# Wait, that's a cover song?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575 "2012-01-06T01:19:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/21 "2012-01-06T14:08:49Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > **The Residents, “Constantinople.”** If you’re unfamiliar with The Residents I’m not going to try to explain them, other than noting that they combine weird lyrics, weird singing, found sounds, toy pianos…and other stuff. Anyway, it was a good 20 years before I learned it was actually a cover (even after hearing TMBG ‘cover’ the Residents). The Residents’ “Constantinople” is not the same song as “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” though there is a slight resemblance. It’s not a cover. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/22 "2012-01-06T15:25:10Z")
I’m sure the real fans always knew this, but I was surprised to find that my favorite Zeppelin track, “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”, was actually a 50’s folk song [originally recorded by Joan Baez](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG9YUDaQk_I). ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/23 "2012-01-06T15:53:06Z")
> [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](#): > > Laura Brannigan: self control. > I didn’t know about self control until recently. Even Brannigan’s “Gloria” is a cover - of a recent Italian hit song. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/24 "2012-01-06T16:03:53Z")
Denise Denise Randy and the rainbows [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ahbhS4bvkTk/hqdefault.jpg "Randy & the Rainbows - Denise") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahbhS4bvkTk) Everyone knows this version of a very much older song. No real hope of getting to hear the original since it was around well before recording came along [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OlJ6dXbjG4I/hqdefault.jpg "Ramsey Lewis " Wade in the Water "") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlJ6dXbjG4I) Louie Louie - Richard Berry. https://www.youtube.com/embed/z-2CKsaq5r8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PL022F344A4AF1190C ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/25 "2012-01-06T16:10:43Z")
Having once been a big country music fan, I was surprised when my wife (at that time, my girlfriend) told me that Garth Brooks’ _Shameless_ had been a Billy Joel song, and that David Frizzell’s _I Just Came Here to Dance_ was a Peabo Bryson song. Although she was surprised in turn when I told her that Whitney Houston’s _I Will Always Love You_ was a cover of a Dolly Parton song. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/26 "2012-01-06T16:15:45Z")
I’ve only heard Shirley Caesar’s version of No Charge. I only found out recently that it was originally a country tune written, by a man no less, for Melba Montgomery. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/27 "2012-01-06T16:18:56Z")
I was surprised to find out recently that Bjork’s most popular song, “[It’s Oh So Quiet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_Oh_So_Quiet)” is actually a cover originally released in 1951 by Betty Hutton. And that itself was a cover of a German song from 1948. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/28 "2012-01-06T16:19:35Z")
I was a pretty big fan of the ska resurgence in the '80’s. Apparently, most of those songs were covers, including One Step Beyond by Madness, A Message to You Rudy by the Specials. My sister made a tape for me with the original Jamaican ska versions of pretty much every popular ska song in the '80’s. That took me by surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/29 "2012-01-06T16:21:56Z")
[An earlier thread on the topic,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=556574&highlight=wimoweh+mbube) See posts #q162 and #165 for the bittersweet story of why almost nobody has ever heard the original recording (by Solomon Linda and the Evening Birds) of a song covered by everyone from Pete Seeger to Timon and Pumbaa. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/30 "2012-01-06T17:15:21Z")
UB40’s “Red Red Wine” was originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/31 "2012-01-06T18:14:00Z")
And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII will always love YYYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUU–Written and originial sung by Dolly Parton. Springsteen’s Jersey Girl–written and originally sung by Tom Waits. Rambling Boy, Marvelous Toy, Whose Garden was This, Forest Lawn and Bottle of Wine–ALL written and originally sung by Tom Paxton (and how many people think Rambling Boy is a “traditional folk song”?) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/32 "2012-01-06T21:04:21Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > UB40’s “Red Red Wine” was originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond. As was “I’m a Believer”, also recorded by the Monkees, Smash Mouth, and Eddie Murphy among others. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/33 "2012-01-06T21:13:11Z")
I just found out that “You Could Have Been A Lady” by April Wine was a cover of a Hot Chocolate song. That might be obvious to folks in the UK, but in Canada I don’t think I’ve ever heard a version that wasn’t by April Wine. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/34 "2012-01-06T21:16:24Z")
Back in those crazy MTV-dominated days of the ‘90s, I really liked The Breeders’ [Drivin’ On 9](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWGUIEQhi04). I was pretty surprised recently when I discovered that it was a cover of [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JuiDpuUUh4) rather quirkier original by Ed’s Redeeming Qualities (yeah, who are they? Apparently, though, the bands shared a member as well). ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/35 "2012-01-06T21:23:09Z")
I was a little surprised that “Pablo Picasso” by The Burning Sensations was a cover of Jonathan Richman’s original. I like the song, but it does boggle the mind a bit to realize THAT song has been covered–[repeatedly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9uYBdcgR84). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/36 "2012-01-06T21:48:09Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > **The Residents, “Constantinople.”** If you’re unfamiliar with The Residents I’m not going to try to explain them, other than noting that they combine weird lyrics, weird singing, found sounds, toy pianos…and other stuff. Anyway, it was a good 20 years before I learned it was actually a cover (even after hearing TMBG ‘cover’ the Residents). Speaking of They Might Be Giants, I did not know **New York City** was a cover until I saw Them in concert and the opening act was Cub, a cuddlecore punk trio from Vancouver, who did the original. Good band, too. I was lucky to see them live; they broke up about six months later. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/37 "2012-01-06T22:09:33Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > cuddlecore Had to look that one up. Still not sure what it is. Will ask the young girls I hang out with on Saturday nights. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/38 "2012-01-06T22:14:44Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > I don’t care who wrote [_Twist and Shout!_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twist_and_Shout) It’s a Beatles song, dammit! No way! It’s a Mamas & Papas song! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/39 "2012-01-06T22:44:43Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Had to look that one up. Still not sure what it is. Will ask the young girls I hang out with on Saturday nights. Depending on how young, they may not have been born before Cub broke up. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/40 "2012-01-07T00:43:44Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > The Residents’ “Constantinople” is not the same song as “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” though there is a slight resemblance. It’s not a cover. A slight resemblance? The song’s arrangement is the opening hook of Istanbul (Not Constantinople) repeated over and over under shouted choruses of “Here I Come Constantinople!” followed by nonsense verses. In the Residents’ universe, that qualifies as a cover (cf. “Satisfaction” or anything on _Third Reich and Roll_). > [@Polycarp](#): > > [An earlier thread on the topic…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=556574&highlight=wimoweh+mbube) Darn it, I did search for an earlier thread, but I probably missed it amongst the 118 “Best Cover Song?” threads. Sorry about that. > [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Back in those crazy MTV-dominated days of the ‘90s, I really liked The Breeders’ [Drivin’ On 9](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWGUIEQhi04). I was pretty surprised recently when I discovered that it was a cover of [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JuiDpuUUh4) rather quirkier original by Ed’s Redeeming Qualities (yeah, who are they? Apparently, though, the bands shared a member as well). I’m surprised too! And I really like(d) that song as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575.md?page=3)