And I’m not saying that the original is bad. You have to have a good song to have a good cover in my opinion. But sometimes the cover artist just understands the mission and takes what the original song did and expands on that a hundred times over.
What’re some of your guys’s favorites?
“Am I Evil” by Diamond head, covered by Metallica, and done so much cleaner and better that I got into a full-on argument with somebody (pre-google) about it it not being an original Metallica song.
Also, I have nothing but respect for Roberta Flack and think “Killing Me Softly” was a fantastic song when she performed it, the Fugees absolutely crushed that song. Listening to the original shortly after makes it fall a little flat.
In the reverse of this, when I mention “Wagon Wheel” and somebody mentions Darius Rucker I get upset. Oh, you took a solid song with great harmonies and instrumentation, and you swapped it out to be a generic country song? Way to make it “your own” bud.
By no means do I think she did it better than Joplin. But Pink’s AOL Sessions performance of Me and Bobby McGee has stuck in my head for decades now. (And for what it’s worth, both are better than the original from Kristofferson)
Second choice, and another one that I legitimately think is better than the original, *Tweeter and the Monkey Man" by The Headstones.
Edited: Honourable Mention, because no one ever actually tops The Clash. But Captain Tractor did a version of London Calling that is one of my favourites.
Edited: Okay…one last one. Specifically for the Saskies. Captain Tractor’s version of the Arrogant Worm’s “Last Saskatchewan Pirate”.
For a bit of context, back in the 90s, my then girlfriend and I were decent friends with the band. Enough so that whenever they would come to Saskatoon they’d crash at our place and we’d go hang out backstage at their shows. Weird because the reason we knew them in the first place was because the drummer was my girlfriends ex…but hey…it was the 90s.
Just an all around bar-band all about drinking songs. Something young people don’t do anymore. Was talking to a buddy of mine the other day about how every bar we used to go to in the 90s has been demolished.
Bruce Springsteen - Staying Alive
That’s awesome
Isn’t it?! I believe it’s a tradition, or an ancient charter or something, that he does a cover of a local act wherever he plays. I think as an encore. This was in Brisbane a few years ago. Edit: Wouldn’t you know it? There’s a playlist
I will survive by cake.
My first high school dance freshman year they played the original and i belted out every word from memory because i spent all summer listening to Fashion Nugget.
In the same vein, Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm.
Were you surprised that the original lock was only stupid, not fucking?
Bare Naked Ladies - Lovers in a Dangerous Time (original by Bruce Cockburn)
Metallica - Turn the Page (original Bob Seger)
I genuinely prefer Ronan Keating’s version of Words
I have the Bee Gees original on vinyl, yet I always go back to Keating.
Muse did a great job of converting Feeling Good. It was a bold choice and they smashed it.
Yeah, its a great version. Almost a completely different song.
I got to see Killswitch do Holy Diver with both lead singers.
It was amazing.
Howard’s band was opening for Killswitch just after lockdown lifted.
They killed it.
Kind of the opposite but “As the World Caves In”. Most people know the cover by Sarah Cothran , but I think the original by Matt Maltese is way, way better.
It’s a song about two people together at the end of the world, and while Sarah sings it mourning the loss of everything, Matt sings it as a love song. To me that’s the much more powerful message, that when everything is burning down, the only thing that’s left and all that really matters is being together with the person you love, and the only thing to mourn is that you won’t have more time with them.
Very common opinion, but “Hurt” originally by NIN covered by Johnny Cash. He really puts his mark on it, especially considering how old he was when he did the cover.
I might be the only person who prefers the original
I don’t prefer one or the other. The two are so different from each other that it’s hard to even think of them as being the same song. It just depends on my mood which one I want to listen to.
I share this view. Someone elsewhere on the thread said that the best covers are ones that recontextualise the original, and this song/cover feels like the perfect example of it. I just can’t directly compare the original to the cover because they’re going for such different things
Good point.
I definitely prefer the original. The layering and orchestration is better and more complex (but not too complex). I prefer Rezner’s voice in that as well. I don’t hate Cash’s version, but I don’t love it.
Nah, I also prefer the NIN one. It’s just that Cash did a great job at the cover.
I think Kermit’s cover of Cash’s cover was brilliant.
Definitely a classic.
There’s also the Sevendust version from Southside Double-wide Acoustic Live… just to stir the pot a little more 🙂
Haven’t heard it. I know what I’ll be listening to next. Thanks.
I was just about to say this.
Heartily seconded, came here to say this.
Yes that’s a great one
This is the one.
Jimi Hendrix’s version of All Along The Watchtower by Bob Dylan. It’s likely to be the only version of the song most people have ever heard.
And even Dylan agreed it was better
Is it still a cover if the original artist agrees to let you adopt the song? Dylan said it’s Hendrix’ song now.
yeah I love that Dylan said he felt like he was covering jimi when he played it.
I’m not sure I’d agree that it’s jimis song though considering he never played it out, just made the studio cover for Are You Experienced
Against All Odds by The Postal Service
my mind was blown when I learned that was Ben Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie on vocals
this live version is especially fantastic, from an album of covers by them, I think the Baby One More Time cover is more popular but I prefer the recontextualization of this one
ridiculously emotional, can really feel his pain in it. I would never have thought this was a Black Sabbath cover had it not been mentioned at the top of the video
no notes. perfect cover.
never would have thought this would work as a duet but it’s perfect, 10/10
Someday I Suppose by Drug Church
Boston.
I love a good cover, the best covers recontextualize the meaning of the song imo
I will survive by cake is incredible! 100%. Couldnt agree more.
That cover of Billie Jean, though. Chills.
The Civil Wars pretty much made everything perfect.
And sad. But perfect.
Within Temptation’s cover of Radioactive by They Might Be Dragons. Much better. That said, nothing can beat the hilarious acid trip that is the original’s music video.
Dont you mean imagine giants? 😜
Nirvana did a bunch of great ones during their brief time together.
The Man Who Sold The World has already been mentioned, but their versions of Turnaround by Devo, Plateau and Lake of Fire by Meat Puppets, and Where Did you Sleep Last Night and They Hung Him On A Cross by Leadbelly are all beautiful renditions in their own ways.
Of those, I’d say that Where Did You Sleep Last Night and both of the Meat Puppets covers are just as distinctly re-stanked by that Nirvana magic as their Bowie cover was. I like their version of They Hung Him On A Cross more than the original too, but tbh it always made me feel a bit weird hearing a white man singing that one. I get that it came from a place of reverence and compassion, but…idk man. I am both mixed race and have mixed feelings on that one lol. At the same time though, if any white man was to cover that one, I’m glad it was him since the hurt inherent to Kurt’s voice was a perfect match for the vibe and tone.
also Jesus doesn’t want me for a Sunbeam which came from unplugged too.
some of my favorite covers nirvana did though were not off unplugged, Love Buzz, Molly’s Lips, And I Love Her
I completely forgot about Love Buzz somehow (that bass line tho) and have already kicked myself for not mentioning their The Vaselines covers. Glad someone brought em up!
I think Incesticide was one of their most vibiest releases and the covers on their are all wonderfully done. Molly’s Lips very much included!
Have you heard the original meat puppet versions? Nirvana basically covered them exactly.
Not saying that’s bad. But when you look at songs like “All along the washer tower” by Jimi, or “Whiskey in the Jar” by Metallica. Those covers are completely changed to fit their style. In my mind, that’s what makes a cover great.
A lot of Nirvana’s style is the Meat Puppets
Good covers, but they lack original twists. Meat Puppets even played the music in the unplugged performance. So really it’s wasn’t Nirvana covering them as much as Kurt Cobain singing.
It’s what I have against Weezer’s cover of Toto’s Africa. Good cover, but it doesn’t scream Weezer at all.
I have heard them and was aware that the Puppets performed with Nirvana on those songs, as well as of the former’s overall influence on the latter.
Still, I think there is a depth to Kurt’s voice and an eccentricity to how he played that nudges those versions over a certain metaphysical edge, but that’s just my take on it. As much as he learned from MP, he was also an avid parasocial student of Leadbelly, and that influence makes each version of those songs very distinct pieces in my ears. Still very similar ofc, but also each their own worlds, with their own flavors.
If you disagree, that is perfectly okay, and, either way, I appreciate you adding a bit of context for the uninitiated.
Lake of Fire is the only one I’d say is maybe better. Especially if we are talking about the MP too high to die version over MPII version.
They are all good songs, though, so I can definitely see your point.
huh I’ve never heard the originals, didn’t realize they were 1:1. I think Kurt’s voice suits them perfectly but yeah agreed that the best covers are transformative, as you can see clearly if you wanna go look at my main comment on here haha
I love Weezer’s Africa just because it’s so fucking funny that they did that but yeah, it doesn’t recontextualize anything or even sound like Weezer. would be a lot cooler if it did
I’ll go check out your comment!
I just find it funny that some Nirvana fans would listen to Plateau by the Meat Puppets and think it was Kurt Cobain singing. Like “He recorded a studio version??”
I wouldn’t even know how you could change Africa to something else and be liked. It’s a tall order for sure. I enjoy Bob Dylan a ton but understand not everyone likes his voice or even harmonica. “All Along The Watch Tower” could easily be changed and enjoyed because it’s the music and lyrics that are loved mostly. Africa is an entire package. I enjoy Dave Matthews Band performing “All Along The Watch Tower”. He puts it in his own style some, but that style isn’t as different as Jimi.
