# Favorite Cover Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2018, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214 "2018-02-05T14:12:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/21 "2018-02-05T18:17:09Z")
Ryan Adams, “[Wonderwall](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzZhtrsbJzs)”. (Oasis) The Lemonheads, “[My Name is Luka](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_oVgtZj9sg)”. (Suzanne Vega) I like a lot of Dave Edmunds songs that are covers. I like his “Girls Talk” better than Elvis Costello’s, and his “I Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock and Roll” better than Nick Lowe’s and “Queen of Hearts” better than whoever wrote the song. And his “Get Out of Denver” is better than Bob Seger’s. Oh, and Louis Armstrong’s “[Stardust](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-PDnqrecB0)” is the best version of Hoagy Carmichael’s song, ever. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/22 "2018-02-05T18:24:51Z")
> [@Dancer\_Flight](#): > > I heard the Sunday’s cover of Wild Horses well before the Rolling Stones (Thanks to BtVS). After hearing both, I’m sticking with the cover. > > Boomtown Rats’ I don’t like Mondays was covered by Tori Amos to great effect. I also prefer her version of Angie. > > Vanessa Carlton’s version of Paint it Black is much more listenable than the Stones’ original. > > Hmmm, I guess I like the Rolling Stones, just sung by someone else. Yes! That Sundays cover was one I was thinking of before I made this list, and then forgot about it by the time I was at a computer. U2 also did a cover of Wild Horses which I like better than the Rolling Stones original, but not as much as the Sundays cover. I agree about the “Painted Black” cover, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/23 "2018-02-05T18:38:17Z")
This version of [Little Wing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYDNcfFn-gw) by The Corrs is one of over 30 covers of [this original](https://vimeo.com/166581864) by… Jimmy Hendrix. 😃 Then today I was introduced to [this version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH9FyLsfDzw) of Africa, the [original being by Toto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQbiNvZqaY). ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/24 "2018-02-05T18:56:02Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > Although I like other songs by the Doors, I never cared for LMF. I thought it was a tedious, meandering drag of a song. This cover of it turns it into a punchy, upbeat pop number with just enough of a hard edge to give it a garage-band sound, and the vocals build very gradually in intensity, climaxing in the final chorus which Duke belts out with genuine power and passion that Jim Morrison, frankly, couldn’t have pulled off himself. I liked José Feliciano’s cover of _Light My Fire_. I also like _Roll Over, Beethoven_ by the Electric Light Orchestra. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/25 "2018-02-05T19:01:48Z")
Rodrigo y Gabriela did a lot of flamenco-inflected but otherwise spot-on covers early in their careers (and still do live), mostly Metallica but here’s [Stairway](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOtaJKrim2E). ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/26 "2018-02-05T19:12:27Z")
The White Stripes version of [“Jolene”](https://youtu.be/jFMLCPwxtXA). The Disturbed version of [“The Sound of Silence”](https://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4) ---
**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:** [February 5, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/27 "2018-02-05T19:32:15Z")
I Don’t Need No Doctor (Humble Pie/Rockin’ The Filmore) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/28 "2018-02-05T19:36:02Z")
I knew I’d forget one. The Doubleclicks - [“The Middle”](https://youtu.be/gotIAnSjFF8). Jimmy Eat World does the song wrong, _this_ is the way it’s meant to be done. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/29 "2018-02-05T20:58:02Z")
I much enjoy _Save Ferris’_ cover of [Come On Eileen](https://youtu.be/HCzWPBR30Nk). ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/30 "2018-02-05T21:12:13Z")
A lot of stuff by The Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band, The Dead IMHO, were a GREAT cover band that also did original stuff. [Dylans\* Tangled Up in Blue\*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Aw7FW1Frjs) [Smokey Robinson’s _Second That Emotion_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Za1LZbSo6M) [Johnny Cashs _Big River_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEU0_Mqor2k) I could go on and on! ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/31 "2018-02-05T22:09:22Z")
You’ve never seen or heard a cuter version of “[Single Ladies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIr8-f2OWhs)” than the one by Pomplamoose. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/32 "2018-02-05T22:16:52Z")
[Leon Russell’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICr9lfWq3yY)cover of Jumping Jack Flash and Youngblood ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/33 "2018-02-05T22:41:28Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > [Smokey Robinson’s _Second That Emotion_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Za1LZbSo6M) [Japan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYrKe8K9lEY) did a great cover of that cover. Also, Faith No More have already been mentioned but I’d nominate them further for [I started a joke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKDo6g4CCeU) and [Easy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPzDTfIb0DU)…urghhh! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/34 "2018-02-05T22:54:00Z")
[Screamin’ Jay Hawkins makes “Whistling Past The Graveyard” the Sreamin’ Jay Hawkins song it always was:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRjHAHt6rzs) > [@](#): > > You probably seen me sleepin’ > Out by the railroad tracks > Ask the prince of darkness > About all the smoke > Come from the stack > Sometimes I kill a jackal > And suck out all the blood > Steal myself a station-wagon > Drivin’ through the mud [And Tom Waits deconstructs “Heigh Ho” from Snow White into a prison work song from the bowels of hell:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71gI8xMfJO0) > [@](#): > > We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig from early morn till night > We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig up everything in sight > We dig up diamonds by the score > A thousand rubies, sometimes more > But we don’t know what we dig 'em for > We dig dig dig a-dig dig Fucking genius. [Not to be outdone on the Disney front, Siouxsie and the Banshees reinterpret “Trust In Me” from The Jungle Book as a slinkily foreboding Kurt Weill torch song.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbytZCT4Cy4) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/35 "2018-02-05T23:36:15Z")
Deep Purple’s cover of Joe South’s “Hush” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/36 "2018-02-05T23:52:34Z")
There was a CD a couple decades ago that was all covers of Saturday morning cartoon themes. Liz Phair can sing “Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snork” and make it sound sexy. Most of them are pretty good, but the Reverend Horton Heat absolutely kills the [Jonny Quest](https://youtu.be/40FsKwX-K8U) theme; 1:41 of scorched-earth guitar perfection. (Technically, the song then segues into “Hold That Pigeon”, but you can just stop in the middle.) ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/37 "2018-02-05T23:54:45Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” the Temptations (orig. The Undisputed Truth) That’s probably most people’s pick, but my personal favourite would be the [Was Not Was](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-ke0Cklp6A) version, which has a couple of great rap interludes in the middle of it. Props also to Gabrielle Aplin’s recent version of Franke Goes To Hollywood’s [Power of Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNpeK7sDLzE) ---
**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:** [February 6, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/38 "2018-02-06T00:27:39Z")
The Bonzo Dog Band’s demented version of [The Monster Mash](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-MP1LHEkbo)is far superior to the original. The Allman Brothers Band’s version of “[Statesboro Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezPZxfS1jys)” is the definitive version. I’m also fond of Alice Stuart’s [acoustic version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sF9Uda16wU). Quicksilver Messenger Service turning Bo Diddly’s “[Who Do You Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bWdv9oTUbg)” into a 25-minute epic, and also do a great job with his “[Mona](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc3BsFZDERk).” Come to think of it, their rendition of “Happy Trails” is also pretty damn good. David Bromberg does a great version of [Mr. Bojangles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muG8kDYbZ5Q). ---
**Author:** ![Egnu\_Cledge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@Egnu\_Cledge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Egnu_Cledge)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/39 "2018-02-06T00:30:38Z")
Bado Pond’s epic, lysergic covers of Brian Eno’s [Here Come the Warm Jets](https://youtu.be/GzHGW9yQ8Kc), and the Velvet Underground’s [Ride Into the Sun](https://youtu.be/aexuCZXKMsg). Yo La Tengo’s multiple versions of [Nuclear War](https://youtu.be/aJe0cHrHWoc?list=PLMP0hNnBbfqccKs0XpnmisPycbmzcEzff), originally by Sun Ra. The Cowboy Junkies doing VU’s [Sweet Jane](https://youtu.be/x4XVJj4jER4). Starfucker - [Girls Just Want to Have Fun](https://youtu.be/UodDJEE49V0) Foo Fighters - [Down In the Park](https://youtu.be/30DMi866ThM) (Gary Newman) ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cover-songs/808214/40 "2018-02-06T01:06:36Z")
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