# Covers of songs that elevate the original by changing tempo, genre, time signature, etc **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 30, 2025, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349 "2025-03-30T17:20:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/1 "2025-03-30T17:20:37Z")
What are some covers of songs that change the fundamentals of the original - tempo, time signature, even genre - and pull it off or even improve the original? (NOTE: The last time this topic came up appears to have been in 2011, so I think it’s time for a new one.) Alanis Morisette took Green Day’s Basket Case, originally an upbeat, pop-punk anthem, and turned it into a heartfelt, [mournful dirge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCNLDKbAyvI). In a good way. Rumor has it that Green Day was scheduled to be the musical guest that night on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but he had to go to rehab and Alanis stepped in. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TCNLDKbAyvI/maxresdefault.jpg "Alanis Morissette - "Basket Case" live (cover Green Day) @ Jimmy Kimmel Live, 26/set/2012") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCNLDKbAyvI) Some reggae musician I’d never heard of and [took Adele’s Hello and reggae-fied it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t071Wm45qWM), and the results are spectacular. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t071Wm45qWM/maxresdefault.jpg "Conkarah & Rosie Delmah - Hello (Reggae Cover) [Official Video]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t071Wm45qWM) Let’s see some others! ETA: Can I get a moderator to embed those thinks rather than anchor them to text? I could not figure out how to do it for love or money. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/2 "2025-03-30T17:22:16Z")
Yes’s version of America by Paul Simon is made epic. 10 minutes long and very Prog. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/y0zvUdOOG_w/maxresdefault.jpg "America (2024 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0zvUdOOG_w) > [@HeyHomie](#): > > ETA: Can I get a moderator to embed those thinks rather than anchor them to text? I could not figure out how to do it for love or money. Hopefully that is what you wanted. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/3 "2025-03-30T17:34:57Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Hopefully that is what you wanted. Perfect! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/4 "2025-03-30T17:35:09Z")
Great Big Sea covered REM’s “It’s the End of the World As We Know It”…even faster. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/H3T-MgjUveE/maxresdefault.jpg "Great Big Sea - It's The End Of The World As We Know It (1998)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3T-MgjUveE) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/5 "2025-03-30T17:38:13Z")
Catchy little folk-blues tune from way back in 1929: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/swhEa8vuP6U/maxresdefault.jpg "Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie When the Levee Breaks - Famous 1927 Mississippi River Flood") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swhEa8vuP6U) Apocalyptic, drum-heavy jam: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uwiTs60VoTM/maxresdefault.jpg "When the Levee Breaks (Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwiTs60VoTM) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/6 "2025-03-30T17:39:16Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Alanis Morisette took Green Day’s Basket Case, originally an upbeat, pop-punk anthem, and turned it into a heartfelt, [mournful dirge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCNLDKbAyvI). The brilliant Tori Amos did the same with Nirvana. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HaAI3jI7uCc/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGDwgKCh_MA8=&rs=AOn4CLBcfWNgGgVK-UXqtEXN_3t0amkXzA "Tori Amos - Smells Like Teen Spirit") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaAI3jI7uCc) Cobain was evidently a fan of this version. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/7 "2025-03-30T17:40:19Z")
I wanna hear a whole album of Joan Jett & Paul Westerberg covering Cole Porter songs. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eUKWMOZFTGs/hqdefault.jpg "Joan Jett & Paul Westerberg Let's Do It Tank Girl OST") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUKWMOZFTGs) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/8 "2025-03-30T18:03:42Z")
Eva Cassidy took Sting’s “Fields of Gold” and turned it into a bluesy folk masterpiece. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9UVjjcOUJLE/maxresdefault.jpg "Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UVjjcOUJLE) ---
**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:** [March 30, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/9 "2025-03-30T20:18:31Z")
I don’t have much time for David Gates or Bread, but look at what Ken Boothe produced: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JZHTg26q1Js/maxresdefault.jpg "Ken Boothe - Everything I Own (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZHTg26q1Js) j ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/10 "2025-03-30T20:25:52Z")
Shawn Colvin’s dreamy version of Viva Las Vegas (I discovered it watching the credit roll of The Big Lebowski) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SNPJB_MndD0/maxresdefault.jpg "Shawn Colvin Viva Las Vegas HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPJB_MndD0) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/11 "2025-03-30T20:33:20Z")
The Bangles cover of Simon & Garfurnkel’s “Hazy Shade of Winter” changed the beat, tempo and brought it to a new audience. Not just four pretty girls. [The Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter (Official Video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxrwImCJCqk) ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/12 "2025-03-30T20:33:49Z")
Yo La Tengo takes the manic punk energy of the Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” and turns it into a laconic surfer instrumental [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WqiGUnhUIk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WqiGUnhUIk) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/13 "2025-03-30T20:34:57Z")
I should have mentioned _All along the Watchtower_ by Jimi Hendrix. Apparently even Dylan preferred his version. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TLV4_xaYynY/maxresdefault.jpg "The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaYynY) vs. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bT7Hj-ea0VE/maxresdefault.jpg "Bob Dylan - All Along the Watchtower (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT7Hj-ea0VE) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/14 "2025-03-30T20:49:13Z")
Pig took the industrial synth-rock sound of Nine Inch Nails’ “Head Like a Hole” and turned it into what I can only describe as gothic jazz. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2em9eGwH2fE/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGE8gVChlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLD4s62KgXqBKgkc-OizPLAYvZNOvA "Pig - Head Like A Hole") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2em9eGwH2fE) ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/15 "2025-03-30T20:52:28Z")
Here’s a cover of “When the Levee Breaks” that’s little different: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/REGe-5TyNkg/maxresdefault.jpg "When the Levee Breaks") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REGe-5TyNkg) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/16 "2025-03-30T20:53:49Z")
Sarah Polley’s cover of the Tragically Hip’s “Courage” takes a relatively upbeat song and makes it sad and creepy (which more suits the lyrics.) It’s really the only good Hip cover I know of. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/17 "2025-03-30T20:56:58Z")
I love how the Rolling Stones changed bluesman Robert Johnson’s “Love in Vain” to slow 6/8 (and inserted a minor chord). The acoustic, bluegrassy version on _Let it Bleed_ is fine, but the live cut on _Get Yer Ya-Yas Out!_ is perfection (including Mick Taylor’s achingly beautiful guitar solo): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WuBJn25atVk/maxresdefault.jpg "Love In Vain (Live)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuBJn25atVk) ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/18 "2025-03-30T20:57:47Z")
“Iron Man” by the Cardigans: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZVnnrrrcQCU/maxresdefault.jpg "The Cardigans - Iron Man (Black Sabbath Cover) - Live @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - 12/2018") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVnnrrrcQCU) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/19 "2025-03-30T21:22:06Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > I don’t have much time for David Gates or Bread, but look at what Ken Boothe produced Ah, that’s what must have inspired [Culture Club’s cover.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orKBofGrPZ0) Sounds great in the “Official Video”, but I like the live version for the energy and Boy George’s outfit… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HRM9GsfualY/hqdefault.jpg "Everything I Own - Culture Club") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRM9GsfualY) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/20 "2025-03-30T21:32:37Z")
One of my faves is Absolutely Sweet Marie by Jason and the Scorchers. Tried to post link, but kept getting an error message. I guarantee it is worth a quick search. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349.md?page=2)