# 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:** 3
### Author:  [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/41 "2023-01-03T23:45:34Z")
> [@](#):
>
> No one except Arlo Guthrie should perform “Alice’s Restaurant.
Yes, one version of this song is quite enough!
😊
> [@slicedalone](#):
>
> You haven’t heard my slow, fingerpicked acoustic arrangement of LIKE A ROLLING STONE. Sometimes I omit the titular chorus and play just the verses. It’s nice.
Link to video, please!
---
### Author:  [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/42 "2023-01-04T03:40:34Z")
I’ll just leave this here. Should prove the point either way you want to make it
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLntF5rMzEs)
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### Author:  [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/43 "2023-01-04T04:26:11Z")
Jose Feliciano is probably better known for _Feliz Navidad_.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/44 "2023-01-04T12:40:45Z")
^^^^^
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> (xmas song doesn’t count)
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### Author:  [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/45 "2023-01-04T16:57:01Z")
And, for a political twist:
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kINLxNxTMJ0/hqdefault.jpg ""Kinky Boots" - Irish Rebel Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kINLxNxTMJ0)
This is a parody of the Wurzel’s song that expresses a certain political point of view.
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### Author:  [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/46 "2023-01-04T17:15:04Z")
Good god, that’s astonishing. I wonder if Melanie knows?
This led me to check out if it was listed as a cover in “second hand songs” - not that they’re an official arbiter of anything. No it isn’t, but Combine Harvester is. BTW @kayaker, there are _dozens_ of covers of Brand New Key:
> **[Cover versions of Brand New Key written by Melanie | SecondHandSongs](https://secondhandsongs.com/work/53952/versions)**
>
> The song Brand New Key was written by Melanie and was first released by Melanie in 1971. It was covered by The Alan Caddy Orchestra & Singers, Robinella, Denis King, Marc with a C and other artists.
j
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/47 "2023-01-04T17:18:16Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#):
>
> there are _dozens_ of covers of Brand New Key:
Look what they’ve done to her song, Ma!
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/48 "2023-01-04T17:33:46Z")
“Man in Black” by Johnny Cash. Since he IS the man in black.
It’s been covered by Christian punk band [One Bad Pig](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1gyTzN02vU), with an appearance by Johnny on the song. It’s also been covered in [Spanish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ZJqr-Yd6E) and by a female performer named [Andy Allo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7mKGfdARww).
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### Author:  [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/49 "2023-01-04T17:37:57Z")
Youtube’s autoplay algorithm can be a little strange.
I think the progression went:
North Carolina traditional music → Appalachian traditional → Irish traditional → Songs of the IRA.
It wierded me out considerably when it came up in my playlist.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/50 "2023-01-04T18:44:36Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> > [@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
Have you **HEARD** the Jimi Hendrix version of “Like A Rolling Stone”? I love Dylan’s songwriting, but his vocals are crap, and Hendrix put so so SO much soul into that version - One of the absolute great covers.
Any song written by Bob Dylan or Lou Reed can be covered. Period. Dot. Might be hard to truly improve on some of them, but it can be done.
ETA - I forgot to include …
that being said, I can’t imagine anyone other than Dylan doing Positively 4th Street.
> [@Akaj](#):
>
> > [@BlankSlate](#):
> >
> > _American Pie_ shouldn’t be covered.
>
> I saw a guy in Nashville do a cover of the 45-rpm single he had as a kid, complete with skips, scratches and a short delay in the middle to flip the record over.
That is AWESOME.
> [@LurkMeister](#):
>
> We were in the car at the time, so it had to wait until we got home (this was in the days before smartphones). I dug through my CD collection until I found one which had Dolly singing it.
The original, or the version from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas? Dolly had two hit performances before Whitney even thought of being on stage!
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### Author:  [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/51 "2023-01-04T18:52:35Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> Christian punk band
Crap, there are the darnedest things in America. What else is there, Christian death metal bands?
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### Author:  [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/52 "2023-01-04T18:54:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#):
>
> I’ll just leave this here. Should prove the point either way you want to make it
> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLntF5rMzEs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLntF5rMzEs)
It’s a bold attempt, but I think it demonstrates how uncoverable that song is. The Peppers’ version just sounds like ordinary hip-hop.
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/53 "2023-01-04T18:55:22Z")
As Hank Hill said “You’re not making Christian music better, you’re making rock music worse!”
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### Author:  [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/54 "2023-01-04T18:57:41Z")
> [@Akaj](#):
>
> > [@Johnny\_Q](#):
> >
> > I’ll just leave this here. Should prove the point either way you want to make it
> > [Subterranean Homesick Blues - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLntF5rMzEs)
>
> It’s a bold attempt, but I think it demonstrates how uncoverable that song is. The Peppers’ version just sounds like ordinary hip-hop.
I adore Dylan, and I really like the Peppers, but this is just embarrassing.
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### Author:  [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/55 "2023-01-04T19:29:40Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#):
>
> Crap, there are the darnedest things in America. What else is there, Christian death metal bands?
Hey, c’mon, we got there first. We had christian punks (After The Fire), punks you could introduce to your mom (Generation X)…
j
ETA I could have thrown in (amongst others) The Stranglers, The Jam and The Boomtown Rats, but it would be a chore to define them. Oh go on, then. The punks you could introduce to your granny, punks on scooters, punks who might play at a ceilidh…
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### Author:  [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/56 "2023-01-04T19:35:40Z")
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> _Other_ than _Light My Fire_, what did he do? Love his cover, but was he a one hit wonder? (xmas song doesn’t count)
[Here’s his Wikipedia page](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Feliciano)
I don’t think of him as a OHW, because he was as much a musical celebrity as he was a recording artist. He was blind, he played lightning fast on nylon strings, and was a frequent guest on television doing interviews and musical duets.
His follow-up single, _Hi-Heel Sneakers_, reached #25 in the US.
His 1968 breakthrough album reached #2.
His jazzy performance of _Star Spangled Banner_ during the 1968 World Series made the news. It may have been the first Major League anthem controversy.
He had two more Gold albums in 1969, and a Top 40 Xmas album in 1970.
He appeared briefly in the film **Fargo** as a lounge singer.
In 2018 the Detroit Tigers invited him back to play the anthem, 50 years after his World Series performance.
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### Author:  [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/57 "2023-01-04T19:40:01Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#):
>
> The original, or the version from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas? Dolly had two hit performances before Whitney even thought of being on stage!
When you know the background of the song, the original performance becomes double awesome.
> **[It Was 40 Years Ago: Dolly Parton Bids Adieu to Porter Wagoner, Writes 'I...](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/our-country/40-years-ago-this-week--dolly-parton-bids-adieu-to-porter-wagoner--writes--i-will-always-love-you-175857744.html)**
>
> This week marks the 40th anniversary of a major country music break-up – one that ultimately led to one of the best-selling hits of all time: The Dolly Parton classic, "I Will Always Love You."
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGs1soJT9gE)
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### Author:  [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/58 "2023-01-04T19:46:06Z")
I can’t remember which version it was, or which CD I had. I know that she first wrote and sung it when she was on The Porter Waggoner Show in the 70s.
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### Author:  [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/59 "2023-01-04T20:00:30Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#):
>
> ETA I could have thrown in (amongst others) The Stranglers
Well, “Peaches” or “Golden Brown” are not songs I would have played to my grandma (though she wouldn’t have got the subject matter of “Golden Brown”).
> [@](#):
>
> After The Fire
I had to double check that, I only knew them as the British guys who covered “Der Kommissar”, but they really seem to be a Christian new wave band. (btw., was their Falco cover also about cocaine 😉?)
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-be-covered-played-by-someone-else/977552/60 "2023-01-04T20:06:31Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#):
>
> Crap, there are the darnedest things in America. What else is there, Christian death metal bands?
Of course. A bit of googling reveals that there are plenty, and not just American.
> **[the-slick.com](http://ww38.the-slick.com/christian-death-metal-list/?subid1=20231215-1607-1575-886f-2077b9568414)**
>
> This domain may be for sale!
> **[Christian metal | Death metal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_metal#Death_metal)**
>
> In 1990, the Australian group Mortification became the first widely recognized Christian death metal band. Their 1992 album Scrolls of the Megilloth garnered the band some attention from the heavy metal underground, according to Allmusic.
> At roughly the same time, the band Living Sacrifice was creating thrash and death metal, particularly on the albums Nonexistent (1992) and Inhabit (1994), with Allmusic commenting that "the term Christian death metal seems like one of music's most comical oxymo...
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