Cover songs you think are better than the original

Moni · 01-06-2013, 05:15 PM

Tose Proeski - Carrie (Europe)

Ghost Jam · 01-06-2013, 06:28 PM

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

Paul Smeenus · 02-19-2013, 09:36 PM

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

Black Francis · 02-19-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Smeenus

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

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.

Paul Smeenus · 02-19-2013, 09:58 PM

...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

Black Francis · 02-20-2013, 05:52 PM

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

sillysillymary · 02-20-2013, 09:33 PM

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)

Black Francis · 02-20-2013, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillysillymary

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

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

BTown · 02-20-2013, 10:26 PM

J Mascis shreds so much harder than Teenage Fanclub

Automalek · 02-21-2013, 12:37 AM

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

Let the flames commence~

02-20-2013, 05:52 PM	#496 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	i dare proclaim they did it better than Elvis, or at the very least it rocks harder __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

02-20-2013, 09:33 PM	#497 (permalink)
sillysillymary Groupie Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Not cool. Not hipster. Not elite. Posts: 46	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) __________________ Yes.

02-20-2013, 10:26 PM	#499 (permalink)
BTown super cool Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 806	J Mascis shreds so much harder than Teenage Fanclub __________________

01-06-2013, 05:15 PM	#491 (permalink)
Moni Groupie Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Macedonia Posts: 8	Tose Proeski - Carrie (Europe)

01-06-2013, 06:28 PM	#492 (permalink)
Ghost Jam Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 107	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

02-21-2013, 12:37 AM	#500 (permalink)
Automalek Groupie Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4	Disturbed - Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Van Halen - You Really Got Me Let the flames commence~