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

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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.
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pinball1970 said:
Wow, the violin version!! Amazing. Control of the harmonics just sounds crazy.
I suppose it's bread and butter to good violinist but sounds nuts to me.
EDIT. 4.32 For instance, that tone! It just comes out of nowhere. Stunning.
Pretty cool he messaged her, what a compliment.

That is very nice. As far as rock violin goes I like this. It's like getting behind the wheel of a Gran Torino, putting the petal to metal, and blasting through Hell whilst laughing like a demon. It makes my hair stand on end [horripilation]. Really.

Emilie Autumn - Organ grinder (Saw III)​




Emilie let her violin chops slide. Too much time, too little payoff. Popular music is all about the singer and songwriter so her energy went into those instead.

Emilie grew up in Malibu. She was of interest to record companies in nearby LA but they were much too controlling. She must do everything herself. Literally. She makes truly solo records through multi-tracking. She sewed her own costumes and that of her band. It's extreme. She quit classical music, also too controlling. She was in Hole(!) for a while, possibly the greatest mismatch in the history of music. Then went her own way to work her way up via the club circuit. No one makes it that way any more but I thought, if anyone can do it, Emilie can. She couldn't. Success on the club circuit but no more than that. The club circuit is a grind, you can only do it for so long then it's up or out. Emilie got out. I think the problem is that radio long ago went corporate. If you don't pony up the big bucks then you won't get on no matter how good you are. It's against the law but that's meaningless in the rules based order.

Emilie's first love is musicals. She has written one which I think contains some of the most beautiful music ever made. She announced it would be produced in London's West End, but it never happened. I think it would have been a success but something gave way before it made the stage. Maybe she couldn't share control with other actors or any director. Maybe the financial backers chickened out. As a side note, a side plot involved a deliberately engineered pandemic, this in 2012 or so.

Possibly the problem was she first performed the musical in nightclubs. It was much too heavy for that, appalling the audience who was there to have fun. Her model is horror movies, not my thing at all but I make a big exception in the case of Emilie. She acted in a small time horror film, back in real life married the leading man, and appears since to have retired from music. There's a lot more to the story, but that's enough for now. I am and shall forever remain a big fan, but if she's happy in married life then good for her.

So, what is this music I claim so beautiful? Here you go. I don't know who did the recording engineering but they deserve a Nobel Prize. Oh, they don't give a prize for that? Maybe they should.



Or how about this one. I bet that every sound is EA. That entrance of the orchestra is SO ominous, so quiet and brooding yet as threatening as is a nuclear warhead.

 
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Science news on Phys.org
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How about THIS? I guess they are sisters?

 
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Come together - Robin Williams & Bobby McFerrin​


I Am The Walrus (sung by JIM CARREY)​


 
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The Blue Margarets -- A Hard Day's Night/Can't Buy Me Love/Mr. Postman
 



One of the best things about Japan : no tribute bands. I haven't even seen any cover bands, though I suppose they must be out there. BUT one big exception. There are a few Beatles tribute bands. You also get to see what real J women look like, as opposed to pop stars and models.

Nice groove. It must be said though, while they rock and are cute as can be, they need to take singing lessons. And I'm sure there is some other J band out there that can do The Beatles near perfectly.

Oh, and the male prostitutes all have Beatle cuts. They service middle-aged women. There is a section of Tokyo devoted to this.
 
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  • #1,125
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caprice_No._24_(Paganini)


(2018) Paganini 24 Hula Hoop (with Hilary Hahn) - TwoSetViolin
&t=1m00s

(see also Hilary Hahn - Paganini - Caprice 24 )


(2019) Paganini's Caprice no. 24 on One Guitar - Marcin

(see also (2024 live) Marcin Patrzalek - Caprice No.24 - Gramercy Theater - New York, NY - 6.1.24 )
(see also #589 (Kashmir) )

(2020) Paganini Caprice Capriccio No. 24 Dr.Viossy Metal Version Guitar 15 Years OLD Federica GOLISANO

(see also (2007) Dr.Viossy - Paganini, Capriccio 24 - and Viossy in #433 (Moonlight Sonata) )
(see also #760 (Tornado of Souls) )

(2022) Caprice no.24 (N. Paganini): Nikka Gershman, flute



(2016) Paganini Variations on Caprice No. 24 in A minor - Martynas Levickis accordion



(2018) Paganini in gypsy jazz style - HotClubdePiracicaba
 
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  • #1,126
Althea by The Grateful Dead



Cover by John Mayer and Bob Weir



If you want to sing this you'd better be ready to bare your soul.
 
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  • #1,127
The Grateful Dead's Uncle John's Band.

 
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  • #1,128
Jon Anderson covers Yes' Awaken. That band is the greatest.



I saw the official Yes in Michigan a few years ago. The keyboard player looked like he'd rather be on a Barcalounger watching TV. Couldn't he even pretend to be interested? Alan White had arthritis so bad that a young drummer played most of the show. When Alan came on, what a difference.

The gripe I have about Yes ever since the beginning is all that subtle distortion. After a while I can't stand it anymore no matter how good they may otherwise be. The Howe Yes is still that way. I need a richer deeper sound.
 
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  • #1,129
Young Man Blues

Orig by Mose Allison



 
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The orig.

Peter Greenbaum went insane and had to quit Fleetwood Mac. The Mac somehow became desperate for a guitar player for a tour and begged him to return. He said OK, but we're doing everything my way. Schizophrenics are unable to focus. Playing a song would have been too much. So during said tour the Mac was a 100% improvised jam band. They said the audience responded with enthusiasm.

I recall that Peter eventually became a volunteer working in a hospital or possibly an EMT but a cursory search failed to confirm.



There are many covers by famous bands. Here's a brand new one. "My legs are thin."



Give Tom Petty a little bit. A very little bit. Come to think of it his legs are pretty thin.



Can't resist adding this one. Such is showmanship.

 
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  • #1,131
Orig

Crossroads Blues by Robert Johnson



Dea Matrona covering the Cream version live at Winterland. I've listened to that maybe hundreds of times and have it memorized. Many have copied Eric's guitar. If there is ever a Best Rock Solo it will garner many votes. What makes this version special is that they also copy the wild Jack Bruce ebass counterpoint part. That adds a lot.



Jack Bruce's bass idol was JS Bach.

Eric said he didn't like his solo because he got lost in the rhythm and mistook where the downbeat was. I think I know where but it's barely noticeable and doesn't last long. Besides, Cream loved to play games with the downbeat so it fits right in with their style.
 
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As far as cover albums that aren't worth it the award goes to Rush. Stick with originals guys. You're real good at that.

It's like when the van Halen bros tried to make it as session men. They didn't fit in. It was originals or nothing.
 
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This guy can really play the guitar. Playing with pick and fingers both is called Chet Atkins style.

 
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Move over John. It's Her song now.
 
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(1988) Morning Star from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Odyssey_(album)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinnie_Moore

https://chordify.net/chords/vinnie-moore-songs/morning-star-chords
https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/vinnie-moore-morning-star-tab-s57782

(2017) Vinnie Moore - "Morning Star" (12/6/17)

Yesterday, on Facebook, I found a seven-year-old girl from Thailand playing this next song...
She does it better than me....
Anyway, it's called "Morning Star".
(1988 studio version)



(2017) Morning Star - Vinnie moore . cover By PettyRock 7 Year old

[ 2021 version ]
(see also #1118 For the Love of God )

(2015) Morning Star (Vinnie Moore) | Guitar Cover by Alexandra Zerner


(2020) Tommo - Morning Star - Vinnie Moore Cover. Double performance: listen with stereo headphones!


(2008) Sebastian Barrio - Morning Star (Vinnie Moore Cover)


(2011) Morning Star - Felipe Rinke (Vinnie Moore Cover) - Workshow Triade
 
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  • #1,139
 
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Hornbein said:


Move over John. It's Her song now.

I was not keen on this when it was released.
I was put off with the rock and roll feel to it. Like a 50s rock and roll ballad, leader of the pack type of a thing?
Now I just feel extremely sad as it just reminds me of the fact he was there one minute, releasing his first album/ single in years then he was dead weeks later.
Pretty certain they would have reformed and at least done another album or even tour.
I think John and Paul discussed it in the 70s.
 
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Wilko Johnson, Roger Daltrey - I Keep It To Myself​


 
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Not only was the better song the cover, it was also a live version of the song:

 
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_(Fleetwood_Mac_song) (1977)

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Official Music Video) [4K Remaster]



[not a cover, but a famous skateboarding lip-sync while drinking OceanSpray]
(Sep 2020) @doggface2086 (Nathan "Doggface" Apodaca) - Fleetwood Mac (This is the one) thanks everyone VIBE,VIBES, VIBEZZZZZZZ
(original from TikTok: 420doggface208 - Dreams )
https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/d...ile-with-juice-a-skateboard-and-all-the-vibes





(Oct 2020) Lanie Gardner - Dreams by Fleetwood Mac (Cover)


(2024) DREAMS_Fleetwood Mac COVER by FAMILY BAND ‪@FRANZRhythm‬


(May 2020) Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Reggae Cover) Artikal Sound System


(Jul 2020) Dreams | Fleetwood Mac | funk cover ft. Elise Trouw (Scary Pockets)


(Dec 2020) Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Punk cover) Sam Zaher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbO4JPhsybI
 
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robphy said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_(Fleetwood_Mac_song) (1977)

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Official Music Video) [4K Remaster]



[not a cover, but a famous skateboarding lip-sync while drinking OceanSpray]
(Sep 2020) @doggface2086 (Nathan "Doggface" Apodaca) - Fleetwood Mac (This is the one) thanks everyone VIBE,VIBES, VIBEZZZZZZZ
(original from TikTok: 420doggface208 - Dreams )
https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/d...ile-with-juice-a-skateboard-and-all-the-vibes





(Oct 2020) Lanie Gardner - Dreams by Fleetwood Mac (Cover)


(2024) DREAMS_Fleetwood Mac COVER by FAMILY BAND ‪@FRANZRhythm‬


(May 2020) Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Reggae Cover) Artikal Sound System


(Jul 2020) Dreams | Fleetwood Mac | funk cover ft. Elise Trouw (Scary Pockets)


(Dec 2020) Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Punk cover) Sam Zaher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbO4JPhsybI

Loved it. Two chords!? That's it! I adore the guitar solo if you can call it that, nothing to it but it just fits.
Not sure which version I like best!
When a song is that good, you can do anything to it.


As you may know that album was an absolute car crash of their lives at that point.
Affairs, relationships ending, broken hearts, pain and cocaine.
"Dreams" was Stevie Nicks breaking away from Lindsey Buckingham. "You can go your own way" was Lindsey Buckingham staying, "you are leaving me? Well you can jolly well sod off. I don't need you anyway!"
Obviously he did. He was broken by that and it took years for him to get through it.
Besides those guys fighting it out I always felt for the bass player, John McVie. "You make lovin' fun" was about his wife having "fun" with someone else.
They divorced soon after.
 
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  • #1,145
Mick Fleetwood said they would end their show with Christine McVie at a piano playing Songbird. The men in the wings would sob over how they had blown it.
 
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  • #1,146
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_What_I_Needed (1978)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cars

(1978) Just What I Needed - The Cars | The Midnight Special - (more from The Cars)




(2018) Cover of The Cars "Just What I Needed" - DoronW

@donnasweetpurplejune6335 - 4 years ago
Love this! It was shared in a Cars fan group today, and Elliot Easton (lead guitarist for The Cars) picked it up and posted it on his personal page. He loves it, too! <3

(2020) Just what I needed Cover : The cars - Patee Sarasin


(2020) Just What I Needed by The Cars Cover by The Fantastic Plastics


(2012) Punch Brothers - Just What I Needed (The Car's Cover) [ with a violin and a banjo ]
&t=1m10s


(2021) Aodhan covers The Cars 'Just What I Needed' for Like A Version


(1999) Lunachicks live at the Square Harlow 1999
(&t=42m30s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10bFTG9gS4o&t=2550s
 
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This comes under the "never to be touched" category for me. The whole album.
I listened to this because Foxes and Fossils are excellent.
Unfortunately it is too different for me.

 
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1st RECORDING OF: Land Of 1000 Dances - Chris Kenner (1962)​




"Can you do the fist"?

I looked forward to doing these dances but by the time I grew up it was all over.
 
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  • #1,151
To kick off summer...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Song_(Joe_Satriani_song) (1992)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Satriani

(2010) Joe Satriani Plays "Summer Song" Live at Sweetwater

( official video - (1992) Summer Song )




(2023) Joe satriani - Summer Song Cover | Cort X500 Menace GS (SENA_DIH)

(see also #1057 Satch Boogie and #766 and #1046 Tornado of Souls )

(2009) Summer Song - Satriani (Cover by Thirsty Betty - Andrew Kesler )
&t=37s


(2007) Summer Song(Joe Satriani) by 2 violins ( Jimmy Kim )

(their (2007) Far Beyond the Sun cover is also good)

(2020) Joe Satriani - Summer Song (Violin cover) - Thousands Army


(2016) Joe Satriani - Summer Song (cover by Ale_Keyboards) - Pasquale Bubbico

(see also his cover of #1109 Tears of Sahara )
 
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Damn! Superproducer Andrei Cerbu is full of surprises. Today Romania, tomorrow the world.

 
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  • #1,153

And Your Bird Can Sing -- Sweet/Huffs​

 
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American Girl, Tom Petty | Larkin Poe​

 
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robphy said:
#478
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangar_18_(song)

Megadeth - Hangar 18 [Live on Arsenio Hall Show, 1990]


[covers] in #478




This bassist plays the whole song, including all the solos, on... a bass.

(2021) MegadetH - Hangar 18. but it's ALL 🅱️ASS ( with solos, feat. GhostFace Drummer) - mgrocki



(2019) Hangar 18 BACKWARDS - Bradley Hall (and mgrocki )

(see also #760 Tornado of Souls)


This violinist also does a great job with the solos.

(2013) Heavy Metal Violinist performs Megadeth Hangar 18 - Monty Bloom





This acoustic version has its own vibe...

(2015) Megadeth – Hangar 18 (violin & guitar duet by Doralice) - yates brown

( here's their "Rusted Pieces EP" )

https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/megadeth-hangar-18-tab-s12836
https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/megadeth-hangar-18-solos-tab-s580864
 
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