# And the absolute worst cover ever done to any hit song by professional entertainers is... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 2, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364 "2010-09-02T08:54:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/41 "2010-09-02T20:20:44Z")
It’s a pity that the Lawrence Welk Show went off the air before rap. I can so easily imagine two middle aged dancers broadly smiling and playfully shoving each other while singing an accordian fueled mashup of “Get back motherfucker! You don’t know me like that!” before going through the audience singing “Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/42 "2010-09-02T20:30:02Z")
How about an accordion rendition of _I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie_? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/43 "2010-09-02T20:32:40Z")
The two worst I’ve ever encountered: The Frank Sinatra version of “Mrs. Robinson”. First, he tried to make it sound upbeat and cheerful, and then he somehow managed to edit out the references to Jesus (I can’t remember what he replaced them with). Wayne Newton doing “Gangster Paradise”. It was some sort of New Year’s Eve thing in Las Vegas, and he was doing covers of all of the big musical hits of the year. I don’t think I even need to explain why it was awful. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/44 "2010-09-02T20:42:47Z")
To get a sense of perspective, click on the Wilson Pickett _Live 66_ link in **Sampiro** ’s link. Nina Simone can do no wrong. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/45 "2010-09-02T20:43:50Z")
How about [“Unforgettable”](http://www.hostropolis.com/april/mp3/Difranco_Chan.mp3) as sung by Ani DiFranco and _Jackie Chan_? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/46 "2010-09-02T20:52:59Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > It’s a pity that the Lawrence Welk Show went off the air before rap. I can so easily imagine two middle aged dancers broadly smiling and playfully shoving each other while singing an accordian fueled mashup of “Get back motherfucker! You don’t know me like that!” before going through the audience singing “Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?” You need you some [Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine](http://www.amazon.com/Tuxicity-Richard-Cheese-Against-Machine/dp/B00008RH8V/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1283460494&sr=1-3). Seriously. It’s killer shit. Dick Cheese doing [Baby Got Back.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCv2cgIlnHA) Probably NSFW. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/47 "2010-09-02T20:56:48Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Wayne Newton doing “Gangster Paradise”. It was some sort of New Year’s Eve thing in Las Vegas, and he was doing covers of all of the big musical hits of the year. I don’t think I even need to explain why it was awful. [/QUOTE] Now that is intriguing to imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/48 "2010-09-02T21:08:21Z")
Another Floyd cover that had me retching was used in the movie _Class of '99_. A supergroup of various Seattle grunge artists performed _Another Brick in the Wall_ for the soundtrack. The cover itself isn’t so bad, but when they get to the chorus where the school children pipe in, it’s all nice and lovely and charming voices singing along, not angry and scary voices like the original’s. It’s like topping a gun with whipped cream before putting it in your mouth to make suicide taste better. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISoH0oh7XLo) ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/49 "2010-09-02T21:19:08Z")
> [@Cazzle](#): > > > [@multimediac17](#): > > > > Can I ask, not agreeing or disagreeing with you, what is so bad about the All Saints version of Under The Bridge to make it the worst cover ever by a professional artist? > > I guess if you can listen to it and still ask that question then I can probably never explain it to you. I knew I’d get an answer like that. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/50 "2010-09-02T21:20:05Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > It’s like topping a gun with whipped cream before putting it in your mouth to make suicide taste better. Mmm, pistol whip. Anybody remember _Dueling Tubas_? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/51 "2010-09-02T22:02:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Anybody remember Dueling Tubas? No, but now I want to. There’s no way that could possibly be bad. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/52 "2010-09-02T22:03:51Z")
I cannot listen to the Five Finger Death Punch cover of Bad Company. I love FFDP, but they seriously f’ed up one of my favorite songs. I pretty much exclusively listen to Octane on XM, and I have to change stations when it comes on. :shudder: Since they play it so much I’m certain I’m alone in my loathing. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/53 "2010-09-03T01:40:19Z")
This thread had so frightened me that I haven’t clicked on a single link. The descriptions alone will give me nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/54 "2010-09-03T01:55:43Z")
[Brady Bunch covers “American Pie”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMblLwWNA30) Although this isn’t as bad, it’s still regrettable in many ways. [Nickelback cover “Love Will Keep Us Together” (yes the Captain and Tenille song)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn8gXSnPeXk) ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/55 "2010-09-03T02:42:04Z")
[Duran Duran covers Public Enemy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3EGljZ-N_Y&feature=related). 'nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/56 "2010-09-03T03:23:21Z")
[_Stairway to Heaven_ by Rolf Harris](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPOIy4Kb9M4) usually comes up. But it was deliberately intended as an absurd blend of performer and song. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/57 "2010-09-03T03:53:20Z")
[Crispin Glover covering Nancy Sinatra.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoP_hM_nUc) ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/58 "2010-09-03T04:02:12Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > > > It’s like topping a gun with whipped cream before putting it in your mouth to make suicide taste better. > > Mmm, pistol whip. > > Anybody remember _Dueling Tubas_? You’re telling me you _don’t_ like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojqrd7FeXmg)? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/59 "2010-09-03T11:41:37Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > [Duran Duran covers Public Enemy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3EGljZ-N_Y&feature=related). > > 'nuff said. You obviously meant to post this in the “Most Awesomest Things EVER” thread. ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364/60 "2010-09-03T11:45:13Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I’m going to say anything by Pat Boone. Ah, that _In a Metal Mood_ album. Back in the time, I used that album (which I borrowed from the public library, I’m not brainless enough to buy it) to haze new members of our heavy-metal posse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-absolute-worst-cover-ever-done-to-any-hit-song-by-professional-entertainers-is/552364.md?page=4)