# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/121 "2011-01-03T15:47:28Z")
I’m going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash’s Hurt cover. I think it’s far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail’s version. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/122 "2011-01-03T16:08:42Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I’m going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash’s Hurt cover. I think it’s far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail’s version. Agreed, it’s not only the melody but who it is singing it. You just _know_ Johnny Cash has seen more pain than Trent Reznor can dream of. ‘I wear this crown of thorns’…though…really Cash? That’s not the line. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/123 "2011-01-03T16:31:05Z")
[Beck’s cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66emFDgnvts) of Bowie’s [Diamond Dogs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36lWAcY9IXE). (Here for [another Bowie live version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gsGY7nUlio).) I think Beck’s cover is much truer in feel to the surrealistic source material (Samuel Delany’s _[Dhalgren](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhalgren)_) And it gets rid of the moronic genocide line from Bowie’s most played performance. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/124 "2011-01-03T17:08:45Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > [Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s cover of _Somewhere Over The Rainbow_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I) is pretty different from the original, and very popular. I love the Over The Rainbow part of that song. Then he segues into What A Wonderful World, though, and the whole thing is ruined. ☹ Bishop Allen did a cover of _Eve of Destruction_ that I like quite a bit. Granted, I wasn’t really familiar with the original when I heard the cover. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/125 "2011-01-03T17:09:51Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I’m going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash’s Hurt cover. I think it’s far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail’s version. Somewhere or other Reznor himself acknowledges that Cash’s version is better. Can’t find the cite, sorry… ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/126 "2011-01-03T19:00:12Z")
Disturbed’s[Down With The Sickness](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk6kEZKlFa4) is a really effective, raw song. Richard Cheese’s [cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBOpk33VlSg), however, is spot-on perfect as the background music for the montage of mall life in the Dawn of the Dead remake. Hank Williams is a legend and all, but I much prefer [Fats Domino’s Jambalaya](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgH7WIEImRA) to his. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/127 "2011-01-03T19:01:12Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I’m going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash’s Hurt cover. I think it’s far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail’s version. > [@Sitnam](#): > > Agreed, it’s not only the melody but who it is singing it. You just _know_ Johnny Cash has seen more pain than Trent Reznor can dream of. > > ‘I wear this crown of thorns’…though…really Cash? That’s not the line. > [@Frylock](#): > > Somewhere or other Reznor himself acknowledges that Cash’s version is better. Can’t find the cite, sorry… I was going to bring this up except that I don’t think it’s a radical re-interpretation, just an ass-kicking one. The video cranks it to the next level, and his death not long after makes it one of the most perfect and moving elegies ever. ---
**Author:** ![Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acorns.but_not_Bacon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/128 "2011-01-03T19:10:14Z")
Goldfrapp’s interpretation of Yes Sir I Can Boogie. They turn a [cheesy seventies disco tune](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygb0F-VCTPI) into a [sexy, filthy and mature song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEp6MH_uLw8) Also their interpretation of Let’s Get Physical is also sleazy and better for it [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w4EnuPMK9Q](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w4EnuPMK9Q) ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/129 "2011-01-03T20:18:12Z")
The Carolina Chocolate Drops’ cover of [Hit 'em Up Style](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKTXJUYiAT4) is a tad bit different from Blu Cantrell’s recording… ---
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/130 "2011-01-03T20:48:05Z")
Johnny Cash’s [cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhEmwgzmMsM) of [Rusty Cage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBZs_Py-1_0) by Soundgarden is pretty kick ass as well ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/131 "2011-01-03T22:08:58Z")
I really love the [choral version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX_X8El-S1k) of “I saw the Sign” in the film Slackers, originally by [Ace of Base](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5fRVm3k1aY). > [@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.”. That is a good one. I also love: > [@Sitnam](#): > > [50 Cent’s _Ayo Technology_ covered by Milow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE9IchvpOPk) And of course Ben Fold’s [cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSJxvi767kQ&feature=related) of “Bitches ain’t shit” originally by [Dr Dre](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KhUnu0T7G0). > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I heard [this version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vEStDd6HVY&feature=&p=FB2A700B1A28B590&index=0&playnext=1) of Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” before I heard the original version. I didn’t realize it was a cover of a Gaga song, I thought it was just a great song. I was very disappointed by the original version, which I thought the cover vastly improved on. I’m kind of fond of a ukele version of Paparazzi,but I’mhaving trouble finding it. > [@Sigmundex](#): > > Jesus Christ, Superstar My favorite rendition of this album is the version with Indigo Girls and Big Fish Ensemble. In addition to having the lesbian duo play Mary and Jesus, it’s the only version I’ve heard that really tries to rock it and make it sound great, whereas most other version are talk-singy or have mediocre singers. > [@Enderw24](#): > > I’m going to third the suggestion of Johnny Cash’s Hurt cover. I think it’s far superior to the original Nine Inch Nail’s version. I kind of like his “Personal Jesus” cover too… ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/132 "2011-01-03T22:56:06Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > I’m kind of fond of a ukele version of Paparazzi but I’m having trouble finding it. Probably because it was actually [Poker Face](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du0zS1CEiAs&feature=related) LOL. [Daughtry’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqT4VnnEU0M&feature=related) Poker Face is also a good soulful crooning reinterpretation. Seem’s like there are a ton of excellent reinterpretations of Take On Me. I particularly like Annie B Sweet’s and ukebuckets’. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/133 "2011-01-03T23:50:15Z")
Machinae Supremacy’s cover of [Gimme More](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGUqTa04Z6o). ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/134 "2011-01-04T00:15:00Z")
Tom Waits does a downright creepy version of [Heigh Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_zaZ3utUY) ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/135 "2011-01-04T04:48:53Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Agreed, it’s not only the melody but who it is singing it. You just _know_ Johnny Cash has seen more pain than Trent Reznor can dream of. > > ‘I wear this crown of thorns’…though…really Cash? That’s not the line. Hold on now, can you really say that? The original is a work of pure genius and that kind of thing doesn’t emerge from a vacuum. The Cash cover with the video is runaway epic, though. The two versions are different enough that I can’t say one is vastly superior to the other. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/136 "2011-01-04T05:08:33Z")
[Breakin’ Up is Hard to Do](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbad22CKlB4&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=MLGxdCwVVULXcaYFMOb0qLyJvsT6dFNEH8) (Neil Sedaka 1962) [Breakin’ Up Is Hard to Do](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hh--22Eu_M) (Neil Sedaka 1975) Sedaka successfully reinterprets his up-tempo pop hit as a slow ballad. ---
**Author:** ![Caiata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@Caiata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caiata)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/137 "2011-01-04T05:12:07Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > This cover of Iron Maiden’s _Number of the Beast_ is probably one of my favourites: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OueweGTvps](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OueweGTvps) And [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6RWZRgQwz8) cover of Iron Maiden’s _Number of the Beast_, by Australian band Powderfinger, is one of my favourites 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/138 "2011-01-04T08:14:56Z")
I’ve posted this before, but I still love Bowling For Soup’s take on Fergie’s “London Bridge”: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXbgSMT-0j4) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/139 "2011-01-04T11:41:09Z")
The Flying Lizards deserve a mention for reinventing [Money (That’s What I Want)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=insVgcOVVDQ) into near unrecognizability. They also do a cover of James Brown’s _Sex Machine_ that is so deadpan it’s hilarious. In the same vein: > [@cornflakes](#): > > How about Oops! I Did It Again, as done by Richard Thompson? How about the same song by [Max Raabe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcDfL0t_L1M) (here presented over Britney’s original video)? Raabe is a wonder - see also [Sexbomb](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkTPoISU5z8&feature=fvsr). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927/140 "2011-01-04T13:31:13Z")
Dr. John’s [almost dirgelike rendition](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caRxAgYEnOU) of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-of-songs-that-radically-and-successfully-re-interpreted-the-work/565927.md?page=8)