cover songs that were better than the original

[Norrin Radd]

inspired by Tashys one hit wonder thread ,who has had a cover that has eclipsed the original.

 

[chrisd]

Sound of silence by Disturbed

 

[davemc1]

Jose Gonzales’s version of heartbeats is in a different league to the original knifes recording

 

[backwoodsman]

Carlos Santana's version of She's Not There - totally different league to the Zombies original.

And, Eric Clapton's "unplugged" version of Layla is way, way, better than the original by Derek & the Dominos (which, for the young and/or uninitiated, was also Eric Clapton).

 

[PJ87]

Even though I preferred the zutons original Valarie .. i think Amy winehouses version has been more successful

 

[hairball_89]

May get slaughtered for this, but Guns n Roses' version of Live and Let Die is far better than Wings' original.

 

[Norrin Radd]

May get slaughtered for this, but Guns n Roses' version of Live and Let Die is far better than Wings' original.

consider yourself slaughtered

 

[louise_a]

I generally prefer originals to covers especially if the original was written by the performer.

Santana's She not There is a decent cover all the Santana-ry bit are really unnecessary

 

[Norrin Radd]

i think the biggest song that totally and thoroughly eclipsed the original was by WET WET WET ,Love is all around ,
The Troggs had the original back in the sixties but nowhere near as good as Marty and the boys.

 

[SocketRocket]

 

[PJ87]

May get slaughtered for this, but Guns n Roses' version of Live and Let Die is far better than Wings' original.

100% agree

 

[Orikoru]

I think the most famous example is probably Hendrix's version of All Along The Watchtower. Another one is Sinead O'Connor Nothing Compares To You, which is a cover of a Prince song of course.

I'm sure some won't agree but I thought Muse's Feeling Good cover was a class one, better than the original for me, but then you can't beat a bit of distortion, ha. I'm also going to nominate Pearl Jam - Last Kiss, but then I've never even heard the original to be honest. But there's no way it can be better than Eddie's vocal. No way.

Oh and Rage Against The Machine - Maggie's Farm. Absolutely incredible cover, that. The White Stripes - Jolene as well. Can't think of any others off the top of my head.

 

[Foxholer]

I'm a fan of both performers, but Rod Stewart's version of 'Have I Told You Lately' is a step up from Van Morrison's original version - which was damn good in the first place. Come to think of it, same applies to many of Stewart's 'versions'! Likewise, Joe Cocker 'versions' - with the most outstanding already having id-ed.

ANY song written/performed by Paul Williams! (?) Too many to list that have been hits, but certainly 'Old Fashioned Love Song' and 'Evergreen'! May exclude those by The Carpenters(?!) though they actually did a pretty good (better imo) version of Jambalaya (originally by Hank Williams).

 

[Blue in Munich]

Ann & Nancy Wilson; Stairway to Heaven. Beats the original hands down, as endorsed by the 3 surviving members.

 

[Tongo]

I think the most famous example is probably Hendrix's version of All Along The Watchtower. Another one is Sinead O'Connor Nothing Compares To You, which is a cover of a Prince song of course.

I'm sure some won't agree but I thought Muse's Feeling Good cover was a class one, better than the original for me, but then you can't beat a bit of distortion, ha. I'm also going to nominate Pearl Jam - Last Kiss, but then I've never even heard the original to be honest. But there's no way it can be better than Eddie's vocal. No way.

Oh and Rage Against The Machine - Maggie's Farm. Absolutely incredible cover, that. The White Stripes - Jolene as well. Can't think of any others off the top of my head.

The White Stripes version of Jolene is stunning especially the one they did at Glastonbury. Gave the song genuine emotion which is lacking from the Dolly Parton original.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Carlos Santana's version of She's Not There - totally different league to the Zombies original.

And, Eric Clapton's "unplugged" version of Layla is way, way, better than the original by Derek & the Dominos (which, for the young and/or uninitiated, was also Eric Clapton).

Can you cover a song that you wrote & originally performed on? It's two different versions for me, not a cover, but I love both, particularly this version with Mark Knopfler.

 

[Blue in Munich]

May get slaughtered for this, but Guns n Roses' version of Live and Let Die is far better than Wings' original.

Not by me you won't.

 

[richart]

Manfred Mann’s Earthband version of Springsteen’s For You.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Wild Horses - Susan Boyle, original was by The Stones.

 

[BubbaP]

My musical leanings mean I don't really understand covers, so I asked my better half ...

What About Us - Davina Michelle
Mad World - Gary Jules