# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/101 "2014-02-19T14:49:31Z")
And another one of my favorites. [Rocket Man, by Kate Bush](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8v2RNLHr0). By the way, there is a lot of good stuff in this thread. One of the nice things about the Dope is getting exposed to things (music, movies, etc.) that would not happen otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/102 "2014-02-20T23:01:24Z")
This is the one I always think of. Isley Brothers–Summer Breeze [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/i4YklqpJaUQ/maxresdefault.jpg ""Summer Breeze" - Isley Brothers [Digitally Remastered]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4YklqpJaUQ) ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/103 "2014-02-21T23:42:55Z")
I consider the Isleys to be the best cover band in the universe. They do amazing work with Ohio and Love the One You’re With. Lay Lady Lay too. Here’s a complete list. [http://www.coversproject.com/artist/isley%20brothers/](http://www.coversproject.com/artist/isley%20brothers/) ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/104 "2014-02-21T23:59:26Z")
Al Green sing “_Light My Fire_” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/I0zAnoNZlmY/maxresdefault.jpg "Al Green - Light my fire") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0zAnoNZlmY) Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers performing “ **Family Affair** ” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WCChfB7Ecv0/hqdefault.jpg "Family Affair - Chuck Brown") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCChfB7Ecv0) Isaac Hayes covering “Walk on By” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iqR4CZj0mJQ/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGH8gKSggMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBLQzZ1UlHaDuJwsi0m-hrs-Od4Dg "Walk On By - Isaac Hayes w/The Bar-Kays (1969)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqR4CZj0mJQ) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/105 "2014-02-22T01:23:47Z")
Staying with the “Strange but great” theme… The White Stripes - [Jolene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmm2AYNZ2PU). This is live from Conan’s old show, and they just kill it. Hindu Love Gods (Warren Zevon with REM) covering Prince’s [Rasberry Beret](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61PgHobvCYs) Warren Zevon covering Steve Winwood’s [Back in the High Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo3lxKrjABE) as almost a dirge. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/106 "2014-02-23T02:50:35Z")
Jonathan Coulton’s melodic cover of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s _Baby Got Back_: [Baby Got Back - Jonathan Coulton - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCWaN_Tc5wo%E2%80%8E) (Which was peformed in the same style by Glee without accreditation, in a display of consummate asshattery - they may have even used his instrumental track with their own vocals, it’s that bad) Pat Boone’s In A Metal Mood, an entire album of heavy metal cover, is… well, it’s terrible. But worth listening to. Highlights: [Enter Sandman](http://youtu.be/z67IqrmygZY) [Smoke on the Water](http://youtu.be/xFDIrwOUdrw) And Marilyn Manson’s cover of Soft Cell’s [Tainted Love](http://youtu.be/XkKulSH2nNc). ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/107 "2014-02-23T04:43:16Z")
> [@Brainiac4](#): > > J > And Marilyn Manson’s cover of Soft Cell’s [Tainted Love](http://youtu.be/XkKulSH2nNc). Also his cover of Depeche Mode’s [Personal Jesus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6fyhZ0G5E). And [Richard Cheese’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hde9p2V1CsE), too. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/108 "2014-02-23T06:10:16Z")
Ooh! Ooh! Stranglers do a superb Walk On By. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jqfqVDHNW6c/hqdefault.jpg "The Stranglers - Walk On By") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqfqVDHNW6c) ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/109 "2014-02-23T06:22:14Z")
_Mrs. Robinson_ exquisitely done by [Indigo Girls](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH4oc4-KsWE). ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/110 "2014-02-23T07:59:13Z")
No thread about strange covers would be complete without [Dread Zeppelin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZHWy6W00oM) I mean, we’re talking about an Elvis impersonator fronting a reggae band that does Led Zeppelin covers. It doesn’t get much stranger than that. And yet, it kind of works. Some of it’s even catchy. [Whole Lotta Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXKSQEecR0A). ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/111 "2014-02-23T13:43:23Z")
[Miley Cyrus sings Hey Ya](http://gawker.com/miley-cyrus-country-rework-of-hey-ya-is-strangely-su-1528647781) Seriously for 4:11 you won’t hate her. Warning: Mild Twerking! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/112 "2014-02-23T16:18:59Z")
**Yat Kha** (Tuvan throat singing band)[Love Will Tear Us Apart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GimODzNt_S8) **Sisters of Mercy** : [Jolene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdUHxFKCQBs) and Hot Chocolate’s [Emma](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMpXnvd8NDE) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/113 "2014-02-23T18:49:43Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=proSI9Cyvjg) The Grateful Dead covering both Baba O’Riley segueing into Tomorrow Never Knows ---
**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 24, 2014, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/114 "2014-02-24T06:20:53Z")
Here you go. Patti Smith’s cover of [“You Light Up My Life”](http://youtu.be/Agl4IvNnQPo) live on [Kids Are People Too](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_are_people_too). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/115 "2014-02-24T15:48:15Z")
As I always post in these threads, Wilson Pickett owns Hey Jude. And check out Yannick’s [C’est soiree la](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAPzTFlVUN0), a French rap version of the Four Season’s Oh What A Night. I was totally blown away by it. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/116 "2014-02-24T15:59:47Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > R.E.M. doing [Wichita Lineman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QutLsCCY2yw). Bill campbell would be cool with their treatment. I’m partial to the Meters’ [version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqPWG3NkQhE) myself… The Jam cover the Kinks’ “[David Watts](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tLIZsijVwg)” J. Geils Band covering Otis Rush’s “[Homework](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aJgmM0HN7I)” (live) More as I think of them… ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/117 "2014-02-27T15:01:52Z")
\*\*The Paragons \*_(60s ska/reggae/rocksteady, though they started as doo-wop) doing a 1967 [cover of the 1964 \*\*Beatles \*\*song **I’ll Be Back**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ecbRP6v2Gs). For me, the interesting thing isn’t the reggae beat,_ but rather the very different vocal harmony intervals. (\*On _Anthology_, we get to hear the Beatles themselves trying out the tune with a different rhythm – waltz time!) ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/118 "2014-02-27T16:47:36Z")
Loving this thread and thanks for all the links. So far I’ve enjoyed you guys introducing me to: **Civil Wars’** cover of Billie Jean **Faith No More** w/ Easy (I used to have that disc, actually) **George Michael** covering Queen Even the **Miley and Dolly** duet was eye-opening. In the WTH category, I submit Sundown (Gordon Lightfoot), rapped by **Elwood** [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtcar_C-Ehg) in the “Better-than-the-original” category: **Del McCoury** and his band covering **Richard Thompson’s** 52 Vincient. (Bluegrass alert !!) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YW-w0KgE-8s/hqdefault.jpg "1952 Vincent Black Lightning") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW-w0KgE-8s) This (Del’s version) may be the greatest “motorcycle song” ever. The banjo and fiddle really transmit the sensation of speed and motion throughout the song. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/119 "2014-02-27T17:33:13Z")
Iron Horse (bluegrass) cover[Rocket Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUMcdncukCcEqjT3ufUBhcZg&v=WdAyO1_0noM) ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070/120 "2014-02-27T18:07:58Z")
Steve Earle’s cover of the Beatles’ [“I’m Looking Through You”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTxC5XrDc3E) is brilliant! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ha-what-the-wow-nice-cover-of-that-song-thread/681070.md?page=7)