# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2001, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/81 "2001-08-10T02:03:42Z")
I’m afraid I can’t understand the reaction to Smashmouth’s cover of I’m a Believer. The first time I heard it, I was hoping to hear Eddie Murphy finish it up. It’s a dumb pop song, but not criminally actionable compared to . . . Johnny Cash’s version of **One.** Yes, I love JC, and I love U2, but like vinegar and gasoline, these two taste treats do not go together. I identify the song so much with Bono, that when I heard JC start in with all that heavy emphasis, (“Did I disappoint you? / Or leave a bad taste in your mouth”) I started laughing out loud. JC has a beautiful voice, but it belongs singing a melody, not the broken phrases in “One.” And I had forgotten the **Sgt. Pepper Soundtrack Album** and can even offer one that, while it can’t match it for sheer volume and nerve, meets it for weirdness. It was the soundtrack for **All This and World War II** , in which you get to hear the stars sing Beatle hits, while World War II newsreel footage plays up on the Silver Screen. Some of them were pretty good. Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons covered **Day in the Life** , going into the falsetto during the dream sequence; Tina Turner was hot on **Come Together** ; Elton’s here with **Lucy in the Sky** ; and there were a host of Brit stars, now forgotten. But the absolute pits was reached on **When I’m 64** by Keith Moon, who croons like a racoon being slowly skinned. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/82 "2001-08-10T02:22:28Z")
Runner up: Faith Hill’s cover of \*\* Piece of my heart\*\* My dad said in an interview she claimed not to have ever heard Joplin’s version. I fully believe that. Winner: Tori Amos’ cover of \*\* Smells Like Teen Spirit.\*\* I love her, but damn! ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/83 "2001-08-12T16:14:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by musicguy \* > \*\* > One that I love, btw, is Steve and Edie Gourmet (sp?) doing Black Hole Sun. I was blown away 🙂 \*\* Is that the lounge-singer version of “Black Hole Sun”? If so, I agree that it was great. I also heard a lounge version of “American Woman” that I think it by the same act. ---
**Author:** ![Chum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@Chum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chum)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/84 "2001-08-12T21:36:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Motorgirl \* > \*\*“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. \*\* Are you serious? That song is awesome! ICP’s version is even better than the original, IMHO. I just realized that both of my posts in this thread are pointless hijacks defending songs that I like. Oh well. Here’s a kind of crappy cover: “ **Shout** ” by Disturbed. It’s that “Shout, shout, let it all out. These are the things I can do without. Come on, I’m talking to you…” Actually, they titled it “ **Shout 2000** ” which is what makes it crappy. Otherwise I kind of like it. That’s how I feel about all of Disturbed’s songs - they’re pretty crappy, but I like them anyway. Odd. The Bloodhound Gang, my favorite band of all time, has a cover of “ **Tricky** ” on One Fierce Beer Coaster. It’s pretty bad. MTV2 played a bunch of covers last night. Some crappy ones were “ **Sweet Dreams** ” by Manson and “ **Blue Monday** ” by Orgy. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![wolfseyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/97f17d/32.png) [@wolfseyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfseyn)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/85 "2001-08-12T22:20:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfkin477 \* > **Winner: > Tori Amos’ cover of \*\* Smells Like Teen Spirit.** I love her, but damn! \*\* HORRIBLE… I would rather hear Michael Jackson singing this… Hell, Hanson, N`Sync, BSB, 98 Degrees covering this song would all seem better than the orginal when compared to Tori’s god-awful-ear-killing death song… Did I mention I HATE Tori Amos… ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/86 "2001-08-13T07:40:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by davesink \* > **By far the winner has to be Kathy Lee Gifford’s funerial arrangement of Van Morrison’s Moondance:** Arrrrgh! That’s going to replace the white whale in my nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/87 "2001-08-13T10:56:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Am I the only one who thinks Marilyn Manson’s cover of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” is LESS creepy than the original? I like them both! ---
**Author:** ![darkgarden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@darkgarden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darkgarden)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/88 "2001-08-22T04:23:57Z")
I was very distressed to hear Hanson perform one of my all-time favorite songs, the Spencer Davis Group’s “Gimme Some Loving” on a re-run of ‘Motown (yes _Motown_) Live’ the other night. Please please PLEASE someone tell me that Hanson has NOT actually recorded a cover of this song. I swear, if you tell me otherwise I _will_ shoot the messenger! ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/89 "2001-08-22T07:10:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by musicguy \* > \*\*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. > \*\* It’s funny you would mention that one. I’ve heard from a number of sources that Jagger LOVED Devo’s version. He made some quote to the effect of “That’s how we should’ve done it in the first place”. Chris W ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/90 "2001-08-22T13:53:49Z")
“Satisfaction” was also horribly covered by Samantha Fox. ---
**Author:** ![Kbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kbean)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/91 "2001-08-22T15:44:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chum \* > \*\*I second “Satisfaction” by Britney Spears. Ew. \*\* I third it. There is no way anyone could do a cover of the Rolling Stones and truly do justice to the song. Especially if you’re Britney Spears. I also don’t like “Lady Marmalade”. The orignal was ok, but the Mya/Lil Kim/Pink/ Christina Aguilera version really, _really_ sucks. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/92 "2001-08-23T09:53:07Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by elfkin477 \* > Runner up: Faith Hill’s cover of \*\* Piece of my heart_\* My dad said in an interview she claimed not to have ever heard Joplin’s version. I heard that wretched cover the other day, and i have to ask, “Does she even know who Janis Joplin is? Has she listened to any of Janis’s songs AT ALL?” ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/93 "2001-08-27T20:38:42Z")
Conway Twitty’s covers of “The Rose” by Bette Midler and “Heartache Tonight” by The Eagles. _shudder_ Alabama’s version of “Sweet Home Alabama” sucked major ass. What more can I say? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/94 "2001-08-28T00:24:13Z")
Haven’t read the whole thread, so forgive me if I’m redundant. The Neville Brothers’ version of Leonard Cohen’s _Bird on a Wire_ is like being raped in the ear. Michael Jackson’s cover of _Come Together_ is really, really bad… …but it’s so bad I keep a copy of it around to perplex people with from time to time, so I guess it’s good, in an obscure sort of way. I don’t know if it can be called a _cover_, exactly, but the Doors’ version of Kurt Weil’s _Alabama Song_ from _Threepenny Opera_ (“Show us the way to the next whiskey bar, etc…”) is the worst recording of it. One positive result of this abortion is that it might possibly supply a source of cheap energy: I propose wrapping ol’ Kurt’s coffin in copper wire, and putting magnets in the pockets of the suit he was buried in. ---
**Author:** ![thermalribbon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@thermalribbon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thermalribbon)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/95 "2001-08-28T02:34:51Z")
There seems to me to be a common theme here. I think it is something along these lines: The idea of a cover song is for a sincere tribute from one band/artist to another. Covering a song of a band/artist that one would cite as an influence (esp. during live performance - the ideal time for a cover song) seems like a perfectly natural thing to do. However, what all of the songs list seems to share (and I agree with every one listed exept the Foo Fighters doing Baker Street) is that they seem to be very calculated moves in order to further define the group/artist doing the cover. This is perhaps why they each fail so badly. If the cover isn’t an honest homage so to speak, then it will inevitably come off sounding like something a band manager put together. Can’t you just see Ricky Martin’s label telling him that his image would really be bolstered by a Rick James cover song or something like that. In the case of Motley Crue, doesn’t a band that corporate just sound silly singing about Anarchy. What purpose would anarchy do them, I mean, most likely, what they really need is a good tax accountant. ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/96 "2001-08-28T05:25:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pucette \* > \*\* > > Speaking of Depeche Mode - Smashing Pumpkins’ cover of **Enjoy the Silence** gives new meaning to the word YECH. > \*\* Just for the record and all (kinda off topic)… The Matthew Good band did a cover of Enjoy the Silence which which ruled. Okay, I’ll shut up now. ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/97 "2001-08-28T05:29:10Z")
Urk… Ignore that second which, if you all would be so kind. ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/98 "2001-08-28T22:44:25Z")
I’ll start with the worst cover: When I was at UW-Madison, I heard a local ska bad (Little Blue Crunchy Things?) do a ska-ified version of “Freebird”. Now that that’s out of the way, I’d like to mention a few covers that were much better than I had any right to expect: 1. Ozzy Osborn covering “Staying Alive” 2. The Butthole Surfers doing “American Woman” (I felt that they did a much better job of putting forth the message in the original song, “I don’t need your war machines, I don’t need your war machines, I don’t need your WAR WAR WAR WAR Woman! I said \*\* STAY AWAY \*\*!” Although the song itself is kinda grating.) 3. The new punkified version of “Ring of Fire”. LV ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/99 "2001-08-28T23:41:13Z")
Nothing can outdo the **Sgt. Pepper** soundtrack for overall awfulness (ouch, the Bee Gee’s falsetto version of _Oh! Darling_ just crept back into my brain!!). However, Fiona Apple’s droning **Across the Universe** comes real close. My second place nomination for overall bad cover album… Duran Duran’s **Thank You** > [@](#): > > Just about every bar band in the world can do a decent rendition of You Really Got Me … except Van Halen. A common interview question for Ray Davies is “so many bands have covered Kinks songs. Do you have a favorite?” He usually cites Van Halen’s version of _You Really Got Me_. This was his answer even when he was banging Chrissie Hynde and you’d expect _Stop Your Sobbing_ to be his response. ---
**Author:** ![Tabeitha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b3f665/32.png) [@Tabeitha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabeitha)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129/100 "2001-08-31T19:24:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brianjedi \* > \*\*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. \*\* I totally agree. I love Alison Krauss. Her cover of the Beatles “I Will” was really good. Although I am partial, I like anything she does. I can’t stand Alien Ant Farm’s “Smooth Criminal” cover. My god let that song die. It wasn’t that good in the first place. I have to admit I liked Limp’s version of “Faith”, and Manson’s cover of “Sweet Dreams” OK, OK I know I have very strange taste in music. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-covers-youve-heard/75129.md?page=6)