# Covers better than the original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781 "2014-12-20T23:58:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/81 "2014-12-23T17:18:19Z")
Jewel’s [Leaving on a Jet Plane](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QTOuVmRPX4) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/82 "2014-12-23T19:22:02Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Speaking of well received covers that I hate…Tori Amos. She doesn’t even seem to understand that Joe Jackson song she sings. Personally, I’ve never thought she was any better than that ‘Chopping Broccoli’ guy that Dana Carvey played. I suspect that Tori Amos gives not a flying leap what _you_ think of the covers she has done. Most of them tend to be rather odd reinterpretations of the originals, which is typically what a cover ought to be (a reinterpretation, not necessarily odd). Her cover of the Cure’s _Love Song_ is brutal and tortured and just blows the original out of the water with its raw emotion. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/83 "2014-12-23T19:29:24Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Jack White brought insanity to ‘I Just Don’t Know What to do with Myself’, which it needed. Nice. I love his cover of I’m Shakin’ - simply because I love that song!! it doesn’t get played enough - the hook is essential. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XkcGuZHPbKk/maxresdefault.jpg "Jack White - I'm Shakin' (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkcGuZHPbKk) ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/84 "2014-12-23T21:11:31Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Jewel’s [Leaving on a Jet Plane](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QTOuVmRPX4) Although I agree that this version is better than the original, it’s actually by **Chantal Kreviazuk**. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/85 "2014-12-23T21:23:34Z")
Got to give a nod to Faith no More and a couple of stunning covers [Easy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRHGHVmGTOI) and [I started a Joke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKDo6g4CCeU) ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/86 "2014-12-23T21:41:32Z")
Had to be a Daddy, so couldn’t post this as an edit Chantal Kreviazuk - [Leaving on a Jet Plane](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbt2G71uT1M) ---
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/87 "2014-12-26T02:05:44Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Much as I love CCR, Tina Turner DEFINED Proud Mary. Noooo. That is one I can’t stand, because Tina changes the _ **WHOLE** _ ( ok…maybe a little hyperbole here) meaning of the song, by adding the words " I was" Never lost a minute of sleep, ( I was ) worrying about… CCR version, clearly they were not worried about the way things might have been, but Tina sure was… Never lost sleep… I was worrying… That will MAKE you lose sleep. ARRRGGGGG! > [@Nema98](#): > > I do believe Madonna does “American Pie” better than Don. So you’re the one! I’ll go with Elvis’s version of “Hound Dog” ``` and ``` Carpenters’ cover of “Close To You” ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/88 "2014-12-26T02:48:43Z")
Another one from Joe Cocker that really whips the buttocks of the original: “[The Letter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiagUEQqCfo),” originally by the Box Tops. I’ve been scolded for saying this in a very similar thread before, but Orgy’s version of “[Blue Monday](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAt9QTmVc7Q)” is way better than New Order’s version. New Order’s version is a total bore, but Orgy’s cover has a much more serious tone to it. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/89 "2014-12-26T03:19:14Z")
James Taylor does “How Sweet It Is” much better than Marvin Gaye. Elton John does “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” better than the Beatles. And Bow Wow Wow does “I Want Candy” much, much better than the original, as does Billy Idol on “Mony Mony” rather than Tommy James, who is also upstaged by Tiffany, both cases in 1987. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/90 "2014-12-26T13:38:28Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > James Taylor does “How Sweet It Is” much better than Marvin Gaye. > Elton John does “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” better than the Beatles. And Bow Wow Wow does “I Want Candy” much, much better than the original, as does Billy Idol on “Mony Mony” rather than Tommy James, who is also upstaged by Tiffany, both cases in 1987. Love these threads - always interesting. Could not disagree more. James Taylor better than Marvin Gaye? Not in my world!! (I suspect this is true in James Taylor’s world, too!) But that’s what makes this stuff interesting. I have a soft spot in my heart for Tommy James and the Shondells because they have so many good songs, but yeah, some of the covers are better, if only because they don’t have the cheesy 60’s pop arrangements… ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/91 "2014-12-26T16:17:59Z")
> [@Satellite\_Guy](#): > > Although I agree that this version is better than the original, it’s actually by **Chantal Kreviazuk**. It is a great cover. Heard it ages ago and it was attributed to Bjørk. FAK [Dancing Barefoot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJkbShz3c9Q) (Note Patti Smith in the audience) [Chiquitita](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuuR0-_xZKw) [America](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBwKp6QhIvE) - See Paul Simon in the audience 🙂 [Play With Fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-EastWzxnQ) ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/92 "2014-12-26T18:45:57Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Love these threads - always interesting. > > Could not disagree more. James Taylor better than Marvin Gaye? Not in my world!! (I suspect this is true in James Taylor’s world, too!) But that’s what makes this stuff interesting. > > I have a soft spot in my heart for Tommy James and the Shondells because they have so many good songs, but yeah, some of the covers are better, if only because they don’t have the cheesy 60’s pop arrangements… Taylor’s cover is better than Gaye’s, not that he is better than Marvin Gaye. He is not. ---
**Author:** ![ghostman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ghostman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghostman)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/93 "2014-12-26T19:43:14Z")
I’ll have to say that Cake’s [War Pigs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDJgwUeW7_k) is a VERY good cover of Sabbath’s… I’ll give them equal billings on it. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/94 "2014-12-26T19:49:09Z")
This is bound to be considered blasphemous around here, but I’ve always preferred Boyz II Men’s version of “Yesterday” to The Beatles’ original. Also, Raphael Saadiq’s cover of the Isley Brothers’ “Harvest for the World,” and Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/95 "2014-12-26T20:10:20Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > Taylor’s cover is better than Gaye’s, not that he is better than Marvin Gaye. He is not. We’ll still choose to disagree about Gaye’s original vs. Taylor’s cover, but I agree with your last point. I don’t mean disrespect to Taylor, just more respect to Gaye. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/96 "2014-12-26T21:42:13Z")
The original remains definitive but Melt Banana’s cover of “[Uncontrollable Urge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWlr3CZ1720)” beats Devo for power, fury, and angst. A similar situation exists between the Clash cover of “I Fought the Law” and the Bobby Fuller Four original. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/97 "2014-12-28T06:16:43Z")
I’m not normally a fan of bluegrass music, but I love this version of **Gin And Juice** by The Gourds: [The Gourds - Gin and Juice - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE) ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/98 "2014-12-28T09:19:51Z")
I prefer Van Halen’s version of “You Really Got Me” over the Kink’s. ---
**Author:** ![IT\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3ec8ea/32.png) [@IT\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IT_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/99 "2014-12-29T04:32:18Z")
The [Jefferson Airplane](http://youtu.be/-DIluFDkw0g) version of “Get Together”, better than the original by the [Youngbloods](http://youtu.be/gz0_gpjd-fg). Or maybe the version of “Rain” by [Shonen Knife](http://youtu.be/3J5d4duoGAU)? Better than the [Beatles](http://youtu.be/vrL-bYpY9Cc)?😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/100 "2014-12-29T04:36:54Z")
Bet a Doper will dispute me but “Because The Night” by 10,000 Maniacs is better than 1978 original. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781.md?page=6)