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[David_Dovey]

Nobody's mentioning All Along the Watchtower?

YES.

Actually, i pretty much like any Dylan song that's been covered better than when Dylan performs it.

[pat101]

Since I took it up as the forum's national spokesman of The Chronic, I will have to disagree. Incredibly.

I'll second the disagreement, though the cover is real sweet.

[Johnny C]

Actually, i pretty much like any Dylan song that's been covered better than when Dylan performs it.

This may be true but I would contest your assertion that they are better.

[Ishotdanieljohnston]

Anything by Leonard Cohen that someone else has covered. The guy can't sing.

jeff buckley kicked his ass.

[The extra letter]

I would like to point out that anyone who thinks covers of Leonard Cohen songs are better than the originals is probably a communist and should be burned at the stake.

None of the covers of Hallelujah, for example, have one iota of Cohen's pure tragic essence, nor do they come close to him in terms of beauty. People who prefer the Rufus Wainwright/Jeff Buckley/Whoever versions need to go back and relisten to the original and realize just how wrong they are.

Yeah, that sums it up pretty damn well. Cohen's voice is supposed to sound all whiskey and cigarettes and no sleep.

[SeanBateman]

Anything by Leonard Cohen that someone else has covered. The guy can't sing.

jeff buckley kicked his ass.

stupid stupid stupid stupid.

[Pelay]

Ben Gibbard singing Avril's Complicated   
and one that isn't just hysterical, is the Ryan Adams version of Wonderwall

[Scandanavian War Machine]

Nirvana didn't do Love Buzz nearly as good as Shocking Blue, if you ask me. That's all i can think of.

[anditsdiscontents]

(for the oz-kids)
Blueline Medic does excellent versions of "Precious Things" by Tori Amos and "Let Go" by Frou Frou.
Something For Kate's version of "Harpoon" destroys Jebediah's original.

[pilsner]

Anything by Leonard Cohen that someone else has covered. The guy can't sing.

jeff buckley kicked his ass.

stupid stupid stupid stupid.

If only Buckley had thought to use a chorus.  Well, we can always wait for him to do another -- oh wait he died tragically young.

[Dinky]

I just saw a metal rendition of Rasputin by Turisas which compared favourably to the original.

Even the ludicrous costumes of the band seemed in keeping with the spirit of Boney M.

[muteKi]

I almost want to say Tom Jones's version of Ring of Fire, which was much more rollicking and intense than Cash's "light mariachi" sound (that is, mid-tempo, light brass, major scales).

[3Z3VH]

Not sure if it was better, per se... but DEFINITELY a kick ass tribute:

The Who ----> Pearl Jam - "(Love) Reign O'er Me"

[mortarman178]

aliean ant farm's remake of  "smooth criminal" was preaty good

[Joseph]

Pretty good ≠ better than the original.

[michaelicious]

Patti Smith's version of My Generation is excellent.

[Scandanavian War Machine]

Green Day does an excellent cover of "My Generation" too. it's about one point shy of tying the original for goodness. so i guess it's not actually relevent to this thread.....dang.



edit: i just realized that i might be assasinated for mentioning Green Day and "excellent" in the same sentence so to clarify: this song is on their album Kerplunk which their best album....actually it's their only album as far as i'm concerned. the rest really isn't for me at all. But i love Kerplunk to death and always will.

edit #2: Kerplunk is now in the Sendspace Thread for download by you fine people.

[3Z3VH]

aliean ant farm's remake of  "smooth criminal" was preaty good

Pretty good ≠ better than the original.

Also "aliean" and "preaty" ≠ English

[mberan42]

Obidiah Parker - Hey Ya! (Outkast)
Jonathon Coulton - Baby Got Back (Sir Mix-a-Lot)

[2HourHiatus]

William Shatner's "Rocket Man" is the zenith of all covers.
Franz Ferdinand's cover of "All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem was pretty damn good.

[Alex C]

Alanis Morisette's cover of "My Humps" was priceless.

[E. Spaceman]

Franz Ferdinand's cover of "All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem was pretty damn good.

This is my favourite Franz Ferdinand song, but it is not really half as good as the original.

[David_Dovey]

Obidiah Parker - Hey Ya! (Outkast)

Oh God so many high-fives for you

[3Z3VH]

Obidiah Parker - Hey Ya! (Outkast)

It's discoveries like this, that are the whole reason I started this thread !  Thanks man !

[rb_lestr]

Xiu Xiu - Don't Cha (Pussycat Dolls)

[imapiratearg]

Both Sam Beam's and Ben Fold's covers of "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service.

The video there, is Ben covering it live on Myspace Gigs.  It's crazy.

[Luke C]

Stevie ray Vaughn - Voodoo Child

Interesting call, I really like SRV's cover of Voodoo Child but I don't know if is better than the Hendrix original.

Cash's version of Hurt is better than the original.
Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower is better than the original.

[Boro_Bandito]

Santa Esmerelda's cover of Don't Let me be Misunderstood by the Animals.

I felt like being obscure, 

Edit: Mr. Green fits better

[David_Dovey]

Interesting call, I really like SRV's cover of Voodoo Child but I don't know if is better than the Hendrix original.

I do.

It's not.

[Liz]

I feel almost suicidal saying this but........... Rihanna's Umbrella sounded so much better when sung by Mandy Moore

Seconded. I actually have Mandy's newest CD and I like it a lot, especially the song 'Gardenia.'

[rhinohelicopter]

Johnny Cash did one hell of a cover of "Rusty Cage" by Soundgarden.  Cash really makes you believe he's trapped.  Plus, I think Chris Cornell's voice is boring.

[ThinWhiteDuke09]

The Sounds - "Goodbye Seventies"
The West End Girls - "Its a Sin" (Pet Shop Boys)
Also Shatner and Ben Folds covered Pulp's "common people" its not very good but its fun to listen to.

[Catacombs]

A WORKING CLASS HERO IS SOMETHING TO BEEEEEEE






na but in all seriousness anyone ever hear the french version of 'my generation'?

[LordNagash]

I like Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire and (Ghost) Riders in the sky better than the originals.

[Jedit]

Nobody's mentioning All Along the Watchtower?

I think in the interests of brevity Bob Dylan should be excluded from this thread. 

Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends (Beatles)

Is this some kind of post-modern ironic thing?  Cocker's version is fucking terrible.  I don't care if the Beatles were so stoned they let Ringo sing the original (thanks, Bill!), it could never be as bad as Cocker's version.  "Whaaaaaat... wouldyouthiiiiink... ifIsaaaang... outoftuuuuune?"  You are singing out of tune, you gormless twat - now piss off and assail some other poor bastard. 

True story: someone put the Cocker WALHFMF on in the UMIST union bar one night.  At the end of the first line someone yelled "YES!", and half a dozen patrons promptly stood up and walked out.

And, the remake of all time that's the most WORSE than the original:

That version of Big Yellow Taxi playing on the radio right now.

That version of Big Yellow Taxi may well be Joni Mitchell's new version. 

C. Patrick Carolan - if they don't get you for claiming Love Spit Love's cover of How Soon Is Now? is better than the original, I'll get you on grounds of Probable Charmed Fandom.  Start running, boy.  (I'll say this for it, though - it's the only good cover of HSIN.  I know this because I spent a weekend once hunting them all down.)

There's a number of noms I'll gladly second in this thread, but i have a few of my own.

Laibach - God Is God (originally by Juno Reactor)
Rammstein - Das Modell (originally by Kraftwerk)
Cowboy Junkies - Sweet Jane (originally by Lou Reed)
The Breeders - Theme from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (originally by Nerf Herder)
16 Horsepower - Day of the Lord (originally by Joy Division)
Thea Gilmore - Ever Fallen In Love...? (originally by The Buzzcocks)

Honourable mention for Alien Sex Fiend's cover of Echoes (originally by Pink Floyd).  Not better... just entirely different while at the same time exactly the same.

Query: do traditional arrangements qualify as remakes?  If so, add House of the Rising Sun by the Animals and Loch Lomond by Runrig to the list.


EDIT: Buggrit, I forgot the Gourds - Gin and Juice (originally by Snoop Doggy Whateverthehellhe's callinghimselfthisweek).  Bluegrass rap, as I live.

[funkyfest]

Patti Smith's version of My Generation is excellent.

It is...but her version of "Gloria" stomps all over Them's original.

Jay Brannan "Str8 Outta Compton" = N.W.A. "Straight Outta Compton"
Can't really compare them since I love them both for different reasons. But worthy of a mention.

And what's with the Leonard Cohen hating? That's whack, his voice starts to sound real nice after a while. Once you get into the lyrics.

[Johnny C]

Also Shatner and Ben Folds covered Pulp's "common people" its not very good but its fun to listen to.

Jesus Christ people the picture of me frowning is going to become a macro if we don't nip this sort of thing in the bud.

[Darkbluerabbit]

Sheryl Crow--Sweet Child o' Mine (Gun's n' Roses) <~~~~ I don't like them on pricinple, plus, I heard Sheryl Crow's version first when I was younger, so that may be apart of it.

They both make me hate humans.  Sheryl Crow was good for maybe ten minutes of her recorded life, she's done some good backing vocals.

I'll probably be crucified for saying I prefer the Love Spit Love version of "How Soon is Now?" to the The Smiths...

Umm, no.  Richard Butler, and anything he does, is AMAZING. No crucifixion.

And, the remake of all time that's the most WORSE than the original:

That version of Big Yellow Taxi playing on the radio right now.

I actually used to defend Counting Crows, until they came out with that shit. Then there was that song they did for a fucking Shrek soundtrack, with Adam Duritz embarrassing himself looking like a fucking blueberry at the Oscars...yeah.  Amy Hit the Atmosphere was a good song...where'd they go?

Also. Switchfoots cover of Sorrow (Bad Religion) is the WORST thing I have ever heard. He took an excellent song and sang it to some crappy acoustic riff that he wrote. Bad Jon Foreman! NO! (swats on the nose, as tho he were a dog.)

Switchfoot covers of anything should not be allowed to happen.  Switchfoot recording music should not be allowed to happen.

William Shatner's "Rocket Man" is the zenith of all covers.

The Shat doesn't cover songs, he claims them.

Alanis Morisette's cover of "My Humps" was priceless.

WHAT?...I can't decide if I want to hear this.  The original is possibly the worst song EVER.

Also Shatner and Ben Folds covered Pulp's "common people" its not very good but its fun to listen to.

Yes.  Also the live version with Joe Jackson.  ROCKS.



I am a big fan of Tori Amos covers.  She's probably the one recording artist who can take any song, good or bad, and play it in a way that respects the original (deserving of respect or not) and make it her own, while giving good credit to the original performer.  She just knows how to play with respect.  Her "Smells Like Teen Spirit" while first recorded shortly after Kurt's death, doesn't have  a HINT of exploitation.  You hear nothing but respect for an artist who influenced her.  Tori...let's just forget about "The Beekeeper" and then I can continue to love you...

[pilsner]

Alanis Morisette's cover of "My Humps" was priceless.

WHAT?...I can't decide if I want to hear this.  The original is possibly the worst song EVER.

Not only do you want to hear it, you want to heard it right now.  It is the most brilliant musical satire I have ever heard.  It made me totally reevaluate who Alanis is.  It is also has actual depth, in that it takes something mysoginistic and empty and repurposes it as a joke about self-destructive materialism.  Seriously.

Here it is.

[Darkbluerabbit]

Thank you for convincing me (and providing a link because I am lazy).  I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry... I just kinda did both like at the end.  Except I don't wear nearly enough makeup to get the effect.

[carrotosaurus]

Sun Kil Moon's cover of Modest Mouse's "Ocean Breathes Salty"

[jaydot]

i'm a pretty big fan of fiona apple's cover of across the universe.  much moreso than rufus wainwright's. it comes across as too big.  her version's understated and quiet.  pretty sweet. 

also, radiohead's cover of The Thief by Can is pretty epic.  most of my other favorites have been mentioned.

[Gemmwah]

Ween -> Killola - "Dr Rock"

So much better when they do it.

[WriterofAllWrongs]

Patti Smith's version of My Generation is excellent.

That's an impressive amount of fail.  You deserve an award.  I'm not saying the cover was not good, but Daltry and Townshend's combined energy and purpose far outstrips Patti Smith's frenetic performance.

Siouxsie & The Banshees - Dear Prudence

[Catacombs]

Social Distortion - Tainted Love

also Alkaline Trio's "Metro"

[Liz]

I heard a cover of "Beautiful World" by Coldplay that was probably one of the most amazing things ever. It had beat boxing.

[Hobbs]

ctrl+f tells me that nobody has mentioned Children of Bodom covering Brittney Spears "Oops I did it Again." Even though theres not much remake going on in it the song is at least 3000x better than the original

[muteKi]

I am currently in the process of singing along to the Richard Cheese cover of Baby Got Back. Fucking hilarious.

[Kai]

Patti Smith's version of My Generation is excellent.

That's an impressive amount of fail.  You deserve an award.  I'm not saying the cover was not good, but Daltry and Townshend's combined energy and purpose far outstrips Patti Smith's frenetic performance.

Siouxsie & The Banshees - Dear Prudence

I disagree; I think the Patti Smith version is far more interesting.

But I like Patti Smith leagues more than The Who.

Also The Beatles' Dear Prudence is still better, sorry.

[Storm Rider]

Whoa whoa, are you trashing on the Who, man?

I don't think we can be friends anymore.

I'm changing the treehouse password.