# Songs that should never be covered/played by someone else
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** music
**Created:** [January 2, 2023, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552 "2023-01-02T22:34:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2023, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/1 "2023-01-02T22:34:39Z")
The other side of “Wow, that’s a great cover of that song!”
A common thread that I’ve realized is that if the song has biographical or personal opinions in it, it likely should never be played or sung by someone else.
Yesterday I watched the making of the the Rock Aid for Armenia version of _Smoke on the Water_, featuring Brian May, David Gilmore, Tony Iommi and others, along with Richie Blackmore. And I realized that more doesn’t always make it better. Not only did Blackmore not play live with most of the others, but there was another singer, don’t remember or care who it was, who sang along with Ian Gillian.
The song MUST always include Blackmore, and no one but Gillian should sing “We all came out to Montreux…” I remember when Gillian left Deep Purple, there was another singer, again don’t know or care who it was, that replaced him. When I heard him sing the opening lines, I thought; “NO YOU DIDN’T” and skipped to Blackmore’s solo just to see if he still had it. He did.
_Old Man_ should never be sung by anyone but Neil Young and _Southern Man_ can only by done by Young or CSNY.
_Layla_ should never be played or sung by anyone but a 1971 pain and angst filled Clapton, driven to stunning brilliance by Duane Allman.
_Bad Company_ can only be sung by Paul Rogers.
_Lay Down Candles_ can only be sung by Melanie Rush backed by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. And only played with as the full version with the opening poem.
_The Wall_ can only be performed by the original and true Pink Floyd. So sadly any song from the albums should ever be played live again.
CSNY is allowed to perform _Woodstock_ because Joni Mitchell was inspired by Graham Nash.
No one, anytime, anywhere is allowed to sing _Somebody to Love_ or \*White Rabbit" except Gracie Slick!
Edit: Any Black Sabbath song, originally sung by Ozzie and OMG! NOT DIO!
No Doors song should ever be performed by anyone but Jim!
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/2 "2023-01-02T22:38:22Z")
No one except Arlo Guthrie should perform “Alice’s Restaurant.”
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### Author:  [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/3 "2023-01-02T22:44:07Z")
Phil Collins, “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)”.
I have heard several people attempt it, none successfully.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/4 "2023-01-02T23:13:45Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> No one except Arlo Guthrie should perform “Alice’s Restaurant.” -
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvtO91FXV8U)
ETA: No one should cover any of Weird Al’s originals.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2023, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/5 "2023-01-02T23:14:32Z")
Nobody ever covered Melanie’s Roller-skate song. Right?
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/6 "2023-01-02T23:54:50Z")
> [@Didi44](#):
>
> No Doors song should ever be performed by anyone but Jim!
Ironically, The Doors recorded a shit-ton of covers, including _Back Door Man_, the _Alabama Song_ and _Who Do You Love_.
_Who Do You Love_, my favorite Bo Diddley song seems like it should only be identified with him, but there are numerous covers. All that I’ve heard are good to great (see also versions by Tom Rush and George Thorogood).
As for The Doors, many groups have released cover versions of _The Crystal Ship_. I’m partial to this one.
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjCZLzCvm-E)
On the other hand, while it may be legitimate to cover the Standells’ _Dirty Water_, permission for the Boston Pops to do so should never have been granted.
[https://mobile.twitter.com/mike\_uva/status/1610038738654035974/mediaviewer](https://mobile.twitter.com/mike_uva/status/1610038738654035974/mediaviewer)
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/7 "2023-01-03T00:06:01Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> The Doors
I’ve seen a local tribute band (_The Next Doors_) whose Morrison looks scarily real. To the point that the band begins playing (Jim-less). After two or three songs they begin to look around at each other, shrugging shoulders, etc. Then, Jim comes stumbling onto the stage and they hit their stride.
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### Author:  [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/8 "2023-01-03T00:10:45Z")
\ ***Ironically, The Doors recorded a shit-ton of covers, including _Back Door Man_ , the _Alabama Song_ and _Who Do You Love ._**
Technically, these aren’t Doors songs, they’re covers. 😉
I just remembered. Jose Feliciano did _Light My Fire_. I accept your version Jose! 😊
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### Author:  [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/9 "2023-01-03T00:33:39Z")
No one but Emmylou should ever sing _Boulder to Birmingham_, which is a song about very intense, specific grief.
No one but Dolly knows how to sing _I will Always Love You_. Whitney Houston’s cover totally missed the mark and only led to a ton of covers that turn a bittersweet heartbreak song into some sort of triumphant anthem.
However, I’m sure both performers would disagree with me. As the respective songwriters of these songs, they’ve earned a ton of money off of commercial covers of them.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/10 "2023-01-03T00:33:50Z")
> [@Didi44](#):
>
> I just remembered. Jose Feliciano did _Light My Fire_.
_Other_ than _Light My Fire_, what did he do? Love his cover, but was he a one hit wonder? (xmas song doesn’t count)
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### Author:  [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/11 "2023-01-03T00:44:55Z")
OMG! I hate, hate, hate _I Will Always Love You_ by Whitney. I thought it was the song, but finally heard Dolly’s version and I actually kind of like it.
_I’m Not Lisa_ belongs only to Jessie Colter.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/12 "2023-01-03T01:19:38Z")
Steve Vai - For the Love of God
Not that there are but a handful of people who even could, but still. 30 years old and still his masterpiece. Even he doesn’t always play it with note for note accuracy.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/13 "2023-01-03T01:48:37Z")
No one but Dylan can ever sing _Like a Rolling Stone_, _Subterranean Homesick Blues_, _Positively Fourth Street_, or _Tangled Up in Blue_.
There are many Dylan songs that actually can be covered, but definitely not these.
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### Author:  [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/14 "2023-01-03T01:49:30Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> On the other hand, while it may be legitimate to cover the Standells’ _Dirty Water_, permission for the Boston Pops to do so should never have been granted.
Actually, I don’t think any songwriter has to _grant permission_ to anyone to cover a song. As long as the appropriate royalties are paid, anybody can cover any song, as I understand it.
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### Author:  [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/15 "2023-01-03T02:37:45Z")
I’m not a purist about this general subject, but Conway Twitty should never been allowed to cover “Slow Hand”
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/16 "2023-01-03T10:47:34Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#):
>
> No one but Dylan can ever sing _Like a Rolling Stone_, _Subterranean Homesick Blues_, _Positively Fourth Street_, or _Tangled Up in Blue_.
>
> There are many Dylan songs that actually can be covered, but definitely not these.
I’m struggling to think of a _single_ Dylan song that I would want to hear from someone else.
mmm
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### Author:  [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/17 "2023-01-03T11:30:21Z")
Brian Johnson took over as lead vocalist for AC/DC after the death of Bon Scott. Out of respect, he does not perform [it’s a Long way to the top](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQluGs2SFRs), which is a song Bon made his own,.
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### Author:  [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/18 "2023-01-03T13:15:52Z")
> [@Didi44](#):
>
> _The Wall_ can only be performed by the original and true Pink Floyd. So sadly any song from the albums should ever be played live again.
There was an American high school horror movie soundtrack that used a cover of “Another Brick in the Wall” that absolutely blew chunks. They sang it opera style with vibrato. That was an instant station-changer for me.
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### Author:  [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/19 "2023-01-03T13:28:30Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> I’m struggling to think of a _single_ Dylan song that I would want to hear from someone else.
>
> mmm
The Byrds did about a dozen Dylan covers, and most of them are excellent.
Jimi Hendrix did All Along the Watchtower and, I would say, took it to a whole new level.
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### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/20 "2023-01-03T13:31:20Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#):
>
> No one but Dylan can ever sing _Like a Rolling Stone_
What about when the Rolling Stones covered it on the album Stripped? Was it an “about time they performed the obvious cover” moment, or the song cover equivalent of stunt casting?
Not a bad cover, either:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkN6bhp6UZM)
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