# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/41 "2012-03-06T21:05:51Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Patti Smith’s [Because the Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0brHGJ6xqbk) smokes Springsteen’s. For that matter, the Pointer Sisters do a better job with [Fire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsjB5--36gc&feature=fvst) than Bruce does, too. The Pointer Sisters’s [Fire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_(Bruce_Springsteen_song)) and Patti Smith’s [Because the Night](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Because_the_Night) were both released _before_ Springsteen’s cover versions. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/42 "2012-03-06T22:19:56Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > 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. This is awesome thanks for sharing. EDIT: Holy fucking awesomeness on a piece of awesome toast they cover Ruby Soho. I need this album. I’m off to internetting to see if I can find it. Please Amazon don’t let me down. My contribution: Ring of Fire by Social Distortion is pretty badass. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2BaksqH2YXQ/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGCYgWyh_MA8=&rs=AOn4CLB1LHiqJZK0q1y4Bq-3FTKmPmrCQg "Social Distortion- Ring of Fire") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BaksqH2YXQ) ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/43 "2012-03-06T22:53:07Z")
The three covers that immediately pop into my head: Tina Turner’s version of “Proud Mary” Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” (the originals were by, IIRC, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Liza Minnelli, and Dolly Parton, respectively) ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/44 "2012-03-06T23:20:53Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > [Orgy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAt9QTmVc7Q)’s remake of New Order’s “Blue Monday” really kicks the original version’s ass. Another vote for “wrong”. This is the one I always pick for these threads: [Eight Miles High](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKyBlJ_JN8) - Husker Du ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/45 "2012-03-07T00:34:29Z")
It feels like a pile-on but yeah, IMO the only good part of the remake is when they sample the old Blue Monday’s drum solo. (The cover of “Cars” from that same era, on the other hand, wasn’t completely horrible.) ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/46 "2012-03-07T01:14:35Z")
oh yeah here’s another one The Raincoats - Lola [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QufDdHzWhgw/hqdefault.jpg "The Raincoats - Lola") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QufDdHzWhgw) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/47 "2012-03-07T01:18:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The Pointer Sisters’s [Fire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_(Bruce_Springsteen_song)) and Patti Smith’s [Because the Night](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Because_the_Night) were both released _before_ Springsteen’s cover versions. Can a version of a song written **by that person** \*be \*a cover? ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/48 "2012-03-07T01:26:21Z")
Raul Malo doing Willie’s [_Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA4dRe5DNpY). Pure sex. ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/49 "2012-03-07T04:31:08Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Can a version of a song written **by that person** \*be \*a cover? I was wondering this because I love this version of Crazy by Gnarls Barkley [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hh5ZdQrz4Qk/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHUBoAC4AOKAgwIABABGGEgZShCMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBaXsNt5BWdFXv_1L6WIOzPxOTmVQ "Gnarls Barkley- - - " Crazy " ( H Q )") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh5ZdQrz4Qk) it is such a cool version of that song they did, just slowing it down like that changes that song so much. Love both versions but really love this version. ---
**Author:** ![Snake\_Plissken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@Snake\_Plissken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake_Plissken)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/50 "2012-03-07T05:42:56Z")
My first inclination was to be critical of some of these choices. I almost always write out a reply, then think about it for a minute and delete. This is particularly true about music threads. I dont really care if my taste gets criticized, but I used to. I guess I’m getting to an age where I am more comfortable with a live and let live mentality… So I think I will give a few of these another spin or two and see what it is that makes them great. Gov’t Mule is one of my favorite bands for cover tunes. I’m always quite delighted when I see a new cover from them. I loved their Halloween concerts where they played Zep and Who covers. I think my favorite though is Humble Pie’s 30 Days in the Hole. It sounds greazy. Here’s a link, but it sounds much better on the album. [Gov't Mule 30 days in the hole (cover) - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBcSSggj1D4) ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/51 "2012-03-07T16:19:05Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > [Orgy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAt9QTmVc7Q)’s remake of New Order’s “Blue Monday” really kicks the original version’s ass. I am going to go against the fuddy-duddy old crowd around here and rock out with you to the cover version. 🙂 … then go and age myself a bit and second the Hendrix version of “All Along the Watchtower” as one of my other favorite covers. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/52 "2012-03-07T18:49:34Z")
Add me in to the “hell no” on the Orgy cover of _Blue Monday_. I am quite fond of New Order’s _Bizarre Love Triangle_ done by Frente! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/53 "2012-03-07T19:32:48Z")
I should add that I’ve danced to that Orgy cover and like it, but better? No way. And I’ll just have to remain in a minority of (apparently) one on the Johnny Cash _Hurt_. I don’t give a shit what he went through in his life vs Reznor. It just isn’t musically better. He sounds like a drunken wino. And dropping the “shit” was lame. But it is a work of genius compared to the horror of his _Mercy Seat_. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/54 "2012-03-07T19:47:29Z")
I _really_ like The Shins. But even better than The Shins is this bluegrass cover of The Shins: [http://www.subpop.com/releases/the\_shins/full\_lengths/bluegrass\_tribute\_to\_the\_shins](http://www.subpop.com/releases/the_shins/full_lengths/bluegrass_tribute_to_the_shins) ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/55 "2012-03-07T19:59:02Z")
I’ve had this one stuck in my head for a few months now. [Ben Taylor’s cover of Macy Gray’s “I Try”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV3ReWUZIe0) ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/56 "2012-03-08T02:02:31Z")
Anyone mention Leningrad Cowboys yet? Check out their version of Pretty Fly for a White Guy. 😃 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cuhVN6MS564/hqdefault.jpg "Leningrad Cowboys - Pretty Fly (For A White Guy),good") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuhVN6MS564) ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/57 "2012-03-08T02:57:27Z")
4 Non Blondes’ cover of [Misty Mountain Hop](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noybHpL4qgM). ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/58 "2012-03-08T04:39:48Z")
Of course, the epitome of the better cover song is [Hendrix’s version of Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WbKBKima4Q) (as noted above). But, a close second, very close, is [Julie Driscoll’s Season of the Witch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpizS9h-1Xk). (Having said that, I really, really like [Karen O and Trent Reznor’s The Immigrant Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbBayiWglg). Wow!) ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/59 "2012-03-08T05:28:54Z")
My current playlist has 103 songs on it which, if you count those kooky kids from McKinley High, probably consists of about 20% covers. > [@Survey1215](#): > > The Donnas covered Kiss’ ‘Strutter’ for the ‘Detroit Rock City’ soundtrack. Funny video and the drummer in Kiss make-up is pretty hot 🙂 Torry would look hot in a dirty burlap sack. I like the jammies she’s wearing on the [album cover for _Spend The Night_](http://www.peteandkellie.com/images/misc/donnas_spend_the_night_autograph.jpg), though. 😃 This cover’s not on my iPod, simply because I can’t find a clean enough version of it. My current playlist does, however, have their covers of [Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tB_6OSg6mU) and [Kim Wilde’s “Kids In America”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu-8soqGK-U) (as well as Who Invited You and Fall Behind Me, which are The Donnas’ songs). The others are:[ul][li]Skunk Anansie’s cover of [The Stooges’ “Search and Destroy”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn0_FjJvVHI) from the movie _Suckerpunch_[/li][li]Quietdrive’s cover of the Hooters/Cindi Lauper tune [“Time After Time”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lN7u_uwVqo)[/li][li]A cover of Duran Duran’s “Hi Opal” by the 1920’s-Style Death Rays ;)[/li][li]Warren Zevon and the Hindu Love Gods (basically REM _without_ Michael Stipe) singing [Prince’s “Raspberry Beret”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN620aWIk1k)[/li][li]The Ramones doing a [cover of “Surfin’ Bird”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVQfVtzFd4U) by The Trashmen. Blame Peter Griffin for this one.[/li][li]Joey Ramone _without_ the other Ramones singing a [cover of “What a Wonderful World”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTjCvF4rQhI&feature=fvst) by Louis Armstrong. I’m pretty sure some credit card commercial is to blame for _that_ one.[/li][li]Ash Guff singing a cover of The Ramones’ “Spider-Man” (sorry, no Youtube available - it’s from the album _Brats On The Beat: Ramones For Kids_), which [is itself a cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5P8lrgBtcU) of [the totally groovy theme song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o29VoxtsFk) to the 60’s era animated TV show[/li][li][Caleigh Peters singing The Cars’ “Just What I Needed”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dytILnG0WTg). Got kinda tired of it because of that damned Circuit City commerical. This comes from the soundtrack to a most excellent Bruce Campbell/Kurt Russell movie called _Sky High_. The entire album is 80’s covers by contemporary acts… oh, _and_ a cover of Devo’s “Through Being Cool” by They Might Be Giants![/li][li]Vocaloid [Hatsune Miku’s cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbbA9BhCTko) (does it count if the singer isn’t even human?) of [Loituma’s “Ievan Polkka”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4om1rQKPijI)[/li][li]Amongst a whole bunch of songs by The Dollyrots, a few covers, including [Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MvwEOMtFTo) (I have [the Avril Lavigne version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7376myDm_E) on there as well), plus [their version of Bowling For Soup’s “High School Never Ends”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ34fyijiXM), released on a split single with [BFS covering The Dollyrots’ “Because I’m Awesome”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_yXLhdm0Zo) on the flip side, and…[/li][li][Bowling for Soup also singing a cover of “Stacy’s Mom”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGUlSjy9sSk) by Fountains of Wayne …[/li][li]… and [Fountains of Wayne singing a cover of “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isbj8SIrNWU) by ELO[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/60 "2012-03-08T05:33:10Z")
Seaweed’s cover of Go Your Own Way. My favorite cover ever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537.md?page=4)