# Worst covers you've heard? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129 "2001-08-06T15:58:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2001, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/61 "2001-08-08T17:55:25Z")
**The\_Raven** wrote: > [@](#): > > I was traveling one day and ran across some podunk station who thought it would be cool to play a recording of James Taylor covering The Doors “Light My Fire”. You sure that wasn’t **Jose Feliciano** ’s cover of “Light My Fire?” I don’t think James Taylor ever did a cover of that particular tune, did he? ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2001, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/62 "2001-08-08T18:07:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TV time \* > \*\* > Elvis’ “Yesterday” comes to mind but the two that stick in my mind most (worst) was William Shatner’s album and “Pat Boone Sings Heavy Metal”. \*\* Pat Boone’s “In a Metal Mood” is a _hoot_! For those of you who haven’t heard (of) it - Pat Boone took heavy metal/hard rock classics (“Smoke on the Water”, “Enter Sandman” etc.)& covered them big-band-style. I can actually understand the words to “Panama” now! See link below (I hope) for sound clips… [http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=540089428/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/artistid=BOONE\*PAT/itemid=389826](http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=540089428/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/artistid=BOONE*PAT/itemid=389826) ---
**Author:** ![davesink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@davesink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davesink)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/63 "2001-08-08T21:08:23Z")
By far the winner has to be Kathy Lee Gifford’s funerial arrangement of Van Morrison’s Moondance: [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004SCDN/qid=997304385/sr=2-2/107-3805490-2427766](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004SCDN/qid=997304385/sr=2-2/107-3805490-2427766) (Govt. warning: could result in massive aural hemorrhaging!) ---
**Author:** ![igloorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@igloorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igloorex)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2001, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/64 "2001-08-08T23:46:50Z")
I’d be inclined to vote for the horrible covers of Brown Eyed Girl What I Like About You and Melt With You as covered by that band you used to go see in college. You know the one. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/65 "2001-08-09T02:42:51Z")
One that’s bugged me forever: I have never forgiven the producers of Pretty in Pink for using a cover band called The Danny Hutton Hitters (“I see many, many weddings in your future”) for Nik Kershaw’s haunting **"Wouldn’t it be Good."** A nomination for Most Inappropriate Disco Cover - by Orono, of the Cranberries’ **“Zombie”**. Yes, I too would like to dance to a song about a bloody civil war: > [@](#): > > “Another head hangs lowly/Child is slowly taken/And the violence caused such silence/Who are we mistaken?..It’s the same old theme since 1916/In your head,/In your head they’re still fightin’/With their tanks and their bombs…” After that I find it a bit difficult to get exercised about “American Pie.” ---
**Author:** ![okielady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/fbc32d/32.png) [@okielady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/okielady)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/66 "2001-08-09T02:45:02Z")
Ok, I think the Pat Boone album wins, hands down! I’m a metal fan, all the way from Zeppelin to the cheesy hair bands of the 80s, and this just made me want to HURL! As a matter of fact, oddly enough, when I clicked on the Windows Media link to hear sound clips, while the clips were downloading the titles all showed the same name: “hurl.” Agreed. How about Marilyn Manson’s cover of “Like A Virgin”? I’m not a huge Madonna fan, but there was something bone-chilling about Marilyn Manson doing a Madonna cover. Limp Bizkit’s version of George Michael’s “Faith” has to be one of the worst songs I’ve ever had the displeasure of being exposed to. I’m sure I’ll be flogged mercilessly for this, but the soundtrack to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was one of the first albums I fell in love with. In my defense, I was six years old at the time. But that defense is pointless since I openly admit to owning the VHS of the movie, and the soundtrack on CD. Another bad cover is “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by the Mutton Birds (who?) This was featured at the end of the movie “The Frighteners.” As a side note, a good cover I’ve heard recently is Godsmack’s version of “Sweet Leaf.” But that’s another thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/67 "2001-08-09T02:55:45Z")
What if the cover was better than the original? Alison Krauss’s cover of Maybe was a lot better than Chris (Garth Brooks) Gaines’ version. As for the worst covers? Smash Mouth’s rendition of the Monkees classic “I’m A Believer.” The cover that the Christian surf-rock trio Cadet did was much better. (I saw them live at Festival con Dios, but I can’t find their CD! I, to use a wrestling term, “marked out” when they played it live.) -Brianjedi ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/68 "2001-08-09T03:48:29Z")
You want bad covers? Rhino’s “Golden Throats” CDs got ‘em. Shatner’s aforementioned “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, “Mr. Tambourine Man”. Also Bing Crosby’s “Hey Jude”, Nimoy’s “Proud Mary”, Andy Griffith’s “House of the Rising Sun”, and Jim Nabors’ “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/69 "2001-08-09T04:32:06Z")
It may not be the worst cover ever, but the Guns ‘n’ Roses version of “Sympathy for the Devil” (closing song in the _Interview With a Vampire_ movie) was pretty darn bad. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/70 "2001-08-09T04:58:59Z")
Cautemhoc played the trump card with the Sergeant Pepper soundtrack. We’re just playing for second place now. so: Just about every bar band in the world can do a decent rendition of You Really Got Me … except Van Halen. Megadeth’s version of Anarchy In The UK is terrible - they completely screw up the words. I second the nomination of Faith Hill’s recording of Piece Of My Heart - I heard it in a restaurant the other day but didn’t know who it was. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/71 "2001-08-09T05:17:51Z")
Shatner’s “Lucy in the Sky”, “Mr. Tambourine Man”, “Rocket Man” (Elton John), and “It Was a Very Good Year” (Frankie) are GREAT covers! Always good for a laugh. Bad cover: Duran Duran - 911 is a Joke (Public Enemy) ---
**Author:** ![Pnuk\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Pnuk\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pnuk_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/72 "2001-08-09T13:41:48Z")
**Eternal Flame** - Atomic Kitten. She sings it all wrong! It’s poo poo poo and it makes me want to cry, but in a bad way. I love the original (the Bangles?). ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/73 "2001-08-09T13:44:36Z")
Now come on, Shatner and Nimoy are shooting fish in a barrel. WAY too easy of a target. Am I the only one who thinks Marilyn Manson’s cover of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” is LESS creepy than the original? ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/74 "2001-08-09T13:44:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by okielady \* > \*\*I’m sure I’ll be flogged mercilessly for this, but the soundtrack to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was one of the first albums I fell in love with. In my defense, I was six years old at the time. But that defense is pointless since I openly admit to owning the VHS of the movie, and the soundtrack on CD. \*\* I’m not particularly inclined toward merciless floggings, but check [this](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/7578/SgtPepperMain.html) out. A woman after **okielady** ’s own heart. I’m willing to admit that, even though it was an abjectly horrifying travesty of all things good and decent, the Sgt. Pepper movie brought joy to a few tiny hearts who were too young to know any better. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/75 "2001-08-09T18:04:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\*Back in the early 90s, a band called Overwhelming Colorfast included on their debut a cover of The Beatles’ “She Said, She Said.” Apparently, though, they missed the day that time-signature changes were covered in Little Alternative Musicians class, because they completely blew the 3/4 sections. They played a straight 4/4 all the way through. > > \*\* I went to school with those guys. Used to play in a band with Torg, the guitarist, in junior high. They were mostly into metal and really bad alternative rock (Faith No More, etc.). Their bad cover didn’t surprise me. Speaking of Beatles covers, the Thompson Twins did a horrible rendition of “Revolution”. And I know I’m not gonna get much backup on this, but I detested Elton John’s version of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. Also, pretty much every tribute album I’ve heard has sucked big time (except the Richard Thompson tribute). ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/76 "2001-08-09T18:28:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manduck \* > \*\* > Just about every bar band in the world can do a decent rendition of You Really Got Me … except Van Halen. > \*\* I don’t care for the Van Halen cover, but when it comes to sheer badness it hasn’t got a pin on the version of “You Really Got Me” that appeared in a GAP Kids commercial a couple of years ago. It was like “You Really Got Me” on Valium, between two slices of white bread, with a side order of blancmange. While not quite as bad as the **Sgt. Pepper** movie soundtrack, I think the **Tommy** soundtrack deserves a nod. Did anyone really need to hear Ann-Margret sing the Who? Or Jack Nicholson? Or _Oliver Reed_? ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/77 "2001-08-09T18:32:19Z")
I can’t believe nobody has mentioned Devo’s Satisfaction. I’m sure it’s slightly above the Britney Spears version, which I haven’t heard, thank god, but not much. Anyone, and I mean anyone, doing “Knocking on heavens door” (including the original) One that I love, btw, is Steve and Edie Gourmet (sp?) doing Black Hole Sun. I was blown away 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/78 "2001-08-09T19:58:48Z")
“Let’s Go All the Way” (originally by Sly Foxx) was recently covered by Insane Clown Posse. Absolutely horrible, though I suppose the original was no masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2001, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/79 "2001-08-10T01:43:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brianjedi \* > \*\*As for the worst covers? Smash Mouth’s rendition of the Monkees classic “I’m A Believer.” \*\* I actually like Smashmouth’s version. Sure, the original is better, but I think smashmouth did a good job with it. They actually did two different covers, with one being better than the other. Jman ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2001, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/80 "2001-08-10T02:03:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Politzania \* > > Pat Boone’s “In a Metal Mood” is a _hoot_! > > For those of you who haven’t heard (of) it - Pat Boone took heavy metal/hard rock classics (“Smoke on the Water”, “Enter Sandman” etc.)& covered them big-band-style. > I can actually understand the words to “Panama” now! Did he do this for a joke, or was he serious? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129.md?page=5)