I’ve got this ragtime version as my 'I don’t know you" ringtone.
Big Mama Thornton’s original blues version of Hounddog will have you saying “Elvis who?”
Dee Snyder just turned “We’re Not Gonna Take It” into a ballad with only piano accompaniment. It’s actually better than you’d think it could be. If you close your eyes you can almost hear Neil Diamond.
Howlin’ Wolf is one of my favorite artists, but his blues version of Sittin’ On Top of the World is one of the songs that I don’t care for too much. Whereas, the Cream rock version is my favorite of their songs (that I know) and probably one of my top songs overall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_JusE2urNoETA: The Rolling Stones failed to improve on Otis Redding’s Satisfaction though. Both songs are pretty crap. (IMHO)
[quote=“Larry_Borgia, post:31, topic:766618”]
Reel Big Fish does a ska version of Take on Me.
[/QUOTE]Love that one!
In a similar vein, Save Ferris! does a ska version of Come on Eileen:
Dude’s still got pipes.
I have been really enjoying this thread – thanks everyone.
My contribution isn’t nearly as awesome as any and all of the above posts, but here’s Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (Latin ska) doing “Strawberry Fields Forever”.
…and, the Carolina Chocolate Drops (Appalachian roots music) doing “Hit 'Em Up Style” (which my wife tells me was originally urban dance pop – Black Eyed Peas, perhaps?).
That’s one of my favorite covers. (Blu Cantrell)
For all you metal fans, I urge you to YouTube Metallachi. Metal favorites perfored mariachi style. They are permanently on my list of must-see-if-in-town.
Alien Ant Farm’s “Smooth Criminal” comes to mind for some reason.
This is a good podcast if you like this kind of stuff.
http://coverville.com
Sonic Youth-“Superstar” (The Carpenters)
Slipknot - “Wait And Bleed” (Radio Disney Version) (NSFW lyrics, assuming anyone listens to the lyrics (Seriously, in a world where “Brown Sugar” is a radio staple…))
Cowboy Junkies - “Sweet Jane” (Lou Reed’s favorite version)
Steve’N’Seagulls - “Holy Diver” (Bluegrass cover)
Paul Anka - “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Lounge cover) (Paul Anka did a whole album of this stuff. It’s apparently all on YouTube.)
Dick Dale and Gail Farrell - “One Toke Over The Line” (Champagne Music cover on “The Lawrence Welk Show” (if that doesn’t mean anything to you, think “so square they thought it was a spiritual”))
See if you can figure out what well known song this original inspired:
Die Moritat von Mackie Messer/Mack The Knife
Some favourites that I’ve not seen yet, apologies if anyone’s posted them already
Richard Thompson - Oops I Did It Again (Britney Spears cover)
The Horrible Crowes - Teenage Dream (Katy Perry cover)
June Tabor & The Oysterband - Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover)
Thanks for all the other suggestions, some great stuff here!
I find a common reaction to the Richard Thompson Spears cover goes through three stages:
1.) Hahaha, Richard Thompson is doing a Britney Spears Song!
2.) Wow, he’s such a great musician he can invest this piece of bubblegum with genuine passion and feeling.
3.) There really isn’t anything to this song is there?
Also, here’s Richard Cheese covering Snoop Dogg. There are a ton of parody rap songs out there, but this is my favorite.
As long as we’re talking about Twisted Sister, how about their version of Oh Come All Ye Faithful?
Pretty catchy, and a nice acknowledgement of the source material for their biggest hit.
The Afghan Whigs-“Creep” (TLC)
“You Keep Me Hangin’ On” by The Supremes and Vanilla Fudge.
“If We’re Not Back in Love by Monday” by Merle Haggard and Millie Jackson.
“You Can Leave Your Hat On” by Randy Newman and Etta James.