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).

Feeling Good, Muse
Live and Let Die Guns n Roses
Street Spirit The Darkness
The Man who sold the world Nirvana
Tainted Love Marilyn Manson. Also prefer his Sweet Dreams

Omg. Until I read your post I hadn’t realised it was a cover of the Elvis song 🙈. I’m a huge fan of Elvis and I like the PSB’s. Agree with you their version is much better.

Feel my Love Adele cover of Bob Dylan

Heatbeats, Jose Gonzales cover

Too close to call Only You - love Yazoo original but Flying Pickets also good

I also love the Pet Shop Boys cover of Coldplay When I Ruled the World

Yep!

Pet Shop Boys have-sort of- covered their own songs! Their versions of Losing my Mind and I’m Not Scared came after Liza Minnelli and Eighth Wonder’s originals(that they wrote), edited because Losing my Mind they produced for Liza but of course it’s a Stephen Sondheim song isn’t it).

Great thread!

Loads on here I agree with, and a few I don't! I didn't realise Jolene had so many covers, I heard the Beyoncé one today on 6 Music and loved the modern reworking of the lyrics (Dolly's ringing endorsement of an intro helped).

My personal favourite is We Can Work It Out by Stevie Wonder

Bad Wolves version of Zombie. Dolores O'Riordan loved it was due to re-record vocals with them but passed away the day before.

Woodstock - Matthews’ Southern Comfort
Wicked Game - Gemma Hayes
A New England - Kirsty MacColl

George Michael; I can’t make you love me 💙

Whitney Houston - I will always love you (not a favourite song, but it is better than the original)

Cyndi Lauder - I drove all night

Sinead O’Connor - Nothing compares 2 U

Natalie Imbruglia - Torn

NOT Jolene!
Why on earth would anyone think they could do it better?

Chris Cornell’s version of ‘Patience’. The GnR version is pretty good, but this is sublime.

Definitely @LutonBeds. PSB always on my mind is brilliant. Totally evocative of the era it came out and every time I hear it I am transported back to my student days - nights out with friends, no worries....

Dolly performing it Pentatonix is worth a listen ......

This Mortal Coil, "Song to the Siren". Much better than the Tim Buckley original.

567839Y · Today 23:30
Whitney Houston - I will always love you (not a favourite song, but it is better than the original).

No it isn’t! The original was song in context, with heart and meaning by the person who penned it. Not belted out to inspire karaoke wannabes forever more (in a terrible film!)

Yes, definitely!

🤷‍♀️ that’s my view.. It’s DPs view too btw.. Film is irrelevant.

My fave song of DP is Coat of Many Colors. That is a song with heart and meaning, not sure that could ever be copied.

Heard it through the grapevine - The Slits. Just wonderful.

Two that are very close but I think the cover edges it: This Mortal Coil's version of song to the Siren.

Placebo's cover of 20th Century Boy ( ducks and runs for cover)...

Take That and Lulu's cover of Barry Manilow's Relight My Fire.

Snap! I posted the same just a few minutes earlier 😀

Hot Chip have a great cover of Dancing in the Dark
Spiritualized's version of Any Way That You Want Me by The Troggs is beautiful

The Damned - Alone Again Or
Boney M - Sunny
Sonic Youth - Superstar (Carpenters)