# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/81 "2012-03-13T08:10:25Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > 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!) I don’t really think it’s more hard rock than the original, it’s just more 80s. [Oasis - Cigarettes and Alcohol](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaeLKhRnkhQ) is a version that rocks harder. ---
**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 15, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/82 "2012-03-15T20:37:57Z")
The Fireball’s hard rock cover of Tom Paxton’s Bottle of Wine. Paxton himself says he loves it, but if he tried to sing like that, his throat would jump out of his mouth. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/83 "2012-03-15T21:30:23Z")
I have a long playlist of awesome covers…a few of note by bands who took the originals and ran with them… Sisters of Mercy doing The Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” Siouxsie & the Banshees doing Iggy Pop’s “The Passenger” Primus doing Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar”. Really, this one kicks. Cibo Matto doing Sammy Davis Jr’s “Candyman” ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/84 "2012-03-15T22:07:01Z")
I’m sure I heard about these on the dope, but I’ll catch and release: Paul Anka [Smells Like Teen Spirit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_MzRxDUeMI) Rasputina [Bad Moon Risin’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9KchCouIjI), and [Wish You Were Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eipqj_BuaAY). Some songs really need some cello. This thread is going to keep me going for weeks. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/85 "2012-03-15T23:20:54Z")
There was a band called Big Daddy that did modern songs in the style of various 50’s groups. They even did a full version of Sgt. Pepper’s; best of the lot is probably [_A Day in the Life_ in the style of Buddy Holly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsPJq0Xomxw). ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/86 "2012-03-16T00:51:24Z")
Haven’t read the whole thread, but I really like Eddie Vedder’s version of [Squeeze Box](http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Squeeze+Box/T7mll?src=5). (Could only find this on [Grooveshark.com](http://Grooveshark.com)) ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/87 "2012-03-16T02:36:28Z")
H2O’s pop-punk version of [Like A Prayer](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x25ci6_h2o-like-a-prayer_music) is really fun. ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/88 "2012-03-16T02:58:33Z")
Check out [Karmin](http://www.youtube.com/user/karmincovers/videos). Pretty much every cover they’ve done is better than the original, in my opinion, especially [this one](http://youtu.be/khCokQt--l4). ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/89 "2012-03-16T04:48:49Z")
[Mad World - Gary Jules and Michael Andrews](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4) [Courage - Sarah Polley](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrpaoC_-Wk8) (And if you haven’t seen the film _The Sweet Hereafter_, Holy Crap, see it!) [Tomorrow Never Knows - Junior Parker](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1YKfu5sD24) [Teardrop - José González](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B-h1EEsKDA) [About Her - Malcom Mclaren](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUs0O81n9-A) [Down In A Hole - Ryan Adams](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdOycmgsM4A) [Running Up That Hill - Placebo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBlAdApfK9U) [Hey Ya - Obadiah Parker](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ejeEBlDESc&feature=related) [Metal - Nine Inch Nails](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Pmt912Zic) [Dead Souls - Nine Inch Nails](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVNgOOE7Wpg) [Crazy - Ray Lamontagne](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mEfDSP4g_U) ---
**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 16, 2012, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/90 "2012-03-16T06:05:06Z")
> [@OneChance](#): > > Check out [Karmin](http://www.youtube.com/user/karmincovers/videos). Pretty much every cover they’ve done is better than the original, in my opinion, especially [this one](http://youtu.be/khCokQt--l4). They remind me of [another duet I know…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIr8-f2OWhs&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AV8kkAksCH3JDnhc0drCzIKQYTOY6USq0FiU8MBX_W5P0TDZS_OOyogOJsmHo9_obj) ---
**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/91 "2012-03-16T07:12:51Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I am quite fond of New Order’s _Bizarre Love Triangle_ done by Frente! I came in here to mention this one. I have kind of a love-hate relationship with New Order, and _Bizarre Love Triangle_ falls under the hate flag. But the [Frente version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ1c9ErCn7w) turned the song into such a mournful, emotional piece. Since that one’s taken, I’ll mention another song I hate, _Take On Me_ by a-ha, also taken to an acoustically dark place by [AC Newman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_eBTIIQOtA) and turned into something really beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/92 "2012-03-16T08:23:36Z")
> [@psiekier](#): > > They remind me of [another duet I know…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIr8-f2OWhs&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AV8kkAksCH3JDnhc0drCzIKQYTOY6USq0FiU8MBX_W5P0TDZS_OOyogOJsmHo9_obj) Oh yeah, how could I not mention Pomplamoose? Karmin actually said they got their inspiration from Pomplamoose. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/93 "2012-03-16T16:51:22Z")
Black Magic Woman - Santana (Peter Wood/Fleetwood Mac) House of the Rising Sun - Frijid Pink (American Traditional and then The Animals) I don’t know why but the “Pink” version is one of my favorite oldies. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/94 "2012-03-16T18:06:24Z")
two of my favorite remakes that I haven’t seen mentioned here are Gin and Juice by **The Gourds** and Bitches Ain’t Shit by **Ben Folds**. Both are done in a completely different style. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/95 "2012-03-18T04:14:16Z")
The [Simon and Garfunkel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwqwAy85CgY) song Richard Cory, as done by [_Them_ (with Van Morrison)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukIEi8ZgqK8). Van the Man turns bland moralistic schlock (with maybe a slight hint of irony) into a furious outpouring of bitterness. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/96 "2012-03-18T15:37:59Z")
> [@Bohomite](#): > > I’ll add The Civil Wars doing Leonard Cohen’s _Dance me to the end of love_. I also like Madeleine Peyroux’s version… [Madeleine’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX_uRMWFol4) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/97 "2012-03-18T21:31:19Z")
[Suzy Bogguss’ cover of the old Ian and Silvia song _Someday Soon_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fM_jnS-MjY). A truly beautiful voice that can rip your heart out. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/98 "2012-03-18T21:44:14Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Raul Malo doing Willie’s [_Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA4dRe5DNpY). > > Pure sex. Wonderful voice, amazing performer and a genuinely nice guy. It’s not a cover, but [here’s a Raul Malo song I shot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fUETlA30KI). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/99 "2012-03-19T00:16:07Z")
Pseudo Echo’s [Funky Town](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnejLmQGYhg). (Warning: includes Keytar) ---
**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:** [April 27, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537/100 "2012-04-27T02:16:31Z")
I’d hate to see this thread die, as it has inspired me to search out new covers to add to my collection. I have found a few, several of which are covers of songs from my favorite ELO album, _[Time](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_(Electric_Light_Orchestra_album)):_[ul][li]Twilight by The Shazam (no Youtube, just enjoy [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qico2XQ92as)). I’m just gonna have to break down and buy _[Lynne Me Your Ears](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynne_Me_Your_Ears)_, I think.[/li][li][Here Is The News](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP7jSpIU9g8) by Brave Saint Saturn[/li][li]Hold On Tight by the Fenders[/ul][/li]Plus some that are not:[ul][li][Send Me An Angel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grwRg6LRmXw) ([Real Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCHE0Tjw6MA)) by Thrice[/li][_]99 Red Balloons ([Nena](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14IRDDnEPR4)), inspired by my discussion with **Ensign Ricky** , above. I found [one cool cover by the Go-Sheilas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AXYLnXpbTY), and another by Siobhan DuVall[_]Hi Opal![/ul] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-good-cover-songs/614537.md?page=6)