AIBU to think that some recordings are so perfect and iconic that they should not ever be covered by anyone else?

[2stepsonthewater]

In this case, 'River' by Joni Mitchell.

What are your thoughts on remixes, OP?

Yes ThebishopofBanterbury re 'I feel love', and Donna Summer didn't use autotune!

What are your thoughts on remixes, OP?
They can be brilliant. There are some great dance remixes of Sade, for example.

I love Joni Mitchell but I also love the cover of River by Ben Platt so it's a reluctant YABU from me.

Johnny Cash’s Hurt is terrible. I’ll never understand the hype for it.

I don't mind some covers. I like Leona Lewis's covers of 'Run' and 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out,' but when every song a group puts out is a cover (Westlife, I'm looking at you) then I just get pissed off.

It is itself a cover, but no one else ever needs to do another version of Over the Rainbow after Eva Cassidy's one.

Sinead o'connor's Nothing Compares To You was much better than Princes version, even though it was his song.
It's a reinterpretation. If you dont like it, don't listen, I guess
That x factor person (no idea who) doing Hallelujah was horrible.
But I was listening to The Dead Kennedys version of Viva Las Vegas this morning. It was ace

But what do the Ben Platt and Robert Downey Jr versions add of their own? Nothing I don’t think. People with nice-ish voices singing someone else’s beautiful song 🤷🏻‍♀️

*Buttermuffin
*
I like the version by Israel Kamakzwio'ole even if it does remind me of Mark dying in ER!

Joni Mitchell should NEVER be covered!

I still die a bit inside when I hear the counting crows version of Big Yellow Taxi and I love the counting crows. You cannot improve perfection

@2stepsonthewater it was Alexandra Burke who covered hallelujah, not Leona.
And I agree, it was fucking awful

@Ginger1982 oh yes! Actually I'll allow that because it mashes Over The Rainbow with What a Wonderful World. Straight covers of OTR are forbidden, though.

without cover songs I wouldn't be able to listen to disturbed amazing version of the sound of silence they have taken it from slightly hippy sixties sound to absolute power ballad

Robbie Williams has killed merry Christmas everybody by slade. He took a great song then beat it to death with smug

For years now I've had a theory that there should be listed songs, like there are listed buildings. No one is allowed to mess about with them without permission (I'm vague on this detail - who decides? A panel of experts for every musical genre, so you have the Death Metal panel and the Motown panel, etc?) - so for example you can't re-record London's Calling by The Clash unless the Punk Panel OKs it. And they probably won't OK it because they'll be hard as nails and it will make planning permission applications for your Grade 2 listed cottage look like a walk in the park.

I generally loathe cover versions, but I absolutely love the Pet Shop Boys version of Always on my Mind - way better than the original.

OTR is just a dirge no matter who sings it, imo - sorry!

Sam Smith covering I Feel Love

Somebody shut that fucker up

Hallelujah is a boring overrated song originally and every cover is even more boring than the previous.

There, i said it

I have liked ‘original’ songs before only to find out they are cover versions! Doh! I think it’s different when you can clearly remember the original being released (happening more these days!) so it’s weird when someone else does it. I’m not a fan of song covers that are identical just with different singers. However I do appreciate a re working or a sample where people have put their own spin on it. I love Corey Taylor’s version of Wicked Game, as much as I love the original. Ditto Tori Amos’ version of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Kate Bush did a brilliant cover of Elton's 'Rocket Man'.

Though clearly the definitive version is Shatner’s. Once heard, never unheard.

Ellie Goulding singing River makes me want to chuck my radio out the window. Travis did a lovely cover of it though.

I do love Nirvana's version of The Man Who Sold the World.

But yes, maybe there should be a list of songs which nobody is allowed to go near!

@Hassled that is an inspired idea. Get onto the musicians union (says keep music live)

Ooh I also love Patti Smith’s cover of Everybody Wants to Rule the World

I clicked on this because I knew it would be about ‘River’.

For the record, I’m a millennial, I’ve heard the original and YANBU!