Cover Songs

[Abnegation]

We all love hearing different versions of songs, and even more so when they're executed with class and poise. In paticular, cover songs at times, can become more popular than the original. An example would be Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" which had originally been written by Nine Inch Nails.
So, are there any cover songs that you like or dislike or that have become more popular than the original copy?

 

[Ho-Oh]

Glee - Like a prayer.

Having not heard the original before, it has made me like it. :3

 

[Rogue planet]

The first song that instantly came into my mind was David Bowie's cover of "Nature Boy" originally by Eden Abhez. The Bowie version was made for the film Moulin Rouge, which is how I first heard about it, although unfortunately it wasn't actually included in the final cut of the film. It's one of Bowie's lesser known songs, but it's one of my favourites by him, and far better than any other version, imo.
The Mars Volta also do an interesting cover of "Pulled to Bits" originally by Siouxsie and the Banshees. I'm not sure which version I actually prefer, but The Mars Volta have a very different take on the song and I enjoy it a lot.
And another favourite is the classic cover of "All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix, originally by Bob Dylan.
Other than those, I can't really think of any other cover songs I've listened to and enjoyed. I rarely listen to covers and I usually prefer the original versions.

 

[Jolene]

Gary Jules - Mad World
Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah
Emilana Torrini - The Sounds of Silence

 

[Esper]

And another favourite is the classic cover of "All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix, originally by Bob Dylan.

Dang, you beat me to it.

Since you mentioned Siouxsie and the Banshees, they did covers of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence" and Iggy Pop's "The Passenger" which I like as much as the originals. And while I'm thinking of The Beatles the entire soundtrack for I Am Sam is made up of covers of their songs including one of "Two of Us" done by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn which is beautiful. Another of my favorites is Yaida Hitomi's cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car".

 

[Honest]

I like Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace's of Wicked Game, originally done by Chris Issack. Some people say it isn't good, but I disagree... probably since I love Adam. xD

 

[The Cynic]

Billy Idol - Don't You (Forget About Me) [originally by Simple Minds]
Guns N' Roses - Live And Let Die [originally by Wings]
John Cale - Hallelujah [orginally by Leonard Cohen]
Johnny Cash - Hurt [originally by Nine Inch Nails]
Johnny Cash - One [originally by U2]
Johnny Cash - Personal Jesus [originally be Depeche Mode]
Johnny Cash - We'll Meet Again [originally by Vera Lynn]
The Killers - Shadowplay [originally by Joy Division]
Kingston Wall - I Feel Love [originally by Donna Summer]
Muse - Can't Take My Eyes Off You [originally by Frankie Vivaldi and the Four Seasons]
Muse - House of the Rising Sun [originally by The Animals]
Muse - Popcorn [orignally by Hot Butter]
Pseudo Echo - Funkytown [originally by Lipps Inc.]
Rage Against The Machine - Maggie's Farm [originally by Bob Dylan]
Rage Against The Machine - Microphone Fiend [originally by Eric B & Rakim]
Rage Against The Machine - Renegades Of Funk (originally by Afrika Bambaataa]
Rock Sugar - Like A Prayer [originally by Madonna]
Rufio - Like A Prayer [originally by Madonna]
Spiderbait - Black Betty [originally by Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter]
Spiderbait - (Ghost) Riders In The Sky [originally by Johnny Cash]
Wheatus - Hit Me With Your Best Shot [originally by Pat Benatar]
The White Stripes - Conquest [originally by Patti Page]

There may be more that I can't think of at the moment.

 

[Sneeze]

I like a few of the ones mentioned, Hurt, Live and Let Die, Mad World but as a rule prefer originals to covers.

And the less said about McFly's Don't Stop Me Now and Glee's Don't Stop Believin' the better...

 

[Empty Pot]

Don't Trust Me by And She Whispered originally by 3OH!3
Crank That by I Set My Friends on Fire originally by Soulja Boy
Love Story by Sanity is Lost originally by Taylor Swift

Great songs if your into screamo(:

Oh, and 1,000 posts, gtfo(:

 

[Rucario]

I hate it when I hear my favorite old songs being covered by some dickhead. Like Rihanna and her terrible cover of Wanna be Startin' Somethin'. On the other hand there are people who did good covers like...

Shadowplay - The Killers

Come Together - Michael Jackson

Ms. Jackson - The Vines

A few other ones too. I'll edit.

 

[The Cynic]

And the less said about McFly's Don't Stop Me Now and Glee's Don't Stop Believin' the better...

Too right. Both butcherised classic songs. Don't Stop Me Now is a song only Freddy Mercury could pull off.

 

[Flame Claw]

Yeh, I hate it when childish Disney acts and the like kill classic songs.

Anyway, my favourite cover of all time is Elvis' version of Yesterday: Elvis Presley – Yesterday

 

[PuNkSter]

At the top of my head:

Last Caress - AFI (Misfits cover)
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm (Michael Jackson cover)
Everything Turns Grey - Lagwagon (Agent Orange cover)

 

[Graceful]

Like
Beat It - Fall Out Boy ft. John Mayer | (Michael Jackson Cover)
With Or Without You - Utada Hikaru | (U2 Cover)
Can We Go Back - Koda Kumi | (Japanese Cover Of Kelly Clarkson's song....It's Better though)
Physical Thing - Koda Kumi | (Japanese Cover Of Nosheen's Song)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dislike
Basket Case - PUFFY (AmiYumi) | (Green Day Cover)

 

[El Héroe Oscuro]

I don't like how Jay-Z made a cover of "Forever Young", he totally just ruined it. Leave the classics alone man...

 

[TheUltimateSacrifice]

My name is Objective Statement, and I say that not only is Jimi Hendrix's rendition of "All Along The Watchtower" the best cover song ever, but also the greatest overall song of all time.

 

[Okami Chi]

Gary Jules - Mad World

Awww, but that was sooo much better than what Tears for Fears did. Had more feeling in it.

I have to say most covers done today fail. I hate it when they take the best part of an old song and use it for a pop song. Case and Point: Flo-Rida + You spin right round= Fail.

 

[The Cynic]

Awww, but that was sooo much better than what Tears for Fears did. Had more feeling in it.

I have to say most covers done today fail. I hate it when they take the best part of an old song and use it for a pop song. Case and Point: Flo-Rida + You spin right round= Fail.

While modern covers often rock, I do hate when artists (usually of R 'n' B style) sample really good tracks in their songs.

Eg.

• "Misirlou" by Dick Dale & His Deltones is one of the most epic riffs of all time. Black Eyed Peas ruin it by sampling it in "Pump It".
• "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" is an amazingly catchy tune. A real party anthem and always puts a smile on your face. Kanye West then makes "Stronger" where he relies heavily on a sample of this song. I admit it is an alright song but now people don't know the original and think he did it first! Everyone I know who has heard both songs concurs that Daft Punk's is better.

Dick Dale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9rg2uP_xXk
Black Eyed Peas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaI2IlHwmgQ

Daft Punk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAjR4_CbPpQ
Kanye West - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsO6ZnUZI0g

Judge for yourself.

 

[Akito Wanijima]

Thought not particularly more well known, these are the very best covers IMO.
Red hot chilli Peppers - Search and Destroy (Original by Sex Pistols)
Nirvana - The man who sold the world (Original by David Bowie)
Rage against the machine - F*** the police (Original by NWA)
Richard Cheese - Chop Suey (Original by System of a down)
Editors - Lullaby (Original by The Cure)
William Shatner - Common people (Original by Pulp) [I find this more hilarious than good though]

 

[リュザキ]

Turn the page - Metallica (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMqNFAU0tOw)
Original by Bob Segar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe7yOccqdxI)

I like both of them since you get a different feeling from both.