# Are any remakes better than the original song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737 "2003-05-02T22:57:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/1 "2003-05-02T22:57:18Z")
sometimes… check out the stereophonics(welsh group) version of roberta flacks classic first time ever i saw your face…they do it justice ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/2 "2003-05-02T23:00:56Z")
“Hallelujah.” Written and first performed by Leonard Cohen, far surpassed by Jeff Buckley. “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” Done right by The Band, done better by Joan Baez. This topic was also a recent Cafe Society thread: [Cover songs that are better than the originals](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=167329) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/3 "2003-05-02T23:05:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Delly \* > \*\*sometimes… > check out the stereophonics(welsh group) version of roberta flacks classic first time ever i saw your face…they do it justice \*\* Err…you mean Roberta Flack’s cover of **Ewan MacColl’s** “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/4 "2003-05-02T23:08:54Z")
All Along the Watchtower. Nothing wrong with Dylan’s version, but even he preferred Jimi Hendrix’s take. ---
**Author:** ![Dana27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dana27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dana27)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/5 "2003-05-02T23:10:08Z")
I have a Hendrix CD where he recorded a live version of Dylan’s Like A Rollin’ Stone (at least I think it was Dylan, yes I’m pretty sure that’s right). It is far superior to any other version I’ve heard. But then again I really like Hendrix. Not surprisingly I also like his version of Hey Joe better than any other version I’ve heard although I am unsure who did the original. ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/6 "2003-05-02T23:13:20Z")
yep didnt know it was a cover… oh no whatever shall i _do_?! ive shown my ignorance damnit and i wanted it to be a secret 😛 ---
**Author:** ![flybynight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@flybynight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flybynight)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/7 "2003-05-02T23:14:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dana27 \* > **I have a Hendrix CD where he recorded a live version of Dylan’s Like A Rollin’ Stone (at least I think it was Dylan, yes I’m pretty sure that’s right). It is far superior to any other version I’ve heard. But then again I really like Hendrix.** I came here to post that exact same song! I love that cover. “Yeah, I know I missed a verse, but it’s still good…” Gotta love live 60’s music 😉 I’ll add that I like many punk covers of pop songs much better than the originals (there are too many by too many bands to list though). ---
**Author:** ![jkusters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jkusters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkusters)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/8 "2003-05-02T23:22:16Z")
My favorite cover is Lick the Tins’ version of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” on the “Some Kind of Wonderful” soundtrack. Much more upbeat and happy, with a happy tin whistle. JOhn. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/9 "2003-05-02T23:27:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Delly \* > \*\*yep didnt know it was a cover… > oh no whatever shall i _do_?! > \*\* Aw, I was just being a nitpicker! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_John\_of\_Babylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr\_John\_of\_Babylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_John_of_Babylon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/10 "2003-05-02T23:30:26Z")
I think Loudon Wainwright III’s version of “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” is superior to The Robins’ original. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/11 "2003-05-02T23:32:18Z")
I almost missed it… April’s over, it’s a new month, so we can have a new best cover songs thread. ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/12 "2003-05-02T23:41:00Z")
Every Dylan song covered by practically anyone else, especially the Grateful Dead ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/13 "2003-05-02T23:41:06Z")
Pretty much any cover of a Dylan song\*. While I greatly admire Dylan’s songwriting abilities, I don’t think that much of his singing. \*With the exception of the Stone’s cover of “Like a Rolling Stone” from a few years back, which sucked more than wee Sucky McSuck of the clan McSuck. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/14 "2003-05-02T23:58:37Z")
**Tori Amos** ’ version of _Smells like Teen Spirit_. Off to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/15 "2003-05-03T00:04:43Z")
Biffy~ just messin around, lol ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/16 "2003-05-03T00:23:22Z")
A few ideas: Johnny Cash’s cover of NIN’s “Hurt” Arlo Guthrie’s cover of Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans” Stevie Ray’s version of “Little Wing” may just top Hendrix Pixies’s take on Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Head On” Husker Dü’s cover of The Byrds’s “Eight Miles High” Maybe Nirvana’s cover or The Vaselines’ “Son of a Gun,” though I must say I like the character of The Vaselines version. Another maybe is Aretha Franklin’s take on Otis Redding’s “Respect.” Depends on my mood, though. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/17 "2003-05-03T00:29:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\ ***Tori Amos** ’ version of _Smells like Teen Spirit_. Off to Cafe Society. \*\* :eek: Uhm…errrrr…ohhhh…Uhmmmmm…You’re serious???:eek: Well anyway, I’ll have to vote for two. The **Beach Boy’s** version of **California Dreamin’** was much better than **The Mama’s and the Papa’s** (Sorry M&P fans). And **Orgy’s** cover of **New Order** ’s **Blue Monday** ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/18 "2003-05-03T01:42:02Z")
Cough cough, this so obvious - John Coltrane’s cover of My Favorite Things. I don’t even consider it an R&H song. Santana’s version of Black Magic Woman (combined with Gypsy Queen, also a cover). I prefer Jimi’s version of Little Wing, but there’s much to be said for the SRV version. It’s not really totally settled who wrote Hey Joe. The first guy to do it slow, the way Hendrix would do it, was named Tim Rose. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/19 "2003-05-03T01:49:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Johnny Cash’s cover of NIN’s “Hurt” I agree. NIN’s version was just another song on the local “alternative” station. Cash’s version was extremely poignant. I like _Hazy Shade of Winter_ by The Bangles better than Simon & Garfunkel’s version. Ditto No Doubt’s version of _Oi to the World_ vs. The Vandals’s original version. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737/20 "2003-05-03T01:56:26Z")
I like UB40’s version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” better than Elvis’s. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-remakes-better-than-the-original-song/172737.md?page=2)