WHEREAS it is Saturday and WHEREAS I am sick of blogging about #WeddingCakeFascists and WHEREAS Jeff and Nick are totes AWOL… another music thread.
It’s not very often that a cover version of a song is better than the original. And some cover versions are so godawful they not only taint the memory of the original forever, but also damage time and space itself. Let’s discuss the first kind, and invite people to link to other beloved cover versions in the comments, won’t we?
- Robert Smith was reportedly moved to tears by AFI’s cover of “Just Like Heaven.”
- Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s cover of David Bowie’s “Suffragette City” is great, but it’s really the B-Side that was epic.
- Seether’s cover of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper“
- Alien Ant Farm’s cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal“
- Take your pick… Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme’s OR Cibo Matto‘s cover of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun.”
- And… most definitely… Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt.”
Um…. and if you are suicidally depressed after that “Hurt” cover, Shonen Knife’s cover of The Carpenters “Top of the World” should bring back your will to live; perky Japanese chicks always make me glad to be alive.
And of course, saving the best for last, my favorite band and my favorite cover
Video – Judge Jeanine Pirro: Opening Statement – Obama Iran Deal
http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2015/04/video-judge-jeanine-pirro-opening.html
Higher Ground, elevated:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ADTPb2f_44
Super-gay cover of Longfellow Serenade by Brother Love Canal
http://open.spotify.com/track/0dDtXdqovYSGePZaaiNyqY
The Fifth Dimension’s cover of the Association song, “Never My Love.”
Yes to Johnny Cash “Hurt.”
Also, No Doubt “It’s My Life”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubvV498pyIM
And of course, Sinead O’ Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS4ZSDf5azs
And, finally, Whitney’s take on “I Will Always Love You.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU
Wait for it. The song is just a warm up.
The Ross Sisters and Potato Solid
The AFI version of “Just Like Heaven ” rocked! They did a great job of a great song. Sinead’s version of “Nothing Compares 2 U”, I thought was better. It was originally done by Prince and I thought it kind of sounded like a lounge act song.
Lambchop covering the Sisters of Mercy. A so so song becomes awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWdvXBa_o5s
Placebo did a good cover of Running Up That Hill but the 80’s version sucked.
Can’t forget this cover. it’s in the frakking ship!
Or this one.
The Ataris cover of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taByJB4obIc
Good one, Southern Man. Should have definitely been on the list.
Agree too on the Ataris. Also the Foo Fighters’ covers are all at least equal to the originals imho
Great covers by a lesser known artist:
Three Little Birds (originally Bob Marley)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od17g7Q16YY
The Circle Game (originally Joni Mitchell)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xk9SKf-1fs
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Well known covers, some more famous than the originals:
Proud Mary – Ike & Tina (originally CCR)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzQnPz6TpGc
The Letter – Joe Cocker (originally The Box Tops)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RnjWLVyMps
She’s Not There – Carlos Santana (originally The Zombies)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRNvFPvN7LQ
Spooky – Atlanta Rhythm Section (originally The Classics IV)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k57_67AEOY
Me and Bobby McGee – Janis in 1971 (originally Roger Miller in 1969, then Gordon Lightfoot 1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXV_QjenbDw
This Masquerade – George Benson in 1976 (originally composer Leon Russell in 1972, Helen Reddy 1972, The Carpenters 1973, and several others)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpEfAV1T5b0
Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks in 1974 (originally the Kingston Trio in 1963)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd_Fdly3rX8
It Was A very Good Year – Frank in 1966 (Originally the Kingston Trio in 1961)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJ3iZpfBRI
Let’s Get Together – the Youngbloods in 1969 (originally the Kingston Trio in 1964, then We Five 1965, also David Crosby 1964 but released later, Chad Mitchell Trio 1965, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Jefferson Airplane 1966, Stone Poneys, Staple Singers 1968, and many others, all before the version we all know and love)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz0_gpjd-fg
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack in 1972 (Originally the Kingston Trio in 1962, then Peter Paul & Mary, The Brothers Four, Chad Mitchell Trio, Gordon Lightfoot, and many others, all before the version we all know and love)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9jmusgMgro
If anybody is interested in hearing an old-timey take on modern pop, I strongly recommend Postmodern Jukebox on Youtube. A trained pianist does arrangements of pop songs, and gets singers and musicians to perform them. Hated Miley Cyrus’ “We Won’t Stop”? Maybe you would like it as a nice doo-wop number!
Recursion! Cover of a cover. All Along the Watchtower.
And let’s not forget that Aritha Franklin’s R*E*S*P*E*C*T was an Otis Redding cover. No disrespect to Otis but this may be another when the cover eclipses the original.