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.

I listen to a lot of folk music though, and my boyfriend rants about how many bands don't write their own tunes, they do "covers". I think I have managed to explain to him what traditional means.

This made me lol glad you could sort him out.

Pet Shop Boys version of Always on My Mind robs it of all emotion and turns it into muzak. Willie Nelson's version though

I’m trying to think what song it was that I was complaining about the cover of, that the ‘original’ that I loved, was actually a cover and I hadn’t realised.

If anyone finds a few memory cells please post them to me, mine seem to be escaping daily ...

Although I'm not a great lover of cover versions there have been some good ones

Running up that hill - Placebo
Sweet dreams are made of this - Marilyn Manson
And this absolute belter...watch and learn Sam Smith, watch and learn.

WARNING...contains lots of strobe lighting and a fucking awesome dress.

Some covers are good. Not a fan but Take That's could it be magic is markedly different to the original.

Tori Amos' version of Reign in Blood is sublime. Out evilling Slayer? Good work missus.

Metal covers tend to be done by fans without looking at the £.

Sam Smith should be shot for butchering I feel love. Ellie breathe Goulding breathe shouldn't breathe be breathe allowed breathe near breathe other people's breathe song.

The Source wasn't the original of the song. It was done for an advert. The Source put it over a Jamie Principle song `Your Love'.

Have Alien Ant Farm been mentioned?

I've never like Michael Jackson, so I think their version of Smooth Criminal is far better

It depends on the singer, I think. Marilyn Manson's cover versions are all superb and actually completely alter the mood and impact of the original songs to create something new and wonderful. Ellie Goulding on the other hand ... please - no more!

I Can't Make you Love me: George Michael version equals Bonnie Raitt original
As: George Michael + Mary J Blige version equals Stevie Wonder original
In The Ghetto: Candi Staton version equals Elvis original
Unlike most, prefer Dolly P's I will Always Love You to Whitney's version (showcases a brilliant voice but overblows a simple song).
Candi Staton' s You Got The Love much better than bloody Florence - unfortunately that's the one you hear most often.
Some awful version of Tracy Chapman's sublime Fast Car out recently.

Aint Nobody who can sing like Chaka Khan! There have been several covers, all dreadful.

On the other hand I really like Japan's version of 'I Second that Emotion' (still swooning over David Sylvian)

As PP said, Gun's version of Word Up was excellent, but I liked Cameo's version too. 'It Must be Love' by Madness was a lovely cover too.

All Abba covers have been terrible, no one seems to have the right voice, especially for a song like 'Winner Takes it All' for example. The blonde lady , can't remember her name, but she has a stonking voice in that song.

Agree dear departed George Michael and Mary J do justice to Stevie Wonder's As. A rare example.

I did hear Simply Red murdering Every Time We Say Goodbye. Awful.

No-one else should touch The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, after Roberta Flack. It's now locked. Any cover would be a criminal offense.

I've just got a copy of Dub Side of the Moon - The Dark Side in dub.
Brilliant.

Geschwizter4 I enjoy Erasure's version of Take A Chance On Me though

Summer I was thinking more of Steps attempts to cover Abba

I was so pissed off the Ellie Goulding resurrected River, because the original was a horrible, miserable, warble-fest that should have been left where it was

I have voted YANBU but am conflicted and would like to cite for the defence the version of Common People done by Joe Jackson and William Shatner (really) also The Fall’s version of Lost in Music is better than the original

@Pan2 Are you familiar with Dread Zeppelin?

@Mooserp Totally agree about Alien Ant Farm

Here’s a song which has been covered somewhat. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Me_Softly_with_His_Song

I don’t like the Fugees version but that has become the go to. For me it’s Roberta’s song.

Hingeandbracket - no I'm not, but I have a feeling that's going to change...

Argh! Yes! I'm another one who's sick to the back teeth of pathetic breathy, weak singing, it gives me the rage it really does. Going back to covers though, that's another thing that grates on me and as much as I like Kylie, ONLY Eartha Kitt can sing 'Santa Baby' ONLY Wizard can sing 'I wish it could be Christmas everyday' and not that idiot Robbie, please leave the originals alone!

Living in the love of a common people - Paul Young - good improvement on the gazillion versions prior.

I meant to add Taylor Swifts version of 'Last Christmas ' in my list too.

I am not a Coldplay fan mainly cos I think Chris Martin sings like he is having a hernia removed without anaesthetic but a few covers of their songs, in particular ‘Yellow’ really bring the song to life. Shows how a good original song can be ruined by a poor singer.

And Lennon’s Jealous Guy surely no one can beat the original, emotion pouring out of every note.

There are some songs I can't imagine anyone covering (Into the Mystic by Van Morrison?), but Herbie Hancock Feat Corinne Bailey Rae - River is sublime -