# Songs that should never have been sung by the person who sang them **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309 "2001-09-01T17:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/21 "2001-09-02T23:43:12Z")
IIRC, _It’s All Coming Back to Me Now_ was written by Jim Steinman, who also wrote the good parts of the Meat Loaf oeuvre. I also seem to remember hearing that the song was originally written for Mr. Loaf himself but was then turned over to Celine Dion, who I like to think of as Meat Loaf’s polar opposite. And now you know…the rest of the story. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/22 "2001-09-02T23:47:36Z")
“So say I”, the last song on Van Halen 3. Eddie Van Halens “sings” it. Trouble is, he can’t sing. At all. Not even a little. One of the perils of being a bazillionaire surrounded by yes men… ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/23 "2001-09-03T00:16:37Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mercutio \* > 7 Seconds_\* did a far better job on [99 Red Ballons]. 😃 Hell yes they did! I love that version. ---
**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/24 "2001-09-03T00:28:04Z")
Madonna singing (some of) _American Pie_. yick 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/25 "2001-09-03T01:35:42Z")
Well, if we’re just talking about crummy covers, there’s the Indigo Girls’ version of Dire Straits’ “Romeo & Juliet.” Atrocious. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/26 "2001-09-05T06:32:42Z")
Bette Midler singing “Wind Beneath My Wings”. I know manny people think she originated it. I know I’m supposed to tear up, thinking of her singing it to Johnny Carson (who I also don’t like). Don’t care. It was the Grover Washington Jr. original that made me cry, and still does. In his version, the first verse is spoken, not sung, which goes right to the heart of me, then, when he starts singing, I’m lost. Her version is Muzak. ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/27 "2001-09-05T10:35:01Z")
Jack Webb, singing “Try a little tenderness” ---
**Author:** ![Formerly\_Bandersnatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e36b37/32.png) [@Formerly\_Bandersnatch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Formerly_Bandersnatch)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/28 "2001-09-05T14:51:36Z")
Faith Hill’s cover of “Piece of my Heart”. I’m used to Janis’ version. Although a member of her band mentioned that they really butchered the original. 🙂 Narvel Felts covering “Drift Away”. And mainly for changing “I want to get lost in your rock and roll” to “I want to get lost in your country song”. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/29 "2001-09-05T16:05:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JamesCarroll \* > \*\*Madonna singing (some of) _American Pie_. yick 😛 \*\* seconded. That was a dirge at points, NOT upbeat. ---
**Author:** ![mudpupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@mudpupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudpupper)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/30 "2001-09-05T19:12:22Z")
I remember when I heard on the radio Michael Bolton trying to do opera as a new avenue for him. I don’t really care for opera but I could tell people around the world were wanting to cut their ears off over that. Horrible!!! ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/31 "2001-09-06T13:16:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nocturne \* > \*\*“Only God Knows Why” by Kid Rock. > > A very country-esque song by a guy named KID ROCK? > > I also think the song is very very very whiny. He sings all these songs glorifying one-night stands and alcohol and hell-raising, then all of a sudden: “I hate my life. It’s miserable. Whine whine whine.” \*\* I just heard this again last night on the radio and I remembered how much I actually do _like_ this song. Actually, I have to say I like Kid Rock too. At least he’s honest. In an interview by VH1 or MTV, they ask him why he got into music and he said something along the lines of “Of course you get into music because you love music. That goes without saying. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say it wasn’t for the chicks and the money.” 😃 Gotta respect honesty like that! ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/32 "2001-09-06T13:29:20Z")
Anything written by Neil Diamond. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/33 "2001-09-06T14:38:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GrizzRich \* > \*\*Anything written by Neil Diamond. \*\* Is it just me, or does anyone else find the idea that Neil Diamond, a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn, did an album of Christmas music? BTW, he did write “I’m a Believer”, currently in its second incarnation by Smash Mouth. It’s actually a pretty good cover. Robin ---
**Author:** ![breaknrun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@breaknrun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaknrun)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/34 "2001-09-06T16:20:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kbean \* > \*\*A while back there was this song on the radio by a 13 year old (I forget her name and the title, just the fact that someone so young sang it). It was all about how she was so in love with these two guys and couldn’t choose. Like a 13 year old would be in “love” to begin with, let alone two guys. Ugh. \*\* I think that would be “Blue” by Leann Rimes. I felt the same way about it that you do. If you ignore her age, she did a good job, technically, and it made her a celebrity and paved the way for more opportunity and so on. From her pov, I don’t think this song would qualify for the OP. 🙂 IIRC, I heard in some radio snippet that her father was opposed to this song, felt it was too adult for her but hey, I’ll bet he’s not complaining now. ---
**Author:** ![SteverinoAlaReno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SteverinoAlaReno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteverinoAlaReno)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/35 "2001-09-06T16:38:45Z")
MacArthur Park by Richard Harris. I can’t fathom why Donna Summers would cover this, but at least she could sing better than Harris. Honey by Bobby Goldsboro. This song shouldn’t have been _written_, much less recorded. ---
**Author:** ![ScriptAnalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@ScriptAnalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScriptAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/36 "2001-09-06T20:09:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by GrizzRich \* > > \*\*Anything written by Neil Diamond. \*\* > > Is it just me, or does anyone else find the idea that Neil Diamond, a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn, did an album of Christmas music? > > Robin \*\* I assume you meant something like “find the idea strange.” If so, then let’s not forget “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” which intentionally mimics the sound of a Christian Revivalist meeting. As a friend said while hearing Diamond perform the song live, “He does that very well, for a nice Jewish boy.” Getting back to the original post, I alwasy thought the Beatles’ “The Night Before” would make more sense if sung by a woman. ---
**Author:** ![psychogumby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@psychogumby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychogumby)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/37 "2001-09-06T21:57:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Catrandom \* > \*\*Well, Nelly Furtado’s “I’m Like a Bird” should perhaps not be sung by someone who sounds so much like a duck. > > (Meow) \*\* That song shouldn’t have been sung by _anyone_. FWIW, I refer to that song as “I’m Like A Turd” by Smelly Retardo. Damn, I wish I were in radio so I could use that … ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/38 "2001-09-07T02:11:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Is it just me, or does anyone else find the idea that Neil Diamond, a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn, did an album of Christmas music? No less strange than Irving Berlin’s song “In the Easter Parade”. And I think he did Christmas music as well. I’m starting to think I’m the only one that likes Bob Dylan’s singing. It’s not a quality singing voice, but it’s got real feeling to it. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309/39 "2001-09-07T02:33:22Z")
Courtney’s Love’s “Doll Parts” should have been sung by The Wurzels The Beastie Boy’s “Intergalactic” should have sung by the The Gorillaz “Dreams in Digital” by Orgy should have been done by Ol’ Dirty Bastard Kraftwerk’s “Trans Europe Express” should have done by Daft Punk [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-should-never-have-been-sung-by-the-person-who-sang-them/79309.md?page=1)