Covers that surpass the originals.

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Rau Le Creuset
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Covers that surpass the originals.

Post by Rau Le Creuset »

Hey guys! In this topic I'd love you guys to post certain songs where you believe the cover to be a direct improvement to the original. There may not be that many out there, but it would be cool if we got them down on here.

My first addition:

The song, Moon Over Marin, was written by the Dead Kennedy's and covered by a Canadian artist called Matthew good. The two versions almost sound nothing alike.. and where I can see the appeal in the original one I think it lacks the maturity that Matt Good add's to it, the difference is simply amazing.

The original: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iYMtyy8kEo

The cover: www.youtube.com/watch?v=95KFYgDFe6E

I think this could be some fun.. I'm interested to see what else is out there.
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Post by ussusimiel »

'I Can't make You Love Me'

The original (written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin) was sung by Bonnie Raitt. It's a good version, but I think the Bon Iver version brings an extra level of emotion out of the song.

The original: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

The cover: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3VjaCy5gck


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Post by sgt.null »

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Post by Vader »

The original (Status Quo): www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D4YYI8G5EM

The cover (Type O Negative): www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZnpretyPw0&feature=youtu.be

The latter is a rare pre-release demo version. The official version of this cover had Ozzy singing. You judge.

Ozzy Osbourne with Type O Negative: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLUwUKo8oTQ
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Post by Cord Hurn »

"Connection" by the Rolling Stones (original):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8HYfIBv90A

"Connection" by Montrose (cover):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ6PME5U1rI

I like a lot of Stones songs, but consider "Connection" to be one of their lesser efforts. The Montrose version is more soulful and beautiful, imo.
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Post by Zarathustra »

I don't know if the covers surpass the originals, but VH1 had an amazing concert a few years ago with various bands doing covers of The Who (which also did some of their own songs for the finale). Pearl Jam did the best covers, with Eddie Vedder coming closest to Roger Daltrey's greatness. He freakin' wails on "Love Reign O'ver Me.

The Who: The Real Me

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pohhMx9EdNc

Pearl Jam: The Real Me

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jnQ3XVXMyk

The Who: Love Reign O’er Me

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDbAtWpoA6k

Pearl Jam: Love Reign O’er Me

www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7yEqPMlQH0


Also included are Tenacious D, Incubus, Flaming Lips, and Foo Fighters. The whole concert:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3gOhCS36bE
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Post by Obi-Wan Nihilo »

To me the most obvious has to be Hendrix "All Along the Watchtower." And "Hey Joe" for that matter among others. Sticking with the Hendrix theme I think SRV's "Voodoo Chile" is in the running. Then there's "Blitzkrieg" and "Am I Evil" by Metallica for the headbangers. Megadeth also did a killer version of "Anarchy In The UK."
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Post by Rau Le Creuset »

Whoa! The who and Black sabbath have been bested here!

I'd like to add another sin. Walking on the Moon by the Police was covered by this really cool fat guy. The police do give off a reggae feel alot of the time and i guess this guy really built on that

Original: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nt8dJ6rMZI

Cover: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbEJ1KntjO0

This one is hard for me, I love the police but find myself liking this version even more and more the more I hear it.
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Post by Vader »

Mongnihilo wrote:Megadeth also did a killer version of "Anarchy In The UK."
I think Motörhead's God Save the Queen is a betterPistols cover - but then I've never been a huge Mustaine fan (never really liked Metallica after MoP either).

A nice Hey Joe cover by Brooklyn's now sadly disfunct masters, the Drab4, TYPE O NEGATIVE:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NE4FSpyIvI

And another Type O cover:

Original (Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft) www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC1K1AYvtAo

Cover: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmE_Zek4e1o
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Post by TheFallen »

There is surely only one screamingly obvious answer to this - and that's the one where the song's composer threw his hands up and freely admitted that the cover version was far FAR better than his original. And I don't think that anyone would disagree with him, what with heart-wrenching added poignancy and depth. It's one of the most moving pieces of music that I know...

The original:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=htmKZKR7oyc

The cover:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho
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Post by TheFallen »

Oh and to change the tone entirely, I have a sneaking, secret and totally helpless love of this cover version... it has a permanent place on my in-car CDs.

I'm not saying that it's better than the original, since you can't really compare the two - but it has in this poster's opinion a shitload of greatness all on its own merits. :D

Ok Ok with no reservations I can categorically state that I prefer the cover version BY FAR... so sue me.

Both the following recorded live:-

The classic original:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXr59ZKaVTI

The simply glorious cover:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu_R3pduiEY
Newsflash: the word "irony" doesn't mean "a bit like iron" :roll:

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Post by StevieG »

A Perfect Circle released a dark take on John Lennon's Imagine. Better? Not sure, but it's very different.

The Original (John Lennon): www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8

The Cover (A Perfect Circle): www.youtube.com/watch?v=dunKAwRN3P8&feature=kp
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Post by Vader »

Now even Pink Floyd gets bested.

The Sisters of Mercy - Comfortably Nunb.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQrm-VEtFPY

Saw them perform it in 93 and it blew me away. This clip is "newer" when the Sisters started to become less good. Thge second part of the clip "Some Kind of Stranger" is from their 1985 albun "First And Last And Always" and one of my favorite songs ever.
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"MacArthur Park" - Donna Summer
"With A Little Help From My Friends" - Joe Cocker
"Cocaine" - Eric Clapton
All Along The Watchtower" - Jimi Hendrix
"Every Little Thing" - Yes
"Dreams I'll Never See" - Molly Hatchet
"Blinded By The Light" - Manfred Mann
"Because The Night" - 10,000 Maniacs
"Black Magic Woman" - Santana
"You Really Got Me" - Van Halen
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Post by Vader »

The original:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=htmKZKR7oyc

The cover:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho[/quote]

That was too obvious, so I din't post it. :p

I would, in fact add Johnny Cash's version of "Highway Patrolman"

I wish I could say I prefer the Highway Man covers of songs, but most originals by Ed Bruce, Guy Clark or the great and never forgotten Townes Van Zandt simply were far supreme.
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Post by dlbpharmd »

These don't really surpass the originals, but Santana's CD "Guitar Heaven" from a couple of years ago has some good ones:

Def Leppard "Photograph" Original:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ5bS3_BCDs

Santana with Chris Daughtry Cover:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gjCn70d6iA

Cream "Sunshine of Your Love" Original:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDZqmF3zS04

Santana with Rob Thomas Cover:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH3WcfpRgkQ
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Post by JazFusion »

Any cover I do! haha j/k

I may be stoned for this, but Joe Cocker did a better "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" than the Beatles.

youtu.be/bkdjMxTdrU8

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Post by Ananda »

much better than the original
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Post by sgt.null »

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