# Cover songs that are better than the original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2010, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505 "2010-04-09T08:50:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/101 "2010-04-11T07:10:04Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Janis Joplin’s cover of _Me and Bobby McGee_ beats Kristoferson’s original. > > Joan Jett’s cover of _Crimson and Clover_ is good, but I dunno who did the original. On the first one, it depends on whether you’re regarding it as folk or blues – it straddles the line between them. I’d be inclined to agree with you, though – and Barb and I are Kristoffersons from way way back – so far back that the going up was worth the coming down, so to speak. 😉 The original Crimson and Clover was by Tommy James and the Shondells, a group with more talent and musical skills than their bubble gum image suggests. ---
**Author:** ![Denis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Denis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denis)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/102 "2010-04-11T08:10:06Z")
I’ve always thought Stevie Ray Vaughn’s cover of Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” is so much better than the original. Sorry Jimi. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/103 "2010-04-11T12:19:03Z")
Natalie Merchant’s **Because the Night** in my opinion is the best version of them all. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14R4ZsMM0E) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/104 "2010-04-11T16:49:34Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Frente’s cover of New Order’s\* Bizarre Love Triangle\*, I’d like to hear it… I looked on YouTube and all I could find was lots of people covering the Frente cover. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/105 "2010-04-11T17:14:45Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > I’d like to hear it… I looked on YouTube and all I could find was lots of people covering the Frente cover. [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ1c9ErCn7w)you go. It’s alright. I like it, though it doesn’t really have any depth. It’s an acoustic version with a pretty female voice. And I can’t [dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQng86EudNY&feature=related)to it. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/106 "2010-04-11T18:08:07Z")
Thanks! It’s pretty but it’s not as good as the original. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/107 "2010-04-11T18:42:53Z")
As for _Hallelujah_, K.D. Lang’s version is beautiful, but my favorite rendition is [Rufus Wainwright’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR0DKOGco_o). I just like that he doesn’t add a lot of ornamentation (like dragging out a phrase so that it doesn’t match up with the accompaniment…drives me crazy when artists do that too much). I’m gonna agree with [Johnny Cash’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clq01TXQR0s) version of _Hurt_. NIN’s version does nothing for me. Johnny Cash’s makes me bawl like a damn baby. And has anyone mentioned _Major Tom_? [Peter Schilling’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r6E4RyCk4g) version is good (though for all I know that could be a cover too), but I think I prefer [Shiny Toy Guns’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9OSXsB946k&feature=fvw) cover. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/108 "2010-04-11T19:20:09Z")
> [@Achren](#): > > Some years ago there was a really neat [commercial for the Sony Bravia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XmUxf35AVk&feature=related). Looking online to find out who the song was by I discovered both José González ([cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4_4abCWw-w)) and The Knife ([original](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ow0bA4H3BQ&feature=related)). I didn’t buy a tv, but I now have albums from both artists, so thanks Sony! 😉 > > I couldn’t tell you which one I think it the better version, I like them both. The answer to this question generally depends on the kind of mood I’m in. Jose Gonzalez also does a really awesome cover of Massive Attack’s [Teardrop](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B-h1EEsKDA) (aka the song from House). I’ve come to prefer Boy 8-Bit’s cover of Fake Blood’s awesome [Mars](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD-XgZYvzhk). I’ve linked to the covers, and the originals can be found somewhere along the right side. Y’know. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/109 "2010-04-11T19:31:20Z")
When this first came out I didnt know it was a cover but for me it’s the only version I love - for various reasons one of my favourite all time tracks [Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuxYIUsKDx0&feature=PlayList&p=83C82CFE24236054&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=36) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/110 "2010-04-11T20:04:27Z")
This one really blows me away: [What Becomes of the Broken Hearted by Joan Osborne](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA0GcXV2njY) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/111 "2010-04-11T20:37:35Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > When this first came out I didnt know it was a cover but for me it’s the only version I love - for various reasons one of my favourite all time tracks > [Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuxYIUsKDx0&feature=PlayList&p=83C82CFE24236054&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=36) A lot of the best This Mortal Coil tracks are good covers - _Siren_, of course, is the best IMO, but The Apartments’ _Mr Somewhere_ and Syd Barret’s\* Late Night\* sung by Caroline Crawley, ), _The Jeweller_ (a Pearls Before Swine cover), some excellent Chris Bell (from Big Star) covers: _I Am the Cosmos_ and _You and Your Sister_, and _I Come and Stand at Every Door_ which covers the Byrds/Seeger version of the Hikmet poem _The Little Girl_ are all brilliant covers where I prefer the TMC version to the original. In fact, the only TMC cover where I prefer the original , is _Morning Glory_ (Tim Buckley) ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/112 "2010-04-12T00:37:00Z")
Probably been mentioned before me (I haven’t read through the thread yet), but Ike and Tina Turner’s version of CCR’s “Proud Mary”. ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54XRNQ2C2x0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54XRNQ2C2x0)) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/113 "2010-04-12T03:48:37Z")
I’ll take [How Deep Is Your Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opJtIYBgLDg) by The Bird and the Bee ahead of the original. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/114 "2010-04-12T08:39:46Z")
> [@Ruby Sees](#): > > Fiona Apple song that I don’t think I saw anyone else mention. I love her _Across the Universe_ much more than the original. Rufus Wainwright’s version if the best of them all…Yes, even better than the original. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/115 "2010-04-12T11:18:25Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > I’ve got a good one. Nina Simone’s cover of “To Love Somebody” (originally by the Bee Gees). > > [To Love Somebody](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OaNzoqSo4g) - **Nina Simone** (cover) > [To Love Somebody](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykU8iSKkJR0) - **The Bee Gees** (original) I prefer Blue Rodeo’s cover of this one. ---
**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:** [April 12, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/116 "2010-04-12T11:27:50Z")
“The Hangman and the Papist” was a moderately-interesting, kind of whiny song from hippie group [The Strawbs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDDy6qXIWC8). Martial-neofolk, very un-PC band Blood Axis did a [sumptuous, ominously-celtic cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50NFXuOi3Tg) from it. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/117 "2010-04-12T11:59:58Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > Rufus Wainwright’s version if the best of them all…Yes, even better than the original. I concur. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/118 "2010-04-12T12:05:59Z")
Just thought of another. Neil Diamond’s [“Solitary Man”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql4IiP__5ck), while quite good, pales in comparison to [the Man in Black’s version of the same song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0CVL9T4Smo). ---
**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:** [April 12, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/119 "2010-04-12T13:14:45Z")
Tom Paxton himself has admitted he loves the hard rocking covers of his folk songs–Bottle of Wine by the Firebirds and Wasn’t That A Party by the Irish Rovers. He also says “If I tried to sing like that, my throat would jump out of my mouth.” ---
**Author:** ![natterj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dbc845/32.png) [@natterj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/natterj)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/120 "2010-04-12T14:46:17Z")
Joan Osborne’s version of [Son Of A Preacher Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEgbBmU8wh0) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505.md?page=7)