# The "Ha! What the...wow! Nice cover of that song" thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070 "2014-02-11T17:39:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/21 "2014-02-11T20:32:56Z")
Pig is an industrial band probably most known for sharing members with kmfdm. So when they do a cover of [Head Like a Hole](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2em9eGwH2fE&feature=kp), why not make it a jazzy/swing-type cover? Luther Wright and the Wrongs did a great Bluegrass cover of the entire album “The Wall,” looks like someone combined all three parts of the title song and uploaded it [here.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qQQaHwfZ3w) ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/22 "2014-02-11T20:38:16Z")
The Dirtbombs, covering Stevie Wonder’s [Livin’ for the City](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMF0_dKWNQs&feature=kp). Awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/23 "2014-02-11T20:43:28Z")
[The Civil Wars take on Billie Jean.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=441mR2zsQbg) Even the Michael Jackson fans like this one. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/24 "2014-02-11T21:07:07Z")
Billy Corgan - Smashing Pumpkins - Landslide by Fleetwood Mac [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hChPBxKJwwk) Butch Walker and the Black Widows - In Bloom by Nirvana [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jT_RnAWTBTk/hqdefault.jpg "Butch Walker & the Black Widows - In Bloom - Nirvana Cover from "NEWERMIND"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT_RnAWTBTk) I could go on forever baby, I LOVE successful covers. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/25 "2014-02-11T21:25:07Z")
Eva Cassidy’s version of Time After Time. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/26 "2014-02-11T21:37:34Z")
Better than the original: [William Shatner - Common People](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ainyK6fXku0&feature=kp) [The original version by Pulp](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuTMWgOduFM&feature=kp) ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/27 "2014-02-11T22:59:36Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Norah Jones’s [Somewhere Over The Rainbow.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI-AOq3O_PQ) I’m going to have to disagree with this one. My complaint with over 90% of the covers of that song is that the singer just tries to turn it into a display of their awesome vocal range and/or quirks. Never mind the meaning of the lyrics of the song. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/28 "2014-02-11T23:30:33Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > The [Stand By Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx0Mkq1TZzo) cover by John Lennon? Also, on that note, the Beatle’s [Twist and Shout](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVlr4g5-r18) cover. Always a good sign when most people don’t know the song you covered wasn’t the original. They also did “'Til There Was You”, a song written in 1957 for The Music Man. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/29 "2014-02-11T23:31:09Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > Johnny Cash - [Hurt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go) God, yes. And going the other way, Live doing [I Walk the Line](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_daJjRrv0A). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/30 "2014-02-11T23:46:18Z")
This guy does an amazing cover of LMFAO’s [“Sexy and I Know It”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsvlsuLau5c). ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/31 "2014-02-11T23:47:41Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Norah Jones’s [Somewhere Over The Rainbow.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI-AOq3O_PQ) Mandy Patikin- Somewhere Over The Rainbow [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CswSMdQ2TDE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CswSMdQ2TDE) Hindu Love Gods- (Warren Zevon and REM minus Stipe) Raspberry Beret [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61PgHobvCYs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61PgHobvCYs) Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and others -While My Guitar Gently Weeps [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y) Check out Prince at about the 4 minute mark. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/32 "2014-02-12T00:00:21Z")
Here’s the opposite This is the _original_ version of Tiffany’s [I Think Were Alone Now](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkMFLUXTEwM). ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/33 "2014-02-12T00:57:38Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > I’m going to have to disagree with this one. My complaint with over 90% of the covers of that song is that the singer just tries to turn it into a display of their awesome vocal range and/or quirks. Never mind the meaning of the lyrics of the song. Amen brother! That’s why I’ve come to hate Over the Rainbow. Same thing with Etta James “At Last”. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even stand the original now. But here’s a cover that nobody can touch. Liquid Soul’s version of Dizzy Gillespie’s [Salt Peanuts](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTbNkxbVMiw). ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/34 "2014-02-12T01:04:17Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Better than the original: > [William Shatner - Common People](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ainyK6fXku0&feature=kp) > > [The original version by Pulp](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuTMWgOduFM&feature=kp) I’ve got his appearance with Ben Folds and Joe Jackson on…I think it was Conan. Fantastic stuff ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/35 "2014-02-12T01:07:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Jolene…with Dolly Parton.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37992PnfEqQ) > And they sound like sisters. Well Dolly \*is \*Miley’s godmother… My 3 year old loves Miley’s cover version. I hope I’m not setting her up to be a country singer. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/36 "2014-02-12T01:07:27Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > They also did “'Til There Was You”, a song written in 1957 for The Music Man. Oh yes, I forgot about that one! It was on . . . With the Beatles, I think? Their early albums always had a few covers, most of which were very good - I’ve always liked having someone listen to “All You Need is Love,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” etc, etc, and then play “Money” for them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/37 "2014-02-12T02:02:51Z")
In the spirit of the OP’s “Holy shit, \_\_\_\_ covered \_\_\_\_\_!!??” I present a very atypically sedate Nina Hagen, singing [“Ave Maria.”](http://youtu.be/Tex1zD9Kq9s) It’s almost SFW! Another one that always puts a smile on my face, Danielle Dax’s short but rockin’ sweet cover of [“Blue Christmas”](http://youtu.be/eKTFITp29h8) Not in the Holy Shit! category in that it wasn’t unexpected since she’s a huge fan, but this is my go-to normal-people cover. I was actually there (my husband shot the video) and it was as mesmerizing live as it still is to me today. Based on the Comments, it’s not just me. Really! [“Space Oddity”](http://youtu.be/xSCf15tBGqE) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/38 "2014-02-12T02:06:05Z")
> [@Cognoscant](#): > > A couple years back while scanning the radio I heard what sounded like an odd remix of “Seven Nation Army” with a piano replacing the bassline and voices replacing its famous guitar riff. It was so strange and catchy that I listened it out to hear who it was by…wait, seriously, it was by [The Oak Ridge Boys](http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWSQ9YQa_6w)? I’ll give you strange, but I’m not on board with catchy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/39 "2014-02-12T02:19:13Z")
This one’s a little different: [Petra Haden covers the Theme from Psycho](http://youtu.be/FIl7CkgYYMM). ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/40 "2014-02-12T03:03:09Z")
[Relevant Cracked Article](http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-cover-songs-that-stole-show-from-originals/). I agree with most of what he said about both Johnny Cash’s _Hurt_ and William Shatner’s _Common People_. Mostly that they brought something that the original lacked. My only complaint is that he fails to acknowledge Joe Jackson’s contribution doing the actual singing on _Common People_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070.md?page=3)