Cover songs that are better than the originals

CeeJay

No contest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a-m3pH9Dr8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eti21PVHXrg

Freebird

Haych said:

.... and I suspect I'll get many lols for this one but (ducks for cover):

It's a really, really good version, it's just that the original is too brilliant!

fandango

Ring of Fire: Johnny Cash v Blondie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WyLhwYFgmk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z16RL14SiiU

Creed_Clicks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQS6BqXEe9w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWBeCUXSYWI

Tenebrous

I rate Prince, but this blows any version he's done out of the water. Sinead doesn't come close, either...

Brocco

Police & Thieves - Junior Marvin v. The Clash

Tenebrous

Brocco said:

Police & Thieves - Junior Marvin v. The Clash

Even Strummer himself said they don't know how they had the nerve to cover such a classic. I love The Clash version, but I'd not say it's better than the original personally.

To each their own.

gordiji

Black Magic Woman / She's not There, Santana. Makes the originals sound weak & dated even though they weren't that old when covered.

Stuckfast

Here's an obscure one. I love both.

Original:

Cover:

Stuckfast

and another!

Original:

Cover:

TheOtherDennis

fandango said:

Crosseyed and Painless: Talking Heads v Phish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L69IhmUbUAs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfxyleCISlA

Is it just me or have you posted the same thing twice, and not one by Phish and one by Talking Heads?

TheOtherDennis

DiscoStu said:

John Kongos



Happy Mondays

I've disagreed with you on that one, not because the Mondays' version is bad, it definitely isn't, but to me it's as close to the original as they could get, which for me misses the point of doing a cover for a band like that - do your own version, not a re-record/remaster of the original.

Although, given that the Kongos version is the first single I ever bought, as a 10-year old boy spending his birthday money, I may be heavily biased in favour of the original.

TheOtherDennis

JanekLubanski said:

Hurt by Johnny Cash.

Brings me out in tears every time I hear that

TheOtherDennis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jadvt7CbH1o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUpb-ALfUzc

fandango

TheOtherDennis said:

fandango said:

Crosseyed and Painless: Talking Heads v Phish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L69IhmUbUAs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfxyleCISlA

Is it just me or have you posted the same thing twice, and not one by Phish and one by Talking Heads?

Blinkin flips! You are indeed correct. Slap my hand and tickle my tail feathers! Without further ado, here's the Talking Heads version (with Adrian Belew):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul7I3Z5LA5M

TheOtherDennis

The lol is for your reaction, not your judgement

Bluebeard

RobDavies

Freebird said:

Haych said:

.... and I suspect I'll get many lols for this one but (ducks for cover):

It's a really, really good version, it's just that the original is too brilliant!

Here’s another take by Donna Lewis.... I really like it because she sounds like a complete nutcase.   

https://youtu.be/o7FRNpb5Tfc 

Freebird

Tenebrous said:

Brocco said:

Police & Thieves - Junior Marvin v. The Clash

Even Strummer himself said they don't know how they had the nerve to cover such a classic. I love The Clash version, but I'd not say it's better than the original personally.

To each their own.

You could add I fought the Law as well.

Bellycaster

Maybe not "Better" but just as great!

Seems Nile and Grace were both fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVYUr2lW5Z0

Rock On!