# Best Cover Songs
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 22, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478 "2004-04-22T18:44:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/1 "2004-04-22T18:44:03Z")
Yeah I know - most cover songs are abominations, especially to die-hard fans of the original artists (I’m yet to hear a decent Smiths cover), but there are a few out there that I much like better than the original. Some that spring to mind:
**The Bluest Eyes in Texas** by Nina Persson (of the Cardigans), originally by Restless Heart, I think.
**Don’t Dream It’s Over** by Sixpence None The Richer, originally by Crowded House.
**More Than This** by the 10,000 Maniacs, originally by Roxy Music.
**Say a Little Prayer for You** by Gene, performed live. Originally by Aretha Franklin IIRC.
So, what are your favorites?
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/2 "2004-04-22T19:12:51Z")
Van Halen’s cover of Roy Orbison’s _Pretty Woman_
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### Author:  [@Yuki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yuki)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/3 "2004-04-22T19:17:15Z")
**Boys of Summer** by the Ataris 😃
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### Author:  [@jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jehan)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/4 "2004-04-22T19:28:11Z")
The BareNaked Ladies cover of Bruce Cockburn’s “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/5 "2004-04-22T19:30:25Z")
I won’t count popular standards, since there’s no real “first” version.
Bonzo Dog Band’s version of “Monster Mash” – Truly finds the insanity hidden in the song.
Joe Cocker’s “The Letter” and “Little Help from My Friends”
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### Author:  [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/6 "2004-04-22T19:31:41Z")
Anything by [Me First and the Gimme Gimmes](http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70404081250022503&sql=Bz85g8qmnbtb4) is golden by me.
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### Author:  [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/7 "2004-04-22T19:42:48Z")
The Clash’s version of “I Fought the Law”
Nirvana’s “Do You Love Me?”
Michael Bolton’s “Sitting on the Dock the Bay”
Guess which one I’m kidding about? I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised
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### Author:  [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/8 "2004-04-22T19:45:12Z")
Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy’s cover of the Dead Kennedys song **California Uber Alles**
Sonic Youth’s cover of Neil Young’s song **Computer Age**
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### Author:  [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/9 "2004-04-22T20:09:35Z")
Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” (orig by Jackie DeShannon)
The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Higher Ground” (orig by Stevie Wonder)
The Pointer Sisters’ “Fire” (orig recorded by Robert Gordon, written by Bruce Springsteen)
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### Author:  [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/10 "2004-04-22T20:11:08Z")
**Jimi Hendrix** ’s cover of **Bob Dylan** ’s _All Along The Watchtower_… there are none greater…
**Fozzy** ’s cover of **Iron Maiden** ’s _The Prisoner_ is pretty good too.
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### Author:  [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/11 "2004-04-22T20:21:13Z")
I really liked the Smashing Pumpkins’ cover of Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nick’s “Landslide”, but that may just because it’s a damn good song.
Also, in the movie “Walking Tall” there was a cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday”. I have no idea who it’s by though. It sounded _really_ nice.
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### Author:  [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/12 "2004-04-22T20:31:10Z")
Dead Kennedys - Viva Las Vegas (Elvis)
Sonic Youth - Superstar (The Carpenters)
Camper Van Beethoven - Pictures of Matchstick Men (Status Quo)
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Urge Overkill - Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
Talking Heads - Take Me to the River (Al Green)
Devo - Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones)
Camper Van Beethoven - Wasted (Black Flag)
This Mortal Coil - You and Your Sister (Chris Bell)
Nirvana - The Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie)
The Clash - Police and Thieves (Junior Murvin)
The Clash - I Fought the Law (The Bobby Fuller Four)
**Slacker** , the best version of “More Than This” is a live one by Robyn Hitchcock. He does a good live version of “The Ghost in You” (The Psychedelic Furs) as well.
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### Author:  [@Severian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Severian)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/13 "2004-04-22T20:31:50Z")
I like Metallica’s version of _Turn the Page_ better than Bob Seger’s.
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### Author:  [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/14 "2004-04-22T20:36:41Z")
DEVO’s cover of _I Can’t Get No Satisfaction_.
Marilyn Manson’s cover of _Tainted Love_ (love the original as well)
And any cover by _Lounge Against The Machine_
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### Author:  [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/15 "2004-04-22T21:31:38Z")
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band cover of _Blinded by the Light_ by Bruce Springsteen.
Oh yeah… Fozzy is a HUGE rock star! 🆒
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### Author:  [@Riqay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riqay)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/16 "2004-04-22T21:53:36Z")
Keb’ Mo’ did a great cover of “Big Yellow Taxi” on the album “Big Wide Grin.”
I’ve always been partial to John Mellencamp’s cover of The Drifters’ “Under the Boardwalk.” Also, George Benson’s cover of their “On Broadway.”
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### Author:  [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/17 "2004-04-22T22:20:57Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s the Butthole Surfers that have a killer version of “Hurdy Gurdy Man” originally done by Donavan.
And that’s saying something, considering Led Zepplin, minus Robert Plant played on the original.
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### Author:  [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/18 "2004-04-22T22:23:35Z")
Apocalyptica’s version of _Unforgiven_ by Metallica. No singing! 😃
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/19 "2004-04-22T22:40:08Z")
Ditto “Blinded by the Light”.
“Behind the Lines” - Phil Collins covers his own Genesis tune with a much faster tempo
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### Author:  [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/241478/20 "2004-04-22T22:41:41Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Also, in the movie “Walking Tall” there was a cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday”. I have no idea who it’s by though. It sounded really nice.
Probably Orgy’s cover. It got a lot of air play a few years ago and basically made them famous. I have to admit that I still like it, no matter how overplayed it was. It’s a heavier and shortened radio-friendly version of an already remarkably catchy song. Not sure I prefer it to the original though.
As for my own contributions, I do like Me First and the Gimme Gimme’s rockin’ cover of “Science Fiction” from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. And Ted Leo did an awesome acoustic version of “Ghosts” by the Jam.
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