Cover versions of songs

[hangrylady]

Just a lighthearted musing! I was listening to the radio earlier and they played Baby Can I Hold You by Boyzone. An absolute abomination when compared to the original by Tracy Chapman. The only example of a cover that I think is better than the original is Only You by Yazoo, which is far superior to the weird Flying Pickets version. Can anyone think of any more songs where the cover is better than the original?

Amy Winehouse' cover of Valerie springs instantly to mind

I also prefer Metallicas version of Whisky in the Jar - but I can admit to myself it's probably because I was familiar with it before hearing the original!

This is probably blasphemy to some, but I love Slow Moving Millie version of Please Let Me Get What I Want far more than the The Smiths version.

Came on to say Sound Of Silence by Disturbed and Hurt by Johnny Cash, but see I've been beaten to both of them already! I also love the FooFighters cover of Baker Street.

Sea of Love - Cat Power
Comfortably Numb - Scissor Sisters
You’re no good by - Linda Rostadt
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Say Hello Wave Goodbye- David Gray
Heard it through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye

For me, Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry's version of Jealous Guy is much better than the John Lennon original

I love the groove theory cover of the isley brothers cover of hello it's me by todd rundgren.

The Jimi Hendrix version of All Along the Watchtower. I agree with pp about the Jonny Cash version of Hurt.

I prefer the Michael Andrews / Gary Jules version of Mad World, the one they used on the Donnie Darko soundtrack, to the Tears For Fears original.

I also like the Run DMC/Aerosmith version of Walk This Way much more than the original with just Aerosmith.

Hurt by Johnny Cash is better than the Nine Inch Nails original.

I prefer Tainted Love by Soft Cell and There's A Ghost In My House by The Fall to the original soul versions as well.

Torn by Natalie Imbruglia
I’m a believer by The Monkees
Ray of Light by Madonna

All covers better than the original versions

Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm is amazing

Prefer Ticket to Ride by The Carpenters than The Beatles.

@Stygimoloch

I’ve always preferred The Stereophonic’s version of Handbags and Gladrags compared to Rod Stewart’s (I think there may have been an earlier version too).

Best version is Stereophonics playing, Rod singing.

Christine and The Queens has done some brilliant covers- Sorry by Beyonce and What Lovers Do by Maroon 5 (INFINITELY better than the original!) both worth checking out on YouTube.

@JauntyJinty

Amy Winehouse' cover of Valerie springs instantly to mind

I also prefer Metallicas version of Whisky in the Jar - but I can admit to myself it's probably because I was familiar with it before hearing the original!

it's not often you hear it

Love yourself by Craig David is miles better than Justin Bieber.

I didn't know half of these were covers

@Carbis

The Jimi Hendrix version of All Along the Watchtower. I agree with pp about the Jonny Cash version of Hurt.

Fully expecting to get flamed for this, but I have a real soft spot for Afterhere's version of All Along the Watchtower

La Mer- Julio Iglesias

Still haven't found what I'm looking for - much prefer The Chimes version to U2's. And no Bono!

At last I am free by Robert Wyatt
Shipbuilding by Elvis Costello
It's different for girls by Siskin
Dear Prudence by Siouxie and the Banshees
Season of the Witch - Lou Rawls
Summertime- Fun Boy Three
Tainted Love - Marilyn Manson
Billie Jean - The Civil Wars
Sunny - James Brown
Night and Day - Everything but the Girl

@myBumJuiceSmellsLikeRoses

I actually love the Scissor Sisters version of Comfortably Numb. So completely different to the original.

An abomination! I was livid when I first heard it 😂

Say Hello Wave Goodbye - I prefer the David Gray version to the Soft Cell original.

Practically any cover of Bob Dylan is better than the original in my opinion.

The Beatles version of ‘Twist and Shout’. Love the rawness of it (I think it was completed in one take). John Lennon’s voice sounds like it’s very much about to stop working, but something about that only adds to it.

Betraying the Martyr's version of Let it Go, but I have been traumatised by the original on repeat :P