Ugh. No. At least on the Talk Talk song.
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.
As for superior covers, William Shatner/Ben Folds/Joe Jackson doing Pulps " Common People"
As much as I idolize the Beatles, Pomplamoose did this version of Come Together that I cannot stop listening to. Note the “Hey Jude” nod at the end of the song.
Alana Davis, Don’t Fear The Reaper
Richard Thompson, Oops I Did It Again
Also seconding Hazy Shade Of Winter by the Bangles and All Eva Cassidy covers, Fields Of Gold being my favorite.
Ooh, also:Andrew Bird covering Jim Hensen/Kermit the Frog’s “Bein’ Green.”
Bird’s cover captured the the doubt, vulnerability, and self-acceptance from the original and added an extra degree of color and texture that is nothing less than sublime
Superstar by Sonic Youth. Originally by the Carpenters?
Does it count as a cover if it’s your own song? Because when Megadeth redid A Tout Le Monde as a duet with a female singer taking over part of the song, it was much better than the original where Mustaine was the sole singer (and I don’t intend that as a knock on his singing).
All be darned. I didn’t know their version was a cover.
I totally agree.
And in the world of easy listening Neil Diamond sang “You Don’t Bring me Flowers” by himself on one album, and then in the famous duet version on his next album.
Even though he treats the song a tad disrespectfully, tossing out riffs like they were a dime a dozen, Billy Mure’s version of Hawaiian War Chant utterly destroys every previous (and subsequent) version.
I adore the Young People’s Chorus of NYC’s cover of “Whatever” - Oaisis’s original is OK, but doesn’t blow me away.
The Ramones’ Baby I Love You.
Because The Ramones.
Most people would say the version of Woodstock by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is superior to the original recorded by Joni Mitchell. I disagree, FWIW.
Santana’s “Oye Coma Va” is pretty high on my list of covers.
I like Fiona Apple’s Across the Universe better than the Beatles version.
I don’t know if it counts as a cover, since it wasn’t released as an actual song, but this youtube a capella version of Call Your Boyfriend blows Robyn’s version away, I think. The harmonies ring, and the singers seem to understand what it’s like to be dumped.
Rod Stewart’s version of the Temptations’ “(I Know) I’m Losing You.”
I could name several Joe Cocker songs that were better than the originals.
Especially his cover of Dave Mason’s ‘Feelin’ All Right."
I liked Santana’s cover of the Zombies’ “She’s Not There.”
Linda Ronstadt’s cover of Betty Everett’s “You’re No Good.”
The Rolling Stones’ cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.”
Gary Jules cover of Tears for Fears’ Mad World
Can’t link because Work blocks YouTube but…
I like the Cowboy Junkies’ version of “Sweet Jane” better than the original.
The Art of Noise (feat. Tom Jones) rocks the HELL out of Prince’s “Kiss”. I mean, Prince is awesome, but I don’t like the falsetto that he uses on that particular tune - and Jones performs it perfectly.