# Popular songs covered in a significally different style. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2005, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314 "2005-07-13T09:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/21 "2005-07-13T13:30:51Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > **Devo** did the Stones’ _Satisfaction_ in a pretty twisted way. They also did Nine Inch Nails’ “Head Like A Hole”. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/22 "2005-07-13T13:41:25Z")
Speaking of _Comfortably Numb_, the **Scissor Sisters** did a pepped up disco-style version of it that was released last year (or so). I like it. Johnny Cash did a whole album of covers, most memorable (to me) was _Rowboat_ by **Beck** and _Rusty Cage_ by **Soundgarden**. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/23 "2005-07-13T13:47:14Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > Speaking of _Comfortably Numb_, the **Scissor Sisters** did a pepped up disco-style version of it that was released last year (or so). I like it. > > Johnny Cash did a whole album of covers, most memorable (to me) was _Rowboat_ by **Beck** and _Rusty Cage_ by **Soundgarden**. My favorites were Cash’s covers of “Hurt” by nine inch nails (far better than the original), “One” by U2, “In My Life” by the Beatles, and “The Mercy Seat” by Nick Cave. And he did at least two albums of popular covers, \*American III \* and _American IV_. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/24 "2005-07-13T13:58:59Z")
Dolly Parton did a great cover of “Shine”, originally by Collective Soul, that’s in a sort of soulful bluegrass/gospel style and that’s excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/25 "2005-07-13T14:02:50Z")
Alison Krauss and Union Station did a bluegrass cover of the Allman Brothers’ “Midnight Rider”. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/26 "2005-07-13T14:11:44Z")
Dynamite Hack did a great folk-ish rendition of “Boyz N The Hood”. I love it; it’s so crazy to hear “Cruisin’ down the street in my 6-4 / Jackin’ the bitches, slappin’ the hos” sung like it was a folk song. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/27 "2005-07-13T14:14:23Z")
Two months ago, I heard a band perform the 1960’s Spider-Man cartoon theme song as swing music. Absolutely incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/28 "2005-07-13T14:15:27Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Two months ago, I heard a band perform the 1960’s Spider-Man cartoon theme song as swing music. Absolutely incredible. I think that was by crooner Michael Buble, although I’ve personally performed that song in that swing-lounge style as well. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/29 "2005-07-13T14:18:27Z")
I heard a recent Alison Krauss cover of “Big Log” by Robert Plant. I thought that song always sucked until I heard her do it. Then I thought it was one of the best love songs I’ve ever heard. It reminded me of an interview I saw with Kris Kristoffersen (who wrote “Bobby McGee”). He said he heard Janis Joplin’s cover of it and said, “oh, that’s how that songs is supposed to sound.” I doubt Robert Plant would ever say that, but if he had any sense he would. ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/30 "2005-07-13T14:22:16Z")
I didn’t realize this was such a common phenomenon. I have to say I’m really interested in orchestral versions, but I’m intrigued by the Rock Goes Country or Swing thing. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/31 "2005-07-13T14:22:56Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > I think that was by crooner Michael Buble, although I’ve personally performed that song in that swing-lounge style as well. This was actually performed by a band called _Hepcat Revival_, but perhaps the idea originated with Michael Buble. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/32 "2005-07-13T14:26:40Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > This was actually performed by a band called _Hepcat Revival_, but perhaps the idea originated with Michael Buble. Buble’s version played over the \*Spider-Man 2 \* movie’s closing credits, but was not on the soundtrack album. Here’s a cite: [Just Racing | Horse, Greyhound and Harness Racing News, Tips and Bets](http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2004/june04/20040618_michaelbuble.html) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/33 "2005-07-13T14:30:01Z")
Jackie DeShannon’s little-known country tune “Bette Davis Eyes” became a huge synth-pop hit for Kim Carnes. There’s a punk version of Til Tuesday’s “Voices Carry” that came out not long after the original - can’t remember who did it, though. Cake’s post-punk/modern rock version of Gloria Gaynor’s disco anthem “I Will Survive” deserves mention. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/34 "2005-07-13T14:32:14Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > There’s a punk version of Til Tuesday’s “Voices Carry” that came out not long after the original - can’t remember who did it, though. Oh yeah … it was by Gang Green. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/35 "2005-07-13T14:37:34Z")
Lots of ska bands do quirky covers: Save Ferris did “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Reel Big Fish did Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf” and A-Ha’s “Take On Me,” as well as “There Is Nothing Like a Dame” from the musical _South Pacific_. Less Than Jake did David Cassidy’s “I Think I Love You” and Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309 (Jenny)” and several heavy metal and TV show theme song covers, as well as the aforementioned _Grease_ soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/36 "2005-07-13T14:38:51Z")
[QUOTE=Trunk] I heard a recent Alison Krauss cover of “Big Log” by Robert Plant. I thought that song always sucked until I heard her do it. Then I thought it was one of the best love songs I’ve ever heard. [QUOTE] I must have missed that. Where did you hear it? ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/37 "2005-07-13T14:41:20Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > [Richard Cheese](http://www.iloverichardcheese.com/home.html) . Oh Jesus Christ, that’s f\*ckin funny!!! I MUST get Apertif for Destruction! [CHEESY 50s MALE ADVERT VOICE]Oh, me so horny.[/C5MAV] BWAHAHAHAHA. And the latin-flavored _Man In The Box_. Good stuff, that. I’m dyin’ over here! ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/38 "2005-07-13T14:46:34Z")
> [@Seeker74](#): > > Oh Jesus Christ, that’s f\*ckin funny!!! I MUST get Apertif for Destruction! > [CHEESY 50s MALE ADVERT VOICE]Oh, me so horny.[/C5MAV] > > BWAHAHAHAHA. And the latin-flavored _Man In The Box_. > > Good stuff, that. I’m dyin’ over here! He is RAD. I think you’re in for a real treat! ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/39 "2005-07-13T14:59:57Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > I heard a recent Alison Krauss cover of “Big Log” by Robert Plant. I found it [here](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1656964). Quite nice. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314/40 "2005-07-13T15:02:11Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > He is RAD. I think you’re in for a real treat! What can I say? I love me some cheese! Maybe I’ll save his box set for my Christmas list. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-covered-in-a-significally-different-style/312314.md?page=3)