# Strangely good cover versions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983 "2006-07-25T18:00:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/1 "2006-07-25T18:00:05Z")
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** ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/2 "2006-07-25T18:41:52Z")
_A Hazy Shade of Winter_, covered by the Bangles _Smooth Criminal_, covered by Alien Ant Farm ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/3 "2006-07-25T19:18:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Euthanasiast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/4 "2006-07-25T19:19:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/5 "2006-07-25T19:23:46Z")
I mentioned this in another “cover” thread awhile back, but Richard Thompson actually makes “Oops I Did It Again” not only listenable but enjoyable! ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/6 "2006-07-25T19:25:48Z")
[QUOTE=Bippy the Beardless] Iron Man, covered by **The Cardigans** [/QUOTE] That’s the one I was going to mention. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/7 "2006-07-25T19:27:23Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/8 "2006-07-25T19:32:28Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/9 "2006-07-25T19:52:47Z")
“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. ---
**Author:** ![Heckxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@Heckxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckxx)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/10 "2006-07-25T20:03:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/11 "2006-07-25T20:05:29Z")
[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin] 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. [/QUOTE] 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”. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/12 "2006-07-25T20:09:22Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Blanche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blanche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blanche)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/13 "2006-07-25T20:10:44Z")
Johnny Cash’s cover of NiN’s “Hurt” is much better than the original. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/14 "2006-07-25T20:31:13Z")
[QUOTE=Heckxx] 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. [/QUOTE] 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)’ ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/15 "2006-07-25T20:37:23Z")
Megadeth’s cover of **These Boots Are Made For Walkin’** is a pretty rockin’ version. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/16 "2006-07-25T20:41:07Z")
Oh yeah, to go old school: Simon & Garfunkel’s **Red Rubber Ball** , done by Cyrkle ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/17 "2006-07-25T20:43:22Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/18 "2006-07-25T21:30:23Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/19 "2006-07-25T21:47:45Z")
[QUOTE=Blanche] Johnny Cash’s cover of NiN’s “Hurt” is much better than the original. [/QUOTE] I came here to mention that one, but also _Signed, Sealed, Delivered_ by David Gogo. ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983/20 "2006-07-25T23:28:01Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangely-good-cover-versions/365983.md?page=2)