Ever hear a cover song you think is better than the original. It doesn't happen
very often, but it does happen. Here are a few covers I think are better than
the original version.

Turn The Page...Metallica

All Along The Watch Tower...Jimi Hendrix

Got To Get You Into My Life...Earth, Wind and Fire

I Shot The Sherriff...Eric Clapton

Stand By Your Man...Me First And The Gimme Gimmes

Keep Me Hanging On...Kim Wilde

Usually, Johnny Cash improves everything.. his version of U2's "One" was an improvement, so was his version of "Hurt" (By Nine-Inch Nails), and "I Hung My Head" (originally Sting).

Hmmm....

"Enjoy the Silence"-Tori Amos (maybe slightly better.)
"New Age"-Tori Amos
"Thank You"-Tori Amos
"Tainted Love"-Soft Cell (though the Gloria Jones original is close, download it if you haven't heard it, it's amazing.)
"Respect"-Aretha Franklin.
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine"-Marvin Gaye.

Hmmm....

"Enjoy the Silence"-Tori Amos (maybe slightly better.)
"New Age"-Tori Amos
"Thank You"-Tori Amos
"Tainted Love"-Soft Cell (though the Gloria Jones original is close, download it if you haven't heard it, it's amazing.)
"Respect"-Aretha Franklin.
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine"-Marvin Gaye.




I forgot about "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" but I like the version
by Creedance Clearwater Revival.

Metallica better than Bob Seger?!


Oh dear God no.

Metallica better than Bob Seger?!


Oh dear God no.



I was never a big Bob Seger Fan nor was I a big Metallica fan but I always liked
"Turn The Page". When Metallica covered it, they gave it a heavy sound that
I think the song needed. Now I prefer to hear Metallica's version.

I liked Kenny Rogers' version of "Lady" better than the one by the Little River Band.

Turn! Turn! Turn! - the Byrds
Mr. Tambourine - the Byrds (originally by Bob Dylan)

That Song About the Midway-Bonnie Raitt (one of the rare times Joni has actually been topped with a cover)
Rainy Day Man-Bonnie Raitt.
Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam-Nirvana.
The Man Who Sold the World-Nirvana.
Uncle Tom's Diner-DNA feat. Suzanne Vega.

I was never a big Bob Seger Fan nor was I a big Metallica fan but I always liked
"Turn The Page". When Metallica covered it, they gave it a heavy sound that
I think the song needed. Now I prefer to hear Metallica's version.



Well, Bob Seger's version was live, so you weren't going to have the same concentration of sound that you'd have if it was recorded in a studio.

[quote author=wһіѕ

2 that I can think of right now-

-Orgy's 1999 version of "Blue Monday"
-Joe Cocker's version of "Have a little help from my Friends"

2 that I can think of right now-

-Orgy's 1999 version of "Blue Monday"
-Joe Cocker's version of "Have a little help from my Friends"




Big thumbs up to Joe Cocker.  His version is by far the best.

mariah carey 'without you' 8)

The Power Station version of Get It On (Bang a Gong)

[quote author=wһіѕ

While not generally a fan of covers there are some that I like almost equally to the original

I'm a Believer - Love both the Monkees & Neil Diamond versions - but have also grown to love the Shrek soundtrack version

Jealous Guy - love both the John Lennon and Bryan Ferry versions.

Stand By Me - love both the John Lennon and Ben E King versions.

No Doubt - It's My Life (Originally by Talk Talk)
Steps - Tragedy (Originally by Bee Gees)
Girls Aloud - Jump (Originally by Pointer Sisters)

♦ It Might as Well Rain Until September - Gary and Dave (original: Carole King)
  Carole's version was good, but Gary and Dave's soft vocals made this song just simply beautiful!

♦ Red Red Wine - UB40 (original: Neil Diamond)

♦ Kiss - Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones (original: Prince)
  When Prince sings it, it sounds like he's molesting himself

♦ The Power of Love - Air Supply (original: Jennifer Rush)
  The best version of anyone who sang it

♦ That's Freedom - John Farnham (original: Tom Kimmel)

♦ How Long - Lipps Inc (original: Ace)
  I do enjoy the music of Paul Carrack, but a disco/dance version of this song really gave it a kick that I loved

♦ Object of My Desire - Dana Rayne (original: Starpoint)
  A dance version made this 80s classic sound so much better!

The Fugees - Killing Me Softly

TLC - If I Was Your Girlfriend (I don't really like how Prince sped up his voice in the original version)

blinded by the light by manfred mann rather than its author , Bruce springsteen

-Joe Cocker's version of "Have a little help from my Friends"



One of maybe two Beatles covers I like better than the original.

I think I may like Echo and the Bunnymen's cover of 'People Are Strange' better than the original. Never been a huge fan of the Doors anyway.

"Proud Mary" by Tina Turner(originally done by Creedence Clearwater Revival)
"Dead Souls" by Nine Inch Nails(originally done by Joy Division)
"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston(originally done by Dolly Parton)

"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston(originally done by Dolly Parton)
I have to disagree with you there, the original version of "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton is far superior.

"Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor(originally done by Prince)
"Anarchy in the UK" by Megadeth(originally done by the Sex Pistols)

I agree with BrianMannixGirl partially .. they're both good .. but Roxy's version is far better for me! (Jealous Guy).

Whistledog.... reckons Air Supply have the definitive version of 'The Power of Love'. I doubt I can be swayed from the Jennifer Rush version .. which I think is awesome. If the Air Supply version is so good ... why didn't it appear on their greatest hits CD? Anyhow .. I'll download it/ give it a go.

Now:


'Abraham, Martin & John' ... original by Dion ... greatest version (for me) ... Marvin Gaye (and hey! It's on that outstanding collection 'Motown 5' ....below).

'Ruby Tuesday'  ... original version ....  Rolling Stones .. greatest version (for me) ... Melanie

'My Prayer' ... original hit ... Platters .. greatest version for me .... Gerry Monroe

Whistledog.... reckons Air Supply have the definitive version of 'The Power of Love'. I doubt I can be swayed from the Jennifer Rush version .. which I think is awesome. If the Air Supply version is so good ... why didn't it appear on their greatest hits CD? Anyhow .. I'll download it/ give it a go.


The Air Supply Greatest Hits CD (The only one I know of with that same title) came out in 1983.  'The Power of Love' came out in 1985 :P

It was not a Top 40 hit in the USA, but it was in Canada

The Air Supply Greatest Hits CD (The only one I know of with that same title) came out in 1983.  'The Power of Love' came out in 1985 :P

It was not a Top 40 hit in the USA, but it was in Canada


Fair enough. I am in the process of acquiring it. I DO like/love some of Air Supply's hits... so maybe I'm hasty to pre-judge this one... but ... as I say... it will have to be something else to take that crown away!

Ok. I've now given the Air Supply version the 'once through'... sounds respectable enough / pleasant ... but I have to say Jennifer can't be beat. Beauty is in the ear of the beholder!

Anyhow ... I've often thought that at times they sound remarkably like Styx ..  they could have almost sung each others hits. What do you think Jason?

Fair enough. I am in the process of acquiring it. I DO like/love some of Air Supply's hits... so maybe I'm hasty to pre-judge this one... but ... as I say... it will have to be something else to take that crown away!


What made their version so good was that they were the only men brave enough to tackle this song ;D

im sure ill get killed for this but............... mariah carey-without you

Screamin' Jay Hawkins: Whistlin' Past the Graveyard (original: Tom Waits)
Johnny Cash: Hurt (original: Nine Inch Nails)
Written In Ashes: Cold Ethyl (original: Alice Cooper)
Laibach: Across the Universe (original: The Beatles)
Blancmange: The Day Before You Came (original: ABBA)

I liked Kenny Rogers' version of "Lady" better than the one by the Little River Band.


I think those are two different songs

"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston(originally done by Dolly Parton)


I have to STRONGLY disagree there.  With Whitney's version, it's like she is just showing off her voice.  Dolly Parton's 1973 version is haunting and much more heartfelt - its an emotional expirience.

mariah carey-without you


agree since the original was bland and Mariah's version has more soul

"Perfect Day" by Duran Duran(originally done by Lou Reed)

"Perfect Day" by Duran Duran(originally done by Lou Reed)
I prefered the Various Artists version done the for BBC's Children In Need.

'macarthurs park' sung by donna summer

'denis' done by blondie

'when you were mine' sung by cyndi lauper

'macarthurs park' sung by donna summer


Indeed, but it is a ridiculous song and Summer's vesion hit #1 and the radio played it ad nauseam!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacArthur_Park_(song)

^i agree  ;D. i think she meant for it to be campy though.

Here's two I never thought I'd admit to liking more than the originals ...

Hold On - Santana
The Runner - Manfred Mann's Earth Band

There's a bunch of covers of Bob Dylan songs that I think sound better than his own versions, but there's too many to list.

Of course, that shouldn't be too surprising. Considering how hoarse and raspy his voice sounds, just about every Dylan song sounds better when it's sung by someone else!  ;D

There's a bunch of covers of Bob Dylan songs that I think sound better than his own versions, but there's too many to list.

Of course, that shouldn't be too surprising. Considering how hoarse and raspy his voice sounds, just about every Dylan song sounds better when it's sung by someone else!  ;D


This is so true yes! ;D

i think the cher song 'heart of stone' is a cover, and i love that song....

i also love madonna's cover of 'fever'.

Big Yellow Taxi by Amy Grant

Without a doubt, Eric Clapton is a fantastic performer.

But...as far as I'm concerned,  http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/09/shockwhore.gifBob Marley's "I Shot the Sherriff" is THE classic!