# Remakes you prefer to the original songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189 "2008-03-29T18:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/21 "2008-03-30T12:29:27Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I feel obliged to bring up Hendrix’s cover of “All Along the Watchtower.” That’s kind of the standard case of the cover beating the original. [/QUOTE] _hangs head_ I wasn’t aware that was a cover. I absolutely adore Willy Nelson’s version of “Willow Weep for Me”. Or Cyndi Lauper’s “I Drove All Night”. (Hell, I even like Celine Dion’s version…) ---
**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 30, 2008, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/22 "2008-03-30T12:56:55Z")
[QUOTE=Queen of Town] Reel Big Fish’s version of Hungry Like The Wolf. They give a sort of ska-punk-lounge singer vibe, and it just works. Plus the spoken intro is hilarious. [/QUOTE] I came in here to mention that very song! Others I prefer the remakes over the originals: **Me First and the Gimme Gimmes** - \* Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard\*: It’s a punk cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s classic. **The Gourds** - _Gin and Juice_: Rap done bluegrass style. **Less Than Jake** - _Surrender_: A punk-lite remake. The original is real, real, real good shit. But this one’s a madman. ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/23 "2008-03-30T13:12:25Z")
Cake’s _Guitar Man_ Apocalyptica’s _In the Hall of the Mountain King_ Rackets and Drapes’ _Personal Jesus_ (which, I might add, is very similar to Marilyn Manson’s version, but predates it by several years.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/24 "2008-03-30T13:24:59Z")
The version of _All Along the Watchtower_ at the end of season 3 of Battlestar Galactica is the best one of all time, has been before and will be again. Who did it? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/25 "2008-03-30T17:16:42Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] _hangs head_ I wasn’t aware that was a cover. [/QUOTE] Don’t feel bad. Dylan’s version kinda sucks. _Definitely_ sucks compared to Jimi’s. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/26 "2008-03-30T17:22:52Z")
[QUOTE=Qwertyasdfg] The Clash’s version of “I Fought the Law” [/QUOTE] Continuing with the Clash, their cover of “Police on my Back” I prefer to the hard-to-find original. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/27 "2008-03-30T17:33:37Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Duality] The version of _All Along the Watchtower_ at the end of season 3 of Battlestar Galactica is the best one of all time, has been before and will be again. Who did it? [/QUOTE] Bear McCreary, apparently. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka\_sHy9cVH0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka_sHy9cVH0) I came in to mention Hendrix over Dylan. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/28 "2008-03-30T17:52:16Z")
Hurt. I love both versions, but I think Johnny Cash’s outstrips Trent Reznor by just a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/29 "2008-03-30T18:03:07Z")
[QUOTE=FilmGeek] Hurt. I love both versions, but I think Johnny Cash’s outstrips Trent Reznor by just a bit. [/QUOTE] I like Johnny Cash more than I like NIN, but his cover of Hurt was inferior IMO. Maybe it’s just because I loved the song before he did it. I usually like whichever version I hear first. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/30 "2008-03-30T18:11:29Z")
**Joe Cocker’s** version of “A Little Help From My Friends”. Much of the 50s rock and R&B music was covers of old tunes, and infinitely better, IMO. For instance, **The Platters’** version of the 1933 showtune “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” was a killer version, although not the first time it hit #1. The Beatles version of “Til There Was You” in the 60s was well done. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/31 "2008-03-30T18:28:04Z")
[QUOTE=Darth Sensitive] I came in to mention Hendrix over Dylan. [/QUOTE] Same here. Also: _Cake_- **I Will Survive**. First time I heard it I was thinking how weird it was to hear a guy singing it. Then I started digging it. Great bass, guitar, and horns in this version…sans disco orchebation. From the I Am Sam soundtrack, _Sheryl Crows_’ cover of _The Beatles_’ **Mother Nature’s Son** is infinitely better. The entire soundtrack, save one or two covers, is actually pretty good. Of course, _Joe Cocker_ seriously upstaged _The Beatles_ on **With a Little Help from My Friends** , as well. Way back when – back in the days I was listening to _The English Beat_ ( **Tears of a Clown** ) maybe not better, but totally different --I played _The Bangles_’ **Hazy Shade of Winter** excessively. And I was raised on S&G. ETA: I didn’t see **Chefguy** ’s post while I was wracking my brain. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/32 "2008-03-30T18:33:15Z")
Oh yeah, the one I was really trying to remember was **Gary Jules** ’ remake of _Tears for Fears_’ **Mad World**. It’s slow, the way it would have been if T4F wasn’t trying to sell records in the '80s. ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/33 "2008-03-30T20:42:35Z")
Ah, hell. I forgot Cake’s _War Pigs_!! They really do have a lot of great covers. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/34 "2008-03-30T22:05:13Z")
[QUOTE=Hamadryad] Bruce Hornsby: “Madman Across The Water” Phil Collins: “Burn Down the Mission” [/QUOTE] Heard the Hornsby tune a few times on the radio this past year and was blown away. I like the original, but he does it so right. I’ve gotta find me this CD, though, as I imagine Phil Collins would do a smokin’ Burn Down the Mission (no pun intended). Speaking of Elton John, Dream Theater does a great live version of **Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding**. It’s very similar to the original, and I go back and forth about which version I like the most. Pretty much anything by Otis Redding as sung by other performers ( **Respect** , for example). Nina Simone’s version of George Harrison’s **Isn’t It A Pity** is heavenly. One of the few times that I’ve called into a radio station to figure out who I just heard, after sitting in the driveway for the last three minutes of the song. ---
**Author:** ![uncle\_squeegee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b5e925/32.png) [@uncle\_squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uncle_squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/35 "2008-03-30T23:02:28Z")
Devo’s “Satisfaction” is better than the Stones’. When I was in college I liked Phil Collin’s version of “You Can’t Hurry Love” better than the original, but once I graduated and sobered up I realized how wrong I was. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/36 "2008-03-31T00:49:56Z")
**Simply Red’s** version of “Holding Back The Years” and “The Air That I Breathe” are stunningly better than anything anyone else has done. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/37 "2008-03-31T03:15:44Z")
[QUOTE=uncle squeegee] Devo’s “Satisfaction” is better than the Stones’. [/QUOTE] Correct, which reminds me that Oingo Boingo’s ‘You Really Got Me’ is better than Van Halen’s. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/38 "2008-03-31T03:22:34Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Elton John’s version of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” is better than the Beatles’ version. [/QUOTE] Ditto. Likewise, [Aerosmith’s version of _Come Together_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3jWESj-Lkw) is better than the Beatles’ version. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/39 "2008-03-31T03:29:13Z")
Also, [**Nazareth** ’s version of _Love Hurts_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrSs7gfLDjc) is better than the [earlier version by **The Everly Brothers**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffynuKji3RY). [**Roy Orbison** ’s version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ICnk-gWx8A) is quite good, and probably falls somewhere between the other two. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189/40 "2008-03-31T03:43:18Z")
The first version of [The Beatles’ - Tomorrow Never Knows](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhNQYrTaJVU) that I heard was the last track on Phil Collins’ \*Face Value \* LP (scroll down for a track sample). [Phil Collins - Tomorrow Never Knows](http://www.amazon.com/Face-Value-Phil-Collins/dp/B000002I8D/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1206934665&sr=8-1) I like both versions, but Collins’ version is easier to get into. Please don’t ban me for preferring Phil Collins over the Beatles. It’s just this song! I was just a kid! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-you-prefer-to-the-original-songs/443189.md?page=3)