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.

Oh no no no. That's crazy talk. Nothing Leonard Cohen wrote or recorded could ever be improved upon by a cover. He was one of the best songwriters in history for crying out loud! Boring?! Sacrilege!!

I occasionally dream of hearing The source ft. Candi staton “you got the love” instead of Florence and the machine which now seems to be the standard version

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah for me. I'm aware it is a cover itself but it's better than the original and I just don't think it will ever be bettered, especially by X Factor contestants

I agree about X Factor contestants, but I really like the K D Lang version.

I occasionally dream of hearing The source ft. Candi staton “you got the love” instead of Florence and the machine which now seems to be the standard version

That’s how I feel about Valerie by The Zutons.

I'm a bit of a purist, but also an enthusiastic amateur musician. I can absolutely see how gratifying and satisfying it might be for some to record versions of their favourite tracks. I wouldn't want to deny them the pleasure, and I don't have to go looking for musical experiences I don't want to listen to.
Occasionally, I have heard covers or interpretations of the kind of iconic recordings you refer to, and they have allowed me a completely new take on the original which I have appreciated.

But I was listening to The Dead Kennedys version of Viva Las Vegas this morning. It was ace

Bloody hell, the mention of The Dead Kennedys has just sent me time travelling back to 1980. They were great.

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

Is that the version I've heard belting out of my local Christmas shop every time I've been past it recently? Doesn't matter who it is, really - no-one who isn't Noddy Holder should be allowed to sing it.

I completely agree @2stepsonthewater!

The worst thing with hallejuah by Jeff Buckley on X factor is they didn't even get what the lyrics meant.

Having said that, there is a particular kind of cover singer who specialises in performative 'vulnerability', characterised by a sort of breathy, fragile vocal style that just makes me cringe. Maybe those ones should be persuaded to desist.

I think unless an artist does something very different with an iconic song, they end up just sounding like a not quite right version of the original.

Like when you see siblings of very famous actors, unless they look very different they often just look like odd versions of the more famous brother/sister.

I disagree. I also disagree that a cover has to 'add' something. No one says that about classical arias. The singers just sing them and, in the main, attempt to interpret them in the way they feel the composer intended.
Some covers are simply another person singing that song which for me is fine. If I prefer that singer then I'll prefer that cover.
I quite like the many different versions of Hallelujah though, so what do I know?

I'm with Spoonbender on this - I love the original recording of Hurt, but Johnny Cash takes it, and pours a lifetime of regret into it like I don't think anyone else could. And that is what makes a great cover, when you put yourself into that music. Not just singing what you are told because the record company think it will sell well.

A good cover makes you hear the song in a different way, or challenges your view of the singer. The problem with your Gouldings/Smiths/Williamses is that they're basically cruise ship entertainers who make everything sound completely bland.

I am sick SICK SICK of hearing classic pop (and rock) songs, being DESTROYED by bloody breathy, croaky, weak-voiced female singers. It's been going on for about a decade now, and it needs to stop.

And I am also sick of whiny, fucking droning male singers... The worst 2 are Sam Smith - and the hugely overrated Lewis Capaldi.

Leonard Cohen - just like Bob Dylan and Lou Reed - is boring and overrated.. And Eva Cassidy's music is drab, and her version of Over The Rainbow was boring dirge.

runs and hides

@MarySidney Agreed!

I can't stand Leonard Cohen's singing.

A load of MNers gushed about the Disturbed cover of Sound of Silence... I couldn't stand that cover, but to each their own.

Oh Leonard, Leonard, Leonard. No one can better him. I like the Buckley version, but Cohen’s is infinitely better. So dark and so much pain 😢. Agree with pp that the KD Lang versión is bloody great though.
The Pet Shop Boys’ AOMM is superb and is a brilliant, totally off-the-wall rendition.
Sacrilege to me was when All Saints covered Under the Bridge. It’s not the worst cover, but the original was so sublime, the All Saints versión made me cringe 🤦‍♀️

None of these can hold an awful candle to the cover version of Comfortably Numb by the Scissor Sisters. Truly the worst cover.
However - does anyone else remember a band called Gun? They did an awesome cover of Word Up.

@user1471517900 hahaha, yes it would be inhuman!!

I love Leonard Cohen but Hallelujah is one of his worst. A dirge whoever's singing it.

Mind the gap man

That bloody woman who covered power of love doesn’t even sing the best line! It’s skipped, entirely! Fuck’s sake!

I am all for listed songs and also want to go on the punk panel’s works do.

I remember Gun's Word up! It was good!

Cindy Lauper's cover of Roy Orbison's 'I Drove All Night' is better than the original. And i love Roy.

KD Lang is allowed to cover anything, Ellie Goulding must sing only in her bedroom from now on.