# Covers of Songs That Radically -- And Successfully -- Re-interpreted the Work **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2010, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927 "2010-12-31T08:05:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/241 "2011-07-31T19:44:11Z")
I think Reba McEntire’s [version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYVKQW-RORs)of the Everly Brother’s Cathy’s Clown was an interesting take on the original, by changing the song from 1st to 3rd person. It’s subtle, but it completely changes the song. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/242 "2012-02-19T16:43:49Z")
“My Favorite Things” John Coltrane ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/243 "2012-02-19T17:06:23Z")
> [@janis\_and\_c0](#): > > I think Reba McEntire’s [version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYVKQW-RORs)of the Everly Brother’s Cathy’s Clown was an interesting take on the original, by changing the song from 1st to 3rd person. It’s subtle, but it completely changes the song. Damn, you’re right, the third person switch completely alters the meaning of the song. Simple and effective. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/244 "2012-06-05T04:43:22Z")
These two girls put a country spin on Fun’s song “Some Nights.” I saw the video and thought of this thread. Original [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92XD7d-tqRg) Cover [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-JFNzw0zPE) ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/245 "2012-06-05T11:43:03Z")
Tricky’s cover of “Dear God” by XTC: [Tricky - Dear God - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZzvugyaR3Y) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/246 "2013-09-06T13:20:38Z")
Just ran across [an interesting cover of “Hallelujah”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2NEU6Xf7lM) with a Norwegian acoustic band giving it a nice acoustic treatment. Yeppers, this is a zombie thread now. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/247 "2013-09-09T14:58:32Z")
Toots and the Mayalls Reggae reinterpretation of [Take Me Home, Country Roads](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M1JJ8fAXHo). Blows Denver away. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/248 "2013-09-09T16:07:37Z")
Follow For Now’s version of Public Enemy’s “She Watch Channel Zero” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eTZMwuHxkQU/maxresdefault.jpg "Follow for Now - She Watch Channel Zero") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTZMwuHxkQU) Someone mentioned Hindu Love God’s cover of “Raspberry Beret” earlier. (RIP Warren) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61PgHobvCYs) ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/249 "2013-09-09T17:04:00Z")
The Gathering’s [Stonegarden (original version)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Daypo4qQY8Y) The Gathering’s [Stonegarden (live remake)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRnlBucJGrI) ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/250 "2013-09-12T04:05:05Z")
[Iron Maiden - Strange World Original](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8ZKTFPveuA&feature=player_detailpage) [Mago De Oz - Strange World Cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeqo0fIJ4GM&feature=player_detailpage) [Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvuO2EvCTAE&feature=player_detailpage) [Hellsongs - Seasons In The Abyss](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LOarjz5EeY&feature=player_detailpage) [Metallica - Orion](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qYqi-EMErU&feature=player_detailpage) [Rodrigo y Gabriela - Orion](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Z1_GAZyCo&feature=player_detailpage) ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/251 "2013-09-12T04:34:35Z")
The thread that will not die. I really like Metallica’s version of “Turn the Page” and HIM’s cover of Solitary man. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/252 "2013-09-12T06:16:16Z")
Where to start? I read somewhere that The Byrds released “Mr Tambourine Man” before Dylan. If so, who did the cover version? I think I heard the same thing happened with Joe Cocker, The Beatles, and “With A Little Help From My Friends”. Of course, Jose Feliciano owned The Doors “Light My Fire” and made it his. Now I might be getting a bit obscure: The California Guitar Trio does a lot of good covers, IMHO. They did a mash up of Ghost Riders In The Sky and Riders on the Storm and came up with [Ghost Riders On The Storm.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W45HL7Dj0BI) I like David Bromberg’s bluesy cover of Sam Cooke’s [Wonderful World.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tpgACj_j5k) The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain did a good cover of this song I’ve always thought Isaac Hayes wrote about [me\*.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfK-UzQ48JE) Long John Baldry did a good cover of Willie Dixon’s [Seventh Son.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XN5Fgr9kw8) He even managed to sneak in a verse of “Hoochie Coochie Man” in there. Eric Clapton really nails Dylan’s [Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqISzRFzDyE) Fairport Convention did a great version of [Tam Lin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guFZkLxYM60) here. This James Taylor version of [Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgBIk7Ibmt0) may not be much of a departure, but he’s got a great arrangement/instrumentation for it that just puts it all together for me. \* except that I’m neither black or a private dick. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/253 "2013-09-12T14:54:52Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Eric Clapton really nails Dylan’s [Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqISzRFzDyE) That’s some absolutely awesome guitar work, but he utterly destroyed the melody. If we could lay those instrumentals on the Peter, Paul & Mary vocal harmonies, that would make a heck of a cover. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/254 "2013-09-12T16:10:36Z")
Pearl Jam did a great cover of their own Lukin, which has been called “[Slow Lukin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rku-pXi5h8)” Quite a change from the [original version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hd3UGvRgY0#t=0m34s) ---
**Author:** ![Oaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/85e7bf/32.png) [@Oaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oaken)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/255 "2013-09-14T04:40:55Z")
Irish mailman Jim “The King” Brown does Elvis singing songs by other dead guys: Whole Lotta Rosie: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFRRozjDwsA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFRRozjDwsA) ---
**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:** [September 14, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/256 "2013-09-14T05:30:28Z")
Fans of Iggy Pop or Sonic Youth should check out Uncle Tupelo’s cover of “I Wanna Be Your Dog”: [Uncle Tupelo - I Wanna Be Your Dog - YouTube](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IWn5B1FE3fU) Some tasty licks are there for Snowboarder Bo as well.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Girlundone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Girlundone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girlundone)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/257 "2013-09-14T05:34:01Z")
I love these [two cello players](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S7bz1gFc2kg&feature=plpp) covering Nirvana’s _Smells Like Teen Spirit_. I also love [Savage Swing](http://youtu.be/J02sXuQCOys) covered by [Miss May I.](http://youtu.be/_o98S9dXTb4) Completely different feel. Another favorite is [Jack Johnson’s](http://youtu.be/gTTJQWWZrYc) cover of [Sublime’s _Badfish_](http://youtu.be/rmadSGJCzo8) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/258 "2013-09-14T07:10:13Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I read somewhere that The Byrds released “Mr Tambourine Man” before Dylan. If so, who did the cover version? Dylan’s was released first. The Byrds happened to get a copy of the song after it was recorded and before the album was released. > [@](#): > > I think I heard the same thing happened with Joe Cocker, The Beatles, and “With A Little Help From My Friends”. That did happen with Something. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/259 "2013-09-14T08:28:18Z")
I [like what Cat Power did](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W97TF9PCKWg) with the Stones’ “Satisfaction”. In a similar vein, [the Postmarks’ cover of “Six Different Ways” by the Cure](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sISLKy--OE) ([original](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouitmsVcXqY) for comparison). Both from albums chock-full of great covers. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/260 "2013-09-14T17:50:42Z")
Speaking of Cellos, Raputina does a hauntingly beautiful cover of CCR’s [Bad Moon Rising.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9KchCouIjI) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927.md?page=14)