# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![LittleGreenRosetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c77e96/32.png) [@LittleGreenRosetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LittleGreenRosetta)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/141 "2010-04-14T21:48:41Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > Bruce is smoking hot in this video singing Fire. Hose me down someone… 🆒 > > [Fire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5PoIrcyd34&playnext_from=TL&videos=tOJ-7_Di1GE) Yeah…somebody turn up the AC, willya? 😉 lol That one and _Pink Cadillac_ are two songs that some people don’t realize are Bruce’s. I read that he originally wrote _Fire_ for Elvis Presley, but Elvis died before he could record it. It was first recorded by Robert Gordon, then by the Pointer Sisters, who had a big hit with it. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/142 "2010-04-14T22:02:04Z")
I agree with lots of these. Here’s a few more that I didn’t see on the list: “Everlasting Love,” done by U2. “Unchained Melody,” done by U2. Bob Segar’s “Turn the Page,” done by Metallica. The Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” done by Marylin Mansen. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/143 "2010-04-14T22:50:56Z")
> [@LittleGreenRosetta](#): > > Yeah…somebody turn up the AC, willya? 😉 lol > > That one and _Pink Cadillac_ are two songs that some people don’t realize are Bruce’s. > > I read that he originally wrote _Fire_ for Elvis Presley, but Elvis died before he could record it. It was first recorded by Robert Gordon, then by the Pointer Sisters, who had a big hit with it. Thanks, I had no idea he wrote it for Elvis :smack:! I don’t think Elvis could have done it justice like Bruce did. No disrespect for Elvis, who was a great singer and heart throb in his own right. Bruce is just smoking hot to me. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LittleGreenRosetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c77e96/32.png) [@LittleGreenRosetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LittleGreenRosetta)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/144 "2010-04-14T23:51:55Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > Bob Segar’s “Turn the Page,” done by Metallica. Yes! I meant to post that one and forgot. 🆒 [QUOTE=Perciful] No disrespect for Elvis, who was a great singer and heart throb in his own right. Bruce is just smoking hot to me. [/QUOTE] lol You’ll get no argument from me! 😉 ---
**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 15, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/145 "2010-04-15T00:40:30Z")
> [@LittleGreenRosetta](#): > > IMHO, you can’t touch this: 😉 > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DDrO6ij5Zs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DDrO6ij5Zs) Hmm. First time I’ve seen/heard that. I know of course it’s\*\* his\*\* song and he can do what he likes with it but either it’s a problem with the original quality of the live sound and then Youtube or he seems to be swallowing/muffling the words a bit and they’re harder to make out and for that song , the words are so important and poetic that it loses something for me. - ---
**Author:** ![bettyporkta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@bettyporkta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bettyporkta)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/146 "2010-04-15T02:31:04Z")
the beatles “help”, by alma cogan… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/147 "2010-04-15T03:53:06Z")
almost everything I came to mention has been said except: [Tomorrow Wendy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO6qrtSTkew) (cover, Concrete Blonde) [Tomorrow Wendy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZBQGCI2hm0) (original, Andy Prieboy) ---
**Author:** ![LittleGreenRosetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c77e96/32.png) [@LittleGreenRosetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LittleGreenRosetta)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/148 "2010-04-15T05:35:29Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > Hmm. First time I’ve seen/heard that. I know of course it’s\*\* his\*\* song > and he can do what he likes with it but either it’s a problem with the original quality of the live sound and then Youtube or he seems to be swallowing/muffling the words a bit and they’re harder to make out and for that song , the words are so important and poetic that it loses something for me. > > - Fair enough- the sound is probably a little dodgy, but Bruce is admittedly a bit of a mumbler. I just love the intensity of the whole performance. Here’s a different version (with the “other band”): ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KYXQb8EdIy4/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/KYXQb8EdIy4?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Better yet, here’s Bruce and Patti together, backed by U2, from the Rock Hall of Fame show last October. It’s only the second time they’d ever performed the song together, the last being in (I think) 1977. They use her lyrics here, he always uses his own. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MSUgWCHpmHM/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/MSUgWCHpmHM?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/149 "2010-04-15T19:47:15Z")
The [Nylons](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DFQdn298Xo) cover of the Supremes’ [Up The Ladder To The Roof](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v1S-ypz5a4) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/150 "2010-04-15T20:06:40Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Townes Van Zandt was a great songwriter, but just like Bob Dylan, he couldn’t sing for shit. I actually slightly prefer this live version of [Dead Flowers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBwC7Qzljso) to the Rolling Stones original. It’s equally playful, but just a tad more plaintive. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/151 "2010-04-15T21:27:02Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Townes Van Zandt was a great songwriter, but just like Bob Dylan, he couldn’t sing for shit. Compare [his version of Pancho and Lefty](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtzgwNDZAs4) with the cover version by [Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxzJAF1BxP4) Notice that they had Townes in the video; he shows up in several places, most notably as the guitar player at the end. The only thing I hate about that cover is the stupid 80s Vangelis-style opening. Seems to be tacked on for no particular reason and with no regard for how it fits with the style of the song. The rest of the song is **great** , though. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/152 "2010-04-15T21:30:36Z")
To me, Townes has the authority and honesty that some Dylan and Cohen apologists cite as to why they love their singing even if many consider them sub-par. He’s not technically the best but you can feel that he lives the songs. Willie probably did, too, but his voice doesn’t sound like it (as much as Townes, that is). ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/153 "2010-04-15T23:19:38Z")
In some ways, Ryan Adams’ spare, haunting version of “Wonderwall” is preferable to the original by Oasis. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/154 "2010-04-16T01:50:01Z")
I heard a female version of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” yesterday - don’t know who it was, but I like it a lot more than the original. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/155 "2010-04-16T02:36:20Z")
here are some covers i like. but i would never dis the original. some of these comments, particularly about “come together” by the beatles baffle me. i guess i’m one of those idjits that think their/lennon’s version has never been topped. the same for “hey jude” sony owns it, but it still belongs to maccartney and the beatles. the carpenters version of “ticket to ride” is excellent i’m not sure if it’s urban legend, but as the story goes karen and john had a chance quick walk by meeting and lennon said to her “your voice is fab, luv” or is that a story everyone has heard? probably. if it’s true, i’m sure it made her day. emmylou harris’ version of “for no one” equals the beatles version. it’s outstanding. jerry lee lewis does the second best version of 'over the rainbow" i’ve ever heard. it’s still judy garland’s song though. it’s not really a cover, because that song is something like 200 years old, but love the pink floyd and frijid pink versions of "house of the rising sun. not better than the animals, but close. ---
**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 16, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/156 "2010-04-16T13:41:35Z")
Dudu Fisher’s Hebrew version of New York, New York is so good it is scary. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/157 "2010-04-18T17:34:36Z")
I would like to nominate Devo’s version of Satisfaction. (Granted that I’m not much of a Stones fan.) I also think that Earth Wind & Fire did a better job of Got To Get You Into My Life than the Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![Nom\_de\_Plume](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85f322/32.png) [@Nom\_de\_Plume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nom_de_Plume)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/158 "2010-04-19T03:19:37Z")
Mel Torme’s version of _New York State of Mind_ is one of my favorite songs. Billy Joe’s orlginal, to me, is …meh… ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/159 "2010-04-19T03:19:45Z")
I don’t remember it was mentioned before, but I heard The Black Crowes’ _Hard To Handle_ for the first time in a while tonight and was reminded of how much I love it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/160 "2010-04-21T12:25:05Z")
I’ve got two submissions: (1) Sixpence None the Richer’s [Don’t Dream It’s Over](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3fU8m-7j78&feature=related) (A cover of the Crowded House original.) (2) Stevie Nicks’s [Crash Into Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7seuwncsbHs), originally done by The Dave Matthews Band. Although this one may be cheating, because I’m not sure it’s actually better. Suffice it to say I adore both of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505.md?page=9)