It’s been done before but I can’t find the thread.
Gold Finger has a remake one of my all time favorite songs, 99 Red Balloons and I have to say that it kicks ass just as much as Nena’s version.
7 Seconds also does a pretty catchy rendition.
The Clash’s version of I Fought the Law
The Stranglers’ Walk on By
Roxy Music’s Jealous Guy
I think the hallmark of a really good cover is this: Does it do something different with the song? A catchy cover which happens to be note-for-note isn’t that interesting.
Luna does a neat, arty, detached version of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns ‘N’ Roses. And I enjoy Cake’s slow version of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” – it turns an anthemic song of celebration into a sullen, bitter kiss-off. This is a little obscure, but R.E.M. took Television’s slow “See No Evil” and made all brisk and jangly.
“All Along the Watchtower”, as performed by Hendrix.
“Knocking on Heaven’s Door”, as performed by Clapton and Guns n’ Roses (I’m a huge Clapton fan, but GN’R’s version is better - it’s probably their best song).
See a common thread? I think ol’ Zimmerman is probably a better writer than performer.
Oh, and “With a Little Help From My Friends”. Joe Cocker, of course.
Some girl group did a slightly faster remake of ‘Locomotion’ some time back and it was great.
A lot of the 50s songs were somewhat slow. In the 70s I used to like to put them on my record player and increase the speed a bit – and in many it made a heck of a difference!
Kylie Minogue, I believe it was.
Good covers (IMHO):
Marilyn Manson’s version of ‘Sweet Dreams’. It’s the only song of his I actually like.
Social Distortion, ‘Ring of Fire’ and ‘Under My Thumb’.
Aerosmith and Motorhead, ‘Train Kept a-Rollin’’
Sex Pistols, ‘Steppin’ Stone’
Van Halen, ‘You Really Got Me’
Bad covers (also IMHO):
Sheryl Crow, ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’.
Kim Wilde, ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’.
Motley Crue, ‘Anarchy in the UK’.
Though not a fan of Duran Duran, I did like their cover of “White Lines,” though I still think the original is better.
Yes, this is a great cover. I also like Elwood’s version of “Sundown”, but I can’t explain why.
Dwight Yoakam’s cover of the Clash’s “Train in Vain”, with old Ralph Stanley doing the background vocal.
Definitly: The Dickies- Knights in White Satin
And by sheer chance the OP reminded me of Magazine- who did a great cover of the Goldfinger James bond theme.
And Elvis- Blue Suede Shoes. It was a remake you know.
Faith No More’s “War Pigs” IMHO, the best Black Sabbath cover by anyone, ever.
Aerosmith, “Come Together”
Creedence Clearwater Revival, “I Heart It Through the Grapevine,” 11(!) minutes long
Katzi’s version of Drivin’ and Cryin’s “Fly Me Courageous,” although this one might not count because I sang lead on the track.
Personally, I think Reel Big Fish’s cover of “Take on Me” was even better than the original (apologies to Flodnak).
–sublight.
Travis’s live version of Britney’s Hit me baby one more time is genius .
It’s on napster hint-hint
i thought i was the only one who has that travis song…
but,
Pantera - Ted Nugent’s Cat scratch fever
Megadeth - Black Sabbath’s Paranoid
pretty much anything by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes… you havent’ rocked until you’ve rocked to a punk cover of barry manilow or simon & garfunkel…
Patsy Cline remade songs so well that people forgot who did them in the first place… I think Sweet Dreams was done years before and was a hit for some guy who’s name has faded into obscurity…
I like Manson’s version of Sweet Dreams (are made of this) is an excellent remake…
The Dead Kennedys did some excellent covers.
[ul]
[li]I Fought the Law – though the lyrics were revised to reflect an infamous case of police brutality.[/li][li]Viva Las Vegas – Great song. IIRC it was used in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas[/li][/ul]
Kansas’ cover of Dust in the Wind
Eric Burdon’s awesome version of Paint it Black
The Gipsy Kings did a great job with Hotel California
…
and Heart murdered the Battle of Evermore.
MR
I liked Ring of Fire, by Social Distortion.
Purple Haze, by Winger of all people. I liked.
Johnny B Goode by Judas Priest
that’s all for now
Tough to find, but one of my faves is Dinosaur Jr’s take on the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.”
Also…
[ul]
[li]John Somebody-or-other (too lazy to look up) - In Between Days (by the Cure) on the Elektra/Asylum compilation Rubaiyat.[/li][li]Laibach - One Vision (by Queen).[/li][li]Impotent Sea Snakes (the most dangerous band in america http://www.masq.com) - Sympathy for the Devil[/li][li]Nick Cave - Helpless (from the Neil Young tribute The Bridge)[/li][li]Sonic Youth - Now I Wanna Be Your Dog[/li][li]The Coolies - dig…? This is a whole album of Simon and Garfunkel covers with Paul Anka’ Havin’ My Baby thrown in for good measure.[/li][li]The Feelies - What Goes On (by the Velvets)[/li][li]Husker Du - Eight Miles High/Love Is All Around[/li][li]Gang Green - Voices Carry[/li][/ul]
Basically, I love it when a band has the cojones to take a song and make it their own. I hate it when somebody does a cover and all you can say is “Gee, that sounds a lot like the original” Why bother.
pcubed
Giraffiti: Concrete art, spray-painted very, very high.
Oh, I forgot to mention Rammstein’s version of Stripped by Depeche Mode. Cracks me up every time.
MR