Covers of Songs That Radically -- And Successfully -- Re-interpreted the Work

[Evil Captor]

If this were a TV trope, I would say the Trope Namer would be Rotary Connection's version of the Aretha Franklin hit "Respect." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Eiyv9QD7M) It's very different from Frankln's version, but it's still a powerful and interesting work, only in part because of Minnie Ripperton's soaring vocals.

Also, Emerson Lake and Palmer's synthesized version of the "Peter Gunn" theme which would work more for Johnny Mnemonic than the original 60s private eye. (Can't find a decent link for it on Youtube, I got it off Itunes for a buck though).

Of course, lots of works get covers, what distinguishes the covers I am thinking of is that they alter the work so profoundly in some way that it almost might as well be a completely different song. Your favorite musician has surely covered songs, but did their covers radically reinvent the song and was it successful?

[Aspidistra]

Sinead O'Connor's 90's hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" is actually a cover of a Prince song (not a single, just album fodder).

I've heard the Prince version once - it's...boppy is probably the best way to describe it. Sinead's version blows it out of the water.

[Lobot]

How about "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by Devo? Turns the Stones version on its head.

[multimediac17]

Sinead O'Connor's 90's hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" is actually a cover of a Prince song (not a single, just album fodder).

I've heard the Prince version once - it's...boppy is probably the best way to describe it. Sinead's version blows it out of the water.

It was a song Prince wrote, but the original recording was by The Family. His cover (of, er, his own song) was released after Sinead's.

The OP mentions 'Respect', and Aretha's hit version is famed for being a reinterpretation of the original.

[gaffa]

Don't know if giving the song a reggae beat and a solo on the Uilleann pipes is radical enough, if so here's Kate Bush's reinterpetation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8v2RNLHr0) of Elton John's Rocket Man.

If that is not radical enough, here's the J. Davis Trio's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8v2RNLHr0) very radical re-working of Kate's song There Goes A Tenner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bYXYlCbBJ0#t=0m11s).

[Tangent]

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's cover of Somewhere Over The Rainbow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I) is pretty different from the original, and very popular.

[Miller]

Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Out of My Head (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfr9bhSmfXc).

The Flaming Lips' cover of same. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFREWbwgIMA)

[Miller]

Iron Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MII3ns2KTBc) by Black Sabbath

Iron Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzgZJEpLuw0) by the Cardigans

[Miller]

Okay, last one:

Straight Outta Compton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMZi25Pq3T8), by NWA

And then Nina Gordon folks the whole thing up. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2EGOB9-lc)

[Tanbarkie]

There's a near-endless array of "white dudes covering hiphop songs as ballads" out there, but for my money, the best is Jonathan Coulton's "Baby Got Back." It's one of the few that seems genuinely respectful and affectionate for the original (rather than playing up the contrast for yuks or giving a white singer the chance to "edgily" say the N-word). Plus the actual message in "Baby Got Back" actually lends itself nicely to a folky take.

[Crotalus]

Unless you're old like me, you probably haven't had the experience of hearing Bob Dylan's version of All Along The Watchtower first, and then hearing the Jimi Hendrix version. I loved Dylan's version, but the first time I heard Jimi's, I got goose-bumps. To me this is the ultimate radical, successful cover.

[Jonathan Chance]

All Along the Watchtower is one of those 'endlessly reinterpreted' songs. You've got to throw in versions by U2 and Dave Matthews, too.

For me, a reinterpretation should present a new angle on the song. Something that was there but unnoticed. To that end I'll nominate Dolly Parton's covers of Collective Soul's 'Shine' and Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven'. She turns both songs into a much more religious feel. Both could easily be sung in church the way she puts them together and make God and heaven the center of meaning.

[Joey P]

Two of my favorite cover songs

While my Keytar Gently Weeps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ioD3KcVSE) by Lemon Demon

and

while the Scissor Sisters did a helluva job with Comfortably Numb (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR78lwM83fg), I think Dar Williams and Ani Difranco (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqQFWXWVBNA) did it better.

[twickster]

And now for something completely different: Streisand's torchy "Happy Days Are Here Again."

[F. U. Shakespeare]

I liked Deep Purple's cover of the Beatles' "Help" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx8RHoeGUWI), which is a pretty radical departure from the original.

Lots of classic bebop artists took standards and played new melodies over the chord progressions. (Charllie Parker's "Donna Lee" was based on "Back Home in Indiana".) There were instances where they didn't quite go far enough to declare the result a new song, but the interpretation was pretty damn different. One good example was "Embraceable You" by Miles Davis and Charlie Parker (sorry, can't find the particular version online).

[Dinsdale]

First song in my head was the Cowboy Junkies' Sweet Jane.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Gary Jules version of "Mad World" is incredible. And Judas Priest's version of the Joan Baez song "Diamonds and Rust" is a really cool interpretation (ETA: the slow version, their speedy version is a little weird).

[Rain Soaked]

Eric Clapton's Layla (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WUdlaLWSVM) covered later by Eric Clapton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_jpWumPnxc).

[Gomi5]

Kiss - Shock Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2rZun97AOk)
Red House Painters - Shock Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAcJrPQwaH8)

[Wheelz]

If this were a TV trope, I would say the Trope Namer would be Rotary Connection's version of the Aretha Franklin hit "Respect." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Eiyv9QD7M) It's very different from Frankln's version, but it's still a powerful and interesting work, only in part because of Minnie Ripperton's soaring vocals.Don't forget that Aretha herself had taken Respect from Otis Redding (his version is essentially a demand for sex) and turned into the quintessential female empowerment anthem of its time.

[Dave Hartwick]

Toad the Wet Sprocket's version of Kiss' "Rock & Roll All Nite (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqzs_8lRW0M)"

Johnny Cash rocked a version of NIN's "Hurt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)"

I'm fond of The Divine Comedy's version of QOTSA's "No One Knows (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gox6zrcoQI)"

Tricky's cover of Public Enemy's "Black Steel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDHl5djnYM4)".

[Biggirl]

Soft Cell's Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go gave both songs a completely different spin.

[The Surb]

The Gourds version of Snoop Dogg's Gin And Juice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE)

[Jophiel]

Alanis Morisette's tongue-in-cheek cover of My Humps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRmYfVCH2UA).

Original version. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEe_eraFWWs)

[The Amazing Hanna]

Ane Brun's cover of "Big in Japan".

[Ferret Herder]

Chris Daughtry's slow acoustic cover of Lady Gaga's Poker Face (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t90dFkM9acg)

[Joey P]

Luther Right and The Wrongs cover the entire album The Wall...in bluegrass.
You can find snippets of it, IIRC, on youtube, their website and their myspace page. IMHO it's worth tracking down.

ETA
Comfortably Numb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEvznepdGDI&feature=related

As a side note, they got Roger Waters' blessing on the album

[Ferret Herder]

There's a near-endless array of "white dudes covering hiphop songs as ballads" out there, but for my money, the best is Jonathan Coulton's "Baby Got Back." It's one of the few that seems genuinely respectful and affectionate for the original (rather than playing up the contrast for yuks or giving a white singer the chance to "edgily" say the N-word). Plus the actual message in "Baby Got Back" actually lends itself nicely to a folky take.
Have to agree with this, plus I love his reinterpretation of Queen's "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" as well.

[Labdad]

I always thought the Lemonheads' cover of "Mrs. Robinson" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvMFm5nKeUc) was pretty rad.

[RealityChuck]

Bernadette Peters's version of "You Can't Get a Man With a Gun" turns the song from a cheerful ditty (as sung by Ethel Merman) to a sad reflection on the character's failings.

Lyle Lovett does a nice interpretation of "Stand By Your Man.'

[Tom Scud]

Johnny Cash rocked a version of NIN's "Hurt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)"


This is the song I came into this thread to mention.

Well, that and the Kingsmen's version of "Louie, Louie".

[Biggirl]

I always liked Alien Ant Farm's version of Smooth Criminal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDl9ZMfj6aE) but am not hip enough to understand the video.

[Hunter Hawk]

Soft Cell's Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go gave both songs a completely different spin.

And then Coil did their take on Tainted Love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo3TUtRnZi4

[Pearson Flyer]

I wouldn't call it a radical departure, but I've always loved Faith No More's version of "Easy (Like Sunday Morning)".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9X_msJ-7OI

And "Hit Me Baby One More Time" by Travis is also good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acULghgYUg0

[Biffy the Elephant Shrew]

This is my all-time favorite example:

"Walk on By" by Dionne Warwick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO073fekFfA)

"Walk on By" by the Stranglers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqfqVDHNW6c)

[woodstockbirdybird]

The example I always give in these threads: Husker Du's cover of The Byrds' Eight Miles High (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKyBlJ_JN8).

[DCnDC]

Straight Outta Compton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMZi25Pq3T8), by NWA

And then Nina Gordon folks the whole thing up. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2EGOB9-lc)

On similar lines Dynamite Hack's cover of Easy-E's "Boyz n tha hood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsqONjjMDfw)."

[DCnDC]

Fleetwood Mac - "Somebody's gonna get their head kicked in (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0U-eef6OyQ)" covered by many different punk bands like the Rezillos and Youth Brigade (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUYjxOLmQPo).

[SeldomSeen]

In the Pines/Black Girl/Where did you sleep last Night

Interesting song
Already about a century old when
Ledbelly popularized it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp3af4ZJS4w)

"High lonesome" rendition by Bill Monroe & his Bluegrass Boys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_UkluxB7gc)

A haunting gothic cover by Curt Cobain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXYz0gtJeM&feature=related)

[NDP]

"Ace of Spades" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYGLrXR_odI&feature=related) by Motorhead

"Ace of Spades" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxh492o2aM) by Hayseed Dixie

While we're on the subject of blue grass covers of metal songs, there's also the Meat Purveyors' cover of Ratt's "Round and Round". Unfortunately, I can't find a link to the Meat Purveyors' version on YouTube.

[Argent Towers]

I heard this version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vEStDd6HVY&feature=&p=FB2A700B1A28B590&index=0&playnext=1) of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" before I heard the original version. I didn't realize it was a cover of a Gaga song, I thought it was just a great song. I was very disappointed by the original version, which I thought the cover vastly improved on.

Urge Overkill's version of "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" as heard in Pulp Fiction is a lot better than the original by Neil Diamond.

[Kamino Neko]

Two of my favorite cover songs

While my Keytar Gently Weeps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ioD3KcVSE) by Lemon Demon

Great goddess, that is one of the best things ever....

[panache45]

Bernadette Peters' There is Nothing Like a Dame. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRgKAGZ74s0)

This song is usually sexist and condescending, as was originally intended. But this version is a proud and powerful and sensual statement of womanhood. I had the privilege of watching her perform this live, and it blew the audience away.

[Joey P]

Great goddess, that is one of the best things ever....

It really is, isn't it. I do try to show it off every chance I get.

[JThunder]

They Might Be Giants gave Istanbul (Not Constantinople) tighter harmonies and a catchier beat. It was a huge improvement over the original.

[Evil Captor]

How about "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by Devo? Turns the Stones version on its head.

I think it works best if you know the original ... more of a satire than a cover.

[Evil Captor]

Don't know if giving the song a reggae beat and a solo on the Uilleann pipes is radical enough, if so here's Kate Bush's reinterpetation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8v2RNLHr0) of Elton John's Rocket Man.

If that is not radical enough, here's the J. Davis Trio's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8v2RNLHr0) very radical re-working of Kate's song There Goes A Tenner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bYXYlCbBJ0#t=0m11s).

It's not very radical at all and your second link is to the same song as the first link.

[DWSKAMS]

Cake's version of "I will survive".

Manfred Mann's (Earth Band) cover of "Blinded by the Light".

Stevie Ray Vaughan doing "Superstition".

George Michael (and Mary J. Blige's) version of "As".

I could go on and on...

[Evil Captor]

Iron Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MII3ns2KTBc) by Black Sabbath

Iron Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzgZJEpLuw0) by the Cardigans

didnt like the original all that much, but it had a raw quality that carried its meaning well. This cover is just silly.

[Evil Captor]

Unless you're old like me, you probably haven't had the experience of hearing Bob Dylan's version of All Along The Watchtower first, and then hearing the Jimi Hendrix version. I loved Dylan's version, but the first time I heard Jimi's, I got goose-bumps. To me this is the ultimate radical, successful cover.

Oh, hell yes. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bng3agUOYiI) But let's face it, Bob Dylan's great talent is as a songwriter, he's not that great an arranger, composer or singer. Many artists have taken his songs and fixed em up and done em proper, though Hendrix arguably did it so well that no one else need bother covering it. How ya gonna beat perfection?

[Saint Cad]

No one has contributed Jeff Buckley's version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4)of Hallelujah (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJTiXoMCppw)?

[Evil Captor]

[QUOTE=F. U. Shakespeare;13303593]I liked Deep Purple's cover of the Beatles' "Help" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx8RHoeGUWI), which is a pretty radical departure from the original.[quote]

Different, but successful in its own right? 2 and a half minutes in I was still listening to a plodding intro, so I bailed.

[Evil Captor]

All Along the Watchtower is one of those 'endlessly reinterpreted' songs. You've got to throw in versions by U2 and Dave Matthews, too.

For me, a reinterpretation should present a new angle on the song. Something that was there but unnoticed. To that end I'll nominate Dolly Parton's covers of Collective Soul's 'Shine' and Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven'. She turns both songs into a much more religious feel. Both could easily be sung in church the way she puts them together and make God and heaven the center of meaning.


The U2 version didn't do much for me, but when Dave Matthews turned on the juice in the second stanza it was downright stirring. I've never heard anything by Dolly Parton I liked except Jolene.

[Evil Captor]

Gary Jules version of "Mad World" is incredible. And Judas Priest's version of the Joan Baez song "Diamonds and Rust" is a really cool interpretation (ETA: the slow version, their speedy version is a little weird).

I only know the Gary Jules version from this video. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Ig2JJRpdo&feature=related) Who did the original?

[Evil Captor]

Don't forget that Aretha herself had taken Respect from Otis Redding (his version is essentially a demand for sex) and turned into the quintessential female empowerment anthem of its time.

I'll grant you that, but was there any radical reinterpretation other than the gender switch, which is kinda commonplace?

[Kamino Neko]

Who did the original[ Mad World]?

Tears For Fears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjTgOX5Cgaw).

[Evil Captor]

Alanis Morisette's tongue-in-cheek cover of My Humps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRmYfVCH2UA).

Original version. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEe_eraFWWs)

Ok, that was exactly what I was talking about. Radical reinvention, successful on its own terms. It's tongue in cheek but doesnt need the orginal to be worth listening to.

[Evil Captor]

And then Coil did their take on Tainted Love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo3TUtRnZi4

All they did was slow down the tempo. I'll spot you a "radical" but ... successful?

[Evil Captor]

This is my all-time favorite example:

"Walk on By" by Dionne Warwick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO073fekFfA)

"Walk on By" by the Stranglers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqfqVDHNW6c)

Ok, that's a winner.

[Evil Captor]

In the Pines/Black Girl/Where did you sleep last Night

Interesting song
Already about a century old when
Ledbelly popularized it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp3af4ZJS4w)

"High lonesome" rendition by Bill Monroe & his Bluegrass Boys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_UkluxB7gc)

A haunting gothic cover by Curt Cobain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXYz0gtJeM&feature=related)

Funny, the only version I've ever heard is the Louvin Brothers version, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWrSg5znyMU&feature=related) which I kinda like better than the others. None of them seem to be radical reworks of the original though.

[Evil Captor]

I heard this version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vEStDd6HVY&feature=&p=FB2A700B1A28B590&index=0&playnext=1) of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" before I heard the original version. I didn't realize it was a cover of a Gaga song, I thought it was just a great song. I was very disappointed by the original version, which I thought the cover vastly improved on.

HELL YES!!!!! I had heard Gaga's version before I heard the Pamplamoose version, and had sorta found it forgettable, in fact, I forgot about it, and the Pamplamoose version just blew it away. It's great to see some indies with relatively limited resources just crushing a massively produced hit.

[Evil Captor]

Thanks to everyone for all the cover posts, it's been fun spending the holiday just listening to them and comparing them to one another.

[Tom Tildrum]

UB40's cover of Neil Diamond's Red Red Wine.

[Jormungandr]

My Way (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E2hYDIFDIU) by Frank Sinatra.

My Way (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIXg9KUiy00) by the Sex Pistols

[campp]

I was blown away by Stan Ridgway's cover of 16 Tons (http://www.stanridgway.com/disco/stanard/anatomy.html)

[digs]

I teach a class on creativity, and one thing I do to keep my brain flexible is listen to cover songs. And if a song can make you see something in the material you didn't before, even better, so this thread is perfect!

I have a playlist called "COVERAGE" with close to a hundred covers. My best ones have been mentioned here.

But I've gotta link to Shawn Colvin acoustifyin' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ITHanhV6A&feature=related) Gnarls Barkley.

And Amy Lee from Evanescence brings even more angst to a couple of Nirvana songs: Lithium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J4-d-zHnUM&feature=related) (and acoustic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxEgNSkh4ZA&feature=related)), and Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bHJea6GGQE&feature=related)-Shaped (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwCmNlMJdnE&feature=related) Box (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB_q7j-cyY8&feature=related).

Oh, and what's cooler than Vampire Weekend name-checking Peter Gabriel in Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uumPG6Shr8M&feature=related)? Peter Gabriel covering it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uhi2_oBdXM) (with Hot Chip) and singing "It feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel, too. / And it feels so unnatural... to sing your own name!"

And I just found Mumford & SOns do a cover of VW's Cousins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZewnRdoqg_U&feature=related).

[gaffa]

It's not very radical at all and your second link is to the same song as the first link.

Oops! Here is the correct link: The J. Davis Trio's version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3CJI5dEQN0)

Kate's original. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bYXYlCbBJ0#t=0m11s)

[Sodalite]

Placebo's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBlAdApfK9U&feature=related) version of the Kate Bush (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQW0K83q-po) song Running Up That Hill. The bridge (about 2:59) makes me all shivery.

[Peanuthead]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Marvin Gaye's cover of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", originally done by Gladys Knight and the Pips. The original was outstanding in its own right, but Gaye took it to a whole new level.

[Art Rock]

Yes - America (Simon and Garfunkel), a complete 10 min prog version.

[njtt]

Richard Cory (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwqwAy85CgY) - Simon & Garfunkel

Richard Cory (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukIEi8ZgqK8) - Them (Van Morrison)

[MrDibble]

Laibach (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwdOX19_ETI) doing a cover of Queen's One Vision in German. Also check out their covers of the Stones' Sympathy for the Devil, amongst others.

[njtt]

[Missed edit window]

Perhaps I should add that, as I hear it, the Them version completely subverts the trite message of the original poem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Cory_%28poem%29). It is just possible that the Simon and Garfunkel version is intended to do the same, but if so it is not nearly as clear or passionate.

[tripthicket]

Tears On My Pillow

Little Anthony and The Imperials (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we2kmO24rgE)

Clem Snide (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN4ZHNdUrpg)

Vastly different cover, I think everyone would agree. As for successful, not commercially, but it works for me. The energy of the Clem Snide version* reawakened my interest in modern music, so it's a success for me! :D

*It's icing on the cake that I heard this on the Stubbs the Zombie soundtrack. Any song associated with zombies in any manner gets double points!

[Mister Rik]

Remember that Japanese pop song known as Sukiyaki in the U.S., by singer Kyu Sakamoto?

The original version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtXQ31F1A-k)

Jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara's instrumental version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqVDIFaCK8U)

[Stoid]

Bill Parson's version of Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded me with Science" (http://www.amazon.com/She-Blinded-Me-with-Science/dp/B000SFJL98)

[Mr. Excellent]

Iron Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MII3ns2KTBc) by Black Sabbath

Iron Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzgZJEpLuw0) by the Cardigans

Holy shit. It's like a torch singer traveled back from the future in order to be awesome! That cover is unreasonably neat. And I think I've a crush on the singer.

[akira5822]

Not a massively different but one of my favorite covers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRbKc32i09c

[akira5822]

Another favorite NWA's boyz in the hood redone by Dynamite hack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRbKc32i09c

[fubbleskag]

This cover of Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast is probably one of my favourites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OueweGTvps

Also, pretty much anything off of Pat Boone's album In a Metal Mood is great.

[Biggirl]

There is no doubt about it, The Lettermen were successful. Their Light My Fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2zJutRVX8A). Re-invents raw sexual pleading and turns it into a simple request to turn on the fireplace in the elevator.

[Equipoise]

The song "Ghost Riders In The Sky" has been covered tons of times, such as by Johnny Cash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUVwZoiH5ZU), Marty Robbins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xSYyMDaq4), Spiderbait (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtXSmqEq1eA), Burl Ives (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s7jJd8EjlA), Neil LeVang (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMdS9ExnW-w), and The Blues Brothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6QF41RVib0). I've listened to at least part of many, many covers, and they all seem to play it fast and swingy. Dick Dale (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6M6kd8cmpI), The Shadows (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7_Gxoa2lqk), Children of Bodem (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_RAooHQ8ks), Vaughn Monroe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyDNnQbbkSQ), Kay Starr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZLWNviMaIo), Elvis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVAp258IPBY), REM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FPydoIRoPw), Ramrods (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWTjjm-Gg3c), Peggy Lee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BnhbPJGKPI), Scatman Crothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBYAis7akKw), Sha Na Na (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iifoq3VKYW8), Frankie Laine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwAPa0qHmLo), Outlaws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhqD-ejBMyk), Toy Dolls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Z-ukSfbWM), Duane Eddy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMz8XRGxZdY), Debbie Harry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt0mJDzTbyo) (!!), Desperados (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96qTW4gMXGQ), The Ventures (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7v6__8DwX4), the list goes on and on and on. Every now and then someone might start out slow, but then the pace of the song picks up and it becomes fast, just like all the others.

Thing is, it's a damned creepy song. Ghost cowboys! Mournful cries! Doomed to hell! From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%28Ghost%29_Riders_in_the_Sky:_A_Cowboy_Legend): The song tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the spirits of damned cowboys. One warns him that if he does not change his ways, he will be doomed to join them, forever "trying to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies".

The only version I've ever heard that, to me, evokes the actual lyrics, is this one, which when compared to all the others, makes it a radical departure:

Mary Kelley - "Ghostriders In The Sky" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jPpZ_x7m4)

[Jaledin]

Jimi Hendrix, "Hey Joe" originally recorded by Deep Purple.

Maybe this is too jazzy to fit in, but Dr. Lonnie Smith, one of the greatest Hammond organists, recorded an album of "covers" of Beck tunes called "Boogaloo to Beck." They all school the originals hard.

I won't even get into all of the covers from pretty much all genres of music Ray Charles made, but as far as I'm concerned, they all rule the originals.

Billy Preston performing "Blackbird" -- I think it's radical enough to count as a radical cover.

[SeldomSeen]

I'm not sure it could be called radical, but definately a different feel:
Velvet Underground Sweet Jane (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7B6GKc00Yw)
-vs-
The Cowboy Junkies version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHRFZFmEq9o)

[dzeiger]

"Head Like a Hole" as covered by Pig (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2em9eGwH2fE)

[newcomer]

Bit surprised by the choices from Deep Purple Shades of Purple album. The actual “better” version idea OP suggested can be applied to the song “Hush” - they even recorded (incredible) video in Playboy Mansion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiXcqxms3Bs . Apparently Billy Joe Royal did it first http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCV-Y2OPLT8

[pulykamell]

One of my favorite songs is "Teardrop" by Massive Attack. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yftOy8kz7aE) I never thought it would be possible to successfully cover such a perfect and haunting song, until I came across Jose Gonzalez's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B-h1EEsKDA) acoustic take on it. Like the original, that songs gives me chills every time I listen to it.

[RealityChuck]

The Titanic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe5tcr0yHN4) by Ledbelly

Ballad of the USS Titanic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4jliLONDAc) by Jaime Brockett.

Brockett took the song an turned it into a ten-minute talking blues on speed number -- different tune, many new verses, but the chorus is the same. This is as radical re-imagining of a song as you can think of, changing it from a comment on racism into a insane bit of nonsense.

[cornflakes]

How about Oops! I Did It Again (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDDjRRUNADA), as done by Richard Thompson?

[Oslo Ostragoth]

Sinead O'Connor's 90's hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" is actually a cover of a Prince song (not a single, just album fodder).

I've heard the Prince version once - it's...boppy is probably the best way to describe it. Sinead's version blows it out of the water.

I never heard Prince's version, but Sinead's version is one of my top ten of all time.

[Foldup Rabbit]

A.C. Newman, lead singer of the New Pornographers, covered A-Ha's "Take On Me" as a sad, acoustic ballad and I found it kind of pretty.

Cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_eBTIIQOtA)
Original (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914)

The Futureheads cover "Hounds of Love" in a way that wasn't hugely different, but still manages to stand completely on its own next to Kate Bush's original.

Cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcMAM9B7yAA)
Original (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXmTvbw4kLw)

[Cat Whisperer]

They Might Be Giants gave Istanbul (Not Constantinople) tighter harmonies and a catchier beat. It was a huge improvement over the original.Then Craig Ferguson nailed it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4phHwSSing) :)

<snip>
But I've gotta link to Shawn Colvin acoustifyin' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ITHanhV6A&feature=related) Gnarls Barkley.<snip>I love that song so much.

I never heard Prince's version, but Sinead's version is one of my top ten of all time.Prince's version. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftYkTKrh8h0) I love both - I honestly can't say which I love more.

[Jaledin]

This is probably sacrilege and doesn't make sense given what I said about Ray Charles above, but I think Dr. John's version of "Mess Around" takes over the original in a good way. Nothing against Fats Domino, who's a monster player and a living legend, but I'd take Dr. John's "Blow Wind Blow" over Fats's version any day, as well.

[NDP]

The song "Ghost Riders In The Sky" has been covered tons of times, such as by Johnny Cash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUVwZoiH5ZU), Marty Robbins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xSYyMDaq4), Spiderbait (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtXSmqEq1eA), Burl Ives (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s7jJd8EjlA), Neil LeVang (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMdS9ExnW-w), and The Blues Brothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6QF41RVib0). I've listened to at least part of many, many covers, and they all seem to play it fast and swingy. Dick Dale (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6M6kd8cmpI), The Shadows (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7_Gxoa2lqk), Children of Bodem (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_RAooHQ8ks), Vaughn Monroe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyDNnQbbkSQ), Kay Starr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZLWNviMaIo), Elvis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVAp258IPBY), REM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FPydoIRoPw), Ramrods (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWTjjm-Gg3c), Peggy Lee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BnhbPJGKPI), Scatman Crothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBYAis7akKw), Sha Na Na (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iifoq3VKYW8), Frankie Laine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwAPa0qHmLo), Outlaws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhqD-ejBMyk), Toy Dolls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Z-ukSfbWM), Duane Eddy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMz8XRGxZdY), Debbie Harry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt0mJDzTbyo) (!!), Desperados (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96qTW4gMXGQ), The Ventures (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7v6__8DwX4), the list goes on and on and on. Every now and then someone might start out slow, but then the pace of the song picks up and it becomes fast, just like all the others.

Thing is, it's a damned creepy song. Ghost cowboys! Mournful cries! Doomed to hell! From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%28Ghost%29_Riders_in_the_Sky:_A_Cowboy_Legend):

The only version I've ever heard that, to me, evokes the actual lyrics, is this one, which when compared to all the others, makes it a radical departure:

Mary Kelley - "Ghostriders In The Sky" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jPpZ_x7m4)

Well, your YMMV but Kelley's version of the song brings to mind a someone encountering a small troop of undead cowboys on skeletal horses. It is creepy (and the creepiness factor would be upped if someone like Nick Cave did it) but "Ghost Riders" is a variation of the ancient Indo-European myth of the Wild Hunt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_hunt). Instead of a small troop, one should get the feel of suddenly seeing a massive cavalry of the damned endlessly pursuing a Satanic herd across a storm-ridden sky. The song demands the musical bombast that's best supplied by the fury of an electric guitar which is why I think the versions by the likes of Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, and the Outlaws work best. It's not just supposed to be creepy; it's supposed to scare the crap out of you.

[BigT]

How about Oops! I Did It Again (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDDjRRUNADA), as done by Richard Thompson?

Good, but he sounds better here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAS4ltt7DzI).

[JohnT]

Then Craig Ferguson nailed it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4phHwSSing) :)

...

His cover of the Doctor Who theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9P4SxtphJ4) is awesome as well, and pretty much defines the series... at least for my family.

[Biggirl]

Almost went the whole thread without mentioning my favorite pop to folk cover: Obedia Parker's Hey Ya. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8nkkOA_AM)

[DrCube]

Wonderwall (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzZhtrsbJzs) by Ryan Adams is head and shoulders above the original Oasis version if you ask me.

[Stoid]

Almost went the whole thread without mentioning my favorite pop to folk cover: Obedia Parker's Hey Ya. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8nkkOA_AM)

YES... I call you, and raise you Ray Lamontagne's doing Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mEfDSP4g_U)"

LOVE that SO much I've listened to it hundreds of times.

[Evil Captor]

I was blown away by Stan Ridgway's cover of 16 Tons (http://www.stanridgway.com/disco/stanard/anatomy.html)

yeah, i went on Itunes and bought the live version. Putting a driving rhythm and blues beat behind it and giving it that full rocknroll treatment really brings out the mythic power of the lyrics. It's definitely a different song that stands on its own.

[Evil Captor]

I teach a class on creativity, and one thing I do to keep my brain flexible is listen to cover songs. And if a song can make you see something in the material you didn't before, even better, so this thread is perfect!

I have a playlist called "COVERAGE" with close to a hundred covers. My best ones have been mentioned here.

But I've gotta link to Shawn Colvin acoustifyin' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ITHanhV6A&feature=related) Gnarls Barkley.

It's good, but the original is just electrifyingly good. Not sure it can be improved upon.

[Evil Captor]

There is no doubt about it, The Lettermen were successful. Their Light My Fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2zJutRVX8A). Re-invents raw sexual pleading and turns it into a simple request to turn on the fireplace in the elevator.

Different? yes. Successful? Only in a purely white-bread Republican sort of way. Geesh.

[Evil Captor]

The song "Ghost Riders In The Sky" has been covered tons of times, such as by Johnny Cash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUVwZoiH5ZU), Marty Robbins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xSYyMDaq4), Spiderbait (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtXSmqEq1eA), Burl Ives (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s7jJd8EjlA), Neil LeVang (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMdS9ExnW-w), and The Blues Brothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6QF41RVib0). I've listened to at least part of many, many covers, and they all seem to play it fast and swingy. Dick Dale (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6M6kd8cmpI), The Shadows (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7_Gxoa2lqk), Children of Bodem (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_RAooHQ8ks), Vaughn Monroe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyDNnQbbkSQ), Kay Starr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZLWNviMaIo), Elvis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVAp258IPBY), REM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FPydoIRoPw), Ramrods (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWTjjm-Gg3c), Peggy Lee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BnhbPJGKPI), Scatman Crothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBYAis7akKw), Sha Na Na (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iifoq3VKYW8), Frankie Laine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwAPa0qHmLo), Outlaws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhqD-ejBMyk), Toy Dolls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Z-ukSfbWM), Duane Eddy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMz8XRGxZdY), Debbie Harry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt0mJDzTbyo) (!!), Desperados (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96qTW4gMXGQ), The Ventures (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7v6__8DwX4), the list goes on and on and on. Every now and then someone might start out slow, but then the pace of the song picks up and it becomes fast, just like all the others.

Thing is, it's a damned creepy song. Ghost cowboys! Mournful cries! Doomed to hell! From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%28Ghost%29_Riders_in_the_Sky:_A_Cowboy_Legend):

The only version I've ever heard that, to me, evokes the actual lyrics, is this one, which when compared to all the others, makes it a radical departure:

Mary Kelley - "Ghostriders In The Sky" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jPpZ_x7m4)

I listened to all of these and a couple others on Youtube as well, and they were all fun, but my favorite version was The Outlaws' version. Just had more depth to it than the others. The acoustic versions just don't have the power to convey hellish sky riders rolling across a jagged cloudscape that the electric versions do. Generally, I dont find taking an electric ballad acoustic to be an improvement. It's a very standard way of re-interpreting a song and most of the time is not an improvement, IMHO.

[Evil Captor]

"Head Like a Hole" as covered by Pig (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2em9eGwH2fE)

I was not expecting to like this one, but reinterpreting the song as an edgy jazz piece totally worked.

[Evil Captor]

Bit surprised by the choices from Deep Purple Shades of Purple album. The actual “better” version idea OP suggested can be applied to the song “Hush” - they even recorded (incredible) video in Playboy Mansion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiXcqxms3Bs . Apparently Billy Joe Royal did it first http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCV-Y2OPLT8

yeah, Deep Purple's reinterpreation of "Hush" is original and stands on its own. Much better than the orginal song as well. Their version of "Kentucky Woman" likewise.

[Evil Captor]

YES... I call you, and raise you Ray Lamontagne's doing Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mEfDSP4g_U)"

LOVE that SO much I've listened to it hundreds of times.

No sooner than I say acoustic covers don't generally work that well than you have to show me an exception. Thanks a lot!

[Spoke]

Absolutely Sweet Marie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffSLrB-4Rus) - Bob Dylan (original)

Absolutely Sweet Marie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-cF40OWeak&feature=related) - Jason and the Scorchers (cover)

Jason gave it a great cowpunk twist.

[msmith537]

Smashing Pumpkins cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide". Tori Amos also has a somewhat less radical cover.

Marilyn Manson's cover of The Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams".

[LateComer]

Don't forget that Aretha herself had taken Respect from Otis Redding (his version is essentially a demand for sex) and turned into the quintessential female empowerment anthem of its time.In this same vein how about Elvis Presley's cover of Big Mama Thornton's (Stoller and Lieber) Hound Dog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hound_Dog_(song))?

[Rick]

Well, your YMMV but Kelley's version of the song brings to mind a someone encountering a small troop of undead cowboys on skeletal horses. It is creepy (and the creepiness factor would be upped if someone like Nick Cave did it) but "Ghost Riders" is a variation of the ancient Indo-European myth of the Wild Hunt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_hunt). Instead of a small troop, one should get the feel of suddenly seeing a massive cavalry of the damned endlessly pursuing a Satanic herd across a storm-ridden sky. The song demands the musical bombast that's best supplied by the fury of an electric guitar which is why I think the versions by the likes of Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, and the Outlaws work best. It's not just supposed to be creepy; it's supposed to scare the crap out of you.I agree with most of what you have posted. The problem is that if you don't know the lyrics an all instrumental version like Duane Eddy's won't scare the crap out of you. You will just think, wow this is a nice tune.
My personal favorite veersion of this song is this one done by Johnny Cash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAcAo_fSEtc).
Now if somebody could combine his vocals with Duane Eddy's guitar...

[Sitnam]

50 Cent's Ayo Technology covered by Milow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE9IchvpOPk)

A college acapella group (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp_TBm3Gwq0) covered Lady Gaga's Bad Romance that I thought was pretty cool.

[brickbacon]

Scissor Sisters cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saAai6gsyTQ&playnext=1&list=PLFF37A3CD27EC8086&index=9) of "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijk4j-r7qPA)
Whitney Houston's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9nPf7w7pDI) of "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS-F4rfU4ns&feature=related)
Joe Cocker's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCrlyX6XbTU&feature=related) of "With A Little Help From My Friends" by the Beatles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBDF04fQKtQ)
Amy Winehouse's cover (1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQVxFPxYyw0), 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tORDLHM6QWs)) of "Valerie" by the Zutons (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oet_6eVKctg)
Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg8cDmi7-U8&feature=related) of "Blinded by the Light" by Bruce Springsteen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNi6EFJU8E8)
Al Green's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgAFcvIw8J4&feature=fvst) of "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" by the The Bee Gees (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COqUjfrB8dI)
Maxwell's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkeCNeHcmXY) of "This Woman's Work" by Kate Bush (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TupvVpxY_U)
Marilyn Manson's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6VojYGrnpg) of "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Sweet+Dreams&aq=f)
Marc Ronson's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tNKF83Q_pk) of "Toxic" by Britney Spears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOZuxwVk7TU)
Travis's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSDrHV0KsOA) of "Hit Me Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBq3Cjpt2YM)
Cake's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=596qaxm-u4o) of "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tth-8wA3PdY)
Rufus Wainwright's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAe1lVDbLf0) of "Across the Universe" by the Beatles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ_G9ETE21U)
Gnarls Barkley's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZbeiXZVWbM) of "Gone Daddy Gone" by the Violent Femmes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_5Ai6SRxtI)
Seu Jorge's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOdUClEiNGE) of "Life On Mars" by David Bowie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v--IqqusnNQ&feature=related)
Marie Laforet's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wKRN5JzYf4) of "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BhHTA6Gzn0)
Cat Power's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbMeAOTPJzM) of "Sea of Love" by Phil Phillips (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EroRtEUmZcU)
The Glee cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtMlL1jvEH8) of "Dancing With Myself" by Billy Idol (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG1NrQYXjLU)
Gary Jules' cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4) of "Mad World" by Tears for Fears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjTgOX5Cgaw)

[Cat Whisperer]

This is probably sacrilege and doesn't make sense given what I said about Ray Charles above, but I think Dr. John's version of "Mess Around" takes over the original in a good way. Nothing against Fats Domino, who's a monster player and a living legend, but I'd take Dr. John's "Blow Wind Blow" over Fats's version any day, as well.
I think Jann Arden does a very nice job with You Don't Know Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYBdjmNs1FE) as well (I don't think it's been linked here yet).

[Sigmundex]

Laibach (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwdOX19_ETI) doing a cover of Queen's One Vision in German. Also check out their covers of the Stones' Sympathy for the Devil, amongst others.

But it's so good I want to make it easier to get to -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E-OsFSr5h8

Laibach are the kings of reworking a classic song and twisting it into something wonderfully twisted and awe-inspiring, in my humble opinion - to wit:

Jesus Christ, Superstar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APxXwp23hi0&feature=related

The Beatles' Across the Universe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q5mlb3Bjzs&feature=related

And here is a playlist of 5 other songs off their remake of the 'Let It Be' album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKN6vei8pGg&playnext=1&list=PL06945D5FCCFC896B&index=2

Even a song like In the Year 2525:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4D7L-PBmRc

[Stoid]

Okay guys, I bringing out the big guns now.

First off, Betty Lavette's album of covers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gyGFxkY9JY) of British rock is fantastic, which she was inspired to do after the praise she received for her absolutely brilliant rendition (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJi6maTueSc) of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxA3YRCnbao&feature=related) And it's clear that Townsend, Daltry and Streisand all agree. And if you aren't hip to Bettye, it's time.



But the topper has to be Chris Cornell doing Billie Jean. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xW25VB1Mpw) And really, to do it justice, you need to be able to crank it to get the full impact...

[Peanuthead]

Different? yes. Successful? Only in a purely white-bread Republican sort of way. Geesh.

Evil, I think you misinterpreted Biggirl's post. You came to the same conclusion. The only way for that song to be more whitebread would be an Andy Williams cover.
Jose Feliciano, however, did a fine job with it.

[Peanuthead]

Although the Young Rascals' Good Lovin' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrCEEDyXYjE&feature=related) is a fine piece of music, The Gilberto Sextet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21HN5NaOVzs)did a Latin Boogaloo style cover that makes it seem like they did the original and the Rascals covered them.

[Annie-Xmas]

Neil Sedanka's ballad version of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, a rework of his original uptempo version. Both versions made #1 on the charts.

[Drain Bead]

H2O's version of Like A Prayer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgrMwhyvEu4) is pretty kickass.

[WreckingCrew]

The White Stripes "Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" revving the paranoia up to 11.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA62cqAll34&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

[Enderw24]

I'm going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash's Hurt cover. I think it's far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail's version.

[Sitnam]

I'm going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash's Hurt cover. I think it's far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail's version.
Agreed, it's not only the melody but who it is singing it. You just know Johnny Cash has seen more pain than Trent Reznor can dream of.

'I wear this crown of thorns'....though...really Cash? That's not the line.

[Gray Ghost]

Beck's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66emFDgnvts) of Bowie's Diamond Dogs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36lWAcY9IXE). (Here for another Bowie live version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gsGY7nUlio).) I think Beck's cover is much truer in feel to the surrealistic source material (Samuel Delany's Dhalgren (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhalgren)) And it gets rid of the moronic genocide line from Bowie's most played performance.

[Frylock]

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's cover of Somewhere Over The Rainbow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I) is pretty different from the original, and very popular.

I love the Over The Rainbow part of that song. Then he segues into What A Wonderful World, though, and the whole thing is ruined. :(

Bishop Allen did a cover of Eve of Destruction that I like quite a bit. Granted, I wasn't really familiar with the original when I heard the cover.

[Frylock]

I'm going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash's Hurt cover. I think it's far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail's version.

Somewhere or other Reznor himself acknowledges that Cash's version is better. Can't find the cite, sorry...

[Unauthorized Cinnamon]

Disturbed's Down With The Sickness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk6kEZKlFa4) is a really effective, raw song.

Richard Cheese's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBOpk33VlSg), however, is spot-on perfect as the background music for the montage of mall life in the Dawn of the Dead remake.

Hank Williams is a legend and all, but I much prefer Fats Domino's Jambalaya (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgH7WIEImRA) to his.

[Stoid]

I'm going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash's Hurt cover. I think it's far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail's version.

Agreed, it's not only the melody but who it is singing it. You just know Johnny Cash has seen more pain than Trent Reznor can dream of.

'I wear this crown of thorns'....though...really Cash? That's not the line.

Somewhere or other Reznor himself acknowledges that Cash's version is better. Can't find the cite, sorry...

I was going to bring this up except that I don't think it's a radical re-interpretation, just an ass-kicking one.

The video cranks it to the next level, and his death not long after makes it one of the most perfect and moving elegies ever.

[Acorns...but not Bacon]

Goldfrapp's interpretation of Yes Sir I Can Boogie.

They turn a cheesy seventies disco tune (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygb0F-VCTPI) into a sexy, filthy and mature song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEp6MH_uLw8)

Also their interpretation of Let's Get Physical is also sleazy and better for it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w4EnuPMK9Q

[Bridget Burke]

The Carolina Chocolate Drops' cover of Hit 'em Up Style (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKTXJUYiAT4) is a tad bit different from Blu Cantrell's recording....

[cgg419]

Johnny Cash's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhEmwgzmMsM) of Rusty Cage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBZs_Py-1_0) by Soundgarden is pretty kick ass as well

[jackdavinci]

I really love the choral version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX_X8El-S1k) of "I saw the Sign" in the film Slackers, originally by Ace of Base (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5fRVm3k1aY).

There's a near-endless array of "white dudes covering hiphop songs as ballads" out there, but for my money, the best is Jonathan Coulton's "Baby Got Back.".

That is a good one. I also love:

50 Cent's Ayo Technology covered by Milow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE9IchvpOPk)

And of course Ben Fold's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSJxvi767kQ&feature=related) of "Bitches ain't shit" originally by Dr Dre (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KhUnu0T7G0).

I heard this version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vEStDd6HVY&feature=&p=FB2A700B1A28B590&index=0&playnext=1) of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" before I heard the original version. I didn't realize it was a cover of a Gaga song, I thought it was just a great song. I was very disappointed by the original version, which I thought the cover vastly improved on.

I'm kind of fond of a ukele version of Paparazzi,but I'mhaving trouble finding it.

Jesus Christ, Superstar

My favorite rendition of this album is the version with Indigo Girls and Big Fish Ensemble. In addition to having the lesbian duo play Mary and Jesus, it's the only version I've heard that really tries to rock it and make it sound great, whereas most other version are talk-singy or have mediocre singers.

I'm going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash's Hurt cover. I think it's far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail's version.

I kind of like his "Personal Jesus" cover too...

[jackdavinci]

I'm kind of fond of a ukele version of Paparazzi but I'm having trouble finding it.

Probably because it was actually Poker Face (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du0zS1CEiAs&feature=related) LOL.

Daughtry's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqT4VnnEU0M&feature=related) Poker Face is also a good soulful crooning reinterpretation.

Seem's like there are a ton of excellent reinterpretations of Take On Me. I particularly like Annie B Sweet's and ukebuckets'.

[Maiira]

Machinae Supremacy's cover of Gimme More (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGUqTa04Z6o).

[Shoeless]

Tom Waits does a downright creepy version of Heigh Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_zaZ3utUY)

[Shamozzle]

Agreed, it's not only the melody but who it is singing it. You just know Johnny Cash has seen more pain than Trent Reznor can dream of.

'I wear this crown of thorns'....though...really Cash? That's not the line.

Hold on now, can you really say that? The original is a work of pure genius and that kind of thing doesn't emerge from a vacuum.

The Cash cover with the video is runaway epic, though. The two versions are different enough that I can't say one is vastly superior to the other.

[Spoke]

Breakin' Up is Hard to Do (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbad22CKlB4&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=MLGxdCwVVULXcaYFMOb0qLyJvsT6dFNEH8) (Neil Sedaka 1962)

Breakin' Up Is Hard to Do (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hh--22Eu_M) (Neil Sedaka 1975)

Sedaka successfully reinterprets his up-tempo pop hit as a slow ballad.

[Caiata]

This cover of Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast is probably one of my favourites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OueweGTvps

And this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6RWZRgQwz8) cover of Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast, by Australian band Powderfinger, is one of my favourites :D

[Mister Rik]

I've posted this before, but I still love Bowling For Soup's take on Fergie's "London Bridge":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXbgSMT-0j4

[Gyrate]

The Flying Lizards deserve a mention for reinventing Money (That's What I Want) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=insVgcOVVDQ) into near unrecognizability. They also do a cover of James Brown's Sex Machine that is so deadpan it's hilarious.

In the same vein:How about Oops! I Did It Again, as done by Richard Thompson? How about the same song by Max Raabe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcDfL0t_L1M) (here presented over Britney's original video)? Raabe is a wonder - see also Sexbomb (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkTPoISU5z8&feature=fvsr).

[RTFirefly]

Dr. John's almost dirgelike rendition (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caRxAgYEnOU) of "When the Saints Go Marching In."

[Doug K.]

Beck's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66emFDgnvts) of Bowie's Diamond Dogs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36lWAcY9IXE). (Here for another Bowie live version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gsGY7nUlio).) I think Beck's cover is much truer in feel to the surrealistic source material (Samuel Delany's Dhalgren (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhalgren)) And it gets rid of the moronic genocide line from Bowie's most played performance.

Diamond Dogs was recorded in January 1974, and was inspired by Orwell's 1984. (The album has the songs "1984" and "Big Brother" on side 2.) Dhalgren was published in January 1975.

[lost4life]

People seemed to be mixed on this one, but I've always liked Chris Cornell doing Billie Jean (sorry, can't link at work).

Another group to check out is Marc Collins and Nouvelle Vague for great versions of 80's songs, like Killing Moon, Guns Of Brixton, Bela Lugosi, and Teenage Kicks. Some work better than others.

Also Goldfinger doing 99 Red Balloons is pretty cool, and Tanghetto's Blue Monday is worth checking out.

[Dogzilla]

Points to make before I make a potentially controversial and possibly flameworthy assertion.

1. I love covers. I love tracking covers back to the original and then putting all versions in chronological order in the same playlist. I really enjoy listening to how artists reinterpret other artists' work. I will acknowledge that some covers suck. In general, however, I love a good cover.

2. On another computer, I have quite a collection (with most of the music mentioned here included, assuming I like the song) of cover tunes and have been known to make genre-specific or decade-specific playlists of just cover songs. (Or songs with animals in the band names. I like theme playlists.) Point being, I'm all about my collection of cover tunes.

3. Here it goes. :: puts on fire-retardant suit ::

I really, really, really loved The Flaming Lips' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flaming_Lips_and_Stardeath_and_White_Dwarfs_with_Henry_Rollins_and_Peaches_Doing_The_Dark_Side_o f_the_Moon) version of Dark Side of the Moon. Yes, the entire album. Especially with Peaches and Henry Rollins on it. They reinterpreted a fine classic (which I still love and which still stands as a masterpiece on its own) and made it their own and made me love a piece of music all over again, for completely different reasons. This, IMO, is exactly what the OP is looking for: a radical, yet successful reinterpretation of a musical work.

There. I said it.

:: D & R ::

[Sitnam]

Bruce Springsteen turned his rock song Born In The USA into a haunting ballad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8TwMqpBeL4).

[Sitnam]

Hold on now, can you really say that? The original is a work of pure genius and that kind of thing doesn't emerge from a vacuum.

The Cash cover with the video is runaway epic, though. The two versions are different enough that I can't say one is vastly superior to the other.
I really like Trent, but theres an Emo quality (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nndb.com/people/534/000025459/trent-sm.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nndb.com/people/534/000025459/&usg=__bfkIFZSWLOVI3juaNnL2gvh7C9Q=&h=272&w=241&sz=13&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=10mLvaqOFdfirM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtrent%2Breznor%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1920%26bih%3D989%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=307&vpy=97&dur=603&hovh=217&hovw=192&tx=101&ty=130&ei=u5wkTabFFYynnAejjfEJ&oei=u5wkTabFFYynnAejjfEJ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=75&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0) about him that has always struck me as insincere. Given the length of his life and all that I know about him, yes, I think its fair to say Cash has seen a lot more pain than Reznor.

[Sitnam]

The White Stripes "Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" revving the paranoia up to 11.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA62cqAll34&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1
I love that song and had no idea it was a cover.

[digs]

50 Cent's Ayo Technology covered by Milow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE9IchvpOPk)

A college acapella group (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp_TBm3Gwq0) covered Lady Gaga's Bad Romance that I thought was pretty cool.

I'll see your one acapella Lady Gaga song, and raise you a Lady Gaga medley (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZfjfCDoWjw).

That was a surprise in the middle of THE highest-energy concert I've ever been to (well, except for a young Springsteen back in the 70s, but not even Bruce had the audience forming a conga line...)

But the fun thing about this was the way the lights went down, came back up, and all the girls had blonde wigs and big shades. The Ga-Ga Medley wasn't listed, and even their friends didn't know they were doing it. Fun.

Thought: Almost every acapella song is a reversioned cover, just because they HAVE to arrange it quite differently for No Instruments.

[WPA-Guy]

Take Me to the River - Al Green's Soul Classic
Take Me to the River - Talking Heads' New Wave Classic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_me_to_the_river

Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd #1 on the Soul Charts in 1966
Knock on Wood - Amii Stewart #1 on the Billboard Charts in 1979
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knock_on_Wood_(song)

And the Queen of Re-interpretation: Linda Ronstadt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Ronstadt_discography#Singles

[MegaBee]

I'm quite a fan of cover songs. Three I particularly enjoy that haven't been mentioned are Cake's cover of War Pigs, Marilyn Manson's cover of Tainted Love, and Bigod 20's cover of Like a Prayer. I'll also add to the love of Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt, which I actually prefer to the original.

[Stormcrow]

I always liked Alien Ant Farm's version of Smooth Criminal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDl9ZMfj6aE) but am not hip enough to understand the video.

It's pretty much all references to Michael Jackson videos, and other aspects of his life. The leaning thing, the sidewalk lighting up, blowing the windows out on the car, the monkey, and the guy at the end with Liz Taylor tatooed on his back. It all has to do with Michael

[Ximenean]

Does Madonna's "Ray of Light" count? Best thing she's ever done. It is a to say the least radical reinterpretation of Curtiss Maldoon's "Sepheryn (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyCURI6PiaI)"from 1971.

[Annie-Xmas]

The Beatles recorded the slow tempo Revolution 1 for the White Album, then the hard rock version for the B-side of Hey Jude.

[Bridget Burke]

Evil, I think you misinterpreted Biggirl's post. You came to the same conclusion. The only way for that song to be more whitebread would be an Andy Williams cover....


Nope. Pat Boone is the King of White Bread.

[Mister Rik]

I can't believe I forgot this one:

Rush's 1982 original version of Subdivisions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu9Ycq64Gy4).

Jacob Moon's 2008 one-man solo cover version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4vd9OVLO7Q).

He's using looping techniques to perform everything you hear, by himself, live. He also got to perform this for Rush themselves at Rush's induction into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame. They were suitably impressed.

[Mister Rik]

Oh yes, and this 11-year-old Japanese girl performing YYZ on an organ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XsYuHbXZUk) (look at her feet go on the pedals).

She also does Kansas' Carry On Wayward Son (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pS5xzOWbwo).

[Spoke]

Hayseed Dixie's whole career is based on re-interpreting AC/DC songs in hillbilly style, which they do amazingly well. Example:

You Shook Me All Night Long (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1LWOuFhal0)

[Chef Troy]

I see Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal has already been mentioned, so...

Enjoy the Silence

Depeche Mode's original (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diT3FvDHMyo)
Lacuna Coil's cover version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx58hXh4pVA)

[Infovore]

I like this classical take (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK2F2iBVOvo) on Lady Gaga's "Telephone."

[Biggirl]

It's pretty much all references to Michael Jackson videos, and other aspects of his life. The leaning thing, the sidewalk lighting up, blowing the windows out on the car, the monkey, and the guy at the end with Liz Taylor tatooed on his back. It all has to do with Michael

Ah ha! It wasn't that I wasn't hip, it was that I was dumb.

[newcomer]

I was looking at my CD collection and remembered one cover that I used to like (still do) -- Tin Machine - Working Class Hero (live) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHd8H0oqxLw)

I`m sure Mr. Lennon would approve of Mr. Bowie's version.

[Alka Seltzer]

How about Elbow's cover of Independant Woman (http://www.rathergood.com/independent_woman), here played by dancing kittens.

[Superdude]

Queensryche did a haunting cover of Simon and Garfunkle's "Scarborough Fair."

Counting Crows' cover of "Friend of the Devil" by the Grateful Dead was pretty good.

Ben Folds, Ben Lee and Ben Kweller did a great remake of NWA's "Bitches Ain't Shit."

And I like The Dan Band. Most people know them as the band that sang "Total Eclipse of the Heart" during the wedding scene in [i]Old School[/.] Youtube some of their stuff. It's great.

[fjs1fs]

I think it works best if you know the original ... more of a satire than a cover.

And who doesn't know the original?

[Greg Charles]

I love the Over The Rainbow part of that song. Then he segues into What A Wonderful World, though, and the whole thing is ruined. :(

That's a different version. He first did it as all "Over the Rainbow".

[SecretaryofEvil]

And of course Ben Fold's cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSJxvi767kQ&feature=related) of "Bitches ain't shit" originally by Dr Dre (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KhUnu0T7G0).






There's also an A Cappella version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjNNxnKVEpQ&feature=related


This is an awesome thread.

[SecretaryofEvil]

I was surprised to find out that the Johnny Cash song "I Hung My Head" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcmbFKstspk was actually a cover of a Sting song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udhZ9U4Q8-A. The songs have fairly different sounds to them.

[irritant]

Dylan's "Don't Think Twice it's All Right" as covered by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (as "Wonder Who") (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTeBkoOTChA)

Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" by The Specials (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igMMDzBKHyc)

[kevlaw]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Marvin Gaye's cover of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", originally done by Gladys Knight and the Pips. The original was outstanding in its own right, but Gaye took it to a whole new level.

Huh! I always assumed that Marvin's was first! I thought Gladys's "cover" was a bit cheeky after the sublime beauty of the "original".

[SecretaryofEvil]

Patti Smith did a cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit." It's fairly different from Cobain's. I think there's a banjo in there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvR-JBPhnxI

[Rrose Selavy]

Originally Posted by Peanuthead
I can't believe nobody has mentioned Marvin Gaye's cover of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", originally done by Gladys Knight and the Pips. The original was outstanding in its own right, but Gaye took it to a whole new level.




The Slits - I Heard it through the Grapvine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQxvo_9DEqY




Smooth Criminal Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlVbEclPj4c

[Evil Captor]

And who doesn't know the original?

My point was that if you had to know the original to appreciate it, it wasn't really a success in its own right.

[Evil Captor]

There's also an A Cappella version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjNNxnKVEpQ&feature=related


This is an awesome thread.

Yes, it was brilliant of me to start it, of course, I had help from a few posters here and there ... I'd like to thank all the little people that made this thread possible!

[Annie-Xmas]

Yannick's Ces soirees la (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAPzTFlVUN0), a French cover the the Four Season's "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night") And I don't particularly like rap.

[Biggirl]

I posted this in another thread a while ago and thought to put it in this one, but this thread had fallen off the first page. But here it is again so-- Billy Stewart's Summertime. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giIN7u4mBVc)

The fancy mic work cracks me up.

[Evil Captor]

Dylan's "Don't Think Twice it's All Right" as covered by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (as "Wonder Who") (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTeBkoOTChA)

I'll give you "radical" but I don't know that it's an improvement. The more souped-up arrangments and styling kind of detract from the soulful tone of the original, IMHO.

Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" by The Specials (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igMMDzBKHyc)

Also not an improvement. The tone is all wrong. There's some serious rebellion and anger in the original song, and some intelligent analysis too. Not seeing a lot of that in this version. I'm thinking it's another song that could be improved by a driving blues beat and a rough bass male vocalist ... kind of Howling Wolf-ish ... the lyrics sure sound like an old-time blues tune.

[justrob]

I've always liked Dire Straights Romeo and Juliet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tim4VzHUUyQ&feature=related) but really liked the Indigo Girls cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0bmHO4Qi7Y).

I don't know if it will have been succesful enough to pass Evil Captor's scrutiny but the way they make it a softer, almost timid at times, song really works for it. (I still love the original as well though.)

[Malthus]

I can't believe I forgot this one:

Rush's 1982 original version of Subdivisions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu9Ycq64Gy4).

Jacob Moon's 2008 one-man solo cover version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4vd9OVLO7Q).

He's using looping techniques to perform everything you hear, by himself, live. He also got to perform this for Rush themselves at Rush's induction into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame. They were suitably impressed.

That is indeed awesome. :)

[SecretaryofEvil]

I just thought of another example. "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," by Lynn Anderson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvyramcYAfQ, and the punk cover by Suicide Machine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu1sL2gk7Eo

I hope this bump rejuvenates this thread for a little while.

[Snowboarder Bo]

How about "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by Devo? Turns the Stones version on its head.

The Residents dropped that song on it's head (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpQU68U92wU).

And Laibach did the same with Sympathy For The Devil (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E-OsFSr5h8).

[Snowboarder Bo]

Does Madonna's "Ray of Light" count? Best thing she's ever done. It is a to say the least radical reinterpretation of Curtiss Maldoon's "Sepheryn (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyCURI6PiaI)"from 1971.

I prefer my version (http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=128884&t=4342). I also prefer my version of Deeper & Deeper (http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=129295&t=2792).

[Biggirl]

Al Green took How Do You Mend A Broken Heart to church (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sr-3VwUWS0) and improved it a million-fold.

[Superdude]

As much as I hate to admit it, I love Garth Brooks' cover of "Hard Luck Woman," originally by KISS.

And I love the Richard Cheese, swing versions of other artists' songs.

[Kamino Neko]

Hayseed Dixie's whole career is based on re-interpreting AC/DC songs in hillbilly style, which they do amazingly well. Example:

You Shook Me All Night Long (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1LWOuFhal0)

On a similar note, the Wurzels - a band from Somerset, England, who are probably most famous for Combine Harvester (a parody of Brand New Key), did 2 albums of covers of popular songs (2001's Never Mind the Bullocks, 'Ere's the Wurzels - which sadly, did not include any Sex Pistols songs - and 2011's Loads More Bullocks). For the most part, they're pretty successful. In one case - their cover of Oasis's Don't Look Back in Anger (http://youtu.be/TWXIs2ylLq8) - they actually improved the damn song.

[Biggirl]

Oh wait-- I just Ctl-F this thread and didn't find Pomplamoose? They've got a whole mp3 album of covers but in my estimation, the biggest improvement from the original is their cover of Lady Gaga's Telephone. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vEStDd6HVY)

Their cover of Single Ladies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIr8-f2OWhs) is also better than the original. Especially the "don't make me sing this part of the song" lyric improvement.

[Kamino Neko]

I like Pomplamoose quite a bit, but cannot imagine an artist with less on-screen charisma than the woman. She's kind of pretty (despite looking vaguely like Michael Cera), but good LORD, every shot of her has that wide-eyed 'where the hell am I?' look, unless she's got her head down while playing.

[Biggirl]

I think she's kinda cute. In an interview the guy (he is her boyfriend) said that when he first talked about making music together, she didn't seem very excited about it, then he said, "I found out Nataly doesn't get very excited about anything."

[Larry Mudd]

I like Pomplamoose quite a bit, but cannot imagine an artist with less on-screen charisma than the woman. She's kind of pretty (despite looking vaguely like Michael Cera), but good LORD, every shot of her has that wide-eyed 'where the hell am I?' look, unless she's got her head down while playing.That look (like every other attibute of Ms. Natalie Knutsen) is incredibly attractive. Rawr.

[EvilTOJ]

I didn't even realize J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers - Last Kiss was about a fatal car crash until I heard Pearl Jam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0B-hJ_gotc) cover it. It's just so cheery in the original if you're not paying attention to the lyrics. :(

[Kamino Neko]

I think she's kinda cute.

Sure, she's cute...just...not much else that comes through in the videos (aside from being a very good musician).

In an interview the guy (he is her boyfriend) said that when he first talked about making music together, she didn't seem very excited about it, then he said, "I found out Nataly doesn't get very excited about anything."

... Poor fellow. :eek:

[Lord Ashtar]

I'm not a huge Outkast fan, but I came across this acoustic cover of Hey Ya (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8nkkOA_AM) by Obadiah Parker that I think is just terrific. It really opens up a side of the song I'd never noticed before.

[johnpost]

Jeff Beck and Grateful Dead early on did Morning Dew. it became one of the Dead's best known tunes.

these might be referred to as adaptations

Jeff Beck and SRC did Bolero

SRC did In the Hall of the King

the Grateful Dead adapted and covered much rock, folk, ballads and blues. dozens of numbers done in their style.

[Derleth]

Thea Gilmore's version of "Ever Fallen in Love" by the Buzzcocks turns an uptempo power pop dance tune into the kind of sad, slow, introspective song you could imagine someone who's fallen for the wrong person might sing.

Also, "White Room" by Joel Grey (originally by Cream) (yes, from the first Golden Throats compilation) turns the song into a very strange lounge piece, vaguely reminiscent of something you might find in a David Lynch movie. It might not be to everyone's taste, but it's good in a completely different way from, say, the William Shatner rendition of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" or the William Shatner rendition of "Mr. Tambourine Man", both of which are also on the album.

[mr. jp]

In one case - their cover of Oasis's Don't Look Back in Anger (http://youtu.be/TWXIs2ylLq8) - they actually improved the damn song.

No.

[Dman222]

The Sundays singing "Wild Horses". Hauntingly beautiful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT69sPIGCaI

[Derleth]

May as well add video links:

The Buzzcocks - "Ever Fallen in Love" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bif2q_Zo3-4&feature=related)
Thea Gilmore - "Ever Fallen in Love" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHD1ZVr_7oo)

Cream - "White Room" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vylPdd3mT0k&feature=related)
Joel "The Creepy Emcee from Cabaret" Grey - "White Room" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE91rEmsTeU)

[mr. jp]

Beseech - Gimme Gimme Gimme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn93UwAYpow) (Abba Cover)

[Lord Ashtar]

The Sundays singing "Wild Horses". Hauntingly beautiful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT69sPIGCaI

I thought this was the original. Who are they covering?

[mr. jp]

I thought this was the original. Who are they covering?

Rolling Stones

[Dahnlor]

Black metal version of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" by Graveworm (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lCskweXHSg)

[Lord Ashtar]

Rolling Stones

Ah, that's why I didn't recognize it. Not really a Stones fan.

[eno801]

i kinda prefer Boss Hoss's version of Hey Yeah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQVWXAlEUB8&feature=related

[medicated]

I'd have to vote for three, and in no particular order:

"Bring the Pain" - Mindless Self Indulgence, originally by Method Man

"Get Down Make Love" - Nine Inch Nails, originally by Queen, and

"The Fiddle And The Drum" - A Perfect Circle, originally by Joni Mitchell.

All three are very, very different in genre compared to the original. And they work.

[JessMagic]

Wonderwall (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzZhtrsbJzs) by Ryan Adams is head and shoulders above the original Oasis version if you ask me.

Mike Flowers Pops did a successful re-invention of said Oasis standard back in 1995:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy1ueZf1WMQ

Beaten to the UK number one by Earth Song? There is no God.

Worth a watch, if only to check out that barnet...

[Great thread BTW]

[Scumpup]

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain's tinpan alley-styled cover of Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmBaE7ozWow)

[Spoke]

How about a country cover of Raspberry Beret (by the Derailers) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbzKQLEQ3Cg)?

[StusBlues]

Mike Flowers Pops did a successful re-invention of said Oasis standard back in 1995:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy1ueZf1WMQ



I'd always wondered what that was. I flipped by the video one time and couldn't figure out the rhyme or reason. Thanks for pointing it out.

[SecretaryofEvil]

I liked the cover of "I want to hold your hand," from the film Across the Universe. I like the use of a female vocalist, and I like that they slowed it down and turned it from a happy little song into a song of longing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DaNQ3Fze-c

[Mister Rik]

That reminds me of this Australian Beatles tribute band, The Beatnix, performing Stairway to Heaven as done by the 1962-64 Beatles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfoccRna6I

[moldmonkey]

I didn't see Marianne Faithfuls version of Working Class Hero yet.

here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N_rNz2oAGA&feature=related)

[SecretaryofEvil]

Zombie music thread anyone?

Scala & Kolacny Brothers is a Belgian girls' choir that cover rock and pop songs.

Their cover of Teenage Dirt Bag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ENUFuv7yPA

There's dozens of other covers done by them that you can link to from that video.

[Roseanne Valerie]

Sinead O'Connor's 90's hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" is actually a cover of a Prince song (not a single, just album fodder).

I've heard the Prince version once - it's...boppy is probably the best way to describe it. Sinead's version blows it out of the water.

You mean this version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LBc7-v5exY)? This was actually the first version released to the general public. Good album it came from, too.

Nevertheless, I agree that Sinead's is the absolute best version, by a country mile.

[Fourtyfold]

The Isham Jones version of Stardust (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWQit9LHk3I) is a good example. Hoagy Carmichael wrote the the original (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy1ueZf1WMQ) (and gets all the credit these days), but it was Jones's version that really made the song famous.

[Biggirl]

Just heard this on the radio and was reminded of this thread. Isley Brother's Summer Breeze. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T88fbHOmvRk)

I think they're almost all dead. Maybe one or two Isleys left.

[LawMonkey]

DeVotchKa's cover of Venus in Furs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVPbykzzNFE)is a fairly radical departure from the original, and I'd say that I prefer it to the original.

(The above link is a live version; I recall it being pretty damn good, but I can't actually listen right now. So, here's the studio (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4CQEruH1JQ) as well.)

[Clawdio]

I don't think anyone has mentioned the Blanks covering Somewhere over the rainbow as an acapella group.

Also, back in the late 90's / early 2000's Barenaked ladies used to do an accoustic version of Prince's "When doves cry" on tour that i thought was pretty awesome. Not sure if you can find it on the internet but i can't really search while i'm at work.

[StrangeBird]

For any Aussie Dopers out there, Boy and Bear did a cover of Crowded House's Fall at You Feet which I really like, and which seems to have been generally well received:

You can hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJwjKL2dxXo

[otternell]

I'd have to vote for three, and in no particular order:

"Bring the Pain" - Mindless Self Indulgence, originally by Method Man

"Get Down Make Love" - Nine Inch Nails, originally by Queen, and

"The Fiddle And The Drum" - A Perfect Circle, originally by Joni Mitchell.

All three are very, very different in genre compared to the original. And they work.

amazing - I was just thinking APC when I came in here! You can almost add that entire album - their reinterpretation of When the Levee Breaks is just wonderful.

[The Unexpected Okapi Debacle]

What about Klaus Nomi's version of "The Twist"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBLKUvyIR0o

[Koxinga]

There's a near-endless array of "white dudes covering hiphop songs as ballads" out there, but for my money, the best is Jonathan Coulton's "Baby Got Back."

You can't get much whiter than Gilbert and Sullivan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkJdEFf_Qg4).

[vivalostwages]

Ryan Adams' version of Oasis's "Wonderwall" is hauntingly elegant. Or elegantly haunting. I much prefer it to the original.

[gatorslap]

"Satisfaction" was mentioned already, but Devo has done quite a few covers that fit.

Secret Agent Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utyDw4rvli8)
Working in the Coal Mine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WRjgv62Ayc)
Are You Experienced? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW4pmgYaBIw&t=03m05s)
Don't Be Cruel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNFV8LgxbvM&t=03m25s)
Morning Dew (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCZM1NnbVfE)
Head Like A Hole (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2M9jaulods)

[Koxinga]

"Satisfaction" was mentioned already, but Devo has done quite a few covers that fit.

Secret Agent Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utyDw4rvli8)
Working in the Coal Mine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WRjgv62Ayc)
Are You Experienced? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW4pmgYaBIw&t=03m05s)
Don't Be Cruel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNFV8LgxbvM&t=03m25s)
Morning Dew (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCZM1NnbVfE)
Head Like A Hole (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2M9jaulods)

I dunno, taking a handful of random songs and making each one of them sound like exactly the same indistinguishable Devo . . . thing . . . brings to mind the quote "people who like this sort of thing will find this to be the sort of thing that they like."

[jjimm]

I've always been partial to Caligula's 90s rock version of Tears of a Clown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwZb4050Ntg&t=2m20s). The singer is a bit of a lame-ass and does not emote like the original, but I absolutely love the instrumentation and production on the guitars.

[boomerwang]

U2's take on "Night and Day" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkwXYd0zssI)

Sonata Arctica's version of "Wind Beneath my Wings" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5pY-_e8znE)

[aerodave]

I had some ideas when I started reading the thread. They were pretty much all taken by now. So I give you A Static Lullaby's "Toxic" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xwXOj55nIY)

[SecretaryofEvil]

Sonata Arctica's version of "Wind Beneath my Wings" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5pY-_e8znE)

I got a kick out of this one.

[jz78817]

I came in to mention A Perfect Circle. I rather like their take on "Imagine." They didn't change a word of the song yet managed to change the meaning entirely. Lennon's original version had a hopeful, anticipating mood while the APC version is dark and depressing.

Lennon was saying "Imagine how great the world will be once we get past all of this BS."
APC was saying "we're imagining a world that will never exist."

[etv78]

Zombie music thread anyone?

Scala & Kolacny Brothers is a Belgian girls' choir that cover rock and pop songs.

Their cover of Teenage Dirt Bag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ENUFuv7yPA

There's dozens of other covers done by them that you can link to from that video.

You consider this thread a zombie? :dubious: Go back to page 3, and it's still this calendar year.

[Evil Captor]

Every couple of weeks someone comes along and posts about a song they think reinterpreted the original in a radical and successful way, that tends to inspire a few other posts, and then it goes to sleep for a few days or a couple of weeks, but it's never really died.

[Biggirl]

Hey, it was only 7 days since the last post that I brought it back up. That's not a zombie. Anyways, why re-invent the wheel?

[SecretaryofEvil]

Hey, it was only 7 days since the last post that I brought it back up. That's not a zombie. Anyways, why re-invent the wheel?

They were addressing me. I called it a zombie when I posted in it about a week before you did. I posted in a thread that had been inactive for 3 months. I did not know that zombie apparently has an official connotation, and does not mean any thread that has been inactive for a little while.

[MadTheSwine]

How about a country cover of Raspberry Beret (by the Derailers) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbzKQLEQ3Cg)?

I thought of this song 1st,but by the Hindu Love Gods,Warren Zevon and most of REM.

I haven't read the entire thread but how about Pat Boone covering Nirvana?

[Sir Prize]

I not sure how I feel about Ofra Haza's cover of Kashmir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu5Cgb6Yy4Y&feature=related)

[DragonAsh]

I hate David Bowie, so didn't even realize at first that it was a cover, but I mucho prefer The Wallflower's version of Heroes.

I like both Sheryl Crow's version of 'First Cut (is the Deepest) as well as Rod Stewart's version (although IIRC there were also some earlier versions? Didn't Cat Stevens do it originally?)

I heard a rock version of Chapin's Cat's in the Cradle a few years back that was absolutely horrible.

[Mister Rik]

How did I forget Holyhell's version of Phantom of the Opera?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkkHp26w9no

(featuring Eric Adams of Manowar)

[gone2thedogs]

i kinda prefer Boss Hoss's version of Hey Yeah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQVWXAlEUB8&feature=related

for me, Circle Jerks - Golden Showers of Greatest Hits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSwr6Eso6X4

[Charleythejanitor]

Sorry to the tech geeks that I don't know how to put a link to this on here but you have to check out the Richard Cheese cover of Welcome to the Jungle I think he's great.

Another one I like is Natalie Merchant covering David Bowie s Space Oddity and yet another is the Fugees doing Stand By Me..I love that.

[astro]

Señor Coconut brings it home

We are the robots - Señor Coconut (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu97bMTFB18&feature=related)

[Gary "Wombat" Robson]

You consider this thread a zombie? :dubious: Go back to page 3, and it's still this calendar year.I can't go back to page 3 when the thread is still on page 2! :D

Remember that everyone can change their posts per page on the User CP. Post #401 could be on anything from page 3 to page 81 (you can view anywhere from 5 to 200 posts per page). If you want to guide someone to a particular part of a thread, you need to do it by post number, not page number.

[SecretaryofEvil]

This youtube guy covered the duet "My eyes," from Dr. Horrible and replaced the vocals with violins. I thought it was kind of neat, but I am after all a shameless Whedonite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqbv6-nKlVQ

Oh, I guess I'll include a link to the original too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDbAgPmqRw0

[janis_and_c0]

I think Reba McEntire's version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYVKQW-RORs)of the Everly Brother's Cathy's Clown was an interesting take on the original, by changing the song from 1st to 3rd person. It's subtle, but it completely changes the song.

[GreenElf]

"My Favorite Things" John Coltrane

[Evil Captor]

I think Reba McEntire's version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYVKQW-RORs)of the Everly Brother's Cathy's Clown was an interesting take on the original, by changing the song from 1st to 3rd person. It's subtle, but it completely changes the song.

Damn, you're right, the third person switch completely alters the meaning of the song. Simple and effective.

[SecretaryofEvil]

These two girls put a country spin on Fun's song "Some Nights." I saw the video and thought of this thread.

Original
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92XD7d-tqRg

Cover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-JFNzw0zPE

[gatorslap]

Tricky's cover of "Dear God" by XTC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZzvugyaR3Y