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 hadn't heard the Joni Mitchell original, so just listened to it and wholeheartedly agree. Can't stand Ellie Goulding though - probably to do with those bloody adverts she does. Eurgh, so smug!

Johnny Cash's version of Hurt gives me goosebumps just thinking about it - not many songs do that.

KD Lang's version of Hallelujah at the Canadian Winter Olympics was breathtakingly beautiful.

One of my favourite songs ever is INXS Never Tear Us Apart... I didn't hate Paloma Faith's cover, but I wasn't a big fan either.

What would solve all of this really is to stop Ellie Goulding's breathy singing. Bleurgh.

For those who don't like 'breathy' singers, check this out - if you're not dancing round the kitchen you have a heart of stone -

(sorry - you've got me started now)

Re Ellie Goulding: Can we put her in the ring all Pantened up to go three rounds with Nicola Adams. That'll give her 'Strong is Beautiful.'

....The problem with covers, meanwhile, is when people don't have a clue what the original was about. Madonna thought "American Pie" was corny patriotism and not the rock version of The Wasteland. And then there is Gary Jules and Tears For Fears Mad World, where the 'face you wore was cool, you were a photograph' means you were cold and dead like an image on the wall, and not you looked so good you were on a magazine.

No-one else should touch The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, after Roberta Flack.

Well @Pan2 normally I'd agree with you on this but then we'd both be wrong. When I first heard Johnny Cash do his version it blew me away and instantly became my favourite version.

Having said that, I like a cover version to subvert the original, like Kiss by Age Of Chance, or Jolene by White Stripes.

Doc I will research.

This is great - lots of recommendations to explore, thank you!

I give you this absolute genius version of Justin Bieber - yes, Justin Bieber - Love Yourself - by Postmodern Jukebox

Whilst I don’t think the below song is “better” than the original, mainly because it’s now a different era, and this song is performed as a cut-down version, but I think it is bloody good and the singer is incredibly talented.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctc9OZZTAhE&list

Glad to discover other Roberta Flack fans on here.
One guy who can always do a good, individual take on a classic song is Jose Feliciano.

But the best cover EVER is Northern Kittens doing ‘Independent Woman’ by Destiny’s Child. You can find it on rathergood.com.