# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/101 "2012-01-12T17:37:37Z")
The most dynamic cover of any song may be Nazareth’s version of Joni Mitchell’s “This Flight Tonight” or even CSNY’s “Woodstock” There’s also “Love Hurts” originally recorded by The Everly Brothers and then Roy Orbison then later by Nazareth Jim Capaldi and Cher. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/102 "2012-01-12T17:44:29Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Ian Hunter (Patterson) known mostly for Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes” also wrote and released “Once Bitten Twice Shy” (covered by Great White) and “Cleveland Rocks” (covered by Presidents of the United States) also the Drew Carey show theme. > . More surprisingly, he wrote one of Barry Manilow’s biggest hits: https://www.youtube.com/embed/HGgaiftq_hM?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**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 12, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/103 "2012-01-12T17:58:49Z")
“I Write the Songs” was written by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys and originally recorded by The Captain & Tenielle. But it will always be associated with Barry Manilow. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/104 "2012-01-12T18:11:58Z")
A friend once said “_Whiskey in the Jar_ is a Metallica song, but did you know it’s a cover of a Thin Lizzy song?” I replied “Thin Lizzy? Dude, it was the Dubliners in the 60s.” Turns out, it’s been done since the 17th century! We were _way_ off! ---
**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 12, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/105 "2012-01-12T18:18:50Z")
Cat Steven’s “Morning Has Broken” is actually a popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and is set to a traditional Gaelic tune known as “Bunessan.” It also shares this tune with the 19th century Christmas Carol “Child in the Manger.” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/106 "2012-01-12T18:24:17Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > A friend once said “_Whiskey in the Jar_ is a Metallica song, but did you know it’s a cover of a Thin Lizzy song?” I replied “Thin Lizzy? Dude, it was the Dubliners in the 60s.” > > Turns out, it’s been done since the 17th century! We were _way_ off! This happens a lot- remember Taco, the Dutch New Wave singer who had a big hit with “Putting on the Ritz”? He was constantly having to tell kids, “Uh, no, I didn’t write that one. Irving Berlin wrote it fifty years ago.” ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/107 "2012-01-12T18:32:53Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > This happens a lot- remember Taco, the Dutch New Wave singer who had a big hit with “Putting on the Ritz”? > > He was constantly having to tell kids, “Uh, no, I didn’t write that one. Irving Berlin wrote it fifty years ago.” [Ah, damn you! God damn you all the hell!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsbYx6hevoQ) Thanks for bringing that up, It’ll be stuck in my head all day! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Stormcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@Stormcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stormcrow)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/108 "2012-01-12T18:33:37Z")
> [@BeaMyra](#): > > The late Laura Branigan used Diane Warren a lot when she first came on the scene. It really wasn’t a cover version. They took the song and wrote English lyrics to the music > > Diane Warren has bascially rewrote the same song for the last 30 years and had hit after hit after hit. > > Toni Basil’s “Mickey” which came out about the same time as Branigan’s “Gloria” was also a remake of an old song called “Kitty” This reminds me of several tunes that have Barry Manilow did where he rewrote lyrics to songs by Claude Francois (a very popular French singer of the 60’s and 70’s). Mandy is one; can’t recall Claude’s title. Also the song “Oh What a Night” is a rewrite of another Claude song called “Cette Anne La” (loosely translates as “That Year”). In both cases the Claude Francois song lyrics are less treachly than the covers… ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/109 "2012-01-12T18:42:18Z")
**Fannie Brice** ’s iconic rendition of _My Man_ was a cover of **Mistinguett** ’s song _Mon Homme_, first recorded in 1916. ---
**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 12, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/110 "2012-01-12T18:46:52Z")
> [@Stormcrow](#): > > \ Also the song “Oh What a Night” is a rewrite of another Claude song called “Cette Anne La” (loosely translates as “That Year”). In both cases the Claude Francois song lyrics are less treachly than the covers… Excuse Me? [Oh What A Night](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December,_1963_(Oh,_What_a_Night)) was written by original Four Seasons keyboard player Bob Gaudio and his future wife Judy Parker, produced by Gaudio, and included on the group’s 1975 album, Who Loves You. The Claude song was a cover, and was further covered by Yannick in an absolutely astonishing rap version. Once again, let’s verify who’s covering whom. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/111 "2012-01-12T18:49:13Z")
Wow! After doing some mindless surfing I discovered Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” was originally released by Robert Hazard, while IMHO superior to her version, still not my cup of tea. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/112 "2012-01-12T19:34:38Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Did Patti Smith \*cover \* that? I always think of it as [hers.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO9eUDOlyeU) It’s a cover of [Van Morrison’s Gloria](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RI-QtEAwvE) with a few lines from [Patti Smith’s poem Oath](http://bibliofreakblog.com/memes/freeverse-oath/) added. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/113 "2012-01-12T20:47:18Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > _Tomorrow Wendy_ by Concrete Blonde was written and recorded by Andy Prieboy but the Concrete Blonde version was actually released first. I didn’t know this until I heard the live version and Johnette Napolitano says, “This is a song by Andy Prieboy.” Yeah, I saw them in concert with Prieboy as the opener. He closed with _Tomorrow Wendy_ which I thought he was just doing as an homage to Concrete Blonde about to come on stage. After the show I bought his CD and discovered he wrote it. His version is excellent. There have been many Dylan written-songs covered that I had no idea he wrote. Coming to mind, _All along the Watchtower (Hendrix)_ and _Highway 61 (PJ Harvey)_. ---
**Author:** ![HenryGale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b782af/32.png) [@HenryGale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HenryGale)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/114 "2012-01-12T21:12:29Z")
“[Nothing Compares 2 U](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0&ob=av3e)” is a Sinead O’Connor cover of a tune that Prince wrote for The Family, a band he apparently had a hand in putting together and signed on his record label. Sinead’s version is highly superior to the [original](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8854IiDjlw), IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/115 "2012-01-13T02:46:00Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I’m sure some people also think _Romeo and Juliet_ is an Indigo Girls song. Also, my wife thought _Landslide_ was by The Dixie Chicks. I remember hearing Stevie Nicks with Fleetwood Mac singing “Landslide” and thinking she could be really famous if she kept the good work up. 😃 ---
**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 13, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/116 "2012-01-13T04:36:03Z")
The Carpenters’ “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” (Youtube [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcNwcKOP6bo&feature=related)) was a cover of the same song, written and recorded by Klaatu on the _3:47 EST_ album (Youtube [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9URM_5R-vWk)). ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/117 "2012-01-13T04:49:21Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > This happens a lot- remember Taco, the Dutch New Wave singer who had a big hit with “Putting on the Ritz”? > > He was constantly having to tell kids, “Uh, no, I didn’t write that one. Irving Berlin wrote it fifty years ago.” Peter Boyle and Gene Wilder weren’t the originals? ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/119 "2012-01-13T05:53:54Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/120 "2012-01-13T06:03:26Z")
Sparky812, “All The Young Dudes” as done by Mott The Hoople was written by David Bowie. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/121 "2012-01-13T08:07:11Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > “All The Young Dudes” as done by Mott The Hoople was written by David Bowie. That’s true, but the Mott version was the first recorded and released version, making it the original. Bowie didn’t record a version until over a year later. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575.md?page=7)