# Cover Songs Better Than The Original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2007, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764 "2007-09-28T02:36:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/101 "2007-09-28T22:11:41Z")
Personally, I preferred the Dolly Parton/Vince Gill duet version of _I Will Always Love You_ to her original. And I once got into an argument with a friend over it; she insisted that the Whitney Houston version was the original, and didn’t like the fact that a couple of country singers had dared to redo it. :rolleyes: I’m making notes on this thread, and will be looking up some of these. I never realized so many groups did covers of “classic” songs. (Metallica did _Whiskey In the Jar_? I never would have thought of that.) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/102 "2007-09-28T22:26:18Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] More Dylan with Baez’s “Forever Young” and “Lily Rosemary & The Jack of Hearts.” Joannie covers Bob better than anyone else. [/QUOTE] I was going to mention the “Simple Twist of Fate” on her Greatest Hits album, because she does an excellent Dylan impression on He woke up, the room was bare He didn’t see her anywhere. He told himself he didn’t care, pushed the window open wide, Felt an emptiness inside to which he just could not relate Brought on by a simple twist of fate. [QUOTE=spoke-] And some may call it heresy, but I like 10,000 Maniacs’ version of **“Because the Night”** better than Patti Smith’s. [/QUOTE] I like both of those, but prefer the writer’s (Springsteen) version best. I do have a soft spot for 10,000 Maniac’s “Peace Train” cover too. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/103 "2007-09-28T22:31:51Z")
I personally prefer Disturbed’s version of _Land of Confusion_, but then I wasn’t much of a fan of the Genesis version ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/104 "2007-09-29T15:23:46Z")
Number of different versions, I like them all, you may have favorites: Marvin Gaye Galdys Kinght Creedence Clearwater Junp (for my Love) Pointer Sisters also has so great listenable covers. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/105 "2007-09-29T15:35:48Z")
[QUOTE=Threadkiller] I like Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s _Blinded by the Light_ far better than Bruce Springsteen’s. [/QUOTE] Blasphemer! 😉 Although I did come in to mention a cover of a Springsteen song myself. \*\* Son Volt’\*\*s cover of \*Open All Night \*is just incredible. It’s slowed down and almost sad and just awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/106 "2007-09-29T15:40:09Z")
To add a third to the list 1. Anyone covering Bob Dylan 2. Anyone covering The Grateful Dead 3. Anyone covering Leonard Cohen Cohen can write, but he is not the best singer. Even he admits it. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/107 "2007-09-29T16:53:34Z")
Earth Wind and Fire’s version of Got To Get You Into My Life Luther Vandross’ Superstar/Until You Come Back to Me The Spinner’s Cupid The Manhattan’s Tomorrow (from Annie) ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/108 "2007-09-29T17:14:59Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Well, if we’re going to talk about really old songs, the Animals cover of [House of the Rising Sun](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_the_Rising_Sun) is definitely the best. [/QUOTE] Have you heard The Be Good Tanyas version? Pretty sweet… ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/109 "2007-09-29T17:24:39Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] Luther Vandross’ Superstar/Until You Come Back to Me The Spinner’s Cupid [/QUOTE] Maybe I liked mash-ups before they were hip because The Spinner’s Cupid is actually Cupid/Loved You for a Long Time ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/110 "2007-09-29T17:36:35Z")
[QUOTE=Sophistry and Illusion] What’s with all the hate for Dolly Parton? First she is judged inferior to Whitney Houston, and now to Jack White. Dolly has a fantastic and expressive voice. She’s the goods. [/QUOTE] There’s nothing wrong with Dolly, but in this case Jack White simply owns the song. Check out [this version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVCq1etICQE) performed live on Conan. Fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/111 "2007-09-29T18:46:53Z")
Sarah Polley’s version of “Courage,” used in the film “The Sweet Hereafter,” is vastly superior to the Tragically Hip original, and its tone and arrangement better suits the song’s subject matter. ---
**Author:** ![Miscue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Miscue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miscue)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/112 "2007-09-29T18:46:54Z")
I don’t usually make blanket statements like this, but almost any song done by [The Detroit Cobras](http://www.detroitcobras.org) is a better version than the original. They are rock and roll. ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/113 "2007-09-29T19:55:07Z")
I agree that most covers of Leonard Cohen are better than the original, but I would have to make an exception for “Everybody Knows”. Come on, does anyone have a voice like that, to convey that emotion (despair/disillusionment)? The guy sounds like the grim reaper himself. ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/114 "2007-09-29T20:17:47Z")
[QUOTE=LurkMeister] Personally, I preferred the Dolly Parton/Vince Gill duet version of _I Will Always Love You_ to her original. And I once got into an argument with a friend over it; she insisted that the Whitney Houston version was the original, and didn’t like the fact that a couple of country singers had dared to redo it. :rolleyes:… [/QUOTE] LOL. That story made me laugh out loud. Dolly has been quoted in the press saying that she loves Whitney’s cover of that song. It has made a boatload of money for her! Personally I prefer Melissa Etheridge’s version… Now for some of my favorite covers: **Annie Lennox - “Every Time We Say Goodbye”** , **“Ladies of the Canyon”** , and **“Something So Right”**. She is my favorite singer, and these covers are simply wonderful, especially performed live. **Chris Rea - “Fool If You Think It’s Over”**. Very smooth with just a hint of menace. I have to second an third the mentions of **Eva Cassidy**. I just wish that I would have known her before she passed away. Her live cd is simply amazing. I also prefer her cover of **“Songbird”** to Fleetwood Mac’s and that’s saying something. **Fountains of Wayne - “Baby One More Time”**. That one makes me giggle too. I happen to like offbeat pop song covers, and this is a good one. **Maroon Five - “Pure Imagination”**. Ditto **Debbie Harry - “Liar Liar”** **Superchunk - “Say My Name”** ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/115 "2007-09-29T20:50:41Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] Yes that album was gold. Don’t forget Lyle Lovett’s _Friend of the Devil_. The Grateful Dead’s version of that is just wrong. [/QUOTE] Ooh! Why didn’t I think of that? I _love_ Lovett’s version, and it’s one of my favourite to sing harmony to, in my secret fantasy life where I duet with my heroes. Lyle and I put on a great show… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/116 "2007-09-29T21:08:17Z")
I didn’t see anyone mention [Coverville](http://www.coverville.com/) yet (or if they did, my post is better). Bookmark it. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/117 "2007-09-29T22:42:37Z")
I’m a fan of the [Vanessa Carlton](http://www.last.fm/music/Vanessa+Carlton/_/Paint+It+Black) cover of “Paint It Black” by the Rolling Stones. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/118 "2007-09-30T00:22:30Z")
I’m a diehard Cash fan, so I’m well biased, but I came here to mention _Hurt_, only to find it right there in the OP. His cover of _One_ was also great. Are we allowed to include songs in which the cover was the famous one, but the original is preferred? If so, I nominate Kristofferson’s _Me and Bobby McGee_, which basically walks all over Joplin’s, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/119 "2007-09-30T00:59:40Z")
[QUOTE=adam yax] My old RA in college said that **Frankie Goes to Hollywood** did _Born to Run_ the way it was supposed to be done. [/QUOTE] Ooh, good one, and I agree (Sorry Boss!) Here are some others that I like better: **Siouxie and the Banshees - The Passenger** I like much better than **The Stooges original** **The Mission - Like A Hurricane** better than **Neil Young’s** **Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love** knocked **Elvis** out of the stadium and to continue with the theory that all covers of **Bob Dylan** are better than Bob’s… **PJ Harvey - Highway 61 Revisited** kicks major ass. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764/120 "2007-09-30T01:26:00Z")
I think I’m the first to say the two obvious ones. Sinead O’Connors “Nothing Compares 2 U” is much better than Prince’s version, and Ike and Tina’s rendition of “Proud Mary” is superior to CCR’s. Annie Lennox has done a lot of covers, but I think her covers of **Can’t Get Next to You** and **Whiter Shade of Pale** are probably the only ones that beat out the originals. I absolutely love Roberta Flack, but Laryn Hill’s version of **Killing Me Softly** killed her version. And you gotta love Mariah Carey’s cover of **I’ll Be There** , though the Jackson 5 original is still terrific. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/420764.md?page=7)