Well, of course, everything’s better with Muppets.
Both k.d. lang’s and John Cale’s covers of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” are better, as are several other covers I’ve heard.
It just works so much better with piano and entirely sung than with synth and echo effects and speak-singing of the original. And so many artists infuse so much soul and musicality into the performance that Cohen lacked.
That said, I’d still love to hear a bass singer perform it with the cover instrumentation.
I think it’s generally considered Jeff Buckley’s is the best Hallelujah.
Of course, it’s possible to be completely shitty at itwithout any instruments at all.
Eva Cassidy’s covers of most songs are better than the original, but to name the obvious one: Over the Rainbow.
Thanks. I had a strong feeling someone was going to say something like this (I could have researched it but didn’t). My point still stands, though.
Another example for the thread, which I think most will agree on - Guns ‘N’ Roses’ cover of Live and Let Die is better than the Wings original, albeit they are fairly similar.
Nope, most would not agree because it isn’t.
Count me in in disagreeing strongly.
Well, which did you hear first? 
You know what, having just listened to both versions again, I withdraw my suggestion that GnR’s version is clearly better - in my opinion neither Rose nor McCartney are technically good singers, but Axl puts a more soulful interpretation on the vocal to me. Largely personal preference, of course. On the other hand, the riff in the middle sounds a bit weird in GnR compared with the original. And the additional orchestration of the original is nice. So I’m calling that one a draw.
Although they are completely different songs, I may have been mixing this up with Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, where I would contend GnR did a much more interesting and soulful version than Dylan.
Dylan is always better in cover form. Although I think GnR is absolute shit, so I don’t like their cover any better than Dylan’s original.
I like The Sisters of Mercy one - but then, I love all their covers - Emma, Jolene, 1969, Gimme Shelter … even Gimme Gimme Gimme (a Man After Midnight) !
Speaking as a decades-long fan of Simon and Garfunkel, as well as someone decidedly not a fan of metal, I was surprised to find that Disturbed’s cover of “The Sound of Silence” was every bit as good as S&G’s original.
Voice of the Beehive did I Think I Love You better than the Partridge Family.
But Shirley Jones sang Many a New Day, far better than Florence Henderson, which proves once again that the Partridge Family kicked The Brady Bunch’s butts.
Can be, but I’ve often really liked different versions of songs I have (and often everyone else has) heard a lot of times, maybe too many. Here’s a version of ‘Take It Easy’ by a Danish guy (who’s pretty well known in Denmark I think) that’s really good. Right now I think I like it better than the Eagles version.
I guess I can’t say I’ll never come back to preferring the Eagles version though, the original to my ear. As most know, Jackson Browne mainly wrote this song though Glenn Frey is credited as co-writer. And when you hear Browne’s version, actually recorded slightly after the Eagles version, and compared to his other songs, you realize the lyrics are him speaking, basically. So it seems to me anyway. But though I like it off and on, not as much as the Eagles version, perhaps because I came to like the Eagles one first.
I know this thread is old, but…
You talking to me? 
I love Wilco, Especially Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but JC Brooks and the Uptown sound did a cover ofI am Trying to Break Your Heart that just blows away the original.
Since I don’t think anyone’s linked it yet (and my apologies if someone has and I missed it), here’s the older version of the thread you were thinking of, in case anyone wants to read it: Favorite Cover Songs?
A lot of people have covered Ghost Riders in the Sky, but the Outlaws’ version kicks ass.
I’ll see your Outlaws and raise you a Dick Dale.
I think I like Eric Heatherly’s version of Flowers on the Wall better than the Statlers’.
The Statler Brothers: Flowers On The Wall. - YouTube