# Smack in the face cover versions of songs. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627 "2011-11-02T14:30:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/41 "2011-11-07T20:50:37Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Let’s see, how about [Aidan Powell’s wonderful rendition of Train’s “Hey Soul Sister”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TruIq5IxuiU)? And Ray Lemontagne’s cover of [Crazy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mEfDSP4g_U) by Gnarls Barkley. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/42 "2011-11-07T21:45:01Z")
> [@Barking\_Dog](#): > > I’m surprised [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I) hasn’t had a mention yet. I was going to post that in contrast with [this version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5T6gyCPDvM&feature=related). Both great in their own way. And as long as I am on the subject, how about this version of Enya’s [Orinoco Flow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H4TlDxXxVk&feature=related)? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/43 "2011-11-07T22:14:10Z")
A few covers that surprised me with how good they really are: 1. [The Boys Are Back In Town](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9siNrTxaDM), with Bon Jovi covering Thin Lizzy. 2. [Rock and Roll All Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=189IEbb1Lbk), by Poison, covering KISS. Speaking of KISS, how about [Hard Luck Woman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkOPMCUsoJU) by Garth Brooks? ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/44 "2011-11-08T00:53:23Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I happened upon a cover of Leonard Cohen’s _Hallelujah_ that made my jaw hit the ground. It is by [Justin Timberlake](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guL4KgkheoM&feature=related) who I know is a quality musician, but still, fuck me. > > Find any yourself? Hurra Torpedo – Total Eclipse of the Heart ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/45 "2011-11-08T04:36:48Z")
I recently stumbled upon this cover of [_Paint it Black_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJwSEDE5x2I) by the Tea Party. I think it’s rather awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/46 "2011-11-08T04:55:31Z")
I came here to mention Ray Lamontagne’s cover of Crazy, but I’ve been beaten to it. > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > YES! Finally someone else says what I have been saying for years. I _hate_ that goddamn song (Hallelujah). What a bunch of boring, melodramatic, emo drivel. Ugh! I hate the lyrics so much. I especially hate Rufus Wainwright’s version. As a Cohen fan, who likes his voice and dislikes most covers of his songs, I agree it is one of his worst songs. Which may be part of why it gets covered so much - the original sucks, so there is no pressure. I do like the Jeff Buckley cover though. Somehow it works for me with his voice. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/47 "2011-11-08T07:41:05Z")
Crazy [Judy In Disguise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMV-XTmyCPo) cover. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/48 "2011-11-08T13:35:05Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Curiously, two of my favourites are by Faith no more. [“Easy”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9X_msJ-7OI) and [“I started a joke”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMv6_2HqbF8) which was all the better for being unexpected and making Terry Christian look a bit of a dick. They also have a pretty damned good cover of “War Pigs” on their album “The Real Thing.” I know it well because that was the first tape I ever bought myself (to christen my brand new Walkman) and it was the only tape I had for months. I do agree their cover of “Easy” is awesome. I had that on an EP with a song called something like “Das Schutzenfest” which was in, I think, German. They’re a strange band. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/49 "2011-11-08T14:12:47Z")
I have an album by the Hot Rats that’s a nice mix of very good and why-the-hell-did-they-do-that? covers. In the good category are power versions of “The Crystal Ship” and “Queen Bitch”. On the other hand, why would anyone cover Squeeze’s “Up The Junction”? Did we need more than one take on that? ---
**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:** [November 8, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/50 "2011-11-08T14:28:55Z")
You haven’t heard the best version of that classic Waltzing Matilda until you’ve heard [Nyanpi Matilda](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGnjWBWfQZo), Trevor Adamson’s cover in Pitjantjatjara, an Australian aboringine language. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/51 "2011-11-08T17:54:18Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > As a Cohen fan, who likes his voice and dislikes most covers of his songs, I agree it is one of his worst songs. Which may be part of why it gets covered so much - the original sucks, so there is no pressure. > > I do like the Jeff Buckley cover though. Somehow it works for me with his voice. Speaking of Cohen covers, Billy Joel’s version of [Light As the Breeze](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63wr1lVfTY4) is very, very good, also. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627/52 "2011-11-08T19:37:06Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > As a Cohen fan, who likes his voice and dislikes most covers of his songs, I agree it is one of his worst songs. Which may be part of why it gets covered so much - the original sucks, so there is no pressure. > > I do like the Jeff Buckley cover though. Somehow it works for me with his voice. I’m not a huge fan of Hallelujah, but my preferred version is actually the one by[k.d. lang.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE) I’m always impressed by the power she has in her voice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smack-in-the-face-cover-versions-of-songs/601627.md?page=2)