# Really good cover songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2012, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537 "2012-03-02T12:03:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/21 "2012-03-04T22:59:10Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > And I think Wilson Pickett owns [“Hey Jude.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6944F32lOc) Quoted for truth! You and I totally agree on the way Wilson Pickett owns “Hey Jude!” During my senior year in high school (1968), when the Beatles released “Hey Jude,” I remember thinking the first time I heard Pickett’s version, “what the hell?” I pretty much dismissed it, much the way I dismissed Otis Redding’s cover of “Satisfaction” a few years earlier. (Just part of being a callow youth, I suppose. Redding’s take on “Satisfaction” kicks ass, but the Stones still own the song.) In 1972, when the Duane Allman anthology was released (with “Hey Jude” on it), on hearing it again I went, “Holy Crap!!” Part of that was because of Duane’s blistering guitar, but upon repeated listenings, I found that every nuance of Pickett’s interpretation was superior to McCartney. I doubt a month has gone by in the last 40 years that I haven’t listened to that song at least once. **Annie-Xmas** , every time there is a thread about cover songs, I can depend on you to come in and point to Pickett’s “Hey Jude.” God love you for that! Your taste is impeccable! ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/22 "2012-03-04T23:41:12Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > [Orgy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAt9QTmVc7Q)’s remake of New Order’s “Blue Monday” really kicks the original version’s ass. Not even close ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/23 "2012-03-05T00:15:12Z")
Thanks for the info on what constitutes a “cover song”. Wouldn’t have figured that out in a million years. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/24 "2012-03-05T00:36:00Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > [Orgy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAt9QTmVc7Q)’s remake of New Order’s “Blue Monday” really kicks the original version’s ass. Blasphemy. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/25 "2012-03-05T00:42:39Z")
Moby - [Temptation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-zs1n-4S0A) (originally by New Order) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/26 "2012-03-05T00:47:40Z")
In honor of the late great Ronnie Montrose: [Town Without Pity](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEa2PHGf7AQ) ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/27 "2012-03-05T01:51:30Z")
“Without You” as done by Nilsson “All Along the Watchtower” as done by Hendrix ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/28 "2012-03-05T02:19:00Z")
Airborne Toxic Event’s cover of [The Book of Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CKat0z07kw), orginally by Magnetic Fields. (Skip to 1.15 to avoid the sad story about the singer’s grandmother) ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/29 "2012-03-06T08:38:04Z")
I’m sure the flower children hate it but my favorite cover is The Power Station’s version of T-Rex’s [Bang a Gong](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieOwL1UB1V4). Turned a simple mindless ditty into a hard rock classic! Great music video too (pure 80s!) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/30 "2012-03-06T09:05:52Z")
I’m very fond of covers that go weird places with the song. So…Puncolle, an album of punk songs covered by Japanese voice actresses obviously appealed to me…though I understand how it wouldn’t to other people…mostly. The last track is [Smells Like Teen Spirit by Yuko Goto](http://youtu.be/Z9LNSmH8ABk), which…takes it in a direction Kurt probably would never have thought of, but is really quite good. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/31 "2012-03-06T10:24:15Z")
Sarah Blasko [records Hey Ya! at JJJ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf339KTTdUA&feature=watch_response) for _Like a Version_. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/32 "2012-03-06T10:46:35Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Johnny Cash did Hurt, a Nine Inch Nails song. done different. And more painfully and realistically. JC locked himself in a coal mine to break his addiction. ---
**Author:** ![Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hook)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/33 "2012-03-06T14:44:26Z")
Sam Brown with a killer version of **Respect** : [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BxatpIRMZ5k/hqdefault.jpg "Sam Brown - Respect - Live 1990") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxatpIRMZ5k) ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/34 "2012-03-06T14:58:47Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_version) on “cover song.” It’s when an artist does another version of an already existing song. > > And I think Wilson Pickett owns [“Hey Jude.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6944F32lOc) To be nitpicky, it’s a little more specific than that. It’s another version released at about the same time, often in a different style to sell the song to a different audience. A couple of essays on the subject written by people more knowledgeable than I: > **[Cover verses Remake](https://www.history-of-rock.com/cover_remake.htm)** [http://www.jerryosborne.com/4-17-00.htm](http://www.jerryosborne.com/4-17-00.htm) ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/35 "2012-03-06T15:31:30Z")
[Alabama Shakes – “How Many More Times?”](http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/02/check-out-alabama-shakes-how-many-more-times-led-zeppelin-cover/) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/36 "2012-03-06T18:02:23Z")
Tom Petty “Any Way You Want It” (live, 1983, from his Anthology set). I wouldn’t say it’s better than the Dave Clark Five original, but it sure is fun. . ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/37 "2012-03-06T18:14:17Z")
[Boyz in the Hood](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeL9gagV_VA) - Dynamite Hack [The Chauffeur](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMs2SYAq08Y) - Deftones [Alison](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2RSemXemfQ) - Everything but the Girl [Easy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2qus5u75FE) - Faith No More [Be My Baby](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGgnKk9obOE) - Ivy [Turning Japanese](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JLb1i1_i1I) - Liz Phair [We’re Only Gonna Die](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-pz8OdkDHI) - Sublime ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/38 "2012-03-06T18:47:35Z")
Vampire Weekend’s cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HcYT8TzUarI/hqdefault.jpg "Vampire Weekend - Everywhere (Cover)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcYT8TzUarI) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/39 "2012-03-06T19:00:31Z")
I had only heard one cover song ever that was better than the original (assuming I’d heard the original first) – it was a reggae version of Hard Rain. Then I heard a New Found Glory CD with cover songs that absolutely killed versus the original – It Ain’t Me Babe, Promise\*, Kiss Me, etc. It’s basically a back-to-back comparison which confirms that I will like the emo-pop-punk style of music until the day I die. And yesterday I heard another good cover of Hard Rain by Ann Wilson of Heart. Plus, I’ve heard another good cover of Promse by Anberlin, so going from a year or so ago when I had _never_ heard a cover better than the original it’s suddenly exploded into like 12, 2 of which there are multiple better versions of (not that I dislike Hard Rain or Promise.) \*“I’m fine but I’m just thinking of the right words to say”. ---
**Author:** ![Survey1215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Survey1215](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Survey1215)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/40 "2012-03-06T19:33:20Z")
Foo Fighters covering Gerry Rafferty’s ‘Baker Street.’ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BO1qcWa6blQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Foo Fighters - Baker street") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO1qcWa6blQ) The Donnas covered Kiss’ ‘Strutter’ for the ‘Detroit Rock City’ soundtrack. Funny video and the drummer in Kiss make-up is pretty hot 🙂 [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uqou-oEBcUY/hqdefault.jpg "The Donnas - Strutter") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqou-oEBcUY) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537.md?page=3)