Favorite Song Covers
Here’s the rules:
The original has to be cool. The cover has to be at least as cool if not cooler.
On to the list (of my favorites).
5) Elliot Smith, “Jealous Guy” (orig. John Lennon).
4) A Perfect Circle, “What’s Goin’ On” (orig. Marvin Gay).
3) K.D. Lang, “Helpless” (orig. Neil Young).
2) Tool, “No Quarter” (orig. Led Zeppelin — a great song by the greatest hard rock band ever, covered amazingly by the greatest hard rock band of our generation).
1) Jeff Buckley, “Hallelujah” (orig. Leonard Cohen — Cohen’s is cool, but Buckley’s might possibly be the most gorgeous track ever laid down).
(Honorable mention: Johnny Cash, “Hurt” — orig. NIN).
Those are my favorites. What are yours?
Posted on October 24, 2008, in Pop Culture. Bookmark the permalink. 86 Comments.
Steve Evans
RJH
Scott B.
John C.
Susan M
Aaron Brown
ninemoons
arandomjohn
kulturblogadmin
Kyle M
Brad
KulturBlogGuest
MCQ
Wm
Rebecca
Ivan
Geoff J
btdgreg
Clark Goble
Aaron R.
Tim J
I hadn’t heard the one by Tool. That’s quite a feat: covering Zepplin and still sounding good.
Helter Skelter, Beatles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM9KRpEkGfY) then U2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLmqjcYtH3c)
All Along the Watchtower, Dylan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkok1Z4WJuY) then Hendrix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwCBh0z3Hs)
Turn the Page, Bob Seger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe7yOccqdxI) then Metallica (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOibtqWo6z4) — I still get shivers when I think of that video
“Helpless” and “Hallelujah” are two of my faves. Some others:
Eva Cassidy – “Time After Time” (Cyndi Lauper)
Calexico – “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (Joy Division)
The Frames/Glen Hansard – “Cry Me A River” (Justin Timberlake)
Cat Power – “Satisfaction” (Rolling Stones)
Patty Griffin – “Stolen Car” (Bruce Springsteen)
Madness – “It Must Be Love” (Labi Siffre)
Michael Hedges – “A Love Bizarre” (Sheila E)
Ryan Adams – “Wonderwall” (Oasis)
dangit, two comments and already my favorites are mentioned — although I like Cat Power’s “Wonderwall” as well.
Whoops, I forgot perhaps the greatest cover of all time (except for Hendrix’s “Watchtower”):
This Mortal Coil – “Song to the Siren” (Tim Buckley)
Have you guys heard Damien Rice’s Hallelujah?
Smashing Pumpkins – Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
Chris Cornell – Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)
Gary Jules – Mad World (Tears for Fears)
KD Lang does a good “Hallelujah,” too.
If we’re talking Damien Rice covers, I love his cover with Ray Lamontagne of “To Love Somebody.” But Ray is the one who really makes it something special. (I also like Damien’s “Be My Husband” cover, which interestingly is all Lisa Hannigan.)
REM – Strange (Wire)
The Sundays – Wild Horses (The Rolling Stones)
For my money, I prefer the Rufus Wainwright cover of Halleluja. Better yet is the John Cale version on “I’m your fan.”
REM – Dream (Everly Brothers)
Bauhaus, “Ziggy Stardust”
Ramones, “Let’s Dance”
Favorite cover from a show I attended: Built to Spill covering “Freebird”
Tim that “Mad World” cover is awesome. So is the video.
What does everyone think of Tori Amos’s covers? She does the same thing with every song—turns it into a slow piano ballad, but I think some really work.
A bunch of mine have been named already.
I Am The World Trade Center does a very nice version of the Stone Roses’ “Shoot You Down.”
I like The Lemonheads “Luka” (Suzanne Vega) and “Mrs. Robinson” (S&G). Dinosaur Jr.’s “Just Like Heaven” (The Cure) was pretty great too.
Hmm…what else?
The Clash – “I Fought the Law” (The Crickets via the Bobby Fuller Four)
Robyn Hitchcock – “8 Miles High” (The Byrds)
The Beatles – “Act Naturally” (Buck Owens) (one of many great Beatles covers)
Ben Folds Five – “In Between Days” (The Cure)
The Gourds – “Gin ‘n Juice” (Snoop Dogg)
REM – One (U2)
Thin Lizzy – Rosalie (Bob Seger)
I should really shut up already, but I have a thing for covers.
Jeffrey Gaines – “In Your Eyes” (Peter Gabriel)
Melvins – “Going Blind” (KISS)
Replacements – “Black Diamond” (KISS)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPOqE7k56nc&hl=en&fs=1
The (English) Beat – Tears of a Clown (Smoky Robinson)
As long as I’m posting Brazilian covers of American artists that sound very little like the original, here’s a clip of Renato Russo’s superior version of Cherish, originally by Madonna.
Here’s a site that will tell you what songs from what albums are covers or have been covered and by whom.
Allison Crowe has recorded my favorite versions of “Hallelujah” and “Time After Time” (among others). I also love her epic take on Counting Crows’ “A Murder of One”
The Mountain Goats’ Boys are Back in Town.
Rufus Wainwright’s Chelsea Hotel no 2.
Midge Ure – The Man Who Sold The World
Neil Finn – Sexual Healing
Paul Weller – Wishing On A Star &
Early Morning Rain
Ooh, second Allison Crowe.
Susan, have you heard Eva Cassidy’s cover of ‘Fields of Gold‘ by Sting? I like it even more than her ‘Time After Time’ cover you mentioned.
Heather Nova does a kick butt version of Springsteens “I’m on Fire” that I put on repeat in iTunes all the time.
How about another post of bad songs made good by covers? There’s a fantastic version of Britney Spears Toxic, but the name of the guy who covers it escapes me at the moment.
I love everything Eva Cassidy has ever done. I consider “Time After Time” a superior song to “Fields of Gold,” which is why I used it.
I really like her version of “Smells like Teen spirit”.
Woah arJ. I’m going to give you a big kiss for that link.
Oh, and Travis and Yael Naim both do great versions of Britney Spears Toxic
Barenaked Ladies – When Doves Cry
I thought Travis covered “Hit Me Baby One More Time”? Are they serial Britney coverers?
Ooops, maybe you’re right.
Glen Hansard’s live version of Cry me a River is a blast.
Ahem. See comment 2.
Some of you are not paying any attention at all to the rules. The cover has to be at least as cool, remember? Some of these are clearly crap (or worse, sacrilege). I’m looking at you, arJ.
And BTW Tim, that’s not REM. Adam and Larry are there as well. They called themselves “Automatic Baby” (in honor of their then-current albums) when they appeared together that night.
No one mentioned Cowboy Junkies and Sweet Jane? Arguably much better than the original.
Then there is, from the Jungle Book, the Holly Cole Trio covering Trust in Me. (And she’s even a hometown girl who made it big – she’s from Halifax like me)
And don’t forget Cash’s cover of Thirteen (Live version because I’d never seen it before – and it’s even better than the album version)
I can’t find it online but U2 does a pretty cool cover of Radiohead’s Creep. (There used to be some videos but I guess they all got takedown notices)
BTW – the coolest cover of Springsteen’s Fire is Robin William’s
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyv_DFzG2SI&hl=en&fs=1
MCQ,
What issue can you possibly take with either of the covers I’ve posted? Caetano Veloso is an absolute master, anything he does is gold. I doubt anyone bothered to listen to the other link I posted.
Petra Haden’s a cappella Who covers
Cowboy Junkies’ “Sweet Jane” (Lou Reed)
Patti Smith’s “Gloria” (Van Morrison)
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” (Judy Garland)
Francesco De Gregori’s “Non dirle che non è così” (Dylan’s “If You See Her, Say Hello”)
The Damned’s “Jet Boy, Jet Girl” (Elton Motello)
Low’s “Transmission” (Joy Division)
The Plugz’ “La Bamba” (traditional)
Lords of the New Church’s “Like a Virgin” (Madonna)
Agree, scudworth, that Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah is unsurpassable. Many of these other decent covers are covering Buckley, not Leonard Cohen. Because once an artist heard Jeff Buckley do it, they had to give a go.
Also, Johnny Cash’s cover of Hurt is pretty good. (The video is amazing.) But he did LOTS of covers in his last few years, and that isn’t his best. Among many I love are his covers of
Gordon Lightfoot’s If You Could Read My Mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6mxn7T_h1o
and
Sound Garden’s Rusty Cage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhEmwgzmMsM&feature=related
Many other good choices.
I love Ryan Adams doing Wonderwall, Susan. I must have listened to that 1000 times in the first few weeks after I first heard it. And I adored the Sundays doing Wild Horses, though not better than the Stones original.
~
One band has to be brought up: there’s something so-sick-it’s-awesome about Dread Zepplin: Heartbreaker and Black Dog.
kuri, if you’re going to mention La Bamba, you can’t leave out the MoTab’s version.
Clark, try this link for U2′s Creep.
Jeff Buckley covered John Cale’s version of “Hallelujah”. Cale is only more recently getting some well-deserved credit. Leonard Cohen’s live performances this year have been my favorite from his “golden voice”. The song is richer than ever for its journey.
Oh, I forgot my absolute I listen to this way more than the original cover…
Hooverphonic’s Shake the Disease (DM)
The Jesus and Mary Chain – “Surfin’ USA” (Beach Boys)
I like Johnny Cash’s version of Nick Cave’s “The Mercy Seat,” but it is one of my favorite songs, ever.
Glen Campbell released a cover album not too long ago that is interesting. He does Jackson Browne’s “These Days” and U2′s “All I Want Is You.”
Dynamite Hack – Boyz N da Hood (NWA)
Also
Ligabue’s – A Che Ora E la Fine Del Mondo (REM’s It’s the End of The World As We Know It)
Eva Cassidy has already been mentioned a few times. I am in awe of her over of “Over the Rainbow.”
To me, Mary Chapin Carpenter’s cover of John Lennon’s “Grow Old With Me” is powerful in a similar way. The link below is to a homemade video by I don’t know who – but at least you can hear the music.
Every now and then a cover version is so authoritative that it overshadows the original. Aretha Franklin’s cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect” is probably the best example.
Rats – my embeds didn’t come through in the previous comment.
Wow. Glen Campbell’s All I Want Is You almost made me want to throw up a little…
Oooh, some great ones have been mentioned, but I can’t believe no one’s mentioned my favorite, The Mike Flowers Pops doing Wonderwall (Oasis).
Also, Devo’s Satisfaction (Rolling Stones);
Patti Smith – You Light Up My Life – the most awesome version ever! and of course her <a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqAEwC06DEU” Rock and Roll Star (The Byrds);
Ian Brown – Thriller (and Billie Jean (michael jackson);
There are so many!
Eeep! My Patti Smith Rock and Roll Star link didn’t come through. Sorry!
danithew:
My impression is that that happens a lot with Bob Dylan songs—but why is that? Dylan is great, so he shouldn’t be easily “overshadowed.” Maybe his music just isn’t as easy to get into (pop and all that). I can’t count how many times I’ve played Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower and had someone think it was a cover of Hendrix!
Ah, Susan, it’s so good I thought it should be mentioned twice. Yep, that’s right.
danithew,
Embers are tricky. You have to log in and then make an embed free comment. Then using the admin interface you edit the comment and add the embeds.
stoopid iPhone hates the word embeds and corrected it as embers.
This is my new favorite cover version of U2′s “One.”
I’m tellin’ you, Susan. Mike Flowers Pops – Wonderwall. There is no other.
Haha! That’s awesome. Here it is.
Kinda surprised no one’s mentioned Nouvelle Vague yet.
The Dirtbombs – Ode to a Black Man (Phil Lynott)
Ok, Susan. I do like that cover of One. Esp. meaningful since I was so skeptical!
“O-o-h Child” Beth Orton (original by The Five Stairsteps)
“Maybe I’m Amazed” Jem (original by Paul McCartney)
Shweet. The best part about threads like this is that you get to know tons of excellent new (or, in this case, used) songs.
I strongly considered adding “Sweet Jane” to the list. I totally forgot that the Gary Jules song was a cover, or it would have made its way into the top 5 for sure.
Another good one is Sinead O’Connor’s cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares to You.”
Speaking of Bob Dylan songs, I’m a big fan of GnR’s cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” Also, their cover of “Live and Let Die” was quite good.
Here’s one I really enjoy:
Living End, “Tainted Love” (Soft Cell)
Here’s a poor video of them doing it live, but you get the idea.
I was at a show last night and they were playing GnR’s cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” between bands and I wanted to stab myself in the eye.
My fave cover of “Tainted Love” is Coil’s, which was released as an AIDS benefit single and forever changed the meaning of the song for me.
I thought Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” for Sinead?
There are many covers of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” out there and a surprising number are listenable. It’s such a good song – I’ve sometimes thought about putting together a mix CD of only “Little Wing” covers. Just haven’t gotten around to it yet …
The covers by Sting and Stevie Ray Vaughan are particularly memorable.
The Carlos Vamos and Monte Montgomery versions of “Little Wing” are also making my brain deliriously happy.
Something about this song makes virtuoso guitarists lose their minds, pull out all their creatives stops.
Queensryche’s cover of “Scarborough Fair” (Simon and Garfunkel). [The only complaint would be they didn't include the "Canticle" counterpoint, but it's so good it doesn't really matter.]
Tears For Fears’ cover of “Sea Song” (Robert Wyatt).
Great Big Sea’s uber-fast cover of “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” (REM) [sung at such a high tempo, I'm surprised their singer doesn't faint from lack of 02.]
Primus, “Intruder” (Peter Gabriel)
Speaking of Sinead O’Connor, she did a cover of Elton John’s “Sacrifice” that’s better than the original by far.
Katie Melula – Just Like Heaven (The Cure)
Alanis Morrisette – King of Pain (The Police)
G N’ R – Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones)
Well, it’s not exactly difficult to improve upon an Elton John song…
Bite your tongue gabby, Elton John is a misunderstood genius.
Want proof? Well, just for starters, there’s that scene in Almost Famous. You know, the band is falling apart, needs to heal, needs redemption, needs to get that je ne sais quoi back, and Elton John is the answer. Elton John is always the answer.
I love Natalie Merchant’s cover of Space Oddity (originally David Bowie).
I found a wonderful Brian McKnight cover of “Sara Smile” (original by Hall and Oates).
This has been a great post for me – led me to find all sorts of fun stuff.
Metallica’s cover of Queen’s “Stone Cold Crazy” (B-side to “Enter Sandman”). Also Anthrax’s cover of Joe Jackson’s “Got the Time,” and Anthrax’s cover of Sabbath’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.” I also like all the Van Halen covers from the late 70s (“Dancing in the Streets,” “You Really Got Me,” “Pretty Woman,” etc. etc.).
Living End, “Tainted Love†(Soft Cell)
For what it’s worth, Soft Cell’s version of “Tainted Love” is also a cover – the original version was released by soul singer Gloria Jones in 1964.
You can listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U
Good call, Brian. MCQ, thanks for saluting Elton John. I grew up on that stuff – he is a genius.
I also like Stone Temple Pilots’ re-make of Zeppelin’s “Dancing Days” (acoustic! the way it was supposed to be) as well as Duran Duran’s Zeppelin remake of “Thank You.” And Iron Maiden’s cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Massacre” is brilliant. Also, Dave Matthews Band’s cover of “Long Black Veil” is sweet.
My favorite of all: Jimi Hendrix’s cover of “All Along the Watchtower.”
I just heard one today I really liked. Foo Fighters covering the Ramones song “Danny Says“
Ben Folds covering Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights”
I like this one, but the live one was better
Here’s Ted Leo covering Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You Been Gone,” and he goes into “Maps” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs:
Sevendust – Inner City Blues (Marvin Gaye)
Back in the day, John Wesley Harding had a really awesome cover of “Like a Prayer.”
Ah, John Wesley Harding…
Yes to Bauhaus/Ziggy Stardust.
Yes to TMC/Song to the Siren.
Also: Beefeater/Manic Depression (Hendrix)
Siouxie/Dear Prudence (with young Robert Smith on guitar!)
And the most manic 1:01 you’ll ever live:
Minor Threat/12XU (Wire)
How ’bout a post of wished-for covers? i.e., I would love to hear band X play song Y. ‘Tis the wish-listing season….