Discussion
I was listening to the excellent Beatles special on Radio 2 last night on the way back from Oulton Park.
It didn't take me long to realise just how s
t almost all of the Beatles cover songs are. Some of them were just horrendous and from famous names of music, too!
Made me wonder, is a cover song generally doomed? You're supposed to put your own style of music onto it, yet you're up against people's existing memory (and emotion) of the song. You have to adapt someone else's words to the rhythm rather than the other way around? I'm not a musician, just trying to work out how they can turn a classic into such rubbish so well.
Cocker's With a little help from my friends was probably the best of the night, but then that one strayed from the mood and tempo of the original a bit, it would have been a classic in its own right if he had written it himself.
I can only think of a couple of other very good cover songs at the moment. Most seem to get forgotten very quickly.
It didn't take me long to realise just how s
t almost all of the Beatles cover songs are. Some of them were just horrendous and from famous names of music, too!Made me wonder, is a cover song generally doomed? You're supposed to put your own style of music onto it, yet you're up against people's existing memory (and emotion) of the song. You have to adapt someone else's words to the rhythm rather than the other way around? I'm not a musician, just trying to work out how they can turn a classic into such rubbish so well.
Cocker's With a little help from my friends was probably the best of the night, but then that one strayed from the mood and tempo of the original a bit, it would have been a classic in its own right if he had written it himself.
I can only think of a couple of other very good cover songs at the moment. Most seem to get forgotten very quickly.
Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt. If there was ever a perfect example of a cover version, this is it.
Whilst on the subject, Johnny Cash's cover of U2's One was better than the original.
The cover of Tears for Fears "Mad World" for the Donnie Darko soundtrack was also better than the original.
The whole of Otis Redding "Otis Blue" is excellent too.
Jesus & Mary Chain cover of Surfin USA is brilliant. Not better than the original, which is perfect pop, just ... different.
Jeff Buckley's cover of Hallelujah is probably the definitive version, better than that Pop Idle winners version by a country mile.
The Clash were pretty good at covering songs as well, "I fought the Law" and "Police & Thieves".
Whilst on the subject, Johnny Cash's cover of U2's One was better than the original.
The cover of Tears for Fears "Mad World" for the Donnie Darko soundtrack was also better than the original.
The whole of Otis Redding "Otis Blue" is excellent too.
Jesus & Mary Chain cover of Surfin USA is brilliant. Not better than the original, which is perfect pop, just ... different.
Jeff Buckley's cover of Hallelujah is probably the definitive version, better than that Pop Idle winners version by a country mile.
The Clash were pretty good at covering songs as well, "I fought the Law" and "Police & Thieves".
aclivity said:
Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt. If there was ever a perfect example of a cover version, this is it.
Whilst on the subject, Johnny Cash's cover of U2's One was better than the original.
The cover of Tears for Fears "Mad World" for the Donnie Darko soundtrack was also better than the original.
The whole of Otis Redding "Otis Blue" is excellent too.
Jesus & Mary Chain cover of Surfin USA is brilliant. Not better than the original, which is perfect pop, just ... different.
Jeff Buckley's cover of Hallelujah is probably the definitive version, better than that Pop Idle winners version by a country mile.
The Clash were pretty good at covering songs as well, "I fought the Law" and "Police & Thieves".
Hallelujah's best done by John Cale in my opinion.Whilst on the subject, Johnny Cash's cover of U2's One was better than the original.
The cover of Tears for Fears "Mad World" for the Donnie Darko soundtrack was also better than the original.
The whole of Otis Redding "Otis Blue" is excellent too.
Jesus & Mary Chain cover of Surfin USA is brilliant. Not better than the original, which is perfect pop, just ... different.
Jeff Buckley's cover of Hallelujah is probably the definitive version, better than that Pop Idle winners version by a country mile.
The Clash were pretty good at covering songs as well, "I fought the Law" and "Police & Thieves".
Tragedy are brilliant fun! (All heavy metal Bee Gees cover band)
Prefer GnR's version of Sympathy for the Devil
If it counts as a cover, the version of While my Guitar Gently weeps at George Harrison's RARHOF induction By Dhani Harrison, Tom Petty, Prince et al is absolutely fantastic.
I also like Muse's version of Feeling Good.
Would a remix count?
David Bowie- Heroes, reworked by Aphex Twin and Philip Glass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjBcNU1UZUs
In following with the general feel of the thread, it's not a true cover, but it is a reworking that (IMO) works better than the original.
Listening to the original, they seem to be worlds apart, you wouldn't think the same lyrics can be used in two very different songs.
And...
i know a lot of you won't like the person, but it certainly fits the bill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHOykeC8xdY
David Bowie- Heroes, reworked by Aphex Twin and Philip Glass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjBcNU1UZUs
In following with the general feel of the thread, it's not a true cover, but it is a reworking that (IMO) works better than the original.
Listening to the original, they seem to be worlds apart, you wouldn't think the same lyrics can be used in two very different songs.
And...
i know a lot of you won't like the person, but it certainly fits the bill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHOykeC8xdY
I'm a bit young for some of the suggested ones so I wonder if I'll not understand the differences between the cover and the originals!
Anyway to throw a real obscure one out there, try this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIY7jhg2CrA
Anyway to throw a real obscure one out there, try this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIY7jhg2CrA
PaulHogan said:
Generally I find the version that you hear first will be your favourite.
I whole heartedly agree. Its the same even with the same artist - I prefer certain versions of songs over others - particularly Bowie and Dylan alternate versions / outtakes.and for the OP - try their version of the Miracles' 'You really got a hold on me' from Anthology 1.
I think for a cover to really work it has to be substantially different to the original. My 5 faves off the top of me head..
Ben Folds, bhes aint st
Dream Academy, Please, please, please let me get what I want
Ramones, Baby I love you
Silicon Teens, Memphis Tennessee
Sinead O'Connor, Nothing compares to you
Ben Folds, b
hes aint stDream Academy, Please, please, please let me get what I want
Ramones, Baby I love you
Silicon Teens, Memphis Tennessee
Sinead O'Connor, Nothing compares to you
There is a little one brilliant Beatles cover, Money (That's What I Want) - The Flying Lizards.
I only recently found out that The Happy Mondays - Step On is a cover.
"You're twisting my melons, man!"
Now I think about it there are loads of good covers.
Going Back to My Roots - Richie Havens. Where would the world be without the panio intro? (for a start lots of rave producers wouldn't have an ace sample).
The Clash, greatest cover band? I fought the Law, plus Police and Thieves.
My personal favourite St Etienne - Only love can break your heart.
Can't not mention Tainted Love.
I only recently found out that The Happy Mondays - Step On is a cover.
"You're twisting my melons, man!"
Now I think about it there are loads of good covers.
Going Back to My Roots - Richie Havens. Where would the world be without the panio intro? (for a start lots of rave producers wouldn't have an ace sample).
The Clash, greatest cover band? I fought the Law, plus Police and Thieves.
My personal favourite St Etienne - Only love can break your heart.
Can't not mention Tainted Love.
Edited by Fittster on Wednesday 2nd September 11:48
Evangelion said:
Hate covers with a vengeance. If you can't create something new, stay out of the music business.
So the Beatles should have stayed out of the music business??A good cover does create something new. Even if you don't cover the whole song, there's sampling which makes the world a better place.
Edited by Fittster on Wednesday 2nd September 11:48
Fittster said:
Can't not mention Tainted Love.
I thought of this as well ... the Soft Cell cover is great in it's own way, but the original is also great. Neither is "better", both are good ... just different.Soft Cell's take on "What" is also worthy of mention in the same vein.
The best Soft Cell version of Tainted Love is from the 12" single - Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go?
aclivity said:
Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt. If there was ever a perfect example of a cover version, this is it.
Whilst on the subject, Johnny Cash's cover of U2's One was better than the original.
The cover of Tears for Fears "Mad World" for the Donnie Darko soundtrack was also better than the original.
The whole of Otis Redding "Otis Blue" is excellent too.
Jesus & Mary Chain cover of Surfin USA is brilliant. Not better than the original, which is perfect pop, just ... different.
Jeff Buckley's cover of Hallelujah is probably the definitive version, better than that Pop Idle winners version by a country mile.
The Clash were pretty good at covering songs as well, "I fought the Law" and "Police & Thieves".
Sorry couldn't agree less, kd Lang's version of Hallelujah is simply sublime failing that go back to the latest live rendition off Live in London by Leonard Cohen himself for a bit of " once more with feeling ".Whilst on the subject, Johnny Cash's cover of U2's One was better than the original.
The cover of Tears for Fears "Mad World" for the Donnie Darko soundtrack was also better than the original.
The whole of Otis Redding "Otis Blue" is excellent too.
Jesus & Mary Chain cover of Surfin USA is brilliant. Not better than the original, which is perfect pop, just ... different.
Jeff Buckley's cover of Hallelujah is probably the definitive version, better than that Pop Idle winners version by a country mile.
The Clash were pretty good at covering songs as well, "I fought the Law" and "Police & Thieves".
Gary Moore also does a fair effort of covering Roy Buchanan's "Messiah Will Come Again".
And another vote for Cash's cover of Hurt.
Did I hear anybody mention Jimi for All Along the Watchtower and Hey Joe, they're not too shabby
Edited by suthol on Wednesday 2nd September 12:57
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff