/upbeat tempo mark ronson added plus Amy’s gutsy vocals just transformed what was a totally forgettable song into a classic."

Forgettable? It wasn't at all and I much prefer the original. I saw Amy Winehouse sing this at a concert before we knew she was due to release it. She'd sung a couple of her own songs already but it wasn't great, she was pretty crap that day. The crowd went wild singing along to Valerie though.

She had a tantrum and shouted "oh you liked that cause it wasn't miiiiinnnne" and stormed off the stage!

Always On My Mind - the Pet Shop Boys version far surpasses any others IMO.

Marmalade’s cover of ‘Oh-bla-Di’ is the best.

She , originally by Charles Aznavour much better by Elvis Costello

Jeff Buckley’s version of hallelujah.

Far Corporation's Stairway to Heaven

Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman singing Your song on Moulin Rouge. Far better than Elton John.

Lily Allen's version of Somewhere only we know.

Run - Prefer Leona Lewis version to Snow Patrols
Ella Henderson's version of Believe is so much better than Cher's original

I'm not sure it's better as such, but I love Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love'. And also 'Tears of a Clown' by The Beat. The original versions are great too, but I happen to prefer both of these. I will think on some more..