Some Japanese guys playing a song you will recognize in three notes.
At the end of the movie A Midnight Clear (which is excellent, by the way), there is a version of the eponymous song done in a dirge-like mood. At the end of each verse, she ends on a note that is unexpected and it gives the song a whole different tone. I’ve never been able to find it or the artist anywhere online.
Qualifies? Hurt should win some kind of award in the category of cover songs along with Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode.
Hurt was such a powerful song the way he covered it and you understood that he understood it.
Toad the Wet Sprocket’s take on Kiss’ “Rock and Roll All Night”
Gwar covering “Carry On Wayward Son,” “West End Girls,” by the Pet Shop Boys, and “Get Outta My Dreams (and Into My Car)” from Billy Ocean.
The AV Club channel on YouTube has TONS of these.
Dammit! Missed the edit window to add Gwar covering “She Bop” by Cyndi Lauper.
This is fantastic! Thank you! It looks like they make a career of this as I see videos for them doing You shook Me All Night Long, Paradise City, Nothing Else Matters, etc. I’m going to sit here and listen to them all.
This is a stretch because the topic is **great **songs and My Heart Will Go On (Titanic) is questionable depending on your point-of-view, but here’s a power metal version 
:
Bad Moon Rising by Aussie band The Reels.
Surf instrumental version by Los Straitjackets.
The Money or the Gun was an Australian comedy/talk-show which ran from 1989 to 1990.
There were 26 episodes and the music segment for each of them was a version of Stairway to Heaven.
The version by Rolf Harris, replete with wobble board, reached number 7 on the UK singles chart.
Kate Ceberano and The Ministry Of Fun, in a cool funk style with woodwind
John Paul Young, in the style of Love is in the Air
Pardon Me Boys, in a swing style (with numerous references to Glenn Miller songs)
The Beatnix, a Beatles tribute band, in the style of I Want to Hold Your Hand, Please Please Me and Twist and Shout
Nick Barker & The Reptiles, in a heavy blues style
Rolf Harris, in the style of Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport
The Australian Doors Show, in the style of When the Music’s Over by The Doors
Sandra Hahn, Michael Turkic and chorus, in the style of an epic Wagner opera
Robyne Dunn, in the style of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles
Elvis impersonator Neil Pepper, in the style of Viva Las Vegas
Toots - Jenny Lovell in the flesh, voice by Helen Jones, a femme fatale performance in the style of
The Whipper Snappers, in an indie rock girl group style
Friends Of The Castanet Club, as a sea shanty
Toys Went Berserk a post-punk version
Bob Downe, in the style of a lounge singer
The Rock Lobsters, a B-52’s tribute band, in the style of Rock Lobster
Jodie Gillies, in the style of a Broadway musical (with numerous references to One from A Chorus Line)
Etcetera Theatre Company, as a techno dance in the style of Talking Heads
The Jeff Duff Orchestra a chamber orchestra with vocals
The Fargone Beauties, as a country thrash in the style of Dueling Banjos
Judi Connelli, as a gospel song
Barry Crocker and Doug Anthony All Stars in a unique style
Vegimite Reggae, as a modern reggae
The Symphony Chorus of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, as an a cappella chorus
Leonard Teale, as a dramatic poem
Rory O’Donoghue in the style of an advertising jingle and an Australian ballad
frente doing a twee version of new orders bizarre love triangle … of course theres the shocking bad religion Christmas album … I expected the usual BR snark but they play the lyrics straight to the normal BR music style
oh and joey ramones version of what a wonderful world …he should of been in the 50s
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes were basically formed to do this. And sometimesdid it very well.
Happy you liked it.
Here’s a fixed version of your link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLOuHLAhQe0
(Yours has an extra http:// on the front of it.)
You have not lived until you’ve heard Silent Night tapped out by the 42nd St Broadway cast. And talk about a wailing trumpet.
This is from the Carols for a Cure CD series, where many holiday songs are done in new styles.
The Civil Wars I Want You Back is totally different form the Jackson 5 version. They also have a version ofBilly Jean. But my favorite of theirs isn’t a cover really, since the song is probably in the public domain. You Are My Sunshine.
I like Nevermore’s metal cover of “The Sound of Silence.”
Peter Gabriel’s cover of The Magnetic Field’s “Book of Love”.
Concrete Blonde-“Simple a Twist of Fate” (Bob Dylan)
I think Anne Murrary’s “Snowbird” could be an awesome sort of post punk or industrial song if someone would only record it thus. My partner’s entertainment company ran a local battle of the bands type concert for two years and I kept suggesting that someone try this.
No one ever did, but I would love to hear one.
You reminded me of Chris Cornell’s (Soundgarden) cover of Billie Jean.
Not sure if this counts (as in the OP’s request for “Great Songs”) but Canadians/Torontonians anyway may remember Drastic Measures’ “Teddy Bears’ Picnic”. Nash the Slash played on it.
I keep getting songs for this thread from looking ups songs for my Cold War Playlist.
Nash the Slash "Dead Man’s Curve" for a late 70s punk version of Jan and Dean’s classic.