NationStates Jolt Archive

All right, this song has been covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to Marylin Manson. It's probably THE absolute MOST covered song. Ever. So...

1. What's so great about the lyrics that make people want to re-cover and re-cover and re-cover the song?

2. Who originally wrote the song, and what album was it originally released on (I'm interested in hearing the absolute original version, was it Depeche Mode, or is that a cover too?)

3. Anyone else tired of hearing this song? It was bad enough it had to be in GTA:SA...

In case anyone is interested...here's the list of bands who've played this song (and I'm pretty sure Depeche Mode is the original artist).

Depeche Mode (tons of versions)
Gravity Kills
Johnny Cash
Lollipop Lust Kills
Marylin Manson
Project 44
Tonex

(that's all I can find at the moment)

1. Dunno. :)

2. Original, composed by Martin Gore. First released as a single in 1989.

3. Tired? I'm not a great fan of DM, and I don't listen to it often.

Depeche Mode.....is just too....uh well..gay.

Manson's version is just too over the top for me..

Cash did it best.

Johnny could take other peoples songs, and make them his own.

I refer you to his versions of:

Personal Jesus.
Thirteen (Glenn Danzig)
Rusty Cage (Soundgarden).
Mercy Seat (I dont know)

Hmm. I'm not a fan of Johnny Cash, but his cover of "Hurt" was good enough for me to recognize him as an excellent artist.

And as far as Depeche Mode goes, I just watched their Personal Jesus music video, and yes, it's very gay.

I like Marylin Manson and Lollipop Lust Kills' versions of the songs...but the fact that so many people have covered the song is what makes the song so tiresome, because aside from the Tonex version of the song (which I don't like at all), they maintain the same rhythm, absolutely everything...which makes it a little difficult to distinguish (even the Cash version, rhythmically, is identical).


But again, I REALLY like Cash's cover of Hurt. The original version of that song couldn't be farther from Cash's typical style...
I mean, sure Depeche Mode's new age style is far enough from Country Western...but Trent Reznor's industrial style stems from new age...and it doesn't stem toward Country Western...

...and the Gravity Kills' version of Personal Jesus is annoying, and I'm a fan of that music genre, but it's still annoying.

Hmm. I'm not a fan of Johnny Cash, but his cover of "Hurt" was good enough for me to recognize him as an excellent artist.

And as far as Depeche Mode goes, I just watched their Personal Jesus music video, and yes, it's very gay.

I like Marylin Manson and Lollipop Lust Kills' versions of the songs...but the fact that so many people have covered the song is what makes the song so tiresome, because aside from the Tonex version of the song (which I don't like at all), they maintain the same rhythm, absolutely everything...which makes it a little difficult to distinguish (even the Cash version, rhythmically, is identical).


But again, I REALLY like Cash's cover of Hurt. The original version of that song couldn't be farther from Cash's typical style...
I mean, sure Depeche Mode's new age style is far enough from Country Western...but Trent Reznor's industrial style stems from new age...and it doesn't stem toward Country Western...

...and the Gravity Kills' version of Personal Jesus is annoying, and I'm a fan of that music genre, but it's still annoying.

If you like "Hurt", you should check out some of the others I mentioned, Johnny was country, sure, but his covers of those songs are anything but.

His guitar playing on Rusty Cage, definately "outrocks" the original one, even if his version is a tad mellower.

Johnny Cash was an artist. I miss him. :(

Mercy Seat (I dont know)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds dude!

Depeche Mode.....is just too....uh well..gay.


If only they were gay. Fact is- Depeche Mode (::sigh:: Martin Gore) made the origional, so no matter which version you prefer, you're enjoying a product of the homosexuality that you seem to displace onto a band. Pretty sad that you're too closeted to just enjoy the music, eh?

All right, this song has been covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to Marylin Manson. It's probably THE absolute MOST covered song. Ever. So...No it's not. The most covered song is probably one of Bob Dylan's. Knockin on Heaven's Door or Blowing in the Wind. I'd say Bob Dylan is the most covered artist.
Knockin on Heaven's door:
Bob Dylan
Guns n' Roses
Warren Zevon
Eric Clapton
Daniel Lioneye and The Rollers
Cold Chisel
Randi Crawford
U2
Bon Jovi
Avril Lavagne
Bruce Springsteen
Bob Marley or Eric Clapton again.
...shall I keep going?

EDIT: actually this is what I was looking for
http://dylancoveralbums.com/songsk.htm

3. Anyone else tired of hearing this song?
Yes.

I was listening to Jhonny Cash when I saw this thread. Not Personal Jesus, but I am not. Why has it been covered so many times? Because it speaks to a lot of people, and it can be interpreted in different ways. And it rocks.

All right, this song has been covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to Marylin Manson. It's probably THE absolute MOST covered song. Ever. So...

1. What's so great about the lyrics that make people want to re-cover and re-cover and re-cover the song?

2. Who originally wrote the song, and what album was it originally released on (I'm interested in hearing the absolute original version, was it Depeche Mode, or is that a cover too?)

3. Anyone else tired of hearing this song? It was bad enough it had to be in GTA:SA...

I'd think the Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter" had been covered more, if no other song has... I know I have something like 13 versions of that song... not including the Stones version.

1) Personal Jesus has lyrics that compare the salvation offered by Christianity, with that offered by whores. What more is there to say?

2) Depeche Mode did (indeed) do the original. They also did the original of "Stripped", as covered by Rammstein... I'd recommend the retrospective music video DVD of Depeche Mode material. :)

3) I've never got tired of the Depeche Mode version... although the over-saturation of Marilyn at the moment is hurting HIS version a little. In terms of Marilyn covers, I preferred "Sweet Dreams".

The song denotes that we can all find our "own personl Jesus", without having anything to do with Christianity. It's a great song with lyrics that convey the fact that anything could prove the path of salvation via any idea, person, or anything else that has "saved you from yourself".

Really, it's a great song with a great message. Love the Mariyn Manson version fo the song.

All right, this song has been covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to Marylin Manson. It's probably THE absolute MOST covered song. Ever.
--snip--


Not even close.

Try "Yesterday" by John Lennon & Paul McCartney. Over 1600 recordings.

(http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=50867)

From Elvis Presley to Boys II Men and just about every mainstream jazz artist ever. "Personal Jesus" hasn't even been covered as many times as "The Girl From Ipenema". Gershwin songs get more coverage than "Depress" Mode songs EVER will. The fact that you hear "Personal Jesus" a lot suggests more about your listening habits than the ubiquity of the song. Nice try.

No it's not. The most covered song is probably one of Bob Dylan's. Knockin on Heaven's Door or Blowing in the Wind. I'd say Bob Dylan is the most covered artist.
Knockin on Heaven's door:
Bob Dylan
Guns n' Roses
Warren Zevon
Eric Clapton
Daniel Lioneye and The Rollers
Cold Chisel
Randi Crawford
U2
Bon Jovi
Avril Lavagne
Bruce Springsteen
Bob Marley or Eric Clapton again.
...shall I keep going?


Yes, you shall -- until you reach 1600 recordings or so. See my previous post.

Damn, some folks need to do some elementary research! I found the answer in one click.

I think that the Marylin Manson interpratation of the song clearly has a bit of a different meaning than say Johnny Cash...even if they both read the same words.

Hmm. I'm not a fan of Johnny Cash, but his cover of "Hurt" was good enough for me to recognize him as an excellent artist.

I don't know if this breaks you're quote so I can post or whatever... but this Is Anarchy 2005 speaking for this paragraph.... Yes Jonny Cash was great...

And as far as Depeche Mode goes, I just watched their Personal Jesus music video, and yes, it's very gay.

Anarchy 2005 again.... Depeche Mode are very Gay....

I like Marylin Manson and Lollipop Lust Kills' versions of the songs...but the fact that so many people have covered the song is what makes the song so tiresome, because aside from the Tonex version of the song (which I don't like at all), they maintain the same rhythm, absolutely everything...which makes it a little difficult to distinguish (even the Cash version, rhythmically, is identical).

Me again.... Marylin Manson is again vey gay.

But again, I REALLY like Cash's cover of Hurt. The original version of that song couldn't be farther from Cash's typical style...
I mean, sure Depeche Mode's new age style is far enough from Country Western...but Trent Reznor's industrial style stems from new age...and it doesn't stem toward Country Western...

YES!!!! HURT IS GREAT.... but so sad cause its about his dead wife.... Its Anarchy speakinng for this bit too

...and the Gravity Kills' version of Personal Jesus is annoying, and I'm a fan of that music genre, but it's still annoying.


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