The best cover of a song is..............

[houseworkneverends]

They wont go where I go - original Stevie Wonder, covered by George Michael. It's just perfect in every single way.

AIBU or do you think there is a better cover???

Bulletproof by Pomplamoose

Chris Cornell - Nothing compares 2 U
The (Dixie) Chicks - Loving Arms

YES PLEASE

The Field - Everybody's gotta learn sometime
A sort of electronica - dreamwave version, quite haunting.

Also, Waves (originally by Erol Alkan) - Chilly Gonzales piano remake.
Really shows how similar some electronica tracks can be to classical music.

@houseworkneverends I also LOVE They won't go where I Go - original Stevie Wonder, covered by George Michael.
In fact I love GM's entire album of " Songs of the Last Century". His "You've Changed" (Harry James and His Orchestra ) is amazing.

I will suggest
Vendulka's version of "Karma chameleon" (Culture Club)
First Aid Kit's version of "America" (Simon and Garfunkel)

Some people may not realise are covers are
Ray Charles version of "Georgia" on my mind (Hoagy CarMichael)
Elvis Presley's version of "Hounddog" (Big Mama Thornton)
The Beatle's version "Twist and Shout" (The Top Notes)
Aretha Franklin's "Respect" (Otis Reading)

George Michaels version though is similar it’s more soulful, deep and kind of heartbreaking. I mean how do you make a song more soulful than Stevie Wonder - even Stevie said it was amazing

Jose Gonzalez’s cover of Hand on your Heart is fab too.

That is absolutely fabulous. I adore it. Not a fan of his of anything but the emotions imparted into the song were amazing. And an amazing voice. Can you tell I like it 😂

Came on to say this, absolutely mesmerising. What a voice.

Maverick Sabre, Georgia on my mind

Everything but the girl version of Downtown train

Faultine feat Rina Mushonga Follow you Follow you

Everybody’s gotta learn sometime by Beck

Any Winehouse - Valerie

This is a great list of things to look up. That's evening sorted 😁

Higher ground - RHCP
You sexy thing - Caleb Hawley

Girlschool's version of Race with the devil.

Marilyn Manson's version of I put a spell on you. In fact , all the covers they do are pretty decent.

The Scorpions version of Tainted Love.

Just like Heaven by Dinosaur Jr

Lots of these. Definitely Jeff Buckley.

More of a mash up than a cover but Freak Like Me by Sugababes is such a cool pop gem.

i also have a fondness for Joss Stone’s version of Fell In Love With a Girl,

A lot of people don’t realise you don’t actually need permission to release cover versions, from either the original artist or the songwriters. As long as you don’t change the lyrics or arrangement, you can cover what you like.

Now that we've found love was originally sung by The O'Jays
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8j9g1DTCJn0

But I much preferred Third World's version
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_5sA8WKxyjQ&pp=ygUidGhpcmQgd29ybGQgbm93IHRoYXQgd2UgZm91bmQgbG92ZQ%3D%3D

There are so many good ones here, but I too was going to say George Michael, "I can't make you love me", or his version of 'As'

This Must Be the Place - Iron & Wine

Go Your Own Way - Lissie

Tonight Will be Fine - Teddy Thompson

Not so much a cover but Marc Almonds duet with Gene Pitney to make a duet of 'Something's gotten hold of my heart' originally sung by Gene as a solo record is wonderful.

This is very niche, but Avicii Wake Me Up in Irish. It's infectious (in a good way)

Just like Heaven by Dinosaur Jr

Good choice. Also NewDad did a cover of it for their Glastonbury set which was damn fine too.

8 Miles High - the Husker Du version.