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

Gloria Estefan’ cover of Hold me is lovely

Roberta Flack's cover of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face', it was wasted on Peggy Seeger, who it was actually written for.

@xanthippe8

Roberta Flack's cover of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face', it was wasted on Peggy Seeger, who it was actually written for.

I love that version.

Love a good cover here too and agree with a lot of the above (Live and Let Die by GNR, Sound of Silence by Disturbed, Mad World by Gary Jules). Mine to add to the mix are:

Umbrella by All Time Low
7 Rings by Our Last Night (original Ariana Grande)
Land of Confusion by Disturbed
Any version of White Christmas that isn't Bings (do like Idina Menzels best though)
Heathens by Halestorm
House of the Rising Sun by Five Finger Death Punch

I'm sure there are many many others too.

George Michael’s version of I can’t make you love me - it makes me cry every time, not sure why, absolutely love it

I prefer the covers of Simple Man by Shinedown, Wild Horses by The Sundays and Dream On by Blacktop Mojo to the originals.

@Tittyfilarious

George Michael's version of I can't make you love me

Yes, agree! Most people I talk to including GM fans think his was the original.

Any Adele cover.

Sally Barker from The Voice - It's not unusual. Slow and melodic.
Beverly knight - I Get get no Satisfaction.

Blinded By The Light as recorded by Manfred Mann's Earthband. A real improvement over the Bruce Springsteen original.

On his Stones album, Neil Diamond recorded his own versions of The Last Thing On My Mind, Both Sides Now and Suzanne. He made them his own.

Whisky in the Jar by Metallica

Love Man Who Sold the World by Nirvana as much as I love Bowie's version.

Also the Banshees' version of Passenger is just as good as Iggy's.

is also tres bon.

Luka Bloom - I Need Love (Irish folk does LL Cool J, brilliant)

Tricky - Black Steel

Travis feat. "Mark & Lard" on backing vocals - Baby One More Time

Happy Mondays - Step On

Nightwish Walking in the Air

Really showing my age now, as much as I love Joni Mitchell I do prefer Nazareth's version of This Flight Tonight.

Till there was you by the Arctic Monkeys

Super Trooper by Camera Obscura

And - sublime.

Thank goodness nobody has said they prefer Wet Wet Wet version of Love is all Around! Please, if you have never heard it before, listen to the Troggs' version. It is superb.

I absolutely have to agree with the Cash version of Hurt being better than the original. He captures what it is about - having pissed your life up the wall, hurt everyone, lost everything in your addiction, and being at the end of it all knowing that - but still addicted. Even the guy that wrote it said that once he heard it, his intensely personal song was no longer his.

These foolish things by Brian Ferry. I just love it

@poppyzbrite4

And - sublime.

version is better.

Teardrop by Newton Faulkner. Much better than Massive Attacks original

Much as I like a lot of work I prefer The version of 2000 Light Years From Home

I prefer This Mortal Coil's version of Song to the Siren over Tim Buckley's. Also Alex Harvey's Delilah over Tom Jones'.

Whites stripes version of I just don't know what to do with myself is a great version of a great song

Just thought of another...Hozier's version of Do I Wanna Know by the Arctic Monkeys.

It's so different i wouldn't necessarily say it's better but its equally as good.