# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/21 "2016-09-23T20:03:48Z")
Lake Street Dive reinventing The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6EPwRdVg5Ug/maxresdefault.jpg "Lake Street Dive Plays "I Want You Back" On a Boston Sidewalk") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EPwRdVg5Ug) ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/22 "2016-09-23T20:15:35Z")
[quote=“Mister\_Rik, post:1, topic:766618”] I just found Iron Horse doing a wonderful bluegrass rendition of Metallica’s _Enter Sandman_: [/QUOTE] In a similar vein, the Finnish band Steve n Seagulls have a bunch of bluegrass-style metal/hard rock covers. They’re pretty great instrumentally, but the Finnish singer’s phrasing can be a little jarring at times. [The Trooper](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li58voy6xXM) - Iron Maiden [Seek and Destroy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5m_8HuEBI4) - Metallica [You Shook Me All Night Long](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZS12RiBQ3o) - AC/DC [Paradise City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaJZQWB7kzA) - Guns n Roses ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/23 "2016-09-23T20:35:22Z")
Bioshock Infinite included a number of very good ragtime remakes (even better in the context of the game): [God Only Knows](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7ogV49WGco&index=7&list=PLRj6F86aEpZQIGj6_1A1rkMDuNm5ulEDg) [Shiny Happy People](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aH4o-VblLg) [Girls Just Want To Have Fun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQheaCpjH0I) [Everybody Wants To Rule the World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAA_zE5a3JQ) And more. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/24 "2016-09-23T20:45:20Z")
> [@Peanut\_Gallery](#): > > [Everybody Wants To Rule the World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAA_zE5a3JQ) That reminds me of Lorde’s much grimmer version, [here edited to serve as the backing music for an elaborate video game commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHOpCs0rZ1k) (music starts at 0:30). ---
**Author:** ![pythonzzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pythonzzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pythonzzz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/25 "2016-09-23T21:22:54Z")
Gotta love Big Daddy’s parody covers 😃 A great example: [Little Red Corvette - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzLri-MWWrM) ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/26 "2016-09-23T21:26:17Z")
Brave Combo’s polka version of “[Purple Haze](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSDifGxwSBo)”. Theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey” (“Also Sprach Zarathustra”) on [kazoos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVs_R7fYto4). Tom Waits’ cover of “[Heigh Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KISFemeHOC4)”) in whatever genre it is that Tom Waits does. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/27 "2016-09-23T21:32:37Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Must agree. Love his take on the lyric and the instrumentation is wonderful. Yoakum is just a great pro. Much respect. I like country but haven’t been a Dwight Yoakum fan until lately. He also did this version of Cheap Trick’s [I Want You To Want Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_lSJfUHu8A). I also like Disturbed’s version of Simon and Garfunkel’s [The Sound of Silence](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4). ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/28 "2016-09-23T21:44:09Z")
Of course, there’s Judas Priest’s cover of “Diamonds and Rust” by Joan Baez. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vLDazyvMMGw/hqdefault.jpg "Judas Priest - Diamonds and Rust") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLDazyvMMGw) ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/29 "2016-09-23T21:51:48Z")
Johnny Mathis’ classic _[Misty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JwhJMFDybQ)_ redone by Ray Stevens as [country](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko56rc30qdk). Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack’s _[I Just Came Here to Dance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW7rnMVs9t4)_ covered by David Frizzell & Shelly West as [country](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBtL9oYuHZI). ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/30 "2016-09-23T22:57:06Z")
The Easy Star All-Stars have done a few classic albums reggae style. The best, I think, is _Dub Side of the Moon_, and I really like Frankie Paul’s take on _Us and Them_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Yiy8K4qYIZk/maxresdefault.jpg "Us And Them (feat. Frankie Paul)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yiy8K4qYIZk) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/31 "2016-09-23T23:10:49Z")
Reel Big Fish does a ska version of Take on Me. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6sGg0at4mI4/hqdefault.jpg "Reel Big Fish - Take on me") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sGg0at4mI4) ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/32 "2016-09-23T23:27:27Z")
Nice thread. Thanks for the links. I have been enjoying them. ---
**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, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/33 "2016-09-23T23:37:15Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > in whatever genre it is that Tom Waits does. I think it’s “late-stage alcoholic.”🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/34 "2016-09-24T09:13:22Z")
Some rap covers. (NSFW lyrics warning for all) Ben Folds-“Bitches Ain’t Shit” (Dr. Dre w/Snoop Dogg, etc.) Nina Gordon (from Veruca Salt)-“Straight Outta Compton” (N.W.A.) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NG2EGOB9-lc/hqdefault.jpg "Straight Outta Compton - Nina Gordon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2EGOB9-lc) The Gourds-“Gin and Juice” (Snoop Dogg) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H4hGSR5njZE/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGHIgRygkMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAN8UfAM6djdY_rav0oNG32SMP8Pw "The Gourds - Gin and Juice") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE) ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/35 "2016-09-24T11:33:27Z")
Soundgarden’s _Black Hole Sun_ as a lounge act: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55rtXg0ZsLE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55rtXg0ZsLE) ---
**Author:** ![bunyupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@bunyupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunyupp)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/36 "2016-09-24T14:03:05Z")
Britney Spears’ [Toxic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDwruWYj4FE) performed by **Trollfest**. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/37 "2016-09-24T14:08:31Z")
Ironic reference, but still cool: most folks don’t know that the original version of **Train Kept a’ Rollin’** is not the amazing version by **Johnny Burnette and the Rock n’ Roll Trio** , but by **Tiny Bradshaw** from 1951: [TINY BRADSHAW ~ THE TRAIN KEPT A-ROLLIN ~ 1951 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci4EQDD4CqA) The Burnette version: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufzRV3xspYA) is clearly the basis for the famous Yardbirds and Aerosmith versions. So in contrast Tiny’s grooving R&B version sounds like a different take. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/38 "2016-09-24T14:47:25Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Don’t forget Dread Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin songs as reggae)! With a Fat Elvis impersonator. They were a damn good band too. The late acoustic guitar virtuoso Micheai Hedges did covers of Buffalo Stance and Madonna’s Lucky Star. ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/39 "2016-09-24T15:27:28Z")
Steve Winwood’s The Joker done as a smooth smoky KD [Lang](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PY-_C_EELs8) number. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/40 "2016-09-24T17:50:47Z")
I think [Johnny Cash’s cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FywSzjRq0e4) of Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt” qualifies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618.md?page=3)