# 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:** 17
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/61 "2008-01-28T20:42:09Z")
While not really a cover, one interesting rendition I was lucky to see was Jimmy Durante and Walter Brennan singing “Ob-La-Di.”
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### Author:  [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/62 "2008-01-28T21:18:29Z")
On Dr. Demento once, I heard someone do a country and western version of “Purple Rain.” Darned if I know who did it, though.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Svinlesha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Svinlesha)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/63 "2008-01-28T21:43:09Z")
[Here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN3MGN899yE) William Shatner doing a cover of Elton John’s “Rocket Man”. It’s so awful that I’ve never been able to watch it for more than a few seconds, and I’ve never seen the ending.
[This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDBcNbuqnq0) is Sweden’s most famous Elvis impersonator, Eilart Pilarm, singing “Hound Dog.” This guy is to Elvis impersonation what “Plan 9 from Outer Space” is to bad movies. Really, his version of “Blue Suede Shoes” is even worse, but I haven’t found a copy on the web yet.
I double-dog dare anybody to top those.
Enjoy.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/64 "2008-01-28T22:06:36Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Svinlesha]
[Here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN3MGN899yE) William Shatner doing a cover of Elton John’s “Rocket Man”. It’s so awful that I’ve never been able to watch it for more than a few seconds, and I’ve never seen the ending.
[/QUOTE]
So _that’s_ where the Family Guy skit comes from!
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### Author:  [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/65 "2008-01-28T22:21:13Z")
The Gourds, a Texas rockabilly band, [covering “Gin and Juice”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SunrKwykK_Y)
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### Author:  [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/66 "2008-01-28T22:40:01Z")
It may not be the absolute strangest, but Biffy Clyro’s version of Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” is pretty odd. I have it on a _Kerrang!_ compilation CD.
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### Author:  [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/67 "2008-01-29T00:52:49Z")
[Last month’s thread on this subject](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=447421)
My post in that thread nominated “Baby Got Back” by Jonathon Coulton and “Too Drunk to Fuck” by Nouvelle Vague, which have been mentioned by others in this thread.
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### Author:  [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/68 "2008-01-29T01:26:56Z")
[QUOTE=Subway Prophet]
That felt chopped to me. I’d love to see the original recording.
If you want to see this song performed solo, one-man-band style, check out [Trace Bundy’s version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWPQLDKOnh4).
[/QUOTE]
If you enjoyed that, the try Andy McKee’s cover of the **Toto** classic [Africa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt1fB62cGbo).
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### Author:  [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/69 "2008-01-29T02:00:34Z")
One real headscratcher for me was **Cornershop** performing “Norwegian Wood” in Punjabi. Really doesn’t scan…
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### Author:  [@VanillaGorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanillaGorilla)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2008, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/70 "2008-01-29T07:37:38Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Svinlesha]
[This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDBcNbuqnq0) is Sweden’s most famous Elvis impersonator, Eilart Pilarm, singing “Hound Dog.” This guy is to Elvis impersonation what “Plan 9 from Outer Space” is to bad movies. Really, his version of “Blue Suede Shoes” is even worse, but I haven’t found a copy on the web yet.
[/QUOTE]
The best part is that he doesn’t speak a word of english, so he’s just singing the lyrics as they sound to him. 😃
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### Author:  [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/71 "2008-01-31T18:32:32Z")
Just found this on YouTube: Nirvana covering Seasons in the Sun with Cobain on drums, Grohl on bass, and Novoselic on guitar.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/72 "2008-01-31T18:57:41Z")
[QUOTE=phungi]
Just found this on YouTube: Nirvana covering Seasons in the Sun with Cobain on drums, Grohl on bass, and Novoselic on guitar.
[/QUOTE]
[Fixed Link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IjCoCXbFcY&feature=related)
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/73 "2008-01-31T19:13:55Z")
[QUOTE=SmartAleq]
One real headscratcher for me was **Cornershop** performing “Norwegian Wood” in Punjabi. Really doesn’t scan…
[/QUOTE]
Well if they kept the strings and added some beats, it might sound actually quite good. But you’re saying the lyrics didn’t fit?
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### Author:  [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/74 "2008-01-31T21:21:53Z")
Well.
I just discovered this cover version of [Gimme Hope Joanna](http://youtube.com/watch?v=xllZiT_DNLM) by a Turkish band called Dolapdere Big Gang. It’s… different, shall we say?
[Original](http://youtube.com/watch?v=bNNfAuMq-M0)
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### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/75 "2008-01-31T21:31:06Z")
David Bowie, during the concert for New York City coverd America by Simon and Garfunkel.
It was weird. Really really wierd.
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### Author:  [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/76 "2008-01-31T22:05:44Z")
Well if you’re counting stuff that was live, I have an MP3 somewhere of REM doing “I Will Survive” live and totally forgetting the words and goofing off. 😃
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### Author:  [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-utterly-bizarre-cover-version/435189/77 "2008-01-31T23:39:59Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat]
Well if you’re counting stuff that was live, I have an MP3 somewhere of REM doing “I Will Survive” live and totally forgetting the words and goofing off. 😃
[/QUOTE]
I think I have that same MP3. Stipe makes a comment that I interpret as meaning that they had recently seen Cake perform their version.
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