What Covers of Songs Do You Prefer Rather Than the Original?

[Lawnmooer]

I prefer

Spoiler: Dissection's cover of Antichrist

over the original by

Spoiler: Slayer

I also prefer

Spoiler: Dark Tranquility's cover of My Friend Of Misery

over the original by

Spoiler: Metallica

Not sure I have heard any other covers + originals, either through not liking the original band and therefore not ever hearing it or not knowing about bands that do covers of the original...

 

[bob-2000]

Once Johnny Cash covers a song, it becomes his. The same goes for the White Stripes.

 

[Lord Legion]

A Storm of Light did an awesome cover of a Joy Division song:

 

[Razeluxe]

I prefer ThouShaltNot's version of "Pillbox Tales" rather than The Cure's.

The Cure's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2CoBRqTjWE


ThouShaltNot's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uPJEvY68Vc

 

[Yearlongjester]

I like Nirvana's cover of "The Man who sold the world."

Whether or not it's better than the original, I can't say. But its the rare case where an artist is truly adding his own thing to a song and it doesn't ruin it. I like Kurt's slow melancholic tone as he serenades us with this beauty. Check it out if you're a fan of Nirvana or David Bowie.

 

[Michael Hirst]

All Along The Watch Tower thread?

That's the most obvious one anyway, Bob Dylan's version is great and I'm a huge Dylan fan but the Hendrix cover is just awesome and pretty much a staple of any Vietnam film now.

 

[ParanoidEngineer]

The Fallout New Vegas version of Ain't that a Kick in the Head.

 

[Omega500]

Deftones cover of The Cars drive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHiP3_-N0Vc

 

[Acier]

I like Nirvana's cover of "The Man who sold the world."

Whether or not it's better than the original, I can't say. But its the rare case where an artist is truly adding his own thing to a song and it doesn't ruin it. I like Kurt's slow melancholic tone as he serenades us with this beauty. Check it out if you're a fan of Nirvana or David Bowie.

Yessss. Also "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?".


But this is my favorite cover


I mean, how many covers become so iconic that no one even remembers the original?

 

[Knusper]

Anyone know Centerfold by J. Geils Band?

It was covered by a small-time British rock/ska band called [spunge].


Also, pretty much every cover by Children of Bodom is better than the original in my opinion, with the exception of Aces High.

Dream Theater's cover of Funeral For a Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John is good, too.

 

[coolkirb]

Jeff Buckley's cover of "Hallelujah" is far and away the best one out there.

well I dont know if its the best cover as k.d. Lang has a very good one herself. Also Whitney Houston's version of "I will allways love you" is better than Dolly Partons

 

[Sonicron]

I like Disturbed versions Of "Land of confusion" better then genesis

I'll second that call, and add their cover of "Shout" to the list. The final bridge and refrain in that song are pure, undiluted power; every time I listen to it I feel like I could pulverize a mountain with a single punch.

 

[KefkaCultist]

Two that haven't been said yet: Nirvana's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" and Evergreen Terrace's "Mad World"

Spoiler: Where Did You Sleep Last Night

Spoiler: Mad World

Both of which I can play on guitar. ^_^

EDIT:
Also gonna through out In Flame's version of "Land of Confusion" which I prefer over Disturbed's

Spoiler: Land of Confusion

Sadly, I cannot play this on on guitar...

ANOTHER EDIT:
I forgot A Perfect Circle's covers of "Imagine" and "Annihilation"!

Spoiler: Imagine and Annihilation

(I can play Annihilation on piano)

 

[CJ1145]

Jeff Buckley's cover of "Hallelujah" is far and away the best one out there.

Blasphemy.

 

[soren7550]

Alien Ant Farm's cover of 'Smooth Criminal' and Nirvana's covers of 'Jesus Don't Want Me for a Sunbeam' and 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night?'.

 

[Shaunofthebread]

Jonny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails 'Hurt'
Just pure emotion!

 

[T8B95]

Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower" has already been said, for good reason.

Another Bob Dylan song that someone else did better? "Knocking on Heaven's Door" by Guns'n'Roses.

Spoiler

Anything that was orignally done by Bruce Springsteen and covered by Manfredd Mann's Earth Band.

Spoiler

And finally, Eric Clapton's cover of "I Shot the Sheriff," originally by Bob Marley.

Spoiler

 

[xXGeckoXx]

The Venture's Version of Wipeout (the surfari's where the original I think)

 

[saluraropicrusa]

I preffer the reel big fish cover of kiss me deadly to the real thing
-snip-

ah, i love Reel Big Fish. and speaking of, i much prefer their cover of Take on Me. there's also Tainted Love by Marilyn Manson (along with probably all his covers--though i still prefer the original This is Halloween no matter how awesome Manson's version is).

there are some great parody covers by Eben Brooks but i don't know if they count. in case they do, my favorites would be It's the End of the 'Verse as we Know It, Hey There Cthulhu, and Personal Archvillain.