# covers that are better than the originals **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325 "2003-07-27T22:54:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/21 "2003-07-28T03:19:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spoke- \* > **Well, when this question comes up, I always have to mention Aerosmith’s cover of Come Together, which squashes the Beatles original like a grape.** OOOO! I forgot about that one! Nice! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spoke- \* > **And then of course there’s Aretha Franklin’s cover of R-E-S-P-E-C-T. She kicked Otis Redding’s ass, which ain’t easy to do.** I like both Aretha’s and Otis’ versions equally! ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/22 "2003-07-28T03:24:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fujerica \* > **"Astronomy Domine" by Pink Flyoyd (of course)… was covered by Voivod, and it is wayy better than PF’s, imo** Granted, I’ve never heard Voivod’s version, but PF’s is one of my favorite songs of all time! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Tarrsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@Tarrsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarrsk)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/23 "2003-07-28T03:29:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amore ac studio \* > \*\*A1 – Take On Me (techno cover of 1985 hit by A-Ha, with better hooks and bridges than the original) \*\* I prefer Reel Big Fish’s cover of “Take on Me,” primarily for the single major change they make to the song: reversing the position of the half time drumming during the chorus. Whereas Aha’s original version had the drums slow to half time during the latter half of the chorus, RBF has the drums shift to half time during the first half, and switches back to normal time during the latter half. This gives more emphasis to the entrance of the chorus, and gives a feeling of built-up energy that the original version lacks. Of course, I also have a general predilection for recorded instruments over synthesizers, which adds points to RBF’s version (gotta love that horn rendition of the song’s signature riff, and the metal-guitar Bumblebee Song during the bridge!). ---
**Author:** ![Apoptosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Apoptosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apoptosis)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/24 "2003-07-28T04:53:09Z")
**Rage Against the Machine** performing “Renegades of Funk” by **Afrika Bambaataa**. -Apoptosis ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/25 "2003-07-28T05:01:09Z")
CCR’s cover of “I Heard it on the Grapevine” is superb, way better than the anaemic original. And of course Jimi’s “All Along the Watchtower” … ---
**Author:** ![Teelo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Teelo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teelo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/26 "2003-07-28T05:07:21Z")
Oh man, Radioheads, _Kid A_ was fucking great. It was even better when John Mayer Covered it. Holy crap thats a cool version! ---
**Author:** ![Spurious\_George](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Spurious\_George](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spurious_George)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/27 "2003-07-28T05:21:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, when this question comes up, I always have to mention Aerosmith’s cover of Come Together, which squashes the Beatles original like a grape. Somehow, I haven’t heard that one, but **Soundgarden** ’s version of it also kicks copious ass. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/28 "2003-07-28T05:55:03Z")
Frank Zappa’s cover of _Stairway to Heaven_ is much better than the original. Jimi Hendrix’s cover of _All Alonng the Watchtower_ is better than Bob Dylan’s. Jefferson Airplane’s cover of _High Flyin’ Bird_. Cake’s cover of _Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps_. They Might Be Giants cover of the Fout Lads _Istanbul, Not Constantinople_. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/29 "2003-07-28T06:14:34Z")
Manfred Manns Earth Bands cover of Springsteens _Blinded by the light_. Tori Amos’ cover of Tom Waits’ _Time_. Anne-Sofie von Otter and Elvis Costello delicate blend of Tom Waits’ _Broken bicycles_ ad McCartney’s _Junk_. The Carpenters’ cover of Russells _This masquerade_. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/30 "2003-07-28T06:15:59Z")
And I forgot: Peter Gabriels haunting version of Cohens _Suzanne_. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/31 "2003-07-28T06:33:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Tori Amos’ cover of Tom Waits’ Time. I don’t know the original, but this version is gorgeous. > [@](#): > > It’s all been done before You know, last time one of these threads came around, **SmackFu** said “it’s a new month, so we can have a new best cover songs thread.” I’m starting to realize how true that is. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/32 "2003-07-28T06:40:53Z")
I have nothing useful to post here. But I had to take exception to this: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brad Pittiful \* > \*\*“Head On” redone by the Pixies i think it sounds much better than the orginal by Jesus and Mary Chain \*\* I love the Pixies, but them’s fightin’ words! ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/33 "2003-07-28T06:43:04Z")
Apocalyptica’s instrumental covers of pretty much all of Metallica’s stuff deserves a mention or eight. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/34 "2003-07-28T06:50:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > **I don’t know the original, but this version is gorgeous.** The original is great, but Tori’s version has that little bit extra. ---
**Author:** ![IGJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/igjoe/32/5420_2.png) [@IGJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IGJoe)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/35 "2003-07-28T06:50:45Z")
I’ve always liked Ugly Kid Joe’s version of _Cat’s In The Cradle_ better than Harry Chapin’s. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/36 "2003-07-28T12:16:07Z")
Naked Eyes’s “Always something there to remind me” Sting’s “Little Wing” (I so dislike Hendrix, sorry) ---
**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:** [July 28, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/37 "2003-07-28T13:02:40Z")
Joe Cocker’s version of “The Letter” is just slightly better than the Box Tops’ version (though both are great). Cocker also did terrific covers of “Cry Me A River,” “Feelin’ Alright?”, “With a Little Help From My Friends,” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” and “Delta Lady.” The Bonzo Dog Band’s version of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “The Sound of Music.” Even if you hate the songs (_especially_ if you hate the songs), you’ll like these versions. Lyle Lovett does an amazing version of “Stand by Your Man.” ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/38 "2003-07-28T13:18:41Z")
Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard does a great live version of Cyndi Lauper’s _Girls Just Want To Have Fun_. He slows it right down and it gives a completely new perspective to the song. ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/39 "2003-07-28T13:39:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spoke- \* > **Well, when this question comes up, I always have to mention Aerosmith’s cover of Come Together, which squashes the Beatles original like a grape.** > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > **Crocker also did teriffic covers of . . . “With a Little Help From My Friends,” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” . . .** Wrong, wrong, wrong . . . are you people sick? ---
**Author:** ![GilbertZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b19c9b/32.png) [@GilbertZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilbertZ)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/40 "2003-07-28T13:52:43Z")
Nobody heard of “I will always love you” by Dolly Parton until The Bodyguard “covered” it and then that was all they played on the radio for a long time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325.md?page=3)