Thread: Covers of Songs that Beat the Originals

I generally don't like it when bands or artists cover other people's material but sometimes they make a much better version out of it.
My favorite cover songs are:

Regina Spektor 'Real Love' orginally by John Lennon
Regina Spektor 'No Surprises' originally by Radiohead
Regina Spektor 'Hallelujah' originally by Jeff Buckly

Other songs:

Leona Lewis 'Run' orginally by Snow Patrol
Ebony Day 'I'm Yours' orignally by Jason Mraz
The Eels 'Livin' Life' originally by Daniel Johnston
Shonen Knife 'I Wanna Be Sedated' orginally by The Ramones
Charlene Soraia 'Wherever You Will Go' orginally by The Calling

That's just a few, I could probably think of loads more

I'll get the obvious one out the way Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails 'Hurt'.

Also enjoy Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower'

I vastly prefer Cash Cash's cover of "Forever Young" over that of the original by Alphaville (I believe).

While I love both renditions, I like Dinosaur Jr.'s cover of "Just Like Heaven" more than The Cure's original version.

I like Gary Jules and Michael Andrews' cover of "Mad World" by Tears for Fears more than the original.

I originally didn't like the original, but it's grown on me. I still prefer the cover, though, since it fits the mood of the lyrics better, in my interpretation. But of course, there's also the fact that Donnie Darko is my favorite movie, so I might be biased.

I'd say that Jimi Hendrix's All Along The Watchtower and Judas Priest's Diamonds And Rust are better than the originals.

Originally Posted by CrackFox

Leona Lewis 'Run' originally by Snow Patrol

.....Just amazing. I've had this repeat for a good hour no lie, and her vocals are stunning. <3

And the only song that comes to mind that I prefer over the original is "Skyscraper" by Kerli. Though this song was originally given to Demi Lovato and actually written by Kerli, I just find that Demi's vocals don't do it for me, though her version is still amazing.

I prefer Kim Carnes' version of "Bette Davis Eyes" to Jackie DeShannon's original...she gets one of the lyrics wrong, but I think that actually works in her favour ("what it takes to make a pro blush" sounds like a more intriguing concept, to my ears, than "crow blush").

The Carpenters' version of "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" also beats out the original by Klaatu IMO, thanks to the amazing musical arrangements in the latter half and Karen Carpenter's vocals.

Those are the only two which immediately spring to mind. The aforementioned Johnny Cash cover of "Hurt" does always seem to come up whenever this subject is raised - I cannot comment as I've never taken the time to sit down and listen to the Nine Inch Nails original.

Originally Posted by Pyradox

I'd say that Jimi Hendrix's All Along The Watchtower and Judas Priest's Diamonds And Rust are better than the originals.

I do still enjoy the Bob Dylan song, but Jimi turned that shit upside down and made it into one of the greatest rock songs of all time.

Originally Posted by garrison-san

Those are the only two which immediately spring to mind. The aforementioned Johnny Cash cover of "Hurt" does always seem to come up whenever this subject is raised - I cannot comment as I've never taken the time to sit down and listen to the Nine Inch Nails original.

It's pretty meh, Johnny Cash improved on the song drastically.

Originally Posted by garrison-san

I prefer Kim Carnes' version of "Bette Davis Eyes" to Jackie DeShannon's original...she gets one of the lyrics wrong, but I think that actually works in her favour ("what it takes to make a pro blush" sounds like a more intriguing concept, to my ears, than "crow blush").

That is definitely my favourite example right now, but Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt does rank highly for me as well, yes.

I like the Isley Brothers version of "Summer Breeze" much more than the original by Seals and Croft. The original is a little more low-key and depressing to my ears, I don't know why.

Off the top of my head...

Gigi D'agostino's "The Riddle" (orig. Nic Kershaw)... So catchy

Cabella feat. Daisy's "My Heart Goes Boom"... French Affair's version was garbage but the cover is enough to keep you in a groove

Bluelagoon's "Break My Stride"

Groove Coverage's "Poison" (orig. Alice Cooper)... Heck, a lot of stuff by Groove Coverage is good

I really like dance/ techno music, so that's what most of my favorite covers are.

Straight No Chaser's "The Man Who Can't Be Moved", originally by The Script. The original pop-rock version is nice, but SNC makes it work much better as an a capella piece.

Yoko Honna's "カントリーロード" ("Country Road"), originally by John Denver as "Take Me Home, Country Roads". Seriously, how much more awesome can you get than "Take Me Home, Country Roads" in Japanese?

The original "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts was decent. But I liked Cascada's cover a lot better.

While I do like the originals of all of these, the covers of them are even better:
Your Favorite Martian's covers of "Somebody That I Used To Know" (Gotye) and "Love The Way You Lie" (Eminem and Rihanna), and also Muse's cover of "Feeling Good". Damn, that cover was epic.