Cover Songs that you think are better than the original

  • Thread starter Thread starter Techno2000
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Perhaps the ultimate in covers that are unbelievably better than the original

Exhibit A


Exhibit B

 
This might seem musically blasphemous, but Alien Ant Farm’s version of “Smooth Criminal” is better than Michael Jackson’s. It really works as a hard rock song.
 
OH! So easy. I would even link you the songs if CAF would allow me to post links but they don’t so you’re on your own I guess. I really hate that I had to create another account.
  • Saturday Night Special by Armored Saint (unbelievable cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd)
  • Face the Day by Great White (The Angels, obscure Australian band)
  • I Got a Line on You by Alice Cooper (Spirit, same people who sued Led Zeppelin claiming they ripped them off for Stairway)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Guns ‘n’ Roses (Bob Dylan)
  • Evil Woman by Black Sabbath (The Crows)
Another one I’m thinking of is an obscure punk song covered by a more well-known thrash metal band. Its title and lyrics are uhhhh absolutely unmentionable on CAF, but the band is Overkill lol.

Others that come to mind are Hello, Hooray by Alice Cooper (I don’t remember the original performer), I Got the Fire by Iron Maiden (Montrose) Underground by Montrose (don’t remember), Oh! Pretty Woman by Van Halen (Roy Orbison of course), I Drove All Night by Celine Dion (originally written and performed by Roy Orbison of all people), Morning Dew by Nazareth.
 
Last edited:
Yes, Judy Collins owns the Joni Mitchell song, and actually sang it before Joni did. Although Joni Mitchell’s more recent rendition of Both Sides Now in a husky, alto voice is quite good.
 
I’m a bit of a Cher junkie. I like her cover of “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” by U2, and her cover of Miley Cyrus’ “I hope you find it” is absolutely phenominal.


 
Sondheim wrote Send in the Clowns for Glynis Johns, and her original cast rendition is attractive, in a sort of Rex-Harrison-as-Henry-Higgins kind of way:


But how different the song sounds when a real singer attempts it:

 
LilyM said:
Listen and learn my friend - Charles Manson based his philosophy (such as it was) around the Beatles’ song ‘Helter Skelter’. In effect he stole it from the Beatles - and U2 were ‘stealing ir back’ as they put it in their intro to their cover.
Click to expand...
My guess is that you liked “Rattle and Hum”? I loved it.
 
Better than Patti Smith. Of course, Bruce wrote it, but she sang it originally.

 
greenqueen said:
40.png
LilyM:
Listen and learn my friend - Charles Manson based his philosophy (such as it was) around the Beatles’ song ‘Helter Skelter’. In effect he stole it from the Beatles - and U2 were ‘stealing ir back’ as they put it in their intro to their cover.
Click to expand...
My guess is that you liked “Rattle and Hum”? I loved it.
Click to expand...
If memory serves, it was the first album I ever bought. And listened to repeatedly on several long summer road trips 🙂
 
otjm said:
Everybody’s Talkin at me: written and recorded by Fred Neil in 1966; later recorded by Harry Nilsson in 1969 and used in the Film Midnight Cowboy.
Click to expand...
Wow! I was not aware that that was a cover.
 
doomguy94 said:
OH! So easy. I would even link you the songs if CAF would allow me to post links but they don’t so you’re on your own I guess. I really hate that I had to create another account.
  • Saturday Night Special by Armored Saint (unbelievable cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd)
  • Face the Day by Great White (The Angels, obscure Australian band)
  • I Got a Line on You by Alice Cooper (Spirit, same people who sued Led Zeppelin claiming they ripped them off for Stairway)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Guns ‘n’ Roses (Bob Dylan)
  • Evil Woman by Black Sabbath (The Crows)
Another one I’m thinking of is an obscure punk song covered by a more well-known thrash metal band. Its title and lyrics are uhhhh absolutely unmentionable on CAF, but the band is Overkill lol.

Others that come to mind are Hello, Hooray by Alice Cooper (I don’t remember the original performer), I Got the Fire by Iron Maiden (Montrose) Underground by Montrose (don’t remember), Oh! Pretty Woman by Van Halen (Roy Orbison of course), I Drove All Night by Celine Dion (originally written and performed by Roy Orbison of all people), Morning Dew by Nazareth.
Click to expand...
I hope you were joking when you called The Angels obscure. They didn’t achieve the international recognition of other Aussie bands, but here in Australia they are very much beloved icons.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top