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

I prefer Elton John's version of Pinball Wizard to The Who's.

I'm not much of an Elton fan generally but it seems to better convey the glamour of the fictional pinball match they're singing about.

Not strictly a cover but I prefer PM Dawn's 'Set Adrift on Memory Bliss' to Spandau Ballet's 'True'.

I won’t back down by Johnny Cash. Even Tom Petty said he thought it was great.

We had IZ’s version of somewhere over the rainbow at our wedding so it’s very special to us.

@Roominmyhouse

Jeff Buckley’s version of hallelujah.

You and me both. Love love love the Jeff Buckley version.

As an aside, covers need to sound different to the original. Celine Dion's version of The Power of Love is exactly like Jennifer Rush's version. I can't see the point. But having said that, I can't see the point of Celine Dion full stop, so I'm biased.

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

I only came across Pentatonix recently, when I fell through a YouTube hole. I didn't think anyone would be able to carry off Bohemian Rapsodhy but they did. I prefer the original, but was very impressed by the Pentatonix version.

This always winds MN right up so I’ll just chuck in this hand grenade and run: I love Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt 😁

This version of Bohemian Rapsodhy is pretty good...

Watch "Adorable Girl Sings Bohemian Rhapsody In Car Seat" on YouTube

Yes I agree with Soft Cell’s Tainted Love.

George Micheal’s Can’t make you love me.
Whitney Huston’s I will always love you

Jealous Guy by Bryan Ferry sooo much better than John Lennon.

[quote magicstar1]Disturbed - The Sound of Silence. It’s absolutely amazing...gives me goosebumps.

[/quote] This!!

@PillyTea

Lily Allen's version of Somewhere only we know.

Good lord no: much prefer Keane's original.

@DavidsSchitt

"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!

Agreed, much prefer the Zuton's original!

I'm not sure if it's better, or equally as brilliant as the Tears for Fears original, but I love Gary Jule's pared back version of Mad World

Screamin Jay Hawkins' cover of 'Heart attack and vine"
Dinosaur Jr's version of 'Just like heaven'

Stepping Stone performed by The Monkees:

This is the better one by Ant & Dec when they were PJ & Duncan:

I've read somewhere that A&D are a bit ashamed of it but in my opinion, this was the only good thing they did.

Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by the Dream Academy so much better than the Smiths. I also like Kate Rusby’s cover of Manic Monday

The Beastie Boys did wonderful version of Benny and The Jets.

I like the original Mad World by Tears for Fears, but I prefer Gary Jules' version.

I agree that Iz's version of Somewhat Over The Rainbow is better than Judy Garland.

Not sure which version came first, because the actual song is older than any of them, but I prefer Joan Baez singing House of The Rising Sun to The Animals

Surprisingly Glen Campbell covered fu fighter times like this .

Rolling in the deep, Linkin Park

Placebo - Running up that Hill. I’m a Kate Bush fan but that version is amazing.

[quote magicstar1]Disturbed - The Sound of Silence. It’s absolutely amazing...gives me goosebumps.

[/quote] I came here to say this.

@Honeyroar

Yes I agree with Soft Cell’s Tainted Love.

George Micheal’s Can’t make you love me.
Whitney Huston’s I will always love you

Sorry you are wrong about Whitney.....Dolly's is way better!

I love NIN (Trent and Atticus are doing movie soundtracks now), but Johnny Cash made this one his own

Also, has anyone said Whitney I will always love you? That was a Dolly Parton cover.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross

This always winds MN right up so I’ll just chuck in this hand grenade and run: I love Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt 😁

😁 me too!

Sorry @PatMustardsBigTool, I missed that (I was skim reading to see if anyone had mentioned the Linkin Park song, then started to think of more).