Harry Nilsson made Badfinger's lousy 'Without You' into a gem.

-Ghost Jam

I actually like both versions, but Nilsson wins with his performance and Richard Perry's arrangement.

Sadly, Mariah Carry's version that many "Idol" style singers go for made matters very bad for those who like both the original and Nilsson's version like myself where I have to say to friends that once upon a time it was a very good song.

"I need drama in my life to keep making music." This been truly said by Eminem..

I COMPLETELY AGREE. And props to whoever posted Nookie/Break Stuff also. I'm quite confident that Richard Cheese can take any bad song and make it good. Hilarious stuff.

On another note, anyone heard of The BossHoss? They did ridiculous covers of "Word Up" and Nelly's "Hot in Herre."

Dat voice.

Is she drinking milk?

Probably. I hear it helps vocalists with their throats. Whatever throats are.

wouldn't actually say it's better, but still pretty cool.

U R a throat.

Jonathan Coulton - I Will (Originally by The Beatles)

Tose Proeski - Carrie (Europe)

It's very rare that I ever hear a cover of any song that after repeat listens I find better than the original.

Covers tend to be novelties, and the shininess of hearing the track with a different spin on it almost always wears off pretty quick.

I have to say that claiming Led Zeppelin ever did anything better than Robert Johnson or that the White Stripes ever did anything better than Son House just completely boggles my mind.

At any rate, here are three songs I can think of that I enjoy more than the originals:

'Head On' by the Pixies, originally performed by the Jesus and Mary Chain

'Sympathy' by Jane's Addiction, originally performed as 'Sympathy for the Devil' by the Rolling Stones (I know that's saying a lot, as the Stones version is fantastic and iconic, but Ferrel's haunting rendition of this song just beats it to the ground)

'Without You' by Harry Nilsson originally performed by Badfinger

I actually kinda prefer the other thread that got closed, as I don't necessarily think any of the covers I'm going to post are better than the originals, just good in their own right and different than the original (in fact, one cover I plan to post absolutely *sucks* on one level, that being the vocalist).



Two Beatles songs, each from a soundtrack of (two different) movies, that I think are wonderful (the cover songs, not the movie, in fact I saw neither "I am Sam" or "Pleasantville")


One Paul song:




....and the other a John song

right?

not too many covers are better than the originals, under this premise the choices are more limited

oh well, i guess we have to try harder then :)

The Pixies covering "Evil hearted you" by the yardbirds



they redid the lyrics in spanish and the sound quality is better than the original, for the most part all they did was highlight the hooks of the original song, like the guitar hook or the backup vocals

but i'll let you decide which is better



i say The Pixies.

This is NOT better than the original...
 

...I just like it. And before anyone complains, yes, Blaine is an utter joke of a vocalist. But I love the Accüsed. I love Ox too.

This wasn't on YouTube so I uploaded my vinyl trasfer



The Accüsed - Boris The Spider (from vinyl) - YouTube

i dare proclaim they did it better than Elvis, or at the very least it rocks harder

I can think of two songs that have been covered a zillion times... but no one is better than the original:



(I know thats not the original Leonard version, its from 2008)

That song is so good i almost wanna become a born again christian

Greenday covering 'Hybrid moment' by the misfits



Not better than the original, i would say equally good, Billy joe sang it really good

J Mascis shreds so much harder than Teenage Fanclub

Disturbed - Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Van Halen - You Really Got Me

Let the flames commence~

Rage completely shreds this song, the original doesn't hit anywhere near the same level

Young Blood by Birdy, much better than the Young and Famous version

Jewell's cover of New Order's 'Bizarre Love Triangle' is epic.

Two VERY different songs and artists, covering two other VERY different songs and artists, yet they have something in common that draws me into them, that being a beautiful, repeated acoustic guitar fingering.


First, Seattle's Rosie Thomas, along with Sufjan Stevens, covering REM. Pretty pretty pretty....






Pantera covering Black Sabbath. RIP Dime....

This may have had some fans cry out "Not another Dylan cover!", but when it's this good, you just have to listen. A GREAT Byrds moment!

"Mr Tambourine Man" Written by Bob Dylan performed by The Birds

Easy Star All*Stars - Karma Police (feat. Citizen Cope) - YouTube
This version just speaks to me more, I've never been a big Radiohead fan so maybe that's why. I don't have a problem with them or anything just never really had a ear for them.

rufus wainwright - across the universe.

no offense, im a beatles fan too and it's a better cover of the song than fiona apple's IMO. peace.

you know I dont know who its by iv only ever heard it twice at different random times but its a chick singing patince by gnr and by god its good!

Being a die-hard Dylan fan I could never say anything is better than Dylan's recordings of his own songs, but Hendrix came the closest in me even considering a cover version is better than a Dylan original.

Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower is the greatest cover of a Dylan song and may well be the greatest cover song ever recorded. Even Dylan thought Hendrix's version was better and he has played it electric now over 2000 times since (a few times he did have an acoustic guitar in hand but he was always backed by an electric band). I personally have seen Dylan play the song live at least 30 times since 1987 and I never got tired of it. Dylan himself was overwhelmed when he heard it originally. He once said when he sings it he strangely always feels it's a tribute to Jimi.

I still prefer the stripped-down bare-bones original for it's stark harmonica and Dylan's haunting delivery. Just once I wish I could have seen Dylan perform this song live with just an acoustic guitar and harmonica (which he has never done).

Justin Hawkins - This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us

As much as I love 13th Floor Elevators' original, Spacemen 3 made 'Rollercoaster' their bitch

Better than the original
 

Gives better coverage than state farm, and was a member of the band! Ladies and gentlemen I give you the incorporable Emmylou Harris covering “Return Of The Grievous Angel”: A Tribute to Gram Parsons. Need I say more? Hell yes!

Guns N' Roses- Knocking On Heaven's Door
Will To Power- Baby I Love Your Way

Really?
 

OK, I try and I really mean try to not tell another human being they have atrocious taste in music. I really do. So please don't take this personally. I came into this thread because this version of "Knocking On Heaven's Door" by the dying Warren Zevon (it was recorded shortly before his death) that I'd just posted to the "Goosebumps" thread belongs in this thread as well...




Then, I couldn't help but notice that the G&R version, the version I call "Bark Bark Barking Up Heaven's Door", was going to be listed immediately before my post. OK, well, I guess I'll learn to live with that.

However, my pick for the worst song, the worst cover song, the worst medley, the worst cover song medley, the worst MTV/VH1 video ever made, the least interesting MILF-y woman prancing around and posing on camera in her underwear, the worst mullet-sporting talentless boyfriend who wants to shoehorn his place in the video and song, and most ridiculously silly ever Nietzsche-referenced "band" name, would UNHESITATINGLY be Will to Power's horrifying version of BILYW. Yikes. Up until now I've never heard of anyone actually liking this. I won't put the YouTube of it in the same post as the heart-wrenching Zevon cover, if anyone has 4-5 minutes of their life they don't want to ever get back, search for it on YouTube. But don't blame me, I tried to warn you.

Over My Head (Cable Car) by A Day to Remember, originally by The Fray
Since You Been Gone by A Day to Remember, originally by Kelly Clarkson

Perhaps Heartless by The Fray, originally by Kanye West, but I don't know. I really like the original, too.

You can argue that S3 took any song they covered, and made it better than the original. Though, with "Transparent Radiation" it was more of a case of taking a free, open ended song, and turning it into a minimal masterpiece. It's really hard to compare the two as it's apples to oranges, two completely different takes. Depending on the day though, I prefer either one over the other.

Love the original (The Equals), but this one seriously has the stomp I love. Maybe it's because I got Sandinista! on vinyl, maybe it's that The Equals' version is a not as edgy, but damn it, this seriously wins.

NOT better than the original!!!!!!!
 

....just a good cover. I would never blaspheme at the altar of Jimi

Definitely a good cover, I'd agree. It definitely does the original song justice, just with a better singer, imo.