Covers that were better than the original song

[Floogal]

The other day, I got a Prince compilation CD. I always liked 'I feel for you' (Chaka Khan), 'Kiss' (Tom Jones), Nothing compares 2 u' (Sinead O'Connor) and 'Why don't you call me?' (Alicia Keys). Never knew they were originally by Prince. Quite Frankly the covers were better

Here are some others:
Step on by Happy Mondays
Wild World by Maxi Priest
Many rivers to cross by UB40 (only better by a margin though).

Hazy shade of winter- the Bangles
I don't want to talk about it- Everything but the girl

Grace Carter's version of Wicked Game
Take That How Deep is Your Love

Not so much a cover but Freemasons remix of ‘Beautiful Liar’ transformed Beyoncé and Shakira’s very pedestrian and dull version. It would have sunk without their skilled hands.

Running Up That Hill - Placebo
The original by Kate Bush is good but I find her voice annoying🫣

Love Amy MacDonalds versions of Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark. Think its a fabulous song when sung by Bruce and love it, but somehow she just takes it to a different level by slowing it down particularly the acoustic version. Although the full orchestra as a backing band is awesome.

I also love this version of Creep

Totally agree. I don't particularly like the Elvis version but love the Pet Shop Boys version.

I also much prefer Phil Collins version of You can't hurry love.

Blackcherryconserve you and me both. He is the only thing that gets my menopausal self mildly aroused...such masculinity

All Along the Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix

It's a Bob Dylan song. There are many classic Dylan songs which are best in his versions, but also lots and lots that other people do better, and that's possibly the best cover ever made.

I loved Fine young cannibals. Suspicious mind.

Our lips are sealed was by the Go-Go's. Co-written by Jane Wiedlin and Terry Hall. AFAIK, The Bangles never covered it.

Jimmy Nail's version of Rose Royce's 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore'

Aretha - 'RESPECT'

Tourists 'Only Wanna be With You'

Pseudo Echo's version of 'Funkytown'.

Pretenders 'Stop Your Sobbing '

Feeling Good - Muse

Suspicious Minds - FYC

This.

also under the brilliant original but outstanding cover-

the darkness - radiohead’s Street Spirit
Bellsaint- REM’s losing my religion.

WTF? I've seen it all now!

It's a load of warbly shite and doesn't even have tbe same meaning as the original.

Wet Wet Wet - Love is all around
Alison Moyet - Weak in the presence of beauty
Whitney Houston - I will always love you
Tiffany - I think were alone now
Paul Young - Love of the common people
Communards - Don't leave me this way
Boystown Gang - Can't take my eyes off you
Soft Cell - What
Madness - It must be love

Nobody Does It Better - Radiohead
They definitely Radioheadified it, playing it on repeat....

Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Eva Cassidy

Save Ferris - Come on Eileen

Slightly o/t but I have recently rediscovered Moyet.

she’s amazing.

see also jimmy Somerville. There’s a video of him out walking his dog and joining in with a busker who doesn’t realise who it is until after. The man still has it!

Hounds of love - Futureheads

I do love the original as well, but this is the best cover ever IMO.

Anything Placebo cover
Wheatus- A Little Respect, much prefer it to the Erasure version.

Guns n Roses - live and let die
George Michael - I can't make you love me
Adele - make you feel my love

You can’t hurry love - Phil Collins - I was surprised when I found out it was a cover

It must be love - Madness - recently discovered this was a cover also

Whisky in the jar - Metallica