# Songs you prefer in their acoustic versions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567 "2003-01-19T01:37:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/21 "2003-01-20T07:12:27Z")
his version is amazing! one of his best covers! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gerome \* > \*\*Ben Harper did an acoustic version of The Verve’s “The Drugs Don’t Work” that I thought was pretty amazing. \*\* also, Stones: dead flowers, angie, wild horses, several more… ---
**Author:** ![rmbnxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@rmbnxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rmbnxs)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/22 "2003-01-20T07:25:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*I won’t say I prefer it to the Allman Brothers (or Taj Mahal) version (I like them all), but Alice Stuart has a terrific acoustic version of “Stateboro Blues.” \*\* You really need to listen to Blind Willie McTell’s original version… ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/23 "2003-01-20T07:26:55Z")
I agree about “Personal Jesus”. Same goes with some other Depeche Mode songs, like “Sister of Night”, “Surrender”, and “Blue Dress”. I’d also like to add that I much prefer _cover_ versions (which are usually acoustic or piano, anyway) to the original versions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/24 "2003-01-20T07:38:11Z")
The song that launched the whole “unplugged” era: Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive”. Just about any of George Harrison’s studio demos of his songs, particularly of “Something”, are more poignant. Stone Temple Pilot’s unsettling “Plush”. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/25 "2003-01-20T08:37:29Z")
—I’d also like to add that I much prefer cover versions (which are usually acoustic or piano, anyway) to the original versions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.— Jeff Buckley’s version has been exploited non-stop in various movies and shows, but it’s definately the best, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/26 "2003-01-20T08:53:01Z")
The KROQ version of Everlong by Foo Fighters ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/27 "2003-01-20T14:18:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hastur \* > \*\*Layla. The acoustic version Clapton did a few years ago was incredible. \*\* I’ll second this (or third it or whatever). The accoustic version is greatness. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/28 "2003-01-20T14:24:07Z")
“Alone” by Heart. It sounds… lonelier. ---
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/29 "2003-01-20T18:48:42Z")
Dylan’s “Shelter From the Storm”, the Cassandra Wilson cover; “Statesboro Blues” the Chris Smithers cover. ---
**Author:** ![Harli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Harli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harli)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/30 "2003-01-20T19:44:36Z")
“Garden Grove” by Sublime can’t stand the non-acoustic version ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/31 "2003-01-20T20:26:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MilTan \* > \*\*Damn, **AchimbaProphet** , I was all ready to come in here and name Incubus’s _Pardon Me_, thinking no one else would have thought of it. Guess I was wrong. \*\* My thought exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/32 "2003-01-20T21:00:21Z")
Einstürzende Neubauten’s _Wüste_ is a lot more moving in the acoustic. It just begs to be put into a movie, preferably during a scene where the hero’s walking, dejected, through lots of burning rubble. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/33 "2003-01-20T21:27:45Z")
The pre-Phil Spector version of **The Long and Winding Road** that appears in the film _Let It Be_ ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/34 "2003-01-20T21:34:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by King Friday \* > \*\*The KROQ version of Everlong by Foo Fighters \*\* Holy schnikes that is a good song. The slow, acoustic version performed solo by the esteemed Mr. Grohl makes this into a completely different song. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/35 "2003-01-20T21:34:43Z")
I don’t know if I prefer it, but I like the acoustic version of The Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Taste of Cindy”. I also like the acoustic version of “So. Central Rain” by REM. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/36 "2003-01-21T06:29:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ol’Gaffer \* > \*\*Holy schnikes that is a good song. The slow, acoustic version performed solo by the esteemed Mr. Grohl makes this into a completely different song. \*\* * * * Another vote for that one. KROQ and Acoustic Rock on Radio AOL have opened my ears. ---
**Author:** ![fiztig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@fiztig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiztig)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/37 "2003-01-21T07:43:53Z")
Frente, an Australian band, did an amazing acoustic version of New Order’s _Bizzare Love Triangle_. Superior to the original IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Corixidae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Corixidae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corixidae)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/38 "2003-01-21T08:09:17Z")
More Clapton: _Tears in Heaven_, from the same **Unplugged** session as the already-mentioned _Layla_. The acoustic version of _Tears in Heaven_ is one of the sweetest songs I’ve ever heard. The studio version that appeared on the **Rush** soundtrack (among other places, I’m sure) simply does not compare. ---
**Author:** ![ninevah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/46a35a/32.png) [@ninevah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninevah)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/39 "2003-01-21T08:12:52Z")
Private Universe - Neil Finn (Crowded House) ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567/40 "2003-01-21T13:44:20Z")
_Layla_’s already been mentioned, but it was the first thing I thought of. I did not like the song at all before I heard this version. Sting did a solo version of _Message in a Bottle_ in, I believe, _The Secret Policeman’s Ball_ (or maybe it was _The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball_) that I much prefer to the version sung with the Police. I never was a Bon Jovi fan, but I remember Jon once singing a quiet, guitar-accompanied version of _Living on a Prayer_ that was really rather pretty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-prefer-in-their-acoustic-versions/149567.md?page=3)