# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/61 "2025-03-31T17:26:00Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Ok. I’m going to need help on this one. Where in that insane mess of crazy high-speed guitar solo is Toccatta and Fugue in D Minor? I really clicked around quite a bit trying to find it. I think they just meant that Eruption contains some rapid arpeggiated chords that (if you squint aurally a bit) sound vaguely reminiscient of Bach? ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/62 "2025-03-31T17:29:36Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > _Tomorrow Never Knows_ by the short-lived “super group” 801. Fantastic bass playing by Bill MacCormick: Wonderful stuff. And the drummer, Simon Phillips, was something like nineteen years old at the time, if I’m not mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/63 "2025-03-31T17:30:31Z")
[Les Miserables as a folk song](https://www.tiktok.com/@c.scott_music/video/7468868708329377066) I think I did the link right 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/64 "2025-03-31T17:37:05Z")
The Proclaimers cover of 500 Miles is much, much different than the original Peter, Paul & Mary folk song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tbNlMtqrYS0/maxresdefault.jpg "The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbNlMtqrYS0) ---
**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 31, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/65 "2025-03-31T17:38:53Z")
Bad news, they are different songs with similar titles. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pI_MpXWfP6I/maxresdefault.jpg "Peter, Paul and Mary "500 Miles"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI_MpXWfP6I) ---
**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 31, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/66 "2025-03-31T17:40:14Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1016651/160): > > Bach > Toccata and fugue in D Minor Extreme’s “[Play With Me](https://youtu.be/nDWjWfLU2kQ?si=vUKgYqzvi0FUsCuA&t=144)” also has a similar vibe in the solo. As an added bonus, the opening notes are the same as the opening for “Rondo Alla Turca,” note for note, only with an electric guitar as opposed to a piano. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/67 "2025-03-31T17:47:01Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Bad news, they are different songs with similar titles. 🧠 fart I should have listened to the original first. ---
**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 31, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/68 "2025-03-31T17:49:11Z")
Happens. I love the Proclaimers song, I don’t love the Peter, Paul and Mary version of 500 Miles. But I’m not sure there is a version I love. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/69 "2025-03-31T18:16:14Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I should have listened to the original first. They elevated it by changing everything about it. Tempo, genre, key, lyrics, melody, you name it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/70 "2025-03-31T18:23:09Z")
[The mashup](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFjYBjriP4E&ab_channel=Redrider901) of Every Breath You Take/Peter Gunn. ---
**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 31, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/71 "2025-03-31T20:13:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > [UB40’s cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXt56MB-3vc&ab_channel=UB40VEVO) of [Neil Diamond’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFyNHpNlECI&ab_channel=neildiamondVEVO) Red Red Wine turned a sappy ballad into a reggae hit. Ahem. Tony Tribe did the heavy lifting on that one. It is said that UB40 didn’t even know that it was a Neil Diamond song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PNgzk0TvJJI/maxresdefault.jpg "Tony Tribe - Red Red Wine") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNgzk0TvJJI) j ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/72 "2025-03-31T20:22:46Z")
interesting take: [Flagpole Sitta](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_ovC-Vtp20) ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/73 "2025-03-31T20:25:01Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > the stripped down version of Tears For Fears “Mad World” by Gary Jules, first appearing on the Donnie Darko movie album is absolutely haunting I was going to suggest this, but We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves beat me to it. Not a cover that elevates the original, but one that is one the same level but different is Jeff Beck’s version of “A Day in the Life.” ---
**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 31, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/74 "2025-03-31T20:28:00Z")
There are a few interesting covers by John Cale where he dramatically slows down the tempo. I particularly like this one - I swear I can smell the earth. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9scsI7psd-I/maxresdefault.jpg "Streets Of Laredo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9scsI7psd-I) j ---
**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 31, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/75 "2025-03-31T20:45:33Z")
And while I think of it, this Captain Beefheart cover by Magazine - hmmm - adds a bit of pep. I always thought that the crescendo kinda illustrates what it would feel like to be the clapper of a bell. BTW NSFW - language [https://youtu.be/n810Ea99wNs?feature=shared&1](https://youtu.be/n810Ea99wNs?feature=shared&1) And the original: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qN0eesCbN2A/hqdefault.jpg "I Love You, You Big Dummy - Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0eesCbN2A) j ---
**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 31, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/76 "2025-03-31T20:47:11Z")
> **[Iron and Wine - Love Vigilantes (a New Order cover)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL-mDlRKNKg%2F)** > > "Love Vigilantes" from Iron and Wine’s 5/18/09 release, Around the Well iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/around-well-bonus-track-version/id314988639... Iron and Wine’s downtempo acoustic version of New Order’s “Love Vigilantes” ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/77 "2025-03-31T20:58:41Z")
A wonderful song made wonderfuller. Originally (? Maybe “famously” is more accurate) performed by Johnny Cash. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/k1_EpE5eOPY/maxresdefault.jpg "Jackson") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1_EpE5eOPY) ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/78 "2025-03-31T21:10:38Z")
Burton Cummings (formerly of The Guess Who) performing the Bachman Turner Overdrive song “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ yet,” written by Randy Bachman (formerly of The Guess Who.) It’s… interesting. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M1bijvblzEE/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gOygzMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDJAWh8ZR1flmdlQAO6d4wpwQGCkQ "Burton Cummings - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet 76") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1bijvblzEE) ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/79 "2025-03-31T21:19:11Z")
Not for nothing, but I’m struggling to figure out how you would change the time signature of a song and still call it the same song. You’d be cutting out notes or adding some in; the lyrics wouldn’t fit the meter anymore. It would be like re-creating a Model-T by only giving it two wheels. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/80 "2025-03-31T21:25:24Z")
I think Clapton’s upbeat version of “Layla” is a better song than his original with Derek and the Dominos. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349.md?page=5)