Cover songs versus the original track, which ones are better?

  • Music
  • Thread starter pinball1970
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Track
In summary, the conversation discussed which songs were performed, arranged, or produced better in a cover than the original version. They also debated which songs should have been left alone and whether restricting covers to released singles limits interesting comparisons. The discussion also touched on the subjectivity of judging which version is "better" and the importance of adding something unique to a cover. Examples of good and unnecessary covers were also mentioned. Overall, the conversation highlighted the different interpretations and emotions that can be evoked by a cover compared to the original version.
  • #1,051
Original. This is a demo. The originally released version isn't that good.

Joni Mitchell. Edith and the Kingpin.



Cover

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
Science news on Phys.org
  • #1,052
Original : Crazy He Calls Me by Billie Holliday



Cover : Emilie Autumn

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,053
Hornbein said:
Original : Crazy He Calls Me by Billie Holliday



Cover : Emilie Autumn


That was strange
 
  • #1,054
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,055
I ain't superstitious

Original by Howlin' Wolf:



Covers:

By Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart:



By the guy who wrote it, Willie Dixon:



By Megadeth:

 
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes pinball1970, Frabjous and robphy
  • #1,056


 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,057
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,058
Linda Ronstadt -- Crazy He Calls Me



I know of no other artist who improved so radically in the course of their career.
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970 and difalcojr
  • #1,059


The version by the ten year old girl in the Yamaha Stagea competition is the best but I already posted that.
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970 and robphy
  • #1,060
Hornbein said:
Linda Ronstadt -- Crazy He Calls Me
I know of no other artist who improved so radically in the course of their career.
I have to agree with you on that. I really liked her first folk, bluegrass and country song singing too.
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,061
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_(Main_Title)

John Williams & Wiener Philharmoniker – "Main Title" from "Star Wars: A New Hope"


robphy said:


Star Wars Main Theme - Single by Galactic Empire

see also Galactic Empire - Star Wars - The Imperial March

Star Wars Theme Medley BLUEGRASS cover by samuraiguitarist


Star Wars theme (acapella) by MayTree



 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,062
Hornbein said:
Jon Anderson used to be such a good poet. Nowadays his lyrics are New Age lectures. This was the start of that.



Another Andrei Cerbu production. The guy's talented.

I always heard it as "owner of a '63 Dodge Dart."

Chris Squire's bass playing went from maximal there to minimal here. Why not.

It appears she now records under the name of Rockmina. Here covering Bon Jovi's You Give Love A Bad Name.

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,063
This song was a big hit in the UK in 1981 for Kim Wilde. Catchy. Fine singer and composer. I however the production on the orig is too cheesy for me. So here's a cover.


 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,064
Today, I became aware of the 50-yr anniversary performances of various Mike Oldfield masterpieces, done in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra(!) in 2022. I'm not sure if this counts as a "cover", but they sure deserve a mention. I'm still listening this version of Ommadawn Pt 1 and it's bringing me to tears...



Their rendition of Tubular Bells Pt 1 is pretty damn amazing too...

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,065
Green Day does Kim Wilde's Kids In America

 
  • Like
Likes robphy
  • #1,066
The Wonders - That Thing You Do


Cover by Shakalabbits.
 
Last edited:
  • #1,067
Hornbein said:
This song was a big hit in the UK in 1981 for Kim Wilde. Catchy. Fine singer and composer. I however the production on the orig is too cheesy for me. So here's a cover.
  • (broken YouTube link to No Secrets cover?)

No Secrets - Kids In America - Live Kids Choice Awards 2002


Hornbein said:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_in_America

(1981) Kim Wilde - Kids In America (Official Music Video)




(1981) Kaupungin lapset - Mona Carita


(1993) Nirvana - Kids in America (LIVE Sao Paulo Hollywood Rock 93)


(2007) Jonas Brothers - Kids of the Future


(2018) The Anchor | - Kids in America (Kim Wilde Cover) - metalcore
 
Last edited:
  • #1,068
Two Tom Petty covers by the Jambaritos Band. The first is great while the second he sings awfully flat. Huh.



Notice that at this point he forgets the lyrics and mumbles something plausible. I've been told singers call this "watermeloning." I bet you didn't notice it first time around.

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,069
Original of Mercy Mercy by Don Covay. Guitar is allegedly Jimi Hendrix. Sounds just like him.



Cover by The Rolling Stones.

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,070
Orig.



 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,071
Orig Hoochie Couchie Man by Muddy Waters



Cover by Shoka Okuba. She also plays drums and does fashion modelling. Let's see Muddy do that.

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,072
Orig : Roger Miller -- King of The Road



Cover



His name really is Roger Miller.
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,073
Mikaela Davis harp solo on The Grateful Dead's The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)



If all their stuff were this good they could go places. It might happen.
 
  • Wow
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,074
Frabjous said:

That was stunning. I love the vocal versions I have heard by some of the most iconic voices in jazz but that was great. I like the fact they swapped solos and backing.
Frabulous!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes Frabjous and BillTre
  • #1,075

Madison Cunningham - In My Life (The Beatles Cover)​

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,076
Orig Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden. Grotesque video.



Black Hole Sun on a cross strung harp. They say the harp is the most beautiful instrument. They were right.

 
  • Love
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,077
Hornbein said:

Madison Cunningham - In My Life (The Beatles Cover)​


Wrong note at 2.20!

She powered on through though.

I learned it on piano and could never get the solo right, I would always hit a duff note without the trills in.

Really nice harmony on that version.

In My Life is Rubber Soul and for me the Beatles did not really kick in till Revolver.

McCartney says he sees those two albums together, I disagree (what does he know)

Some great songs on there but Revolver goes a step higher for me and Pepper came after which is another planet.

Anyway..
 
  • Like
Likes BillTre
  • #1,078
Kirsty MacColl - They Don't Know



Cover by Susannah Hoffs

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #1,079
Orig Ripple by The Grateful Dead



Cover. The pedal steel guitar solo is out of this world.

 
  • Like
Likes OCR
  • #1,080

No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed -- Richie Havens​




Cover by Yes

 
  • #1,081
Abba's "Dancing Queen" - but a very different take. Same lyrics, different message.
 
  • #1,082
Hornbein said:
Orig Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden.
 
  • #1,083
Disney's "Let It Go" from "Frozen"
I'll spare you the Cartoon Princess version; here's a Metal Queen's rocked-up version (turns out it's a pretty good song after all):
 
  • #1,084
James Demers said:
Disney's "Let It Go" from "Frozen"
I'll spare you the Cartoon Princess version; here's a Metal Queen's rocked-up version (turns out it's a pretty good song after all):

Oooh! You will love the version by The Iron Cross ...

It's on my playlist now and the more I listen to it, the more I appreciate the arrangement they've done to it.
 
  • #1,085
Andreea Munteanu may be small, but no one has bigger attitude.



I was in Viet Nam for May Day, the big holiday, in a coastal resort town. Every day I walked by a greeting person outside a massage parlor who was about the size of Andreea Munteanu. She got tired of my ignoring her so one day she strutted up and full frontal full length bumped into big strong me. As sang Chrissie Hynde, "I gotta have some of your attention." I never forgot it. I suppose I never shall.

Here's the orig. I say, Gretchen step aside.

 
Last edited:
Back
Top