Covers that are better than the original

[Jimaroid]

Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

 

[Blue in Munich]

Donna Summer, MacArthur Park;

 

[IanMcC]

Two that spring to mind are Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley and Johnny Was by Stiff Little Fingers.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Joe Bonamassa, Chains and Things;

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Donna Summer, MacArthur Park;

Not sure I'm having that. The Richard Harris version is funny and cringeworthy in equal measure which in my opinion is part of the appeal of the song surely. Having it sung properly doesn't seem right.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Belting? As much as I love that band, if I never heard that song again it would be too soon.

And I'm not alone in that thought...

https://www.express.co.uk/entertain...cott-Gorham-interview-Phil-Lynott-documentary

Fair do. I still really like it though ?

 

[Norrin Radd]

You'll never walk alone ,Jerry and the pacemakers,
Been sung by many but nobody comes close to Jerry.
The air that I breathe ,the Hollies .
Originally by the Everly brothers.

Somebody to love, George Michael.
Freddie was good but George absolutely nailed it.
It's only make believe, Glenn Campbell, original by Conway Twitty but he couldn't sing it for crap

 

[Foxholer]

Suzanne...Neil Diamond
Maybe not a 'cover' as such but the band of stars playing While my Guitar Gently Weeps at George Harrison tribute is an all time classic, both for music and performers/performances.

or at R&R HoF

Bonnie Raitt's Angel from Mongomery
Reason to Believe - choice of several including The Carpenters and Rod Stewart; originally by Tim Hardin. Similar for his If I were a Carpenter!
And I prefer this gutsy Jimmy Buffett live version of Southern Cross to any CSN version.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

You'll never walk alone ,Jerry and the pacemakers,
Been sung by many but nobody comes close to Jerry.
The air that I breathe ,the Hollies .
Originally by the Everly brothers.

Somebody to love, George Michael.
Freddie was good but George absolutely nailed it.
It's only make believe, Glenn Campbell, original by Conway Twitty but he couldn't sing it for crap

I was with you right up until you went George over Freddie ??

 

[Blue in Munich]

Harry Nillson, Everybody's Talkin';

 

[Blue in Munich]

Harry Nilsson, Without You;

 

[Blue in Munich]

Michael Andrews & Gary Jules, Mad World;

 

[Blue in Munich]

Not sure I'm having that. The Richard Harris version is funny and cringeworthy in equal measure which in my opinion is part of the appeal of the song surely. Having it sung properly doesn't seem right.

Er you are having it; you might not like it but I've answered the question as asked by the OP.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Proud Mary (Ike & Tina Turner)
Killing Me Softly (Fugees)
Valerie (Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse)
The First Time I Ever Sa Your Face (Roberta Flack)
Nothing Compares 2 U (Sinead O'Connor)

My old mucker Fish did a covers album (Songs From The Mirror) and aside from a passable Boston Tea Party that formed part of the live set for a while the rest was embarrassing. Just shows that you can take a cover but you won't always do it justice. I wonder if those were the worse covers ever?

 

[Blue in Munich]

Fair do. I still really like it though ?

Fair enough, they've just done so much other better stuff for me that I'd rather hear than that. I was surprised to find out that both Lynott & Gotham weren't keen on it.

 

[Jimaroid]

I think Bob Dylan needs a mention (beyond obvious Hendrix) for being the most covered and arguably most improved upon by others.

My favourite is probably Percy’s Song by Fairport Convention.

Runner up favourite, I’ll Keep It With Mine also by Fairport Convention.

Both largely due to Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson’s incredible voice and guitar work.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Fair enough, they've just done so much other better stuff for me that I'd rather hear than that. I was surprised to find out that both Lynott & Gotham weren't keen on it.

I'm really not a big music person, my tastes are not at all sophisticated. I never listen to lyrics for example, singers could be saying any old tosh and I wouldn't notice ?.

TL get played quite often by Ken Bruce and Jeremy Vine, usual songs, and this is one of the regulars. I don't think too deeply about it, I just like it. I agree though, they have done others which are better but they bring / brought energy to everything that they did that is just uplifting.

 

[Blue in Munich]

I'm really not a big music person, my tastes are not at all sophisticated. I never listen to lyrics for example, singers could be saying any old tosh and I wouldn't notice ?.

TL get played quite often by Ken Bruce and Jeremy Vine, usual songs, and this is one of the regulars. I don't think too deeply about it, I just like it. I agree though, they have done others which are better but they bring / brought energy to everything that they did that is just uplifting.

No argument from me on that one. I started a thread a while ago about which band you'd put back together for a night, and they were my choice. Unlike yourself, I am a big music person, and have seen quite a few live bands; Lizzy brought more life into a concert that I've experienced with any other band. Next booked concert is a Lizzy tribute band, should tell you something.

 

[Stegsie]

Oasis-I am the walrus.

100% this!
I also love their version of Cum On Feel The Noise

 

[Don Barzini]

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division has always been a firm favourite of mine. Then Nerina Pallot did a cover of it. And I really don’t want to admit I prefer it to the original. But I think I do!