# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/21 "2010-12-31T15:43:59Z")
Toad the Wet Sprocket’s version of Kiss’ “[Rock & Roll All Nite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqzs_8lRW0M)” Johnny Cash rocked a version of NIN’s “[Hurt](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)” I’m fond of The Divine Comedy’s version of QOTSA’s “[No One Knows](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gox6zrcoQI)” Tricky’s cover of Public Enemy’s “[Black Steel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDHl5djnYM4)”. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/22 "2010-12-31T15:45:18Z")
Soft Cell’s Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go gave both songs a completely different spin. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/23 "2010-12-31T15:55:08Z")
The Gourds version of Snoop Dogg’s [Gin And Juice](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/24 "2010-12-31T16:04:05Z")
Alanis Morisette’s tongue-in-cheek cover of [My Humps](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRmYfVCH2UA). [Original version.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEe_eraFWWs) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Amazing_Hanna)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/25 "2010-12-31T16:07:11Z")
Ane Brun’s cover of “Big in Japan”. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/26 "2010-12-31T16:07:58Z")
Chris Daughtry’s slow acoustic cover of Lady Gaga’s [Poker Face](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t90dFkM9acg) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/27 "2010-12-31T16:09:09Z")
Luther Right and The Wrongs cover the entire album The Wall…in bluegrass. You can find snippets of it, IIRC, on youtube, their website and their myspace page. IMHO it’s worth tracking down. ETA Comfortably Numb [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEvznepdGDI) As a side note, they got Roger Waters’ blessing on the album ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/28 "2010-12-31T16:11:00Z")
> [@Tanbarkie](#): > > There’s a near-endless array of “white dudes covering hiphop songs as ballads” out there, but for my money, the best is Jonathan Coulton’s “Baby Got Back.” It’s one of the few that seems genuinely respectful and affectionate for the original (rather than playing up the contrast for yuks or giving a white singer the chance to “edgily” say the N-word). Plus the actual message in “Baby Got Back” actually lends itself nicely to a folky take. Have to agree with this, plus I love his reinterpretation of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions” as well. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/29 "2010-12-31T16:29:34Z")
I always thought the Lemonheads’ cover of [“Mrs. Robinson”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvMFm5nKeUc) was pretty rad. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/30 "2010-12-31T17:39:54Z")
Bernadette Peters’s version of “You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun” turns the song from a cheerful ditty (as sung by Ethel Merman) to a sad reflection on the character’s failings. Lyle Lovett does a nice interpretation of "Stand By Your Man.’ ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/31 "2010-12-31T17:53:37Z")
> [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > Johnny Cash rocked a version of NIN’s “[Hurt](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho)” This is the song I came into this thread to mention. Well, that and the Kingsmen’s version of “Louie, Louie”. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/32 "2010-12-31T18:02:43Z")
I always liked Alien Ant Farm’s version of [Smooth Criminal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDl9ZMfj6aE) but am not hip enough to understand the video. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/33 "2010-12-31T18:31:31Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Soft Cell’s Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go gave both songs a completely different spin. And then Coil did their take on Tainted Love: https://www.youtube.com/embed/eo3TUtRnZi4?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![Pearson\_Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pearson_flyer/32/7241_2.png) [@Pearson\_Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearson_Flyer)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/34 "2010-12-31T19:06:53Z")
I wouldn’t call it a radical departure, but I’ve always loved Faith No More’s version of “Easy (Like Sunday Morning)”. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9X_msJ-7OI) And “Hit Me Baby One More Time” by Travis is also good. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acULghgYUg0) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/35 "2010-12-31T19:16:23Z")
This is my all-time favorite example: [“Walk on By” by Dionne Warwick](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO073fekFfA) [“Walk on By” by the Stranglers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqfqVDHNW6c) ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/36 "2010-12-31T19:28:02Z")
The example I always give in these threads: Husker Du’s cover of The Byrds’ [Eight Miles High](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKyBlJ_JN8). ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/37 "2010-12-31T19:36:21Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [Straight Outta Compton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMZi25Pq3T8), by NWA > > And then Nina Gordon [folks the whole thing up.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2EGOB9-lc) On similar lines Dynamite Hack’s cover of Easy-E’s “[Boyz n tha hood](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsqONjjMDfw).” ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/38 "2010-12-31T19:40:12Z")
Fleetwood Mac - “[Somebody’s gonna get their head kicked in](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0U-eef6OyQ)” covered by many different punk bands like the Rezillos and [Youth Brigade](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUYjxOLmQPo). ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/39 "2010-12-31T19:49:33Z")
_In the Pines/Black Girl/Where did you sleep last Night_ Interesting song Already about a century old when [Ledbelly popularized it](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp3af4ZJS4w) [“High lonesome” rendition by Bill Monroe & his Bluegrass Boys](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_UkluxB7gc) [A haunting gothic cover by Curt Cobain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXYz0gtJeM&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/40 "2010-12-31T21:03:30Z")
[“Ace of Spades”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYGLrXR_odI&feature=related) by Motorhead [“Ace of Spades”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxh492o2aM) by Hayseed Dixie While we’re on the subject of blue grass covers of metal songs, there’s also the Meat Purveyors’ cover of Ratt’s “Round and Round”. Unfortunately, I can’t find a link to the Meat Purveyors’ version on YouTube. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927.md?page=3)