# Strange Covers (or: they did \*what\* with that song?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231 "2005-02-03T19:33:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231/81 "2005-02-07T23:10:06Z")
I’ve heard a couple of combination covers that worked out frighteningly well. For example, someone (I’m not sure who) did what sounds like a four-person harmony arrangement of _Norwegian Wood_ … layered over a version of the _Mission Impossible_ theme. I’ve also heard a song where someone took an Eminem song (I don’t remember which, I was laughing too hard) and layered it directly over a classic Scott Joplin rag. Eminem raps with such a driving beat, with so many rhythmic rhymes, that it fit just about perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![mojave66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mojave66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mojave66)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231/82 "2005-02-09T00:48:49Z")
Luka Bloom did a sweet acoustic cover of LL Cool J’s “I Need Love.” But the strangest cover has to be Dolly Parton’s bluegrass version of “Stairway to Heaven.” It WORKS. It sounds like a Pagan gospel song of all things. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231/83 "2005-02-09T01:13:11Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > That must be The Postal Service(haven’t seen Garden State, but the song was big about 18 months ago). I didn’t realize it was a cover. Who was the orginal by? And was it an 80s song? No, no. **Iron and Wine** does a reallly slow, breathy cover of the Postal Service song. Personally, I don’t think it’s so good, but the postal service are amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231/84 "2005-02-09T05:30:27Z")
Sebastian Cabot singing (actually, reciting) “All I really want to do” is the strangest thing I’ve ever heard. Discover it for yourself on Golden Throats. A Must! ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231/85 "2005-02-09T12:45:13Z")
> [@mojave66](#): > > But the strangest cover has to be Dolly Parton’s bluegrass version of “Stairway to Heaven.” It WORKS. It sounds like a Pagan gospel song of all things. I can agree with this. I am not much of a Zep fan, normally, but Dolly’s version of this song kicks ass. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231/86 "2005-02-09T13:08:17Z")
What about Rolf Harris’ version? He also inflicted himself on Bohemian Rhapsody… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231/87 "2005-02-09T17:56:31Z")
I just got into my office a CD by a Algerian musician named Rachid Taha, which includes a rockish/hip-hoppish/arabic version of the Clash’s “Rock the Casbah,” translated into Arabic (and called “Rock el Casbah”), except for the chorus which is sung in English. Taha’s gravely voice is perfect for the style, and it kicks ass. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231/88 "2005-02-09T18:14:06Z")
Holy Christ I almost peed my pants when I heard the Gourds’ “Gin and Juice.” Whoever listed that one, thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jfortun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2acd7d/32.png) [@jfortun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jfortun)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231/89 "2005-02-09T19:05:29Z")
How about Brian Ferry’s cover of _Sympathy for the Devil_ off of These Foolish Things. Somehow the song is more sinister as a floorshow number. Also The Flaming Lips cover of _Can’t Get You Out of My Head_ from the Fight Test EP. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-covers-or-they-did-what-with-that-song/288231.md?page=4)