# Most utterly bizarre cover version
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 27, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189 "2008-01-27T14:32:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/1 "2008-01-27T14:32:57Z")
We’ve done the [best](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=453060) and [worst](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=452960) cover versions, but what’s in the totally opposite direction?
Señor Coconut is a latin mambo type band. Their cover of Kraftwerk’s [Showroom Dummies](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owtbkbKhBsI) is … odd
My vote, however, goes to this classic cover of [Led Zeppelin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy5KjaAS7nY) :eek:
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/2 "2008-01-27T15:12:44Z")
Klaus Nomi’s cover of Lou Christie’s ‘Lightnin’ Strikes’
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riAHOURdPuY)
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/3 "2008-01-27T15:34:31Z")
Bob Downe does [The Mary Tyler Moore Show Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EnYDm7kS5I) or [Bowies Starman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5sZfpnf9mk) or [Cruisin’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfzNPdvBdpA).
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/4 "2008-01-27T15:43:57Z")
Can’t find it on Youtube, but there’s a band called Luther Wright and The Wrongs that does a Bluegrass version of the entire elbum The Wall.
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### Author:  [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/5 "2008-01-27T15:46:28Z")
[Carnival in Coal](http://www.myspace.com/carnivalincoal)’s extreme metal covers of “Maniac” and “Yes, We Have No Bananas Today” are pretty far out there–not as far as their easy listening cover of Pantera’s “Fucking Hostile”, but that’s not online.
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### Author:  [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/6 "2008-01-27T15:52:45Z")
It’s more of an advert than a proper cover version, but I give you [Sweet Child of Mine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHwsV5IqhZs)…
It’s actually an ad for an Indian music channel, but it’s hilarious.
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/7 "2008-01-27T15:59:40Z")
And I guess it’s cheating but Adam Hills doing [The Australian National Anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsAtOWLGeic) to the tune of Jimmy Barnes’s _Working Class Man_.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/8 "2008-01-27T16:13:45Z")
[Richard Cheese](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Cheese) doing [Gin and Juice](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHeFVS6rzJU&feature=related). In fact, anything by Richard Cheese. (Sorry the video is crappy, even by Youtube standards.)
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/9 "2008-01-27T16:34:19Z")
It is more of self-publishing but this 85 year old English woman does indeed produce some of the most bizarre cover versions around…hundreds of them as a matter of fact.
Here is a cover of the Chef song from South Park.
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### Author:  [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/10 "2008-01-27T16:40:27Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim]
Klaus Nomi’s cover of Lou Christie’s ‘Lightnin’ Strikes’
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riAHOURdPuY)
[/QUOTE]
Thnaks for the link- I haven’t seen that in ages. What a voice!
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/11 "2008-01-27T16:45:42Z")
Once again, I point to [Mrs. Miller](http://franklarosa.com/vinyl/Exhibit.jsp?AlbumID=77)
But my first choice is Lol Coxhill’s **I am the Walrus** (You can [listen to it in Real format](http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/14574) here. Scroll down.
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### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/12 "2008-01-27T16:55:36Z")
The Swingle Singers - “Drive my car”
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJSxKoOsza4)
They are very proffessional, and talented, but this is still bizarre.
Mike Potts Pops - Come on baby light my fire
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDrGXQIWt3U)
He’s best known for this, and a great version it is too
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy1ueZf1WMQ)
He took his musicianship very seriously, they could do this live - Wonder what he’s doing now
Even Johnny Cash isn’t immune
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvmDgNxlrkU)
Actually this is a pretty good version, but if you are familiar with the Depeche Mode version then it does seem rather bizarre.
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW3aEimWW10)
Liberace - You don’t bring me flowers
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mND-hQQqHg8)
Kind of sweet sad vidd though
The Cardigans - Iron Man
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzgZJEpLuw0)
Slightly differant to the Black Sabbath version I think.
Paul Anka - Smells like teen Spirit
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsS811o21-k)
Bizarre covers need to be unexpected, preferably by well known artists making a proper attempt, otherwise any old klutz can knock out something weird.
That Klaus Nomi one is well…strange.
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### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/13 "2008-01-27T17:44:04Z")
Tomoyasu Hotei (probably best known from their song “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” that started off being used in Kill Bill and now has spread like crazy for theme music) has an interesting version of [Immigrant Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgcdTyG-zgg). It’s probably not fair to call it a cover; to call it a remix would probably be more accurate. I think the video is actually a mash-up someone did with scenes from Valkyrie Profile, but the music is right.
From a similar source (I mean the Kill Bill soundtrack,) there’s Santa Esmeralda’s cover of [Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajbX7CzEN-U&feature=related).
Does it really count if you’re covering what’s basically a novelty song (Chocolate Salty Balls) or what’s already acknowledged to be a bizarre song (I Am the Walrus)?
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/14 "2008-01-27T18:06:55Z")
[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin]
My vote, however, goes to this classic cover of [Led Zeppelin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy5KjaAS7nY) :eek:
[/QUOTE]
How about [this cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfoccRna6I)?
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### Author:  [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/15 "2008-01-27T18:13:39Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher]
How about [this cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfoccRna6I)?
[/QUOTE]
That’s awesome.
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### Author:  [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/16 "2008-01-27T18:20:15Z")
The _A Mighty Wind_ soundtrack has a cover of the Rolling Stone’s _Start Me Up_ by The Folksmen (Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer (also known as Spinal Tap)). Rather odd song for a folk trio.
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### Author:  [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/17 "2008-01-27T18:31:43Z")
**Type O Negative** ’s cover of Summer Breeze is truly bizarre.
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### Author:  [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/18 "2008-01-27T18:49:55Z")
I’m not sure if this belongs in “The Worst” thread or this one, but Bono’s version of “Halleluiah” on [“Tower Of Song - The Songs of Leonard Cohen”](http://www.amazon.com/Tower-Song-Songs-Leonard-Cohen/dp/B000001EZK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1201459277&sr=8-2) has bizarreness in spades. Too bad because Halleluiah is arguably Cohen’s greatest song and Bono’s treatment is unlistenable. If you check out the sample in my link, be assured that you are NOT listening to a weird techno intro or interlude - the entire song sounds the same.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/19 "2008-01-27T18:51:58Z")
The great Michael Hedges doing Neneh Cherry’s [Buffalo Stance.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41l3UzA64sE) I’d nominate for both best and most bizarre cover.
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### Author:  [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/20 "2008-01-27T19:30:20Z")
[Ozzy Osbourne’s Staying Alive](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_D4QhevNPw).
All aboard the disco train!
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