# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/21 "2008-11-16T23:24:58Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrr81SRhp\_s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrr81SRhp_s) > Outkast - Hey Ya! > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8nkkOA\_AM](http://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! Ah! I posted the Folk Hey Ya in the wrong thread and now you’ve beaten me to the punch. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/22 "2008-11-16T23:31:34Z")
I like Max Raabe und sein Palast Orchester’s cover of Let’s Talk about Sex. The Droyds’ Girls on Film is good, too. And while we’re on COIL (squee, Critical1) their version of Leon Cohen’s Who by Fire is pretty sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/23 "2008-11-16T23:36:41Z")
Tanya Tucker’s cover of [Someday My Prince Will Come](http://www.coveringthemouse.com/labels/tanya%20tucker.html) is a lot of fun. Sarah Brightman’s [Whiter Shade of Pale](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0BAmL-9jzw) My favorite Britney Spears covers are Toxic by Stevie Ann, Ahmet and Dweezil Zappa’s cover of Hit Me Baby One More Time, and you haven’t really lived until you hear Max Raabe’s version of Oops I Did it Again. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/24 "2008-11-16T23:40:09Z")
Dynamite Hack’s “Boyz in Da Hood” – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVkMU1iRNYE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVkMU1iRNYE) Cake’s “War Pigs” (Ignore the video–they apparently had a contest for it) – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyJMufGx7fo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyJMufGx7fo) And with another Gnarls Barkley cover, here’s Ray Lamontagne doing “Crazy” – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mEfDSP4g\_U](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mEfDSP4g_U) Can’t believe I forgot Alanis Morissette doing “My Humps” – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W91sqAs-\_-g](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W91sqAs-_-g) And I also forgot Chris Cornell doing “Billie Jean” – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIvbjmQadSM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIvbjmQadSM) ---
**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, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/25 "2008-11-16T23:53:20Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrr81SRhp\_s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrr81SRhp_s) > Outkast - Hey Ya! > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8nkkOA\_AM](http://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! Thank you thank you thank you. I think I’ve just found my new favourite song. 🙂 Speaking of cool folk covers of peppy songs, the Iron and Wine [cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKGHkBComjM) of [Such Great Heights](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMOkfI7wCrI) is another one of my favourites. (Ben Folds does a [really fun version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KI78874qbU), but it’s just a bit too close to the original to be truly genius) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/26 "2008-11-16T23:58:23Z")
Cassandra WIlson. I can’t pick just one. Here’s Robert Johnson’s .[32-20 Blues.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1591gryAMyo) ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/27 "2008-11-16T23:59:46Z")
I always enjoyed Rolf Harris’s version of [Stairway](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy5KjaAS7nY) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/28 "2008-11-17T00:00:19Z")
One of my favorites is the _Tubes_ live cover of _[“Love Will Keep Us Together”](http://www.thetubes.com/disco/sgrs.htm)_ (the huge Captain & Tennille hit from the 1970s). The link is only to a _Tubes_ discography page–I wasn’t able to find a video or audio clip available online. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/29 "2008-11-17T00:19:54Z")
The Gourds cover of [Gin and Juice](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCAM3C3dpIA&feature=related) (video contains some NSFW language) ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/30 "2008-11-17T00:31:28Z")
Thirding the Hey Ya cover. Still, my favourite folk cover ever remains Nina Gordon’s [Straight Outta Compton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otL6FvpALQg). NSFW lyrics, for the benefit of anyone (all five of you) who doesn’t know the song. ETA: Oh, yeah. I share the love for Iron & Wine’s Such Great Heights. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/31 "2008-11-17T03:28:54Z")
If an artist can “cover” his own song, I nominate this version of \*\*Further on Up the Road \*\*by Bruce Springsteen. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sY__dua_pEg/hqdefault.jpg "Further On Up The Road (Live In Dublin)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY__dua_pEg) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/32 "2008-11-17T04:04:24Z")
The [Happy Schnapps Combo](http://my.execpc.com/~sjkrautk/schnapps.html) did a lovely polka rendition of “Born to be wild.” It wakes me right up in the morning! ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/33 "2008-11-17T06:01:56Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > And I also forgot Chris Cornell doing “Billie Jean” – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIvbjmQadSM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIvbjmQadSM) I prefer David Cook doing Chris Cornell doing “Billie Jean” – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUfbLtZHrog](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUfbLtZHrog) (ignore the video) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/34 "2008-11-17T06:33:20Z")
Ghost Riders in the Sky as sung by [The All-American Boys Chorus](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNUsCAiBeko), [Die Apocalyptische Reiter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4ohoAV3GUw), [The Baja Marimba Band](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoZ3Rvb1IkI), [The Bar G Wranglers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YArekSHqHSo), [BCB Band](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPC1VI5WZ4s), [The Be Arthurs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaI73tmLWWY), [Chris Fender Black & Black Cat](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZp8BRP-vEQ), [Don Bletz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJVuXIiDAnU), [The Blues Brothers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeK0VTrSpTQ&feature=related), [California Guitar Trio](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W45HL7Dj0BI&feature=related), [Johnny Cash](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjcdCfJlzMo&feature=related), [The Chipmunks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt1uVmd69tk), [Susan Christie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ikTxcNUn-4), [Scatman Crothers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBYAis7akKw), [Children of Bodom](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_RAooHQ8ks&feature=related), [Dick Dale](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3CsLvkNfAQ), [Deadbolt](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDa9HGYgrjE&feature=related), [Duane Eddy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMz8XRGxZdY&feature=related), [Phil Emmanuel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ4i6Ykhkuc), [Firewater Creek](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2JtrDWumw8), [Kent “Toast” French (The World’s Fastest Clapper)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_C-z7jHVW0), [Andy Garrett](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxscivQxfPM&feature=related), [Goin’ South](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iRMBMUmPAw), [Rene Guylline](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0_0YmCJI54&feature=related), [Wade Hawthorne](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUkCaKjilFc), [Burl Ives](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s7jJd8EjlA&feature=related), [Jet Screamer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOHW38iSS8g), [Spike Jones](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2SKinSBvaw&feature=related), [Judge Trev](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDmJdIbOH6U), [Don Kelley Band](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj4Q3adwFz8), [Frankie Laine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwAPa0qHmLo&feature=related), [Neil Levang (of the Lawrence Welk Show Band)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMdS9ExnW-w), [Cristo Lewis (7 years old)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTn-IfLYUag), [Me First and the Gimme Gimmes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5n-2mKFjIU), [Vaughn Monroe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb6zyZ277KM&feature=related), [Ninth House](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFaF5Fs44LA), [Oh Boy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uyddhY_vfc), [The Outlaws](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2vyn4lDokU&feature=related), [Elvis Presley](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnhxfz6UdRo&feature=related), [The Ramrods](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWTjjm-Gg3c&feature=related), [R.E.M.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FPydoIRoPw&feature=related), [Riders in the Sky](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V23uVjYSOok&feature=related), [Marty Robbins](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xSYyMDaq4&feature=related), [The Saddle Pals](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNIlRkxH-Go), [The Scorpions](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6adu0sHetQ&feature=related), [Sha Na Na](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iifoq3VKYW8), [The Shadows](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7_Gxoa2lqk), [J.D. Simo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NUC1nIrMfM), [Spiderbait](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtXSmqEq1eA&feature=related), [Ned Sublette](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwfOdB8Dbgk), [Toy Dolls](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Z-ukSfbWM), [Trunk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMA-47nRfkg&feature=related), [The Tubes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho7H4UFYqSc), [Valyaev and Volkov](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOMLKcroxJA), [The Ventures](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7v6__8DwX4), [Wild Range Grrls](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olqw-L64lH0&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/35 "2008-11-17T06:34:21Z")
“Dreams” by the Allman Bros is a GREAT tune [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NBo_POKv21w/hqdefault.jpg ""Dreams" - The Allman Brothers Band - FULL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBo_POKv21w) and is quite different, but ALSO great when covered by Molly Hatchet. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vucQFhePzg) I love both of these songs to death, and am endlessly fascinated that one morphed into the other. The same, but _different_. The second vid is not a live performance, but it has a nice slideshow of fantasy art and space pics. I suppose that Molly Hatchet isn’t terribly unconventional, but I thought they were sufficiently different enough from the original to qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/36 "2008-11-17T06:45:25Z")
Shawn Colvin did a great cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/37 "2008-11-17T06:50:19Z")
I like Elbow’s version of _Independent Woman_, particularly when performed by the [North English kittens](http://www.rathergood.com/independent_woman/). Well I like it better than Destiny’s Child’s version, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon\_Salt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@Bacon\_Salt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bacon_Salt)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/38 "2008-11-17T07:03:06Z")
I can’t pick just one. Scissor Sisters- [Comfortably Numb](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONr5fl-0liQ) Warning: if you’re anybody but me, you’ll hate this one. If by non-traditional, you mean covers that reinterpret the song, I’ve always enjoyed [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVhqyyyNRkg) one. Cocteau Twins- [Strange Fruit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zZnuZDFn0c) (Anecdote- this was the first version of the song that I heard and between Liz Fraser’s odd pronunciation when she sings and her tendency to sing meaningless but pretty mouth music, I hadn’t paid attention to the lyrics. But then I noticed she was singing something that went “sudden smell of mumble mumble”. So I sought out the lyrics…:eek::smack::() ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/39 "2008-11-17T07:11:56Z")
Another vote for Devo’s version of “Satisfaction.” I like the way Wing sings “Dancing Queen” and “My Favorite Things.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029/40 "2008-11-17T07:36:21Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > 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. [How about Moog Cookbook’s very tongue-in-cheek instrumental version?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEFR85cCi8w) Totally nerdy, but brilliant, in my opinion. These guys can do no wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-traditional-cover-of-a-hit-song/473029.md?page=3)