What covers of music do you prefer to the original, and which original do you prefer over the cover?

[Soubriquet]

I’m a gleek. I enjoy watching glee a lot and I do like a lot of their covers.

I can’t remember all of them but start with

Last Friday Night by Katy Perry. Covered by Darren Kriss aka Blaine Anderson. I much prefer the cover to this. The original seems to lack depth.

On the other hand Here’s to us by Halestorm covered by Lea Michele aka Rachel Berry is no where near as good. Lzzy Hale just rules every song of hers and no one can compare to that.

Keeping in the glee theme is love the Jessie’s girl cover.

I prefer Metallica's version of Whisky in the Jar to Thin Lizzy's

Prefer Eric Carmen's All by Myself to Celine Dion's over dramatic offering

Never watched Glee in my life but in general, I love Soft Cell’s version of Tainted Love and Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt (thought I’d get that one in early as MNetters always come onto these sorts of threads to froth about how it’s shite compared to the original).

Very few covers of Leonard Cohen songs can capture the power of the originals, especially the eighty gazillion covers of Hallelujah (Rufus Wainwright an honourable exception here).

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Heard It Through The Grapevine.

I cannot even stand the listen to the Marvin Gaye version but love the CCR version.

** I do like some MG songs just not this one

Also prefer Paloma Faith's version of Never Tear Us Apart

Personally, I think Nina Simone's cover of 'Suzanne' is incredible, and I prefer it to the original (ducks for cover...)

I prefer the Guns n Roses version of Sympathy for the Devil

I came on to say the Soft Cell version of Tainted Love. Also agree about the GnRs cover of Sympathy for the Devil, also Knocking on Heaven's Door and Live and Let Die.

I like Cher's version of Walking in Memphis better than the original by Marc Cohn.

I'll have to think about the second part of the question, but I much prefer Disturbed's Sound of Silence to the S&G original - just so haunting.

Agree about Soft Cell too!

I prefer the Amy Winehouse version of Valerie. Hands down.
And I prefer the Nancy Sinatra version of Flowers in the Rain.
But I prefer the Pink Floyd version of Comfortably Numb, god only knows how the Scissor Sisters version sold so many copies.

Prefer the Fine Young Cannibals version of Suspicions Minds to Elvis.

@Chichz weirdly, ever since Disturbed covered Sound of Silence, that's the version I hear in my head when it comes up. It just had so much power to it.

@monpetitlapin So powerful! But then I've always loved David Draiman's voice.

And I can't recall the Scissor Sisters version of Comfortably Numb, but I'll take that as my second answer! Love the original. 😊

On a similar theme what about songs written by one artist but recorded by another where you'd have like to hear the songwriter sing it?

For example, quite a few Sia sings.

Manic Monday/Nothing Compares 2 U - Bangles/Sined/Prince

Or F You - Ceelo Green/ Bruno Mars

Cover songs I prefer to the original -

Eva Cassidy - Songbird.

Morgan James - Dream On.

Haley Reinhart - Can't find my way home.

Joan Jett - I love Rock n Roll.

Soft Cell - Tainted Love.

Heart - Stairway to heaven, perhaps not better than the original but an absolute triumph of musical greatness.

Staying with the glee theme,

I prefer Adam lamberts version of marry the night rather than Lady Gagas version

Prefer Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You over Dolly Parton (who also wrote it).

Nobody can improve on any Bee Gees version of one of their own songs.

Cover version :- righteous brothers version of unchained melody (quite a few people recorded it before they did and after)

Original version :- Dolly Parton, I will always love you.

I came on to say that I prefer the Thrashing Doves version of Sympathy for the Devil. Not heard G&R version so will give that a listen.

Any cover of any Bob Dylan song is superior to the original. Man can write. Can't carry a tune in a bucket.

come together by Michael Jackson

The Lemonheads' version of Different Drum. I know it's been done loads of times, but that's my favourite.
Evan Dando also does a different version of Gram Parsons' How Much I've Lied.

Love NIN but Johnny Cash's Hurt is wonderful. Also, Scissor Sister's Comfortably Numb for me.

Inxs original of Never Tear Us Apart though.