Comparing covers to the original
 

I remember seeing a thread when I first joined that was about covers. Problem is that it was only a list and didn't really compare the original to the cover. I'd like to have a chance to discuss how the cover affected the original. Did the cover artist stay true to the original? Maybe change it and somehow improve it? Did they rape it and leave it for dead in a ditch? With the wonderful ability to embed Youtube videos, I think we can enjoy this thread even more.


First, I'd like to talk about Breadfan.

Originally by Budgie in 1973.

Covered by Metallica in 1988


I think that Metallica stayed true to the song. The Metallica version has a slightly faster feel and Hetfield's vocals are a bit rougher, but these are expected with the nature of Metallica's sound at the time.



Next up is Hurt.

Originally by Nine Inch Nails in 1994
(not an official video. This is the only studio version I could find on youtube)

Covered by Johnny Cash in 2002


My opinion is that Johnny Cash improved the song and added a level of depth and passion. I'm not saying that it is necessarily better, but Cash took it and made it his. He didn't settle for making a Nine Inch Nails song, he only used their words and beat and gave the song a new life.


Last up is American Pie.


Originally by Don McClean in 1971.
(its best to not watch the crappy video when listening to the song.)

Covered by :eek: Madonna (I think I just threw up a little) in 2000



I'd like to say that the Madonna version had some good qualities but I just can't. Its no shock that I'm not a fan of this version. I can't think of anyone that really is. It was a well done folk rock song in its original form, but Madonna turned it into a horrible pop/dance song.

the way i see it there are 3 ways to cover songs and you provide examples of all three. a copy / a personal take / a professional take

metallica did a straight copy. sure it's a little faster and a little rougher but still so close to the original that there's not much difference.

johnny cash didn't really improve on 'hurt' so much as record a personalized version. if anything rick rubin deserves far more credit for the end of johnny cash's career than the man himself. if it weren't for rubin pushing him to cover modern rock tunes i'm willing to bet most young people would have been saying 'who? / so...' when he died.

madonna's cover is a straight career move. hardly the first time a past radio hit gets reworked with a beat box. it's why disco lasted longer than a summer. i always hated that song, at least madonna has great tits when you drop the volume.

in any event the original artist usually does win out once their song is covered and released as a single whether it's a copy or crap. no one releases a cover of a single that's still getting airplay, so it will still draw indirect attention to the original song and group regardless of the quality of the cover.

I'm not sure about that. True that most people knew him for Hurt and its one of his best songs (which is even more remarkable since it was one of his last) but the live albums in the 60's were good enough for him to be recognised as a brilliant artist in his own right and i still think he would have been remember fondly for them.

i think you're confusing the small minority of young music fans who would join sites like these with the majority of listeners who couldn't give two craps what a bunch of elitists think so long as the tv told them it was cool.

if you took away the video for 'hurt' i'm positive the majority of non-country music fans under 30 wouldn't have noticed his passing beyond a headline on a magazine.

Looking at other people like Arthur Lee, James Brown etc who have died and the reaction that got i think you may be right to be honest, i hope not though.

Cash's versions in levels above the NIN original. It brings in a personal effect and he certainly did make it his as it was stated above. Cash also did an amazing job on Soundgarden's Rusty Cage.

I don't think that's true at all.
What about a whole decade of him working with Rick Rubin?
There was also his appearance at Glastonbury in the mid 90s where he said the reception he got was one of the highlights of his career.
And then there's him working with Nick Cave , U2 , Joe Strummer and a whole load of others.

I think you're selling him well short.

Although the original is not Metal, the cover has rock elements and is one of the best cover versions you will ever hear. It takes the original and makes it sound completely unique. Both rock.
The original:


The Cover:

youtube isn't loading. all along the watchtower. yay nay meh?

Prefer Jimi's version myself.

Original..


Cover..

Is this thread for rock covers only?

I see what you're trying to do there, you selectively picked a subpar Kinks performance to make your band look better, nice try.

I'd rather compare the cover to the original song, as in the studio version.

And other than the vocals being considerably worse The Fall version dosen't seem very different from it.

The Kinks ftw.

WTF?

You do realise I like The Kinks?

I like both those versions and I'm a big Kinks lover.
As for the vocals, I think Smith's take on it makes it his own.

Never mind, I'm being paranoid.

^ :love:


^ Attachment 2751

Urban...I demand an explanation!

Did you know when they originally recorded Tainted Love at the end of it the song goes straight into Where Did Our Love Go.

In the end they chopped it off & used it as a B Side.

I have the original mix how it was intended. I won't upload it , I don't want to be held responsible for you smashing your house up. :D

^^
OMG! Soft Cell's Version is shocking! As for The Kinks V The Fall-I like both! As for subverting the original I think my post is a great example.

New ones:

Original:


Cover:


I much prefer the ambience of the cover to be honest.


Moved to: General music.

MARTINA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:love:

^And on the topic of The Fall versus...
I'll forgive you your taste with Soft Cell Urban, if only for The Fall's cover of 'There's A Ghost In My House'....just don't upload that B-Side!

Big Star "Thirteen"


Elliott Smith "Thirteen"


They're not too different aside from Elliott's version having one guitar but I think Elliott's version provided an intimacy that is absent in Big Star's version which adds a more honest level to the song and since its so simple it works so much better.

The Fall did 2 R Dean Taylor songs.

They did Gotta See Jane as well

Her album Quixotic was in a local charity shop a couple of days ago but I was potless. Went back next day as I remembered you mentioning her a while ago and the fecker had gone :(

You are a troubador Ethan! I can see that Smith's version is more intimate but I think the upbeat edge of the original aligns itself with the lyrics better.

I'm with Ethan on this.
Elliott Smith's version lends more weight to the lyrics.

well it is Ellliott Smith after all....

The songs obviously about young love. I love Big Star but they very much sound dated sometimes and that song is one of those times which makes it sound like its coming from an older person which very much takes away from it. Elliott's sounds like it's coming from a much younger person, someone who could be Thirteen perhaps and I think that makes the lyrics much more powerful because they sound less like reminiscing and more like serenading.

Original air guitar classic:


Recently out:


I know which version I prefer!

the stooges- no fun


sex pistols- no fun


i think the stooges sounds better, but the pistols sound like they mean it.

There's a cover of Don't Fear The Reaper that I've always liked...

Can't think of the band...but the song was used over the closing credits in The Frighteners.

Joy Division- Shadowplay


The Killers- Shadowplay



the killers did a good cover and made it danceable, but it can't hold a candle to the orignal.

Original


Cover



Cover 2



Cover 3.........WTF?




I know there are more, but I'm only going with these 3.

the smiths- the headmaster ritual


radiohead- the headmaster ritual



i'm not a fan of radiohead but they did a excellent job on their cover.

Original



Cover




I honestly like both. 2 versions from 2 times.

The cover of Losing Touch With My Mind(Spacemen 3) by The Icarus Line is probably one of my favorite songs....here you decide which version is better
Losing Touch With My Mind (Spacemen 3)- The Icarus Line

That Motley Crue cover of Anarchy is hillariously bad.

And the Flinstones one is just. :laughing:

Oh and that Radiohead cover of The Headmaster Ritual is pretty ace, thats just might be my favorite Smiths song.

Radiohead covered New Order and Joy Division also and did damn good jobs.

I prefer the original. I don't tire of songs very easly, regardless of how much they are overplayed, a great song is always a great song IMO.

But man I really loved how he did the solo with the horn section, thats pretty cool.

Zappa <3

Original:


Decent update:


Pointless:

i know! I was going to post it but you already brought it up.