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

[robphy]

Here's a recent event (10/19/2024)
where some of Ozzy's songs were covered in tribute to him:

Ozzy Osbourne Induction to The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!


more of the ceremony:
Ozzy Osbourne rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Cleveland, Ohio
- Ozzy speaks at &t=4m17s (rewind a few seconds to get a quote by Ozzy [with an f-bomb] at the end of the preceding video presentation)
- another view of the covers &t=6m40s

 

[pinball1970]

 

[robphy]

#1407
Wrathchild (1981)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killers_(Iron_Maiden_album)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Maiden

(1980) Iron Maiden - Wrathchild (Live At The Rainbow)

Side note:

RIP Paul Di'Anno
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Di'Anno
https://variety.com/2024/music/news/iron-maiden-singer-paul-dianno-dead-1236184883/
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/21/arts/music/paul-dianno-iron-maiden-dead.html

 

[Hornbein]

 

[Hornbein]

 

[pinball1970]

A shuffle! Different

 

[Hornbein]

Actually three versions of increasing amazingness.



I wish she would collaborate with others. Surely this is possible so evidently she doesn't feel like it. I wonder how many people there are like this in this world, playing amazing music in their bedrooms only for themselves. Could be a lot.

 

[Hornbein]

A bluegrass version of The Monkees' hit, done as a ballad.



They say they got the idea from Shrek. Is that Eddie Murphy singing?

 

[pinball1970]

Foxes and Fossils live. CSN

 

[robphy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_of_Destruction
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megadeth - https://www.megadeth.com/

• (1992) Megadeth Symphony of destruction live at Arsenio Hall in 92
• Rick Beato - What Makes This Song Great? "Symphony of Destruction" MEGADETH

---

(2023) Symphony of Destruction (Cover) - Megadeth - RUMPUS - Family Band / Kids Band / Rock Band


(2008) Hellsongs - Symphony Of Destruction (OFFICIAL VIDEO)


(2018) VERSUS playing MEGADETH - Symphony of destruction (Cover)


(2019) Symphony Of Destruction. (Bluegrass Cover of Megadeth) - DD and the Butterlovers


(2017) Tengger Cavalry - Symphony of Destruction (Megadeth Cover)

---

Honorable mention
(2024) Aixa y Nirvana tocan Symphony of Destruction de MEGADETH
(2019) School of Rock Students Perform "Symphony of Destruction'" by Megadeth
(2015) Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction - Guitar performance by Cesar Huesca
(2023) SYMPHONY OF DESTRUCTION - Megadeth | Guitar Cover by Sophie Burrell
(2012) Mellowdeth - Symphony Of Destruction

 

[Hornbein]

The orig, an anime theme song on NHK (Japan TV). I greatly like some anime theme songs. They can be quite complicated. Jazz bands often cover them. Even shows for girls have music like this.

I never watched the show. It's something about fighting down giant robots while clothed in a black and red string bikini.

Today there is a real honest-to-god sixty(!) foot tall robot that I have seen. It doesn't walk or move a lot but it sure is big.

In my estimation this version is even more badasss.



Rhythm guitar is a lot more developed in Japan. Except for Eddie, but no one seems able to copy his rhythm playing so it wasn't that influential.

 

[pinball1970]

I think I prefer her on her own

 

[Hornbein]

Jan Hammer/Jeff Beck Blue Wind



Rie. Bail out though once it gets to the drum solo.



As far as I know she only plays at Blue Mood, a club that holds 50 people. And it doesn't sell out. Such is the world in which we live.

 

[Hornbein]

Duran Duran Ordinary World



Not exactly a cover but it's a lot better than the hit version. This song cried out for vocal harmony, here supplied by Anna Ross.

This song attracts good singers so there are several very good covers. This is the only one with vocal harmony.



There was no such doubt about the WORST cover.

 

[pinball1970]

There was no such doubt about the WORST cover.

What the hell!?

 

[pinball1970]

Original by "Illusion" beautiful track.



This cover by one of my favourites on YT

 

[Hornbein]

Orig by Sam Cooke, Yeah Man



Plagiarized by Arthur Conley and Otis Redding. Big hit in 1967. Better than the orig, if you ask me.



Cover by The Time Bandits

 

[Hornbein]

Orig Sam Cooke



Sam and Dave



Sam Cooke is Keith Richards' favorite artist.

 

[Hornbein]

Orig by Joe South



Cover by Deep Purple. Way better than their hit. Can't beat Steve Morse.

 

[pinball1970]

and Mark one. Richie actually smiling and having fun???

 

[brigman]

A truly inexhaustible topic.

For a smorgasbord of highly enjoyable and oxymoronically 'original' covers, look no further than the 1997 album Five O'Clock Shadow by Frank Bennet (the performing name of Australian artist David Henry Wray) which provides a rather obvious clue as to what style of music the songs have been carefully and often ingeniously reworked into.

Grab a free listen at bandcamp[dot]com. 'Top Tip' for first time listeners: have someone else play you the tracks and see how long it takes you to recognise the songs.

 

[Hornbein]

A truly inexhaustible topic.

For a smorgasbord of highly enjoyable and oxymoronically 'original' covers, look no further than the 1997 album Five O'Clock Shadow by Frank Bennet (the performing name of Australian artist David Henry Wray) which provides a rather obvious clue as to what style of music the songs have been carefully and often ingeniously reworked into.

Grab a free listen at bandcamp[dot]com. 'Top Tip' for first time listeners: have someone else play you the tracks and see how long it takes you to recognise the songs.

The only song I was familiar with was this one.



He sounds just like Frankie.

Tony Bennett did a similar thing with Smells Like Teen Spirit.

 

[Hornbein]

Rockin' in Germany.



Acoustic 370 bass amplifier, fifty years old.

 

[Hornbein]

The late Melanie sings Purple Haze, posthumously backed up by Cactus(!).