Are there song covers you prefer to the originals?

[Zeraki]

I generally prefer the Iced Earth cover of 'God of Thunder' over the original by Kiss.

It's a lot heavier than the original, and I enjoy Matt Barlow's vocals much more.

 

[GonzoGamer]

It's funny how sometimes a band that isn't as talented can make a cover I actually enjoy more. I love George Clinton but the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (who I'm not a big fan of; I don't dislike them either really) cover of Love Roller-coaster rocks; I love the addition of kazoos. Then there's the Lemonhead's Mrs Robinson or Dave Mattews' All Along the Watchtower which are much heavier than the originals but I feel that kind of works better.
"Well, that's just like your opinion, man."

I believe there was a thread similar to this a year or so ago, and it occurred to me as I was listening to this cover of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song by Demons and Wizards.

Try Lenny White's version of Kashmir. I love the original but that version is very cool. The one with Metallica and the London Philharmonic wasn't bad either.

That's a bit different. I consider Lenny White more talented than Zeppelin(which is saying something) but Metallica definitely isn't.
Sometimes the cover-er has more talent. Another example: Johnny Cash's Break my Rusty Cage.

 

[suitepee7]

I like this version a hell of a lot more than the original.


Not saying it's like my favorite song ever, but the original just sounds awful compared to this. Makes good fighting music.

that cover sounds pretty awesome actually, however if you wanted an even heavier version...

Spoiler

personally i loved ministry's cover of radar love, and space truckin'

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big props to holy diver by killswitch, and about a million more that i love, but weren't the first thing to pop into my mind...

 

[Decessa]

snip

I have always loved that cover of Berlin, don't know why it slipped my mind. I just like it when a band can do a cover that is uniquely them without extensively screwing with the original (looking at you, horrible cover of "Behind Blue Eyes"). There are exceptions of course, but many of those walk the line of parody at the same time, like Type O doing "Summer Breeze" or the previously mentioned, Slayer-ized "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".

 

[NordicWarrior]

Metallica's Turn the Page
Original is a great sing. Metallica's is better

 

[silasbufu]

Linkin Park - Rolling in the deep. I don't like adele :/

 

[Kevlar Eater]

Spoiler: The Devil Wears Prada - Still Fly

I absolutely love this cover.

 

[Bravo Company]

Most of the ones I like have already been posted. But this cover by Dead Sara of Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box" is pretty good. They have two versions. The rock cover stays very true to the song but I enjoy it all the same because I love Emily Armstrong's vocals.

I feel as if that band missed the chorus completely. I enjoyed her vocals, and the cover of the song, until the chorus happened; then I just became confused.


back OT: I usually prefer the original song to a cover, regardless of which version I hear first(I'm looking at you Ailen Ant Farm) but I must give another point to Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower"

Also, I don't know if you'd consider this a cover but The Piano Guy's version of Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 makes its even more awesome

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[Artina89]

I have always preferred the Ramones version of Take it as it comes over The Doors version.


I prefer the quicker tempo over the slower version of the original.

I also prefer Rodrigo y Gabriela's version of Orion over Metallica's. There is something about it being played acoustically that I find to be more pleasing.

 

[oversoon]

A Perfect Circle - The Nurse Who Loved Me . The original version by Failure contributed the basic melody, but the APC version is absolutely beautiful with its layers. All the results I can find are amateur covers on youtube.

Iron and Wine - Such Great Heights cover https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKGHkBComjM .
Original version by The Postal Service : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wrsZog8qXg

I don't even like the original version, but the cover is great.

 

[1Life0Continues]

I have to throw this one into the ring:

Spoiler: Iron Fist

I mean seriously.

Also, while I generally dislike HIM (I find them pretty trite) the cover Dope Stars Inc did of 'Right Here In My Arms' is a guilty pleasure.

Spoiler: Tap that foot

 

[Extra-Ordinary]

Donovan, you're good, you really are, but what Richard Thompson did with your song is absolute gold.

Spoiler: Season Of The Witch

Those solos are the *essence* of the words Season Of The Witch

 

[JaceArveduin]

I'll throw another one in, oddly enough it's from Hammerfall again... Maybe it's cause all of the other covers I can think of are generally covers of Dio and Maiden, and it's almost impossible for me to like them better... Also, Hansi's cover of White Room. Uh, yeah, another Demon's and Wizard's cover. As said, Hansi's honestly the main appeal here.

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