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.
  • #106
This is sneaky of me as strictly speaking this is not a cover, it's an old standard. The range, power and beautiful tone is just incredible. Ear bleach after Kayne West and Cheryl Cole.

 
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  • #107
Jeff Healey's cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is incredible. George Harrison plays acoustic and sings backing vocals.

 
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  • #108


Cover by Unlucky Morpheus. It appears they have an entire album like this. Dream Theater, Steve Vai....

Japanese community orchestras are almost as good as the pros. There is such an excess of violinists and ballerinas that they are being exported to Europe.
 
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  • #109
 
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  • #110
Hornbein said:


Cover by Unlucky Morpheus. It appears they have an entire album like this. Dream Theater, Steve Vai....

Japanese community orchestras are almost as good as the pros. There is such an excess of violinists and ballerinas that they are being exported to Europe.

The violin really brings home what a crappy pastiche Yngwie's music is.

This is a better cover of JS Bach

 
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  • #111
Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau covers Yes

 
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  • #112
BWV said:
Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau covers Yes


That's is one of my favourite Yes songs (from many) Absolutely loved it. The voice is angelic.
 
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  • #113
pinball1970 said:
That's is one of my favourite Yes songs (from many) Absolutely loved it. The voice is angelic.
he covers Rush and Gentle Giant on the album as well



 
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  • #114
BWV said:
The violin really brings home what a crappy pastiche Yngwie's music is.

This is a better cover of JS Bach


Shunske Sato is among the elite of baroque violin players; next to Giuliano Carmignola and Gottfried von der Goltz, they truly are the Holy Trinity of baroque violin at this moment.

On the other hand, I once read a comment about Ywgwie's obnoxious playing that went something like that: "Malmsteem shreds utter shite over Bach's perfect composition". While those aren't my words, I can't say I disagree a single iota with them honestly. To each their own I guess, but Bach is waaaaaaaaaaaay more than ridiculous self serving riffs.

And the Netherlands Bach Society is a most glorious ensemble. Along with Pichon and Pygmalion, and Solomon's Knot, they make me recover my faith in humankind among the atrocious celebration of mediocrity that seems to be the norm these days.
 
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  • #115
 
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  • #116


Kent Nishimura - Lady Madonna [The Beatles]
 
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  • #117


Riyoko Takagi - Round Midnight [Thelonius Monk]
 
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  • #118
 
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  • #119
Hornbein said:


Kent Nishimura - Lady Madonna [The Beatles]

This style is very difficult, bass chords and tune all together. Very impressive.
 
  • #120
This is another sneaky entry as the post is because of their M.O. not the actual track.
They are Dutch, not important but I only found out ten minutes ago getting info on them and I had not noticed an accent listening to them.
They "The analogues" recreate whole Beatles Albums live, meaning they put absolutely every tiny detail in astonishing accuracy from the album recording.

 
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  • #121
Ok this is from a phone camera, no touching up after the gig.

 
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  • #122
Hornbein said:

Wow, I missed this one! Brilliant. My son showed me a load of acoustic stuff like this years ago. I remember thinking, how is aware of all this stuff? I showed HIM how to play guitar right?
Obvious answer was, he was 19 and hanging out with 19 year olds at uni and I was working with old people, then socialising with older people.
My definition of old here was 30ish and older was 50-ish
 
  • #123
Some songs are untouchable and it takes a lot to make a classic good again in a very different way.

 
  • #124
pinball1970 said:
Wow, I missed this one! Brilliant. My son showed me a load of acoustic stuff like this years ago. I remember thinking, how is aware of all this stuff? I showed HIM how to play guitar right?
Obvious answer was, he was 19 and hanging out with 19 year olds at uni and I was working with old people, then socialising with older people.
My definition of old here was 30ish and older was 50-ish
I'm 68 years old. But it is true that the great majority of listeners won't accept anything new once they have reached 25 years of age.

I used to hang out in an Internet group of recording engineers ("when I was working with Michael Jackson" ). None of them, not one out of hundreds, liked anything that came out after 1990. I gave up on them. Physicists are more open about this sort of thing.
 
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  • #125


Compels dance.
 
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  • #126


Candy dulfer -- Pick Up The Pieces
 
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  • #127
Hornbein said:


Candy dulfer -- Pick Up The Pieces

I have seen her live, almost a life ago. :cool:
 
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  • #128
Hornbein said:


Riyoko Takagi - Round Midnight [Thelonius Monk]

Don't know the original but do I not care, that was a fantastic piece of music. Absolutely loved it.
 
  • #129
BWV said:

Well, that was a tad disturbing. I seem to stumble on these just before bedtime!
 
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  • #130
Original: Earth Wind and Fire: September

Cover: Taylor Swift : September.

This is probably the worst cover mad in all of music..
 
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  • #131
MidgetDwarf said:
Original: Earth Wind and Fire: September

Cover: Taylor Swift : September.

This is probably the worst cover mad in all of music..
I know covers that are much, much worse.
 
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  • #132
Hornbein said:
I know covers that are much, much worse.
Let's hear them. I know the title is an either or kind of thing but absolutely stinkers are welcome so people can critique.

Candy Flip Strawberry Fields is horrific. I may post a few
 
  • #133
MidgetDwarf said:
Original: Earth Wind and Fire: September

Cover: Taylor Swift : September.

This is probably the worst cover mad in all of music..
I adore Earth wind and Fire so will check out TS
 
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  • #134
Worst covers.



 
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  • #135
CCR's "Have you ever seen the rain?"


And this is Willie's cover, with his daughter:



I am truly torn between this two. There's something about Willie's voice and inflections that always gets me for some reason.
 
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  • #136
Elvis' "Always on my mind"



Again, Willie's



And for last, The Pet Shop Boys'. The memories!!! 😁 😁

 
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  • #137
Isaac Albéniz Chants d'Espagne Op. 232 - 1. Prélude

Also known as Leyenda, and as Suite Española Op. 47 - 5. Asturias

As originally written for piano, played by Alicia de Larrocha:



On the guitar, by Pepe Romero (as far as I am concerned Don Pepe is the best guitar player alive):



On the organ, by Jonathan Scott, his own transcription:

 
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  • #138
From Antonio Lucio Vivaldi Il Cimento dell'Armonia e dell'Invenzione, Op 8 for violin solo, strings and basso continuo, comes the Concerto No. 4 in F minor, "L'inverno" (Winter), RV 297.

Here played by Carmignola and Marcon with the Venice Baroque Orchestra (it simply cannot get better than that):



Here, Jonathan Scott again in the magnificent organ of the Basílica de Santa María in Elche, Alicante (Spain). Where's the :proud: emote??? :P

 
  • #139
Vivaldi again, Concerto No. 2 in G minor, "L'estate" (Summer), RV 315
Giuliano and Andrea again:



Jonathan, on the Hereford Cathedral organ this time:

 
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  • #140
Last but not least, with the promise I won't clog this thread with Bach, as I have my own just for Him (I will be, however, stealing this idea of original vs cover :P) but I cannot help mentioning here the great conductor Leopold Stokovski and his renowned transcriptions of Bach's Works for symphony orchestra.

The monumental Passacaglia & Fuga in C minor BWV 582. Here played by Karl Richter:



And here conducted by Stokovski:

 
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