Cover versions which are better than the original

[FamilyDub]

Pints said:

But both Mrs Pints and I are in agreement on this (I know, we were shocked too): we prefer Matt's version.

Each to their own.

[Yazza54]

Version?

Or rip off?

[Legacywr]

Jose Feliciano, Lite My Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dLtiFrykqQ&fea...

Psuedo Echo, Funky Town

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnejLmQGYhg

Billy Idol, Mony Mony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1DewIW0LKM&fea...

[The Hypno-Toad]

jt racing said:

Yes agree totally, one of my most listened to songs. Never knew it was a cover though, who did the original?

As mentioned it is Soft Cell. Did you also spot the Van Morrison lyrics sneaked in at the end as well?

[JonRB]

Disturbed did a cover of Genesis'"Land of Confusion"

Only I think the Genesis original is better.

[aeropilot]

The Go-Getters version of Bo Diddley's 'You Don't Love Me'

[Toyless]

Legacywr said:

thetapeworm said:

The Hypno-Toad said:

David Grey - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R1n31QKxz4

Heartbreaking.

I had no idea that was a cover until this post, David Gray should be given this one to keep.

Not IMO.

With you on that one. The original is a classic.

[atlex]

Legacywr said:

Jose Feliciano, Lite My Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dLtiFrykqQ&fea...

Try Edmundo Ros on for size

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USh3DySAvmQ

[Tyre Smoke]

OllieC said:

Probably not gonna be popular, but Bryan Ferry's / roxy music version of jealous guy, I much prefer it to the original.

I'm with you there.

Also, I like Bowie's Waterloo Sunset better than the Kinks.

That's blasphemy from a mod!

[Legacywr]

atlex said:

Legacywr said:

Jose Feliciano, Lite My Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dLtiFrykqQ&fea...

Try Edmundo Ros on for size

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USh3DySAvmQ

Well, the video is better!

[CunningPlan]

JonRB said:

Disturbed did a cover of Genesis'"Land of Confusion"

Only I think the Genesis original is better.

The Disturbed cover mentioned in the first post? I'd not heard it before and loved it. I'm an old Genesis fan but I thought the cover did the lyrics much more justice whereas the original is a bit like listening to a song about your family being wiped out - in the style of Val Doonican.

Edited by CunningPlan on Sunday 22 May 08:48

[Bomber Denton]

A Message To You Rudy - The Specials
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGDQ85Dg-ss

Mrs Robinson - Lemonheads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvMFm5nKeUc

Step On - Happy Mondays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnBi-LNM0Og

Devil Went Down To Georgia - Levellers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kecdNnykdng

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDl9ZMfj6aE

We Can Work It Out - Stevie Wonder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL1GzbUdtfg

Common People - William Shatner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ainyK6fXku0

Hazy Shade Of Winter - Bangles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFRx4PkXeVM


Some may say sacrilidge but.... this is awesome!!
Band On The Run - Foo Fighters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSIUrba-aoc

[JonRB]

CunningPlan said:

The Disturbed cover mentioned in the first post?

Oh.... bugger.

[garrykiller]

Christian Kane - Fast car

[Crackie]

Blondie ~ Hangin' on the telephone.

[CommanderJameson]

Crackie said:

Blondie ~ Hangin' on the telephone.

Acid Reign: Hangin' On The Telephone

[CommanderJameson]

While we're looking at otherwise-anodyne tunes through the lens of late-80s Northern frash mettle:

Xentrix - Ghostbusters
Lawnmower Deth - Kids In America
Lawnmower Deth - Crazy Horses
Onslaught - Let There Be Rock

That last one reminded me of this monumental slab of industrial metallicism:

Godflesh - For Those About To Rock

Mind you, I fall into that very small set of people who think that Broadrick pretty much walks on water, so I was bound to like it.

[stu1984]

Both been said but..

Foo Fighters - Baker Street
Reel Big Fish - Take on me

There must be so many good covers out there to choose from, though these are the two which jump out for me for some reason!?

[Johnnytheboy]

Mastodon2 said:

Metallica - Last Caress and Die Die My Darling, originally by the Misfits. The originals suck, but the Metallica versions are great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWCjLgF9uds

No. The originals really don't suck.

Last caress

Die Die My Darling

The recording quality sucks, but Glenn Danzig's vocals are far better than James Hetfield's.

btw Metallica's version of Green Hell on Garage Days really shows up how good the Misfits' guitarist was.

Misfits version

Metallica - Last Caress/Green Hell combo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK I can't be only negative.

Lawnmower Deth - Kids in America 93

Kim Wilde's just sounds sooo slow after this.

Ditto their version of Up the Junction makes the original sound really wet.

Black Sabbath - Evil Woman

Mark Lanegan - where did you sleep last night (can't find studio version on YT)

[Ten Ninety]

Sticking with the general theme of slightly dubious but strangely brilliant metal covers of pop songs...

Children of Bodom: Oops I did it again

And, just for a bit of balance a slightly dubious but strangely brilliant swing cover of a metal song...

New Morty Show: Enter Sandman

Stick that up yer, Lars! They did a cracking version of Poison's 'Unskinny Bop' too.

And of course, no thread about covers which are better than the original could be complete without some mention of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. It takes something special to better Dolly, but I reckon they just about manage it with Jolene