We’ve had plenty of bad covers, but which cover versions are both unexpected and surprisingly good?
I’ll start with a few
White Wedding, covered with new lyrics by Franz Ferdinand
Iron Man, covered by The Cardigans
A Hazy Shade of Winter, covered by the Bangles
Smooth Criminal, covered by Alien Ant Farm
Kylie Minogue’s dance pop number “Can’t Get you Out of My Head” was translated into a tortured dirge by The Flaming Lips, and vastly improved by the process.
If you could remove Mike Tramp’s emasculated and otherwise whiny voice from the track, then White Lion’s cover of Radar Love is better than the original.
I recall the first time I heard it. The intro was powerful and the engine behind the new version was fifth gear. I was loving the hell out of it. Then the vocals sashayed into the mix and took a steaming dump on the track.
Huge disappointment, as without the vocals, there is no equal to that cover.
I mentioned this in another “cover” thread awhile back, but Richard Thompson actually makes “Oops I Did It Again” not only listenable but enjoyable!
That’s the one I was going to mention.
I honestly believe that William Shatner’s cover of Common People is better than Pulp’s original. I’m probably in a moinority of one, though.
On the Mother’s Milk album, the Red Hot Clili Peppers covered Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground and Jimi Hendrix’ Fire - both excellent.
Anthrax did a cover of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath on the I’m The Man album that was top-notch.
“This Charming Man” is covered nicely by both Death Cab for Cutie and Stars.
Death Cab also has a beautiful cover of Bjork’s “All is Full of Love.”
Iron & Wine covers The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” and The Shins cover “We Will Become Silhouettes”.
Mirah does a minimalist cover of “Dancing in the Dark” that I like quite a bit.
I’m sure ill think of a better one later, but A Perfect Circle’s cover of Imagine was pretty sweet. I like how they changed a lot of the basic structure of the song (different chords, major to minor key, slightly different melodies), and yet the song still holds up very well as a cover.
Nope. I’m with you on that one.
And from the guy who played bass on the above track, Fleming & John’s cover of ELO’s “El Dorado”.
For you Donnie Darko fans, that version of Tears for Fears’ Mad World done by Michael Andrews.
I also really like:
Bob Dylan’s Lovesick, done by the White Stripes
Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tamourine Man, done by Cloud Cult
Love’s Alone Again Or, done by The Damned
Dr. Dre’s Bitches Ain’t Shit, done by Ben Folds
Johnny Cash’s cover of NiN’s “Hurt” is much better than the original.
I’d forgotten that one, it was a great cover version.
Marylyn Mansun did a good reworking of Eurithmic’s ‘Sweet dreams (are made of this)’
Megadeth’s cover of These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ is a pretty rockin’ version.
Oh yeah, to go old school:
Simon & Garfunkel’s Red Rubber Ball, done by Cyrkle
The Sisters of Mercy did a damn fine cover of the Stones’ ‘Gimme Shelter’
‘Lay, Lady, Lay’ covered by Ministry
Rod Stewart’s ‘Do You Think I’m Sexy?’ covered by Revolting Cocks
‘Viva Las Vegas’ covered by the Dead Kennedys
Madonna’s ‘Justify My Love’ covered by Frontline Assembly
‘They’re Coming to Take Me Away’ covered by Lard
‘This Wheel’s On Fire’ and ‘Trust in Me’ covered by Siouxie and the Banshees
I like Pantera’s cover of Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan”, Fiona Apple’s “Across the Universe” cover of the Beatles (never was a big Beatles fan), Stevie Ray Vaughn’s cover of Hendrix’s “Little Wing” for starters.
I came here to mention that one, but also Signed, Sealed, Delivered by David Gogo.
I really like Easy Star All-Stars’ Dub Side of the Moon: a reggae cover of the entire album Dark Side of the Moon. I love Pink Floyd’s original album of course, but I must admit to enjoying listening to upbeat reggae version of songs of somewhat depressing lyrics.
Two weeks ago, I saw Dub Side performed live along with Radiodread, a reggae cover of the Radiohead’s entire OK Computer. Radiodread has not been released yet AFAIK.
Another cover worth mentioning is the alternative-sounding “Country Roads” by Me First and the Gimme Gimmies; John Denver wrote and recorded the original.