# Your favorite 'non-traditional' cover of a hit song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029 "2008-11-16T20:11:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/1 "2008-11-16T20:11:37Z")
Mine’s got to be [Rocket Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hARDXYz2io), covered by William Shatner! Though Peter Sellers covering [She Loves You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ73dIeAgAE) in character as Dr. Strangelove is a strong second. ---
**Author:** ![dawson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@dawson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dawson)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/2 "2008-11-16T20:32:01Z")
Hendrix’ Star Spangled Banner! ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/3 "2008-11-16T20:42:29Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Mine’s got to be [Rocket Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hARDXYz2io), covered by William Shatner! Or the [Stewie version-](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs1nuIhprNc) the best part of that is his little dance at the end. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/4 "2008-11-16T20:51:20Z")
The Bobs, an _a cappella_ quartet, used to do a cover of _White Room_ that kicked ass. Actually, they still do it (found a [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-OeQpLf_rQ)), but they’ve changed a couple members since then, and on this song it’s just not the same. Janie Bob used to sing lead and could bring down the house. Richard Bob’s bass still sounds fantastic, though. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/5 "2008-11-16T20:54:58Z")
Nouvelle Vague’s version of _Too drunk to f_ck \*(Dead Kennedy’s). ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/6 "2008-11-16T21:26:47Z")
In college, I knew a guy who sang “Jukebox Hero” in grand opera style. Van Halen’s cover of “Happy Trails” was sort of amusing. I am told that Wayne Newton covered “Enter Sandman”. I’m curious to hear that. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/7 "2008-11-16T21:28:28Z")
Gotta be Paul Anka’s cover of [Smells Like Teen Spirit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_MzRxDUeMI). ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/8 "2008-11-16T21:30:56Z")
> [@Mahna\_Mahna](#): > > Gotta be Paul Anka’s cover of [Smells Like Teen Spirit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_MzRxDUeMI). Wow. Just wow. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/9 "2008-11-16T21:35:26Z")
I really like the Foo Fighters’ version of Prince’s _Darling Nikki_. Recently heard the Violent Femmes doing Gnarls Barkley’s _Crazy_- that’s fun. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/10 "2008-11-16T21:47:36Z")
> [@dawson](#): > > Hendrix’ Star Spangled Banner! I’ve got to go with this one. Though if Yes’s cover of America (written by Simon & Garfunkel) counts that would be my top pick. The song is very different in the Yes version and much, much better. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/11 "2008-11-16T21:52:52Z")
I love [The Scissor Sisters’ version of Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeGT9MNp4Yc&feature=related) (apologies for the quality of this video) that I think is in no small part a throwback to Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets”. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/12 "2008-11-16T21:59:21Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I’ve got to go with this one. > > Though if Yes’s cover of America (written by Simon & Garfunkel) counts that would be my top pick. The song is very different in the Yes version and much, much better. I love YouTube, [here it is live](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS2FUW7UkR0)in all of its 11 minutes of Glory! ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/13 "2008-11-16T22:11:55Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Wow. > > Just wow. On the same album he also covered [Wonderwall](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c98S1fNFEQ0) and [Black Hole Sun](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRlnWC1dtTs). Genius. Pure genius. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/14 "2008-11-16T22:17:51Z")
I can’t say for sure it’s my favorite, but I think **Devo** ’s cover of _(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction_ definitely gave the song a twist. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/15 "2008-11-16T22:21:22Z")
Is it really sad that the first song I though of was David Hasselhoff’s [Hooked on a Feeling](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJQVlVHsFF8)? It is just awesomely weird… ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/16 "2008-11-16T22:24:53Z")
Ministry’s [_Lay Lady Lay_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mieKpoAETu0) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/17 "2008-11-16T22:37:17Z")
> [@Mahna\_Mahna](#): > > [Black Hole Sun](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRlnWC1dtTs). I listened to a bit of that, about 25 seconds. It might be the worst thing ever. That was truly awful and I am not a Soundgarden fan. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/18 "2008-11-16T22:45:26Z")
[Rodrigo Y Gabriella’s cover of Stairway to Heaven](http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=vNc5o9TU0t0&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/19 "2008-11-16T23:03:07Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo3TUtRnZi4) Coil covering Tainted Love ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/20 "2008-11-16T23:21:38Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrr81SRhp_s) Outkast - Hey Ya! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8-8nkkOA_AM/hqdefault.jpg "Hey Ya Cover") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8nkkOA_AM) Mat Weddle of Obadiah Parker on a guitar doing a cover of Hey Ya. I love them both! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029.md?page=2)