# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/101 "2025-04-01T12:40:52Z")
I’ve posted this before, but what the hell: You know Bob Dylan’s apocalyptic stream of consciousness “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”? Well, Bryan Ferry made it rock. I’m guessing cocaine was involved. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/alKDz9sz4nY/maxresdefault.jpg "Bryan Ferry - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alKDz9sz4nY) ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/102 "2025-04-01T13:57:22Z")
British Heavy Rockers **Judas Priest** do versions of **Fleetwood Mac’s Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)** and **Joan Baez’s Diamonds And Rust** TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/103 "2025-04-01T14:00:58Z")
The **Futureheads** slightly unusual cover of **Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/awjE92YZeEQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Futureheads - Hounds of Love (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awjE92YZeEQ) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/104 "2025-04-01T14:03:34Z")
I don’t know whether versions by fairly random people on the internet count but I thought Todd Barriage did an interesting emo version of Guns and Roses Sweet Child O Mine that works well without using Slash’s famous guitar riff [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uRqZ1TI32ZQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Guns n Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine, but it's super emo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRqZ1TI32ZQ) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/105 "2025-04-01T14:31:58Z")
Your link didn’t work for me, so here’s another just in case. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GHGqh2lisAQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Bryan Ferry - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (Official Video), Full HD (AI Remastered and Upscaled)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHGqh2lisAQ) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/106 "2025-04-01T14:37:41Z")
A good Springsteen song becomes in my opinion better in this high-energy cover by Dave Edmunds. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nlqJc8qYU_o/hqdefault.jpg "Dave Edmunds - From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlqJc8qYU_o) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/107 "2025-04-01T14:46:28Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > 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. [Example A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4syA9aNnNa0) Not insurmountable going the other way. Not all that uncommon in bluegrass/oldtime. And, less drastic, going from 4/4 to cut time. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/108 "2025-04-01T15:08:01Z")
Harry Nilsson’s _You Can’t Do That_ name checks 18 other Beatles songs. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TqDB4-mJpx0/maxresdefault.jpg "Harry Nilsson - You Can't Do That (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqDB4-mJpx0) ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/109 "2025-04-01T15:10:38Z")
Laibach have made several concept albums of covers, all of which completely reinvent the songs. There was their interpretation of _[The Sound of Music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOfkwm_Yz0Q)_ (which they played live in North Korea): They covered the entirety of _Let it Be_ except for the title track (because they say it’s the Beatles’ [worst album](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOtQyctKu0I)): Laibach also released an album, _Volk_, of various countries’ [national anthems](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6YkXWqsxIA): And of course there’s their legendary “_[Sympathy For The Devil](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7muCRio2nQ)_” cover: ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/110 "2025-04-01T16:31:54Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > And of course there’s their legendary “_[Sympathy For The Devil](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7muCRio2nQ)_” cover: That is some video. Here is my favorite (loose) cover of “Constantinople”. This should perhaps be cross-posted to the “What do you listen to while high?” thread. [The Residents - Constantinople](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxIeOjSKzCo) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/111 "2025-04-01T16:38:51Z")
This cover of NIrvana’s lithium is good. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ojWg6UqFkcA/maxresdefault.jpg "Lithium") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojWg6UqFkcA) ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/112 "2025-04-01T17:12:48Z")
I’m a big fan of Devo’s version of the Stones’ Satisfaction: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jadvt7CbH1o/maxresdefault.jpg "DEVO "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" [Official Music Video]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jadvt7CbH1o) ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/113 "2025-04-01T18:39:38Z")
Maybe my favorite cover version of all time is Christine and the Queens’ cover of Beyoncé’s “Sorry.” I find the [original](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxsmWxxouIM) kind of tuneless, but the [cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9sk6GCJgkc) is ridiculously danceable, and Rahim’s voice is just on fire for it. Runner up fave might be Happy Mondays “Step On” which is a cover of John Kongos’ “He’s Gonna Step On You Again.” They both stomp, but the [original](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N2Ul7ll-FM) is very much a 70s hard rock groove, while the Mondays basically set the template for [Madchester](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFBQ0PH5rM4) with their beat. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/114 "2025-04-01T18:54:45Z")
Remember the new-wave classic [“Something About You” by Level 42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpdQQoc-gkk) ? Ever feel like it might be improved by some neo-soul styling? Well you’re right, and here’s the proof, by Atlanta musician [Anthony David](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77V4-6OHY1c). ---
**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:** [April 2, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/115 "2025-04-02T16:15:20Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > Runner up fave might be Happy Mondays “Step On” which is a cover of John Kongos’ “He’s Gonna Step On You Again.” Oooo! Great choice! They knew how good it was as well. > It was originally intended as a contribution to the _Rubáiyát: Elektra’s 40th Anniversary compilation_ for their US label Elektra, but they decided to keep it to release as a single, and instead covered Kongos’s “Tokoloshe Man” for the compilation. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He%27s_Gonna_Step_on_You_Again#Happy_Mondays_version) j ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/116 "2025-04-02T19:40:29Z")
This was recorded as a joke, but it’s still impressive in its own way. “Straight Outta Compton”, by Nina Gordon: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NG2EGOB9-lc/hqdefault.jpg "Straight Outta Compton - Nina Gordon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2EGOB9-lc) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/117 "2025-04-02T20:19:22Z")
**I Wanna Be Your Man** I don’t know if one can cover one’s own song, but I want to play too so here goes: Lennon and McCartney wrote the song, gave it to the Stones as a favor. Stones recorded it, kind of a “slow rocker” version, released it November 1, 1963. Beatles released their own much faster version three weeks later. In my opinion the Fabs’ version is vastly superior. The Stones sound like they’re dragging the song along behind them, where the Fabs are pushing it at high speed. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/118 "2025-04-02T21:40:11Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > This was recorded as a joke, but it’s still impressive in its own way. “Straight Outta Compton”, by Nina Gordon: Dynamite Hack also famously did a cover of “[Boyz in the Hood](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeL9gagV_VA).” Kinda cute back in 1999, but the joke of whiter-than-white bro-dudes casually dropping the N-bomb in a joke song has never quite sit well. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/119 "2025-04-02T21:44:39Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > Kinda cute back in 1999, but the joke of whiter-than-white bro-dudes casually dropping the N-bomb in a joke song has never quite sit well. I eventually came around to the same take on Nina Gordon’s bit. ---
**Author:** ![frognot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frognot/32/8752_2.png) [@frognot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frognot)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349/120 "2025-04-03T00:15:46Z")
Lots of bands have covered “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak but my favorite was by Giant Drag Ryan Adams covered Taylor Swift’s entire album “1989” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-elevate-the-original-by-changing-tempo-genre-time-signature-etc/1016349.md?page=7)