I like Crucial Taunt’s (Wayne’s World) Ballroom Blitz better than the original.
I love Roy Ayres cover of “You Send Me”.
Almost forgot: Whitney Houston’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”
Linda Ronstadt’s “Blue Bayou”, Judy Collins “Both Sides Now”, DItto Manfred Mann’s “Blinded” AND “Spirits in the Night” (and “For You” for that matter").
Personal Jesus is a Depeche Mode song. 
I had no idea Marilyn Manson even covered it. I might have to check that out.
I looked upHelter Skelter in my iTunes library. It’s says its off disc 3 of the Pandora’s Box boxed set.
Knowing Aerosmith, it’s probably on several other “greatest hits” compilations, even others that I may own.
“Shuffle” just played it for us a couple days ago.
:dubious: Of course, the original was by Badfinger.
Here’s an odd one: Neil Sedaka’s remake of his own song “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”. The first version was a pop hook song, the second a blues ballad, and MUCH more interesting.
Now that you mention it (and I looked it up to confirm), I remember it was a Kinks song, but the Van Halen version is by far the most popular here in the states. Oingo Boingo’s was the best in my opinion in any case.
I simply love Fiona Apple’s cover of “Across the Universe”, even better than the Beatles’.
And one I didn’t know was a cover until the other day-when my mother was listening to the oldies station-Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good.”
natalie imbruglia’s ‘torn’ is better than the original by ednaswap.
Def Leppard’s cover of “Rock On”—the song is much edgier, more…tense? I like it better than any of the originals.
**Hall & Oates **version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin” is great. Much more passion and fire than the original.
And I really, really love **Johnny Cash’**s cover of NiN’s “Hurt.” Especially when you see the video. As much of a NiN fan as I am, Mr Cash OWNS this song.
There are a couple covers I prefer to the originals, but none where I had heard the originals first. Although I wonder if it counts if a band covers their own songs acoustically, cause I’ve heard some songs by Matchbox 20 and Incubus that sound better acoustic than electric.
I never liked More Than A Feeling, but Sylvain Cossette’s version is OK.
My favorite version of All Along the Watchtower comes from Michael Hedges (who was a big Hendrix fan).
Yep. NIN’s version now sounds just… wrong… to me. Like a whiny kid who has no right to sing the thing.
Is this the version on Donnie Darko, or is that a different one?
-FrL-
Huh. Had no idea that was a cover.
Thought it was a strange song for RHCP though.
-FrL-
Yes, agreed. Particularly true when I watch the JC version’s video. If that doesn’t depress you, probably not much will.
No, that’s the one.
I’d never seen that before.
Holy, holy crap.
And then there’s the part where you see his wife is standing behind him, and then the way she’s looking at him. Oh god!
(could have done without the crucifixion imagery though.)
-FrL-
(dammit I am such a crybaby. [/tmi])
Not that it’s a great song to begin with, but B.J. Thomas’s version of “Hooked On a Feeling” is still better than the Blue Swede “Oogah-chakah” cover.
Love both versions, but the superior video is definitely here. Three words: kitten mosh pit.
30 seconds of that and now I’ve turned it off but what am I supposed to do with this hideous headache it gave me?!