NationStates Jolt Archive

*A distant rumbling attracted my attention. I could vaguely make out a cloud of dust in the distance. There appeared to be something heading toward me, at great speed, too. It drew ever closer. For some reason I felt a sense of uneasiness wash over me. Could this be a threat? It came close enough to focus on... Ah, bandwagon! I leapt nimbly aboard, stubbing my toe and dropping my chocolate bar in the process.*

OK, as I did with the movies to book question I'm turning this one around, what covers can you think of that are better than the original? Here's the only two that come to mind immediately:

With A Little Help From My Friends, Joe Cocker
Mad World, Gary Jules

And now I'm out. Any more?

I've heard a pretty good Crazy Train Cover and a decent Bohemian Rhapsody by people i dont remember. Which doesent really help us.

Fountains of wayne's cover of "better things" by the kinks.

Jessica Harp's version of kinks "all day and all of the night" (if you like girls singing the parts of guys in songs about girls, as I ever-so-do)

Turtles' cover of bob dylan's "it aint me."

A few others maybe.

I believe i can fly- redone by Me First And The Gimme Gimmes
It's my Job to keep punk rock elite- redone by Boys Night Out
Somewhere over the rainbow- redone by Me First And The Gimme Gimmes


Theres a lot more....Just I can't remeber them

Any Joan Baez cover of a Dylan song.

Judas Priest's cover of Baez' Diamonds and Rust (although it's too different from the original to actually be compared).

Spiderbait's cover of Black Betty

I liked APC's cover of imagine, but I know that's a sore point for some people...

Jimi Hendrix' cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower." Speakin' of Bob, "Blowing in the Wind" proved to be a pretty good number for Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Also, somebody did a great cover of Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" for the 9-11 benefit concert three years ago.

Oh, and Tori Amos does a great cover of the Stones' "Angie."

Jimi Hendrix' cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower." Speakin' of Bob, "Blowing in the Wind" proved to be a pretty good number for Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Also, somebody did a great cover of Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" for the 9-11 benefit concert three years ago.

Oh, and Tori Amos does a great cover of the Stones' "Angie."


I was just about to mention All Along the Watchtower but you beat me!

I know the worst cover I've never heard. It would be the All Saints' version of the Chili Peppers Under the Bridge. I just KNOW thats going to be shit.

Also like afi's cover of head like a hole

Korns new cover of another brick in the wall is "intresting"


mansons cover of the eurythmics "sweet dreams"

I was just about to mention All Along the Watchtower but you beat me!

I know the worst cover I've never heard. It would be the All Saints' version of the Chili Peppers Under the Bridge. I just KNOW thats going to be shit.

Shit doesn't even begin to cover it.

It makes baby jesus cry.

Shit doesn't even begin to cover it.

It makes baby jesus cry.
amen

Buffalo Springfield's cover of Traffic's "Dear Mr. Fantasy"

Crosby, Stills and Nash's cover of "Wooden Ships", Jefferson Airplane did it first but I'm not sure they were even the original artist.

Johnny Cash's cover I see a Darkness by Bonny Prince Billy.

Definitely agree with Mad World by Gary Jules, though I still love the Tears for Fears version.

Mentioned it before, but Scissor Sisters' cover of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" is fantastic.

"Stand By Your Man" by Motorhead and Wendy O. Williams
"Viva Las Vegas" by the Dead Kennedys
"Take This Job and Shove It" by the Dead Kennedys (though I'm not sure if I've heard the original or not, I'd imagine the cover is better either way.)

Crosby, Stills and Nash's cover of "Wooden Ships", Jefferson Airplane did it first but I'm not sure they were even the original artist.
"Wooden Ships" was cowritten by members of both bands: Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane, and Stephen Stills and David Crosby, of CSN.

Ahhh, Jello, how could you have omitted "I fought the law" by the Dead Kennedys?

I also must add "I Put a Spell on You", "Sweet Dreams" and "Down in the Park" by Marylin Manson

When Primus came to my town for the first time, they did a cover of "Battery" by Metallica that kicked arse! :D



and how could I forget? "Summertime" by Janis Joplin - oh yeah!

Working class hero - Marylin Manson

Sympathy for the Devil - Guns 'n Roses

Anything by Richard Cheese :D

Johnny Cash's cover of One by U2, that song managed to be so much darker and more raw than U2's original and that took some doing.

Johnny Cash's cover of One by U2, that song managed to be so much darker and more raw than U2's original and that took some doing.
Johnny Cash covering Nine Inch Nails - Hurt... pretty funny... and surprisingly good

Sublime - Scarlet Begonias

Oh, I forgot Nirvana's covers of "Love Buzz" and "the Man Who Sold the World"

Just remembered a couple (ie stealth bumping):

"Video Killed The Radio Star" by Presidents Of The USA

I'm actually fairly torn on the "Wonderall" cover by Ryan Adams, in some ways it's better than the Oasis version but it's just a little too schmaltzy for me. The Mike Flowers Pops version, on the other hand, is pure gold.

Oh, almost forgot, "Amish Paradise" by Weird Al Yankovich (OK, not strictly a cover per se but a very funny spoof of Gangsta's Paradise)

Have to disagree with you about Video Killed the Radio Star, there Stripe Lovers. I thought it was one dimensional and limp. Oh well.... :D


EDIT: Oh and while I am complaining about covers, "Unchained Melody" by whoever it was that came second in some crappy competition (Idol or something, I think) should be the first test subject shot into a black hole.... :D

Reel Big Fish's version of Hungry Like the Wolf.
Cake's version of I Will Survive.
Michael hutchence's version of The Passenger.
Monster Magnet's version of Into the Void.
The Misfits' version of Monster Mash.

Honorable mention to Powerman 5000's salvaging of "Relax".

Having just heard it, Frank Zappa's version of "Bolero" has shot into my list of top ten covers - although it's not exactly a cover.... :D