Covers That Are Better Than The Originals

[haxax]

Hey, noone mentioning Emperors cover of Bathorys 'A fine day to die' yet?

Are you crazy?

[Buddha with a bra on]

Both crazy and forgetful, yes.

[DeltaOne]

I liked Nightwish's cover of Gary Moore's "Over the Hills and Far Away" better than the original.

[Giant Speck]

Shinedown - "Simple Man" (originally recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd)
A Perfect Circle - "Imagine" (originally recorded by John Lennon)
Deepfield - "Don't Let Go" (originally recorded by En Vogue - though, I really like that version, too)
Evans Blue - "Possession" (originally recorded by Sarah McLachlan)
Paramore - "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (originally recorded by U2)
The Benjamin Gate - "Overkill" (originally recorded by Men at Work)
Evanescence - "Tourniquet" (originally recorded by Soul Embraced)

Although not technically a cover, I prefer the Gladys Knight and the Pips version of "I Heard it Through The Grapevine," which was recorded after Marvin Gaye's version but was released before it.

[Jar'O'Jam]

Speaking of Marvin Gaye, Maceo Parker and the gang made a great cover of Lets Get It On - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JawQn7gKdJo

[Rackum]

Metallica's version of "Turn the Page". Actually, one of the few metallica songs I really like. A lot of the covers they do on the Garage Inc album are good though.

The Atari's version of "Boys of Summer". Don't care much for the original, but like the cover.

Metallica's version of "Turn the Page" is exceptionally good but I don't know if I would go so far as to say that it's "better" than Seger.

And on the topic of "Boys of Summer" I must say that I prefer the Eagles version (not really a "cover" since Don Henley wrote it, but he didn't write or originally play it with the Eagles so I think "version" works here) better than the Henley original and the Ataris cover. Henley's voice when he sings it during the Eagles reunion tour(s) really fits the song well and, of course, with the full Eagles backing him up it is quite excellent.

[Essah]

José González cover of Heartbeats is magical.
its originally made by the Knife but is not very good...at least imho

[Amie]

Clapton's version on "I shot the sheriff". Call me a nut if you will... I have to give it to Bob Marley... his version has more soul but Clapton's version is more interesting... at least to me.

[Rinsaikeru]

Don't get me wrong, I totally appreciate Sonny and Cher, but Camera Obscura's cover of Baby Don't Go...is really great.

[Will]

I can't belive nobody's mentioned Cake's cover of I Will Survive.

[Peter Galbavy]

I know he's been mentioned but any cover of a Bob Dylan song is better than the man himself performing it. A great songsmith, lyricist, whatever but can't stand his recordings.

Any cover. By anyone. Including you. Yes, you!

[Rinsaikeru]

I dunno, Don't Think Twice it's Alright is quite good sung by Bob Dylan, I've not found a version I prefer to his.

[Dasboard]

I'm astonished at by how many people can't stand Dylan's voice.

I personally think it's great and fits perfectly with his music. Not with any other kind of music. But his voice and music combined reaches almost godly heigths.

[Amie]

I'm astonished at by how many people can't stand Dylan's voice.

I personally think it's great and fits perfectly with his music. Not with any other kind of music. But his voice and music combined reaches almost godly heigths.

Agreed. I don't think Dylan would have been Dylan without the voice he had. It isn't great but it goes perfectly well with his music. Almost soothing sometimes.

[Dasboard]

Yeah, exactly

In overall, Dylan is Dylan and everything about him matches. Seriously I even heard he can be really moody at concerts and when he doesn't feel like giving one he just gives a quick, rubbish perfomance so he can go do something else. But when he does feel like it, he plays amazingly well and it's well worth taking the risk.

Even that matches his music perfectly. Which is amazing.

[KallistiEngel]

I know he's been mentioned but any cover of a Bob Dylan song is better than the man himself performing it. A great songsmith, lyricist, whatever but can't stand his recordings.

Any cover. By anyone. Including you. Yes, you!

I will contest that. I mostly agree, but there are always exceptions. Take for example William Shatner's version of Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man.

[CHR1110]

The problem I have with careless whisper is the same I have with metallica's "turn the page"

A guitar cannot simply replace a saxophone.

No, that's true. But it can sound a hell of alot better.

As before mentioned: Turn the Page - Covered by Metallica

Also:

Stevie Ray Vaughn's cover of Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile" (Yeah, I'm probably going to get a crapload of flak over it, but whatever)

Disturbed's cover of "Land of Confusion" (Can't remember who originally performed it)

[KallistiEngel]

Disturbed's cover of "Land of Confusion" (Can't remember who originally performed it)

Genesis.

[CHR1110]

Disturbed's cover of "Land of Confusion" (Can't remember who originally performed it)

Genesis.

Thank you sir.

That's what I was thinking, but I'm too lazy to Google, and too prideful to type it and possibly look a fool.

[Jesse]

I prefer Cat Power's I Found A Reason over the original by Lou Reed.

[Under A Pale Grey Sky]

Transatlantic's "A Salty Dog" over Procol Harum's.

[Amie]

+1 for Metallica's cover of Turn the Page. I too, am sitting over the fence over this one. Can't decide which is better. However, I like their cover of Die, Die My Darling (originally by Misfits).

EDIT: Deep Purple's cover of Hush. Better than Joe South's version. *Gets ready for brickbat injuries*

[A. Smith]

One of the best covers I've heard is the Jeff Healey Band's cover of While my Guitar Gently Weeps (originally by the Beatles). Truly worth a listen.

[Angelene]

I think I could say I prefer Cat Power's version of any song over the original, such if my deep and devout love for Chan Marshall.

I don't know if it's better, as much as it is beautifully different, and just oozes sultry sensuality...
White Hinterland - My Love (Justin Timberlake Cover)

Jonsi from Sigur Ros covers MGMT to devastatingly pretty effect

I really seems to divide opinion, but I ADOREFlorence's version of Beyonce's Halo. And while we're talking Florence, her You've Got the Love entirely outshines the original, although I do rather dig The XX's version, too.

Ooooh, and The White Stripes' Jolene was gorgeous.

I've recently discovered the wonder that is the mash-up, favourites include
Save Me Concubine (Ghostface Killah vs. Beirut)
Without A Love Story (Taylor Swift vs U2)
Surprise Gift (Fool’s Gold VS N.A.S.A.)

[PatrickRsGhost]

I dunno, Don't Think Twice it's Alright is quite good sung by Bob Dylan, I've not found a version I prefer to his.

What about Peter, Paul, and Mary?

I have to agree about most Bob Dylan songs. The covers were better than his originals, like the previously-mentioned one, and Blowin' In The Wind. The latter was covered by PPM as well. Of course, I had heard their cover for years before learning it was a Bob Dylan original.

Another one I had heard some time ago was (I think) Erika Stuckey's cover of Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale. Don't know or remember who it was by, just heard on the PA in some store, was a female voice, and was just as good as the original.

[Furburt]

I really do think that Chicago noise-punk band Big Blacks covers of He's a Whore by Cheap Trick, Rema Rema by the band of the same name and The Model by Kraftwerk far exceed the originals. They're just so intense.

[glitterbug12]

Johnny Cash's version of Hurt is a million times better than the NIN original. It's amazing.
I also prefer the Gary Jules version of Mad World, but that might be because I heard it before the original.

[Goatboy]

New Order ruined their own songs, Frente! fixed "Bizarre Love Triangle" and (go ahead and hate me) Orgy did a much better "Blue Monday." Cat Power does a great cover of "Wonderwall." And I know there's some lash against off-genre rap covers, but you need to listen to Mat Weddle's cover of "Hey Ya." You need it so much.
I'm totally on board with the White Stripes' version of "Jolene," too. And I haven't read the whole thread, just the first page, but "Hallelujah" was mentioned a couple of times, but not the Rufus Wainwright version, which is the best version.

[TheMaestro]

I'd have to take Clapton's "I Shot the Sheriff" over Marley's.
Also The Beatles' "Please Mr. Postman" over The Marvelettes' any day.

Worthy of note are "Girl" and "All My Lovin'" from the Across The Universe Soundtrack which I believe are better than The Beatles versions ("Let It Be" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" are also amazing from that soundtrack)

[sirfox]

Two covers that jump to mind straight away that I prefer over the originals are

U2 - Helter Skelter (Beatles) and

William Shatner - Common People (Pulp)

It took me a long time to get into the Will Shatner cover but once i did i think it now beats the original

[uncivlengr]

Rachael Yamagata doing the Hollies' Jesus was a Crossmaker
Iron and Wine doing The Postal Service's Such Great Heights
Anyone doing anything by Leonard Cohen - he's a great writer, but as boring as drying paint to listen to.

[TheMaestro]

Two covers that jump to mind straight away that I prefer over the originals are

U2 - Helter Skelter (Beatles) and

William Shatner - Common People (Pulp)

It took me a long time to get into the Will Shatner cover but once i did i think it now beats the original

Is there any other Helter Skelter (U2) than the live version off of Rattle and Hum?

Also, anyone care to comment on their favourite version of Hallelujah? There are quite a few good ones...

[sirfox]

Is there any other Helter Skelter (U2) than the live version off of Rattle and Hum?

As far as I am aware that is the only official album version of that song.

Also, anyone care to comment on their favourite version of Hallelujah?

Tim Minchin - Hallelujah

I think the female vocalist on this track lets the song down a fraction

[Rinsaikeru]

I dunno, Don't Think Twice it's Alright is quite good sung by Bob Dylan, I've not found a version I prefer to his.

What about Peter, Paul, and Mary?

I have to agree about most Bob Dylan songs. The covers were better than his originals, like the previously-mentioned one, and Blowin' In The Wind. The latter was covered by PPM as well. Of course, I had heard their cover for years before learning it was a Bob Dylan original.

Another one I had heard some time ago was (I think) Erika Stuckey's cover of Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale. Don't know or remember who it was by, just heard on the PA in some store, was a female voice, and was just as good as the original.

I like Dylan's better--he's got a much more jaded gruff sound in the song, which is sort of what the song's about. Great song, actually gonna listen to it now...but I like Dylan in general.

[1337geek]

Also, anyone care to comment on their favourite version of Hallelujah? There are quite a few good ones...

You tryin' to start a war here? Personally, I prefer Rufus Wainwright's.

[Felstaff]

William Shatner - Common People (Pulp)

Ha! Yeah, I love that song.

[TheMaestro]

Also, anyone care to comment on their favourite version of Hallelujah? There are quite a few good ones...

You tryin' to start a war here? Personally, I prefer Rufus Wainwright's.

Nothing wrong with spicin' things up a bit

And for the record, mine's Jeff Buckley

[TheAmazingRando]

I probably like Jeff Buckley's version best, but John Cale's is good too.
Of course, if it were a 60s Leonard Cohen song and not a weird 80s Leonard Cohen song, it would blow all covers out of the water.

[Buddha with a bra on]

Jeff Buckley or just maybe Imogen Heap's.

[blue_eyedspacemonkey]

Jeff Buckley or just maybe Imogen Heap's.

This. I also like Rufus' and Regina Spektor's versions.