# Cover Versions Of Songs That Are Much Better... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628 "2019-07-25T19:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Helmut\_Doork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/61 "2019-07-26T17:31:39Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I like Manfred Mann’s “Blinded by the Light” better than Bruce’s. “For You”, and “Spirits in the Night” as well. NFW on “American Woman”. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/62 "2019-07-26T17:56:20Z")
Don’t forget “Killing Me Softly.” In 1996, the [Fugees](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ppz-cwLeqo) had a Grammy-winning release of this song, which is a wonderful version but, in my view, doesn’t have the ethereal beauty that [Roberta Flack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgl-VRdXr7I) brings to the song. However, both releases are much better that the little-known original version of the song released by [Lori Leiberman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSYq0sNSAkA). ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/63 "2019-07-26T18:14:59Z")
Frijid Pink - House of the Rising Sun [Frijid Pink - House of the Rising Sun - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t40INnb6DnY) ---
**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:** [July 26, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/64 "2019-07-26T18:28:38Z")
Ive always like [Danielle Dax’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc2JTQZ_nfQ) and [The Mission’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPCqMZysTmg)versions of Tomorrow Never Knows over The Beatles. The Beatles’ always felt more of a production experiment than a venerated great song. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/65 "2019-07-26T18:30:07Z")
_[Mad World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4)_ cover by Gary Jules (original by [Tears for Fears](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ZvPSpLxCg)) _[Hurt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt1Pwfnh5pc)_ by Johnny Cash (original by [Nine inch Nails](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPz21cDK7dg)) _[Common People](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ainyK6fXku0)_ by William Shatner (original by [Pulp](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuTMWgOduFM)) No apologies – I think Shatner’s is better. _[Wicked Games](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PoIisbJ7HI)_ by Ursine Vulpine featuring Annaca (original by [Chris Isaak](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlJew-Dw87I)) ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/66 "2019-07-26T18:53:45Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Ive always like [Danielle Dax’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc2JTQZ_nfQ) and [The Mission’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPCqMZysTmg)versions of Tomorrow Never Knows over The Beatles. The Beatles’ always felt more of a production experiment than a venerated great song. Interesting. It never occurred to me that somebody might attempt a cover version of _Tomorrow Never Knows_. I wonder if there’s a cover version out there somewhere of _Revolution #9_? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/67 "2019-07-26T18:55:58Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > _[Common People](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ainyK6fXku0)_ by William Shatner (original by [Pulp](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuTMWgOduFM)) No apologies – I think Shatner’s is better. Yessssssss…well, I’m not sure I’d say it’s better - Pulp’s is great - but Shatner, Jackson, and Folds did a hell of a job. Halestorm has a number of good covers…ones I think are better than the original (despite in all cases liking he originals…): [Heathens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI1KfI7oMJA) (Original by [Twenty One Pilots](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprcpdwuwCg).) [Bad Romance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vmhnxVF1GU) (Original by [Lady Gaga](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I).) [Get Lucky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scZY7VNV-Go) (Original by [Daft Punk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NV6Rdv1a3I).) ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/68 "2019-07-26T19:00:03Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Funny thing; five hours ago I told my summer school class “When I’m king, it’ll be illegal to do a cover of a song unless it’s 1) Different… and 2) Better.” This thread is proof it can be done. Yes, a cover that is not different or better is just karaoke. On that sentiment, it was suggested to me that covering David Bowie is incredibly difficult. They almost always come out as just lesser imitations. The only cover of his stuff that I could think of which is worthwhile is [Chris Hadfield doing Space Oddity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo) from the ISS. I don’t think it’s musically better, but is still satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/69 "2019-07-26T19:08:39Z")
The Grateful Dead used to play Tomorrow Never Knows. Cool version, but I don’t know if I’d call it better than the original. ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/70 "2019-07-26T19:16:47Z")
[The Proclaimers - King Of The Road](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbXapBdTT4o), said to be preferred by Roger Miller. Smokey Robinson is said to have wept when he heard a version of [Tears Of A Clown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjnYRD2vm8E) by the English Beat, but I don’t know what that means. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/71 "2019-07-26T19:21:16Z")
I like Chris Cornell’s version of “Billie Jean” a bit more than Michael Jackson’s. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/72 "2019-07-26T19:33:11Z")
> [@pmwgreen](#): > > […Smokey Robinson is said to have wept when he heard a version of [URL=“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjnYRD2vm8E”]Tears Of A Clown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbXapBdTT4o) by the English Beat, but I don’t know what that means. Ah - yes, there is room for conjecture. It’s not a cover, but I’d love to know his reaction to [A Little Soul](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XMDfMaKDa0) by the English Pulp. And yes, it was intended as [an homage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Little_Soul) (see image of sleeve). j ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/73 "2019-07-26T19:38:44Z")
I’m a huge fan of Joni Mitchell, but I think her song [Woodstock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_(song)) is [just dreadful](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEBmKi2xmoU). IMO the cover by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is _ **much** _ better. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2019, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/74 "2019-07-26T20:05:02Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I like Chris Cornell’s version of “Billie Jean” a bit more than Michael Jackson’s. Alien Ant Farm’s Smooth Criminal is also better than MJ’s. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/75 "2019-07-26T20:17:22Z")
It’s only a semi-cover because Kenny Wayne Shepherd performs on it, but the Five Finger Death Punch cover of [Blue on Black](https://youtu.be/IMCfSjF_vSg) takes the original up another notch to a most happy place. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/76 "2019-07-26T20:49:42Z")
Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Breathless” is wonderful - [Jerry Lee Lewis-Breathless - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGF5UbFYmK0) But X’s version is sublime - [X - Breathless - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjk-JLlGXrM) X also (far) surpassed The Doors with their version of “Soul Kitchen” - [X - Soul Kitchen (with lyrics) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ikNYY0JgQ) B.B. King did his usual impeccable job on “Be Careful with the Fool,” but Johnny Winter took it up another couple notches - [Be Careful With A Fool - JOHNNY WINTER - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qcRNyW-sys) ---
**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:** [July 26, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/77 "2019-07-26T22:20:13Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Yeah, I’m sure we’ve done this thread before, and I’m pretty sure I’m about to repeat what I said last time. And I don’t care. The Pet Shop Boys had the ability to take anthems and make them sound like _they_ had written them. I give you [Go West](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNBjMRvOB5M) and [Always On My Mind](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eTWWHGouSM). > > And yes, I’m perfectly fine arguing that these are now the _definitive_ versions. > > Speaking of me repeating myself: > > _Someone_ said exactly this last time round. Was that you, Sam? Probably! ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/78 "2019-07-26T22:48:42Z")
This is going to sound insane, but I don’t really care: I think [this version of Light My Fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwcElHE53f8) is better than the Doors’. It’s a cover “performed” by the animatronic animal band that used to exist at the now-defunct Showbiz Pizza Place. Unlike rival Chuck E Cheese, they didn’t play “kiddie” music, they recorded dozens of rock covers by the company’s in-house studio band, comprised of local Orlando-area musicians with serious chops who could actually play the hell out of the material. I dig the Doors but I always thought Light My Fire was one of their musically weakest songs despite being best known. That cover is a vast improvement, in my opinion, especially the lead up to the outro where vocalist Duke Chauppetta belts it out far better than Morrison ever could. Chauppetta is an exceptionally talented guy; his speaking voice is 100% old-school Louisiana Italian, think Cajun but even harder to understand. But his singing voice was remarkably chamelion-like, he could sound like Bruce Springsteen one minute and Andy Partridge of XTC the next. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/79 "2019-07-27T09:38:54Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Someone mentioned Dylan. Probably the best cover song ever is Jimi’s version of “All Along the Watchtower.” Absolutely. > [@](#): > > The Byrds version of “Mr. Tambourine Man” is also better than the original. Nope. Sorry. The Byrds’ version was all over the radio when I was eleven years old. _Loved_ it. Then a year or two later, I heard Dylan’s original version for the first time, and it totally blew me away. And this was at an age when I was still listening to mostly bubblegum/teenybopper stuff, but I knew right away that Dylan’s version totally outclassed the Byrds. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/80 "2019-07-27T09:44:25Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > This is going to sound insane, but I don’t really care: I think [this version of Light My Fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwcElHE53f8) is better than the Doors’. LOL. Man, that was cheesy. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628.md?page=5)