# Songs that should never, ever be covered because it would only end in disaster
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 16, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800 "2004-01-16T17:48:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/1 "2004-01-16T17:48:08Z")
I think that there are certain songs that have been recorded at a state of perfection that is such that any attempt to cover them would just wouldn’t work. Others are done by artists with a certain… sound and the song would only work if done in that style. A few that come to mind are
“Paranoid”- Black Sabbath
“Perfect Strangers”, “Child in Time”, Deep Purple
“American Pie”- Don Maclean \*
anything by Gordon Lightfoot \*
“Ramble On”, “The Immigrant Song”, “Livin’ Lovin’ Maid”- Led Zeppelin
“Jumping Jack Flash”- The Rolling Stones
\*- See what I mean?
---
### Author:  [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/2 "2004-01-16T18:07:19Z")
I’d be interested to hear Chris Isaak cover some Gordon Lightfoot. Otherwise, your point is well taken.
I’ll add that it would be difficult to cover Journey songs featuring Steve Perry on vocals.
---
### Author:  [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/3 "2004-01-16T18:21:45Z")
**Rush** is uncoverable. Their playing techniques are unique and no other band I know of could ever reproduce their sound. This holds true for most prog rock, in fact.
---
### Author:  [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/4 "2004-01-16T19:17:25Z")
Primus falls in this category, but I actually think they might be able to pull off a decent cover of “Immigrant Song.”
Most of Smashing Pumpkins’ work probably could not be covered well, either. Billy Corgan’s voice is too distinctive.
---
### Author:  [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/5 "2004-01-16T19:39:43Z")
I would’ve thought “Paranoid”, but Megadeth turned in a respectable cover. It’s not as good as the original, but they came as close as anyone can, IMO.
There are two songs that definitely can’t be covered, though: “(Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “I Love Rock n’ Roll”. Pay attention, Ms. Spears.
---
### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/6 "2004-01-16T19:40:51Z")
Walk On The Wild Side - Lou Reed
---
### Author:  [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/7 "2004-01-16T19:43:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> “Ramble On”, “The Immigrant Song”, “Livin’ Lovin’ Maid”- Led Zeppelin
Ah, you have obviously never heard of [Dread Zeppelin](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000QFU/qid=1074281971/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-0884076-6500024).
Imagine a reggae band with an Elvis impersonator as lead singer doing covers of Led Zeppelin songs. Yeah, me neither but believe it or not, it works! Their version of “The Immigrant Song” is a classic.
> [@](#):
>
> “American Pie”- Don Maclean \*
Does “The Saga Begins” by Weird Al count?
---
### Author:  [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/8 "2004-01-16T19:46:06Z")
Don’t Fear the Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult.
Paint it Black, Rolling Stones.
---
### Author:  [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/9 "2004-01-16T19:53:52Z")
> [@Darkhold](#):
>
> Don’t Fear the Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult.
But as everyone knows, this song could be improved by adding…
Well, I feel that there’s something it needs. Something it needs more of…
But I forget what.
Anyhow, I believe that no one should ever cover **Bohemian Rhapsody** by Queen
---
### Author:  [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/10 "2004-01-16T19:54:35Z")
“Bohemian Rhapsody.”
---
### Author:  [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/11 "2004-01-16T20:02:21Z")
I had thought that Peter Gabriel couldn’t be covered either, until Coal Chamber and Ozzy Osbourne combined a made a very catchy “Shock The Monkey” cover song.
---
### Author:  [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/12 "2004-01-16T20:05:18Z")
Also, a few have tried to cover **Pink Floyd** & **Alan Parson Project** and all have failed miserably…
---
### Author:  [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/13 "2004-01-16T20:07:25Z")
I know, I know… **Alan Parsons Project** …
Grrrr…
---
### Author:  [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/14 "2004-01-16T20:25:46Z")
All of [these](http://www.lu-art.com/Music). They are perfect. And yes, I know some of these are covers themselves.
---
### Author:  [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/15 "2004-01-16T20:34:03Z")
I’ve actually heard an excellent, excellent version of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”–alas, that version of “Wreck” only exists in my memory now, for the band who covered it never put it on tape.
At least half of Black Sabbath’s songs (especially from their first three lineups) should be left alone. Same with Pink Floyd. I have an album of Doors cover songs that pretty much sucks the big one. “Sympathy For The Devil” and “Paint It Black,” both by the Stones and both of which have been covered by other bands, were, to paraphrase the OP, recorded at a state of such perfection that they shouldn’t be redone by anybody; I point thee to the work of Guns-N-Roses and Glenn Tipton for proof. Kansas’s _Point of Know Return_ and Led Zeppelin IV (or whatever you want to entitle this work) are entire albums that should be left alone by every musician everywhere. Also Jimi Hendrix should be left the heck alone.
---
### Author:  [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/16 "2004-01-16T20:53:03Z")
Actually, **Darkhold** , before they decided to only do movie soundtrack garbage, Goo Goo Dolls did a nice job covering _Don’t Fear The Reaper_ (as well as _Sunshine of Your Love_, _Gimme Shelter_, _Down on the Corner_, _Never Take the Place of Your Man_, and _A Million Miles Away_). Yes, they’re mostly very raw, punkish covers, but I likes 'em.
**Yeticus Rex** , how can you say [a complete redoing of _The Wall_ by a blugrass band](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDCASS80401091832072890&sql=A85120r5ai489) “failed miserably”? 🙂 I don’t care for bluegrass, but I think it’s pretty damned brilliant myself.
And of course, most anybody from Jersey knows that with the sole exception of _Sweet Child 'O Mine_, [The Nerds](http://www.the-nerds.com/) can do no wrong. 🙂
The one song for me that should _never_ have been touched was _American Pie_ (except by the aforementioned Nerds). Madonna earned herself a special place in hell for that bit 'o sacrilege.
---
### Author:  [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/17 "2004-01-16T21:01:03Z")
**Train** did an acoustic cover of _Ramble On_ that wasn’t a disaster. It wasn’t the original, but it wasn’t a disaster. My college _a cappella_ group did a version of _Ramble On_ that ended up getting me interested in **Led Zeppelin** , and our version definitely didn’t suck. We covered some things we shouldn’t have, but Zep wasn’t one of them.
**MaxTheVool** , I think _(Don’t Fear) The Reaper_ needs more, um… more… Jeez, I was just listening to it yesterday, and I was thinking it needed something. It was like I had a fever, and the only cure was more… something. Hm. Strangest damn thing. They really needed a coked-up producer to help them out with the arrangement. He would have known what to add in.
I’d like to nominate _Love Shack_, and point out that **Me First and the Gimme Gimmes** have made a career out of resurrecting songs like these and covering them very very well.
---
### Author:  [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/18 "2004-01-16T21:23:02Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#):
>
> **Yeticus Rex** , how can you say [a complete redoing of _The Wall_ by a blugrass band](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDCASS80401091832072890&sql=A85120r5ai489) “failed miserably”? 🙂 I don’t care for bluegrass, but I think it’s pretty damned brilliant myself.
Oh my gosh.
I just listened to the samples at cduniverse. That walks the fine line between dementia and inspiration. 😉
---
### Author:  [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/19 "2004-01-16T22:28:36Z")
> [@dwc1970](#):
>
> **Rush** is uncoverable. Their playing techniques are unique and no other band I know of could ever reproduce their sound. This holds true for most prog rock, in fact.
No they’re not. The Catherine Wheel did a decent cover of Spirit of the Radio, though the lead singer doesn’t have the right kind of voice for it, the band sounds good.
---
### Author:  [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800/20 "2004-01-16T22:30:24Z")
I forgot another Rush cover. Billy Corgan did a live, unplugged version of Limelight that I thought was really, really good.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-ever-be-covered-because-it-would-only-end-in-disaster/224800.md?page=2)