# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/101 "2014-12-30T14:09:50Z")
Some say Nilsson’s version of\* “Without You”\* is better than Badfinger’s original version. Mariah Carey’s version is best unheard. ---
**Author:** ![dream-scraper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@dream-scraper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dream-scraper)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/102 "2014-12-30T17:31:42Z")
I like The English Beat’s ska version of Smokey Robinson’s, ‘The Tears of a Clown’. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/103 "2014-12-30T18:38:01Z")
> [@alted315](#): > > [the beatnix cover of stairway to heaven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfoccRna6I) (Note: I added the link.) Thank you for mentioning this one - I _love_ that version! For the uninitiated, the Beatnix do “Stairway” in the style of the 1964 Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/104 "2014-12-30T18:40:53Z")
> [@dream-scraper](#): > > I like The English Beat’s ska version of Smokey Robinson’s, ‘The Tears of a Clown’. I like the English Beat, but I must disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/105 "2014-12-30T18:41:52Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Jewel’s [Leaving on a Jet Plane](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QTOuVmRPX4) Well, going back even further…[Peter, Paul & Mary’s cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVEATF7VNTk) was what made John Denver famous. But John Denver’s cover of [Darcy Farrow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3VgSOYsUBo) was better than the [original](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0EaJUQB4sI). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/106 "2014-12-30T18:47:35Z")
> [@arjee](#): > > The Headstones cover of Traveling Wilbury’s “Tweeter and the Monkeyman.” > > I strongly recommend you listen to it. Nah, the original is easily better. The Headstones could be singing pretty much any lyrics, and you wouldn’t know the difference. Especially on the refrain. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/107 "2014-12-30T18:49:55Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Well, going back even further…[Peter, Paul & Mary’s cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVEATF7VNTk) was what made John Denver famous. I remember looking at the PP&M album back in 1969 or 1970 and thinking, “who is ‘Deutschendorf’?” 😃 ETA: Damn, I had no idea he’d died all the way back in 1997. Guess I’ll leave him off my Death Pool list! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/108 "2014-12-30T23:24:32Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I would say that **Social Distortion** ’s cover of **Ring of Fire** isn’t _better_ than Johnny Cash’s - he’s Johnny Cash fercrissake - but their punk reworking totally kills. Also **Wall of Voodoo** ’s cover. I like all three. I will nominate **Yes** ’s version of both **the Beatle** s _Every Little Thing_ and **Paul Simon** ’s _America_. And of course **The Dickies** version of _Eve of Destruction_ and _Knights in White Satin_. ---
**Author:** ![yawuntz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a5b964/32.png) [@yawuntz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawuntz)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781/109 "2014-12-31T05:24:53Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > I’m not normally a fan of bluegrass music, but I love this version of **Gin And Juice** by The Gourds: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE) ^^^love these guys! - “…cause my momma ain’t ho-home…” :: Better than the original? Hard to say, the original’s a tough act to follow: [The Cleverlys “Gangnam Style”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9s57UBMWdk) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-better-than-the-original/707781.md?page=5)