# Best Cover Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809 "2001-11-11T21:51:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/21 "2001-11-12T20:17:53Z")
**Skip** While I agree that AAF’s version of ‘Smooth Criminal’ is much better than Wacko Jacko’s, it’s not the lead singer who is yelping the high-pitched part. It’s the big fat manly mexican looking dude who plays (I believe) bass. As far as best covers I have wayy too many to list, as I listen to a lot of Punk… but here are a few by my favorite band, the Destructos! ‘We belong together’ kicks ass, as well as their OI rendition of ‘Patience’. They also do a mean re-write of ‘Rock N’ Roll Radio’ (not a cover, they changed the lyrics). ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/22 "2001-11-12T20:39:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Living Dead Girl \* > **Creep - _Radiohead._** This is a cover? 😕 And I just LOVE the Pat Boone version of Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti. That man has soul. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/23 "2001-11-12T20:44:53Z")
**Goldfinger** has a whole CD of cover songs called “Darrin’s Coconut Ass.” Every song on there is exceptionally good. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/24 "2001-11-12T22:31:51Z")
First of all, I hate that Eric Clapton version of “I Shot the Sherriff”. The Butthole Surfers do great covers of “American Woman” and “Hurdy Gurdy Man”. “American Woman” puts that Lenny Kravitz version to shame. I have an mp3 of Radiohead doing “Nobody Does It Better” that kicks more ass than a Carly Simon song should. If anybody has heard that and knows if it is on an album or bootleg somewhere, please tell me. And who can foget “Surfin’ Bird” by the Ramones? ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/25 "2001-11-12T22:35:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mouthbreather \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Living Dead Girl \* > > **Creep - _Radiohead._** > > This is a cover? 😕 > > \*\* yeah i was gonna ask that too…? ---
**Author:** ![utilityplayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/49beb7/32.png) [@utilityplayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/utilityplayer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/26 "2001-11-13T03:46:12Z")
How about… Turn The Page - Metalica Heard It Through The Grapevine - CCR Son Of A Preacher Man - Joan Osborne Get Ready (live version) - Rare Earth To name a few ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/27 "2001-11-13T04:02:09Z")
Jimi Hendrix covering “Star Spangled Banner” ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/28 "2001-11-13T04:46:17Z")
Hmmm…for catagory one I gotta go with: **The Living End-** _Sunday, Bloody Sunday_ For Catagory two: **Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies-** _One Tin Soldier_ ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/29 "2001-11-13T05:13:13Z")
Wild Horses - Gram Parsons Sympathy for the Devil, Ain’t it Fun, Live and Let Die, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door - Guns N’ Roses ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/30 "2001-11-13T05:17:36Z")
i forgot this one: Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/31 "2001-11-13T05:37:54Z")
**Metallica** - _Whiskey in the Jar_ - **Tin Lizzie** This is the first Metallica song I ever actually liked (there’s only been one more since). It amuses me to no end that it isn’t even their song originally. 😃 Also, I know no one outside of my college has ever heard of 'em, but the all-men’s a capella group here on campus does amazing covers of everything from Alice in Chains to Dave Matthews to George Michael to people I’ve never even heard of (Ambrosia’s “How Much I Feel” comes to mind). In many cases I like their renderings of the songs much better than the originals. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/32 "2001-11-13T08:24:51Z")
Pretty much anything by Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies (an “all-star” Punk cover band). But I really like their covers of: I Would Walk 500 Miles Walk Like an Egyptian Stand By Me Brown Eyed Girl Aerosmith and the Yardbirds versions of “Train kept a rollin” totally rock. dead0man ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Dead_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/33 "2001-11-13T11:19:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Niobium Knight \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by mouthbreather \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by Living Dead Girl \* > > > **Creep - _Radiohead._** > > > > This is a cover? 😕 > > \*\* > > yeah i was gonna ask that too…? \*\* As far as I know, it is. 🙂 I’ve actually heard the original a couple of times, mostly while supermarket shopping. And interestingly enough, the edited version of the Radiohead cover - “so fucking special” changed to “so very special” - is the proper lyrics to the original song. Okay, so _I_ found it interesting - but I’m getting the feeling no-one else will. 😉 I have absolutely no idea who recored the original version though, sorry - I’ll see if I can dig up a link later. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Dead_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/34 "2001-11-13T11:38:44Z")
Woah. :eek: I just checked up on a website, and there’s a quote from Thom about what he wrote it about, and … I’m confused. Has anyone else heard a different version of Creep, or have I completely lost it? ---
**Author:** ![reoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@reoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reoch)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/35 "2001-11-13T12:19:59Z")
Niobium Knight probably heard a cover song from Radiohead or something because from what I know, THEY were the original…pretty sure about that… ---
**Author:** ![reoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@reoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reoch)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/36 "2001-11-13T12:27:55Z")
I would recommend the following…it sure beats the orginal…sort of. I listen to A LOT of punk and as most of you may know, punk artists love to remake songs so here are some I would recommend. NOFX - I want you to want me New Found Glory - Don’t want to miss a Thing "- Everything I do "- Heaven isn’t too far away ? - Over the Rainbow ? - Cheers Theme There are SOOOOOOOO many more but I’m just too lazy to list them…if you want some more, just say so…ok then 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Purdzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f0a364/32.png) [@Purdzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purdzilla)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/37 "2001-11-13T17:02:21Z")
Funny, two of my all-time favorite cover tunes are of a song that’s pretty damn good in and of itself, _(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction_, by The Rolling Stones. Usually, the best cover tunes are of lesser-known songs by lesser-known artists – (often so lesser-known, you would never have known it was a cover to begin with). Covers of popular songs usually suffer from a lack of inspiration, thus the usual suckiness of tribute CDs. Nevertheless, here are my two favorites: [li]The **Devo** version: Absolutely brilliant. The herky-jerky rhythm (and the accompanying groundbreaking video) defined one band while deconstucting another.[/li] [li]The **Cat Power** version: Talk about deconstruction! By reducing the arrangement to a simple strum on an acoustic guitar and ditching the chorus altogether, when Chan Marshall wails “…can’t you see? I’m on a losing streak?,” you just wanna reach into the speakers and give her a big ole bear hug. It’s funny to put this one on for my friends and ask them to identify the cut – without the chorus, they are completely lost (“Wait, I know, hold on, whazzit? Aw, shucks. I don’t have any idea.”).[/li] Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/38 "2001-11-13T19:06:46Z")
**Reoch** ? - Over the Rainbow ? - Cheers Theme Those should both be Less Than Jake, unless you’ve got a version i’ve never found on the 'net. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/39 "2001-11-13T19:08:18Z")
Version 2 – **Tesla’s** version of _Signs_ (orig by Five Man Acoustical Band) deserves mention here. Others: **- Murray Head’s** _One Night in Bangkok_ (orig by cast of the play _Chess_). Version 2. **- Eric Clapton’s** \*Bell Bottom Blues \* (orig by Bob Dylan). Version 2. **- Kim Carnes’** _Bette Davis Eyes_ (orig by Jackie DeShannon). Version 2. **- Krokus’** _School’s Out_ (orig by Alice Cooper) Version 2. An oldie is Louis Armstong’s (or Bobby Darin’s) _Mack the Knife_(orig from a German theater presentation). Definitely a version 1. ---
**Author:** ![reoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@reoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reoch)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809/40 "2001-11-13T23:06:32Z")
Thanks \*\*broccoli! \*\* Yup, they’re the group… by the way, do you happen to know who made a punk cover of “i’m so in love with you honey” (something like that)…Thanx. That’s also one of my favorites. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cover-songs/92809.md?page=3)