# Great songs performed in totally different genres **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618 "2016-09-23T03:12:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/1 "2016-09-23T03:12:31Z")
I’m sure we’ve done this before, including a recent thread about Postmodern Jukebox, but why not do some more? I just found Iron Horse doing a wonderful bluegrass rendition of Metallica’s _Enter Sandman_: And, erm, \*Enter Sandman\* seems to be a popular choice for this kind of cover. Here's a "smooth jazz" version I found a while back: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OBmM79YadYM/maxresdefault.jpg "Metallica - Enter Sandman (Smooth Jazz Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBmM79YadYM) ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/2 "2016-09-23T13:03:20Z")
The Beatnix’s version of [Stairway to Heaven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfoccRna6I). ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/3 "2016-09-23T13:04:49Z")
Just heard this version of [Purple Rain covered by Dwight Yoakam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kozRt-Wv54A). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/4 "2016-09-23T13:08:35Z")
Yannick’s [C’est soiree la](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VTtR1ftPJU) turned an early American rock classic into a French rap song. And I absolutely love it. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/5 "2016-09-23T13:43:27Z")
Are we including all the hundreds of classical melodies transformed into pop songs? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/6 "2016-09-23T14:36:20Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Are we including all the hundreds of classical melodies transformed into pop songs? Like **Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh**? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/7 "2016-09-23T14:56:29Z")
There’s a series of CDs called _Rockabye Baby_ that does lullaby renditions of various artists. Their versions of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” and Def Leppard’s “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” are two of my particular favorites. I also love Hayseed Dixie, but while their version of Spinal Tap’s “Big Bottom” is good, it misses the musical joke of the original by not being performed entirely on bass instruments. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/8 "2016-09-23T15:01:50Z")
Not a great song, exactly, but I’ve gotten stuck on a [bluegrass/western version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iI5jzbDvFE) of the Game of Thrones theme. It translates to the new genre well. ---
**Author:** ![bunyupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@bunyupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunyupp)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/9 "2016-09-23T15:10:07Z")
Like these? Marilyn Manson [The Beautiful People](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQTxSbCMOlM) POLKA version. NSFW (manson butt) Rammstein [Du Hast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_TuUgDGgnY) POLKA version. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/10 "2016-09-23T15:48:02Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Just heard this version of [Purple Rain covered by Dwight Yoakam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kozRt-Wv54A). OMG, this is freakin’ awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/11 "2016-09-23T15:49:21Z")
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPclCrqOFic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPclCrqOFic) > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Like **Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh**? No, probably more like the Hooked on Classics series that was popular in the Disco era. For an opposite perspective, here’s a scene from the movie _Longtime Companion_ doing a chamber orchestra version of _YMCA_. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/12 "2016-09-23T16:45:01Z")
I’ve always loved the Stranglers’ jammed-out psychedelic-punk rendition of “[Walk On By](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YflGin0krmg).” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/13 "2016-09-23T17:59:27Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Just heard this version of [Purple Rain covered by Dwight Yoakam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kozRt-Wv54A). Must agree. Love his take on the lyric and the instrumentation is wonderful. Yoakum is just a great pro. Much respect. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/14 "2016-09-23T18:07:03Z")
Alanis Morrissette’s version of [My Humps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRmYfVCH2UA) (can’t stand the original, but I like this version) Pretty much everything from Trans-Siberian Orchestra (classical pieces redone in metal style) Pretty much everything from Richard Cheese (pop songs done in lounge style) ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/15 "2016-09-23T18:24:55Z")
Apocalyptica - Plays Metallica By Four Cellos has been a favorite of mine for years. [Master of Puppets](http://youtu.be/PH68Z6ysqZs) ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/16 "2016-09-23T19:26:05Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > Alanis Morrissette’s version of [My Humps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRmYfVCH2UA) (can’t stand the original, but I like this version) > > Pretty much everything from Trans-Siberian Orchestra (classical pieces redone in metal style) > > Pretty much everything from Richard Cheese (pop songs done in lounge style) Don’t forget Dread Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin songs as reggae)! ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/17 "2016-09-23T19:29:37Z")
“The Cantina Song” from Star Wars [in bluegrass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0LGrpR-5NM), from the movie _Paul_. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/18 "2016-09-23T19:38:21Z")
Toots and the Maytals reggae version of [Take Me Home Country Roads](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQFKMar4x-w). Almost heaven, West Jamaica. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/19 "2016-09-23T19:42:38Z")
Not a _totally_ different genre, but an excellent cover of the Sam Cooke R&B classic “Bring it on Home to Me” done in [a slower, blues/country style](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW09IAs5GpI) by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/20 "2016-09-23T19:50:55Z")
Countrifying a rock song seems a good way to go. Here is Steve Earle countrifying the Supersuckers’ punk/hard rock Creepy Jackalope Eye: And the original for those who’d like to compare: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TQjNzy6BrPM/maxresdefault.jpg "Creepy Jackalope Eye") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQjNzy6BrPM) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618.md?page=2)