# Which Song is Better the Original or the Remake? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2000, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018 "2000-11-20T20:06:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/41 "2000-11-21T17:07:09Z")
“Pretty Woman” - The Orbison version and Van Halen both have merit. “Smokin in the Boy’s Room” - Motley Crue “I Will Always Love You” - there’s a reggae version I heard while I was working in the Bahamas that is simply the best. “Hair of Dog” - You’re kidding right? Only Nazareth will do here at our house. “Live and Let Die” - Paul McCartney and Wings. “American Woman” - Definately The Guess Who. G n R should stick to their own material… ---
**Author:** ![Orshee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Orshee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orshee)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/42 "2000-11-21T17:31:22Z")
Here’s one: “Physical (You’re So)” - Adam and the Ants or Nine Inch Nails? ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/43 "2000-11-21T19:56:04Z")
Pure opinion here. No scientific method applied. “Knocking on Heaven’s Door”- Bob Dylan or Guns N Roses? – Eric Clapton “Sunday Bloody Sunday” U2 or Radiohead – U2 “My Way" Frank Sinatra or Sid Vicious – Sid Vicious “Sweet Child O’ Mine” Guns n Roses or Sheryl Crow – GNR “Spiderman Theme” origional or the Ramones - Ramones “Last Caress” Misfits or NoFX (or Metallica) – Misfits “Love Hurts” Nazereth or the Everly Brothers – Nazareth “I Fought the Law” Bob Marley or the Clash – The Clash “Green Hell” Misfits or Metallica – The Misfits “Pretty Woman”…Roy Orbison or Van Halen? - Roy Orbison “Smokin in the Boy’s Room” – Brownville Station or Motley Crue – Motley Crue “Live and Let Die”…Paul McCartney or Guns and Roses – Guns and Roses Here are some additional ones: “Venus” Shocking Blue or Bananarama - Bananarama “Love Buzz” Shocking Blue or Nirvana - Shocking Blue “Let’s Go All the Way” Sly Foxx or Insane Clown Posse – Sly Foxx “I Only Want To Be With You” Bay City Rollers or Samantha Fox – Bay City Rollers “You Keep me hanging on” Supremes or Kim Wilde – I’m torn “Steppin Stone” – The Monkees, Sid Vicious or Minor Threat – again, I’m torn “Mony Mony” – Tommy James and the Shondells or Billy Idol – Billy Idol “Unchained Melody” - Righteous Brothers or … - Elvis! Taking into account what **spritle** posted: _“Now, to the point. We tend to like original tunes more than re-makes solely because we hear them first. This song, melody, rhythm, etc. gets “implanted” in our minds and it becomes the benchmark for all subsequent songs.”_ I’d agree that for the songs mentioned above (except “Spiderman theme” and “My Way”) I definitely prefer the one I heard first, but in most cases I heard the remake first. It could be due to my not-so-advanced age. Perhaps which you heard first is generational. I’ll add other songs as I think of them. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/44 "2000-11-21T20:09:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Motorgirl \* > \*\*“Knocking on Heaven’s Door”- Bob Dylan or Guns N Roses? – Eric Clapton \*\* Blasphemy! The Dylan Gods are NOT pleased. > [@](#): > > \*\* > “I Only Want To Be With You” Bay City Rollers or Samantha Fox – Bay City Rollers \*\* Anyone who can deal w/ BCR rocks. Motorgirl, you’re my new[est] hero/heroine - yes, I spelled it correctly 🙂 > [@](#): > > \*\* > > “You Keep me hanging on” Supremes or Kim Wilde – I’m torn \*\* Lemme help you out on this one. I think I’ll go off the board on this one and choose Vanilla Fudge. > [@](#): > > Taking into account what **spritle** posted: _“Now, to the point. We tend to like original tunes more than re-makes solely because we hear them first. This song, melody, rhythm, etc. gets “implanted” in our minds and it becomes the benchmark for all subsequent songs.”_ > > I’d agree that for the songs mentioned above (except “Spiderman theme” and “My Way”) I definitely prefer the one I heard first, but in most cases I heard the remake first. It could be due to my not-so-advanced age. Perhaps which you heard first is generational. Thanks for reading and thinking about my comments. Every now and then I stumble upon a reasonable thought. Usually I just make stuff up - dazzle 'em with bull, as it were. ---
**Author:** ![LMacG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@LMacG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LMacG)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/45 "2000-11-21T20:10:23Z")
“Crazy” – Willie Nelson or Patsy Cline or Leann Rimes “Every Time You Go Away” – Paul Young or Darryl Hall “Good Vibrations” – Beach Boys or Todd Rundgren “Love Will Tear Us Apart” – Paul Young or Joy Division “Tomorrow Never Knows” – The Beatles or Phil Collins or The Chameleons or Monsoon or Danielle Dax (did I miss any?) ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/46 "2000-11-21T20:28:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by absoul \* > \*\*Ummm, which is better - heroin or crack? > Get off both! > > It’s always, always, always the original! \*\* Wrong, wrong, wrong! The original is _usually_ better, but then there’s Soul Man. Sam & Dave did a great tune, but the Blues Brothers cover is much better. And whoever said G’n’R did Hair of the Dog better than Nazareth, you’re on CRACK. Although they did a really good cover of Heaven’s Door, even better than Clapton’s, which was the first one I heard. I have never heard a song that the Ramones couldn’t do a better cover of, and I’ve never heard anybody do a Misfits song better than the Misfits. Motorgirl, you have great taste in music, but I disagree with two of your answers: Roy Orbison was great, but I think Van Halen has a slight edge. But yeah, it’s a toss-up. On Steppin’ Stone I have to go with Minor Threat. Finally, one of my favorite covers ever is Monster Mash, by the Misfits. Try these: Oh Boy: Buddy Holly, or MxPx? Fortunate Son: Credence Clearwater Revival, or Circle Jerks? Fame: David Bowie, or Infectious Grooves? Summer of '69: Brian Adams or MxPx? Little Wing: Jimi Hendrix, or Stevie Ray Vaughan? Move It On Over: Hank Williams, Sr, or George Thorogood? Tear In My Beer: Hank Williams, Sr, or Hank Williams, Jr? Leaving On A Jet Plane: John Denver or Peter, Paul, and Mary? Blue Monday: New Order, or Orgy? (this one is a joke. everybody knows that the Orgy version sucked ass) ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/47 "2000-11-21T20:32:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by betenoir \* > > The Guess Who or Lenny Kravitz? > > The Butthole Surfers. betenoir, you rock. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/48 "2000-11-21T20:41:31Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by spritle \* > [@](#): > > \*\*Anyone who can deal w/ BCR rocks. Motorgirl, you’re my new[est] hero/heroine - yes, I spelled it correctly 🙂 \*\* My work here is done. 😛 [QUOTE] \*Originally posted by spritle \* > [@](#): > > \*\*“You Keep me hanging on” Supremes or Kim Wilde – I’m torn. > Lemme help you out on this one. I think I’ll go off the board on this one and choose Vanilla Fudge. \*\* Oh dear, I think my heroine status is in Jeopardy, 'cause I’ve never heard the VF version. To answer some of **Joe\_Cool** ’s: Fortunate Son: Credence Clearwater Revival, or Circle Jerks? - probably Circle Jerks Fame: David Bowie, or Infectious Grooves? - in my extreme youth, I’d have said Duran Duran, but now I’m going with Bowie. Leaving On A Jet Plane: John Denver or Peter, Paul, and Mary? - John Denver ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/49 "2000-11-21T20:55:26Z")
Motorgirl, not jeopardy, per se. Let’s just consider this a sort of probation. 🙂 Your pennance: Find a copy of Vanilla Fudge’s version (Napster, my ass!) It has a very slooooow groove. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/50 "2000-11-21T20:55:55Z")
My God, I am old. I don’t know half of these bands, and didn’t know that some of my favorites have been covered. Madonna did American Pie? Just shoot me and get it over with, for God’s sake. Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye (I think) or Creedence? I vote for Creedence. I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton, not Whitney. Come Together - Beatles or Michael Jackson. No contest! I only bring it up because years ago when my son was little, he heard the Beatles version and said, “I didn’t know they did that Michael Jackson song, too!” ---
**Author:** ![AETBOND417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@AETBOND417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AETBOND417)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/51 "2000-11-21T21:52:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hypergirl \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by AETBOND417 \* > > \*\*“American Pie” - Don McLean or Madonna. \*\* > > Please tell me you’re kidding. The two can NOT be compared. Madonna must die for ruining that song. \*\* I was kidding. Hence the rolling eyes icon and the title “Don’t Hurt Yourself” prior to and following the actual post. BTW, I’ll bring gun if you bring the bullets. ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/52 "2000-11-21T21:58:06Z")
Though I’ve not heard it much, Springsteen’s original of “Blinded by the Light” is better than the Manfred Mann version, IMH(and entirely accurate)O. Merely a matter of guitar vs. synth-rock. ---
**Author:** ![absoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@absoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/absoul)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/53 "2000-11-21T23:10:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Joe\_Cool: Wrong, wrong, wrong! HEY, I apologized! So that should read - ‘Mostly Wrong, Mostly Wrong, Mostly Wrong!’ > [@](#): > > broccoli!: “Last Caress” MiSFiTs or NoFX Budgie wrote the song -Mettalica, Misfits, and NoFX did covers. I would have to pick Misfits. (see now I’m arguing against myself!) mostly, mostly, mostly ---
**Author:** ![tsarina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@tsarina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsarina)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/54 "2000-11-21T23:49:39Z")
A couple that I still haven’t decided on… “Cars” - Fear Factory or Gary Numan? “Dancin’ Days” - LedZep or Stone Temple Pilots? In both cases, the cover SOUNDS better to my ears, but the original has a certain sexy rawness to it. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/55 "2000-11-22T02:09:19Z")
“Twilight Time” was covered by Leo Kottke. Though it’s an instrumental, he does one incredible job of it, as he always does. Another to add… Most every song by Ritchie Havens. Heck, this guy made his career doing covers (not unlike Joe Cocker) b’cept his are better than the orig. If anyone has the opportunity to see him on his current tour, I highly recommend it. He finishes with “Motherless Child”; the place jumps. He comes out for an encore and does an _a capella_ version of “On the Turning Away” (Roger Waters’) that gets the entire place silent as a tomb. The raw power than he evokes with his voice is simply amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/56 "2000-11-22T16:57:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tsarina \* > \*\*A couple that I still haven’t decided on… > > “Cars” - Fear Factory or Gary Numan? > > “Dancin’ Days” - LedZep or Stone Temple Pilots? > > In both cases, the cover SOUNDS better to my ears, but the original has a certain sexy rawness to it. \*\* I don’t really consider the FF version of Cars to be a cover, more of an update. After all, Gary Numan sings the vocals on it. I think any song is better with heavy guitar (as **Tygr** said) & drums. Especially when your drummer can keep time like a drum machine (have you ever heard their song Zero Signal? WOW!!!) I downloaded a song from Napster that I really like…it’s an industrial version of Madonna’s “Material Girl”. It sounds like En Esch doing the vocals, but I don’t know. The mp3 file says it’s KMFDM, but then EVERY vaguely-industrial song on Napster is named KMFDM (just like every vaguely funny song is called either Weird Al or Pig Vomit). Anyway, I don’t think it’s better than the orig, but it’s a good listen. But I’m really a sucker for punk/punk-ish/industrial covers of regular songs. Or couldn’t you tell? 😃 Motorgirl, I think I love you. but I wanna know for sure. (Hey, another good cover! Sam Kinison or the Troggs?) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018/57 "2000-11-22T19:01:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe\_Cool \* > \*\* > But I’m really a sucker for punk/punk-ish/industrial covers of regular songs. Or couldn’t you tell? 😃 > > \*\* Don’t know the Material Girl one, but how about Let’s Get Physical- Olivia Newton John or the Revolting Cocks? I’m gonna have to go with the remake. And since I’m here: 1 Knights in White Satin- the Moody Blues or The Dickies 2 Blue Suede Shoes- Elvis or the Residents 3 Telegram Sam- T.Rex or Bauhaus 1. Definately the remake. 2. The remake, but then, I’m perverse. 3. I can’t decide. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-better-the-original-or-the-remake/42018.md?page=2)