# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/81 "2016-09-27T19:45:56Z")
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain specialises in this. [“Pinball Wizard” performed as a traditional english sea shanty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvdpjZYLumw) is a great example. [“Ride of the Valkyrie” finally reunited with it’s spiritual twin, Hawkwind’s “Silver Machine”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBweqmLk6dU). All on ukulele. [“Wuthering Heights”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF0VaBxb27w) as you would never have imagined it. [Theme from “Shaft”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlMT-oEIQuo) [Something by George Frederick Handel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P1-UvqdD7o) With some others things not by him. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/82 "2016-09-27T20:12:33Z")
How could I forget Elvis Costello’s cover of [“Beautiful”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dywR03B55JA) by Christina Aguilera? ETA: I believe Aguilera’s version is a remake, since it was written by [Linda Perry](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLMnV0suyZ8). ---
**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 27, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/83 "2016-09-27T20:35:49Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > How could I forget Elvis Costello’s cover of [“Beautiful”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dywR03B55JA) by Christina Aguilera? > > ETA: I believe Aguilera’s version is a remake, since it was written by [Linda Perry](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLMnV0suyZ8). Aguilera’s version is the first recording. It was written by Perry, who intended keep it for herself, but she was producing albums for both Pink and Christina Aguilera. Perry was going to give the song to Pink, but let Aguilera put it on her album after being impressed with her singing it. . ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/84 "2016-09-27T22:56:03Z")
[Jane’s Addiction’s version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pQWfDPUv8s) of [The Grateful Dead’s Ripple](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=671AgW9xSiA), using mostly percussion. I can’t say I like it better than the Dead’s (which is one of my favorite songs of all time), but it’s a very interesting take on it. –Mark ---
**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 27, 2016, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/85 "2016-09-27T23:21:43Z")
Dresden Dolls-“War Pigs” (Black Sabbath) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/K4USCwkcdjc/maxresdefault.jpg "Dresden Dolls - War Pigs (Black Sabbath) (Live in Sydney) | Moshcam") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4USCwkcdjc) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/86 "2016-09-28T00:57:02Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > But my favorite of theirs isn’t a cover really, since the song is probably in the public domain. [You Are My Sunshine.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPVW2ed_9Lc) Another good version of this song is by [Chris Stapleton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUy0DklXriU). ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/87 "2016-09-28T18:32:28Z")
I just remembered Kristy Lee Cook’s country version of the Beatles’ _[Eight Days a Week](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP8dPUsMFMY)._ The judges on _American Idol_ ripped it to shreds, but I really liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/88 "2016-09-28T19:58:38Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Another good version of this song is by [Chris Stapleton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUy0DklXriU). The crowd noise in this video was much too loud and distracting. In this video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Iv6Nz0Wu4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Iv6Nz0Wu4) the crowd noise is much less annoying but the visuals are terrible. If only there was a way to mix the two. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/89 "2016-09-28T20:27:34Z")
I love Aztec Camera’s version of _[Jump](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COtZZmWKcRI)_. ---
**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 28, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/90 "2016-09-28T23:10:46Z")
Masha-“Werewolves of London” (Warren Zevon) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLlpu341PdA) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/91 "2016-09-29T18:34:28Z")
I love genre mashups! [Steve n’ Seagulls - Thunderstruck](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Ao-iNPPUc) [The Sundays - Wild Horses](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiyCkSOF1pc) ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/92 "2016-09-30T02:41:34Z")
Great thread! I have a have a thing for different versions of _Amazing Grace_. One of my favorites is by the punk rock [Dropkick Murphys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip-COzs42LQ). ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/93 "2016-09-30T03:04:46Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Great thread! I have a have a thing for different versions of _Amazing Grace_. One of my favorites is by the punk rock [Dropkick Murphys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip-COzs42LQ). I assume you’ve heard the [Blind Boys of Alabama’s rendition](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE4k76VjGdY)? ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/94 "2016-09-30T14:48:23Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Just heard this version of [Purple Rain covered by Dwight Yoakam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kozRt-Wv54A). That was cool. I am a little late to this thread, but I absolutely love Yoakam’s version of Cheap Trick’s [I Want You To Want Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_lSJfUHu8A). Just incredible. His version of Elvis’s [Suspicious Minds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPMaTf0KU0M) is also terrific. He generally includes a cover song on every album, often giving a rock song a country tinge. What a great artist. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/95 "2016-09-30T15:48:14Z")
He does a great version of Queen’s [Crazy Little Thing Called Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWiGnRFUbas) too. If you like Yoakam’s covers, it’s well worth checking out his 2004 release [Dwight’s Used Records](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight%27s_Used_Records). Covers of ZZ Top, Johnny Cash, the Flying Burrito Brothers, John Prine and others. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/96 "2016-09-30T16:33:15Z")
Social Distortion is another group that frequently covers country and classic rock songs somewhere on the hazy border between rockabilly and punk. A few: [Making Believe - Kitty Wells (and damn near every other country singer from the '50s - '70s)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfzbL1Sra9A) [Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BaksqH2YXQ) [Backstreet Girl - Rolling Stones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OneZ-ZzQF9U) [It’s All Over Now - Stones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pgEH-voaLc) [Maybelline - Chuck Berry](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPdk4k4zpcQ) ---
**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 30, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/97 "2016-09-30T16:41:39Z")
For those of you only familiar with the Fireballs rocking version of Bottle of Wine, the [original](https://www.google.com/#q=tom+paxton+bottle+of+wine&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgFuLRT9c3LDYwrUyyMDZRgvFKjJPSyrW0spOt9HNLizOT9YtSk_OLUjLz0uOTc0qLS1KLrPJLMlKLFMpSi4oz8_OKAeZwi9NKAAAA) version by composer Tom Paxton is a folk song. As Paxton himself says of the cover “If I tried to sing like that, my throat would jump out of my mouth.” ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/98 "2016-09-30T16:56:06Z")
The Gourds do a bluegrass cover of Snoop Dogg’s [Gin and Juice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE). ---
**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 30, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/99 "2016-09-30T17:38:44Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > The Gourds do a bluegrass cover of Snoop Dogg’s [Gin and Juice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE). Beat you to it! 😉 (Post #34) [quote=“Accidental\_Martyr, post:34, topic:766618”] 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) [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618/100 "2016-10-01T18:41:13Z")
Jazz version of Blue Moon (By Frank Sinatra): [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vr0amOKCHo) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-performed-in-totally-different-genres/766618.md?page=6)