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Cover me: songs that are better the second time around

Ace

Last week, some boys at The Onion's A.V. Club compiled a list of “23 Songs That Should Never Be Covered Again.”

I thought it would be a fun list, but I found it kind of boring because it was full of songs that have been covered well (“All Along the Watchtower,” “Respect,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”) and songs I've never heard covered (“99 Luftballons,” “Come On Eileen”). So I quickly found that I did not care.

But it did get me thinking, and I eventually came up with a list of my own: covers I like even more than the originals.

5. “I Think We're Alone Now,” Tiffany (original — Tommy James and the Shondells)

Don't hate me because I like this song. I love the Tommy James version of the song, and I was never a Tiffany fan. But there's something about her cover (mall performances and all) that is very memorable and — dare I say? — good. My affinity may be influenced by my early college memories surrounding the song, but there's something about her perky, raspy voice that just works.

4. “Proud Mary,” Tina Turner (original — Creedence Clearwater Revivial)

Lest you despaired of my taste in music based on my previous choice, here is proof that I do actually have some. The Creedence Clearwater Revival original is a fine, distinctive song. And then there's Tina Turner (and, to be fair, the late Ike Turner. But he used to beat her and I don't like him). She owns both this song and the best set of legs in show business. I saw her perform it live in 1993, and damn, I was blown away.

Dar Williams is probably my favorite singer-songwriter — and the only artist whose albums I always buy the day they're released. As much as I like her original tunes, I'm a big fan of her many of her covers (like Richard Shindell's “The Ballad of Mary Magdalene" and the Grateful Dead's “Ripple"), and “Wilder Than Her” is the best of the bunch. As one listener commented, “The cover of 'Wilder Than Her' is a stunning reinterpretation of the song, and reveals a side of Dar that isn't heard elsewhere.” She also gets extra points for making the song sound all lesbian by not changing the pronouns. If you're unfamiliar with the song, check the lyrics here.

2. “Get Together,” Indigo Girls (original — the Youngbloods)

This is another one that is strongly influenced by my college memories. I spent a lot of time driving around Los Angeles in a friend's truck singing along to this song in 1989, but at the time I recall thinking that it was better than the original. And listening to both today, I still do.

1. “Hazy Shade of Winter,” the Bangles (original — Simon and Garfunkel)

I love the Simon and Garfunkel original. And I'm loath to say that a cover of Simon and Garfunkel is better than the original. But the Bangles' “Hazy Shade of Winter” is one of the best covers in the history of covers. It is eclipsed only by Jimi Hendrix's “All Along the Watchtower,” Aretha Franklin's “Respect” and Janis Joplin's “Me and Bobby McGee.” Less Than Zero may have been a mediocre movie, but this song gave it a hell of a soundtrack.

So what song covers do you think surpass the originals? Or which ones do you just really like?

Ace's blog

Submitted by

Ace

on December 17, 2007 - 1:52pm.

TAGS ::

Johnny Cash's "Hurt"

Submitted by

sarice (9 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 2:24pm.

definitely my favorite cover song of all time...possibly my favorite song of all time. although i like the nine inch nail's original, johnny cash brings a very raw emotion to the cover of 'hurt' that gets me everytime.

Yes

Submitted by

mollyblooming (80 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 11:20pm.

Hear, hear! Cash's cover of Hurt is raw and brilliant and gorgeous. Good call.

definitely!

Submitted by

Raygun (10 posts)

on October 5, 2009 - 8:59pm.

I'm a huge depeche mode fan too and his cover of Personal Jesus is great too

Alanis - Crazy

Submitted by

Naibsel (27 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 2:44pm.

Alanis Morrisette's cover of seals crazy rocks! The video is awsome to...

Oh and her cover of black eyed peas' humps is also really great!

My humps

Submitted by

JK_Singer (213 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 2:55pm.

Well, speaking of Alanis; I vote for her cover of My humps. I'm never gonna get tired of its brilliance.

"Even in death Gabrielle, I will never leave you"- Xena

yep

Submitted by

brazen (122 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 6:13pm.

that just cracked me up. still does

I agree!

Submitted by

MsWoo (476 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 6:33pm.

I love that version too. But add to my list Tori Amos's cover of Eminem's '97 Bonnie and Clyde, which has a similar twist on the original. But then, that whole album of Tori's is nothing but great covers.

Eternal Flame

Submitted by

Natou (10 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 2:34pm.

Atomic Kitten's cover was much better than the original (Bangles)...in my opinion..

:O

Submitted by

-SmG- (16 posts)

on October 5, 2009 - 1:08pm.

a little more obscure but still amazing...

Submitted by

devendra (3 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 2:37pm.

first comment here, i really felt like sharing these two:

A cover of Kim Carnes' Bette Davis Eyes - rare are the versions of this one which very nearly surpass the original: http://hypem.com/search/sexton%20blake/1/

And this one, which clearly surpasses the original ;-) : http://hypem.com/search/daniel%20rossen/1/ (middle of the page)

Cliche', but what are you gonna do?

Submitted by

Tease (361 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 2:46pm.

Any cover that Melissa Etheridge has ever done. I honestly have not heard her do a cover that I have not liked better than the original. (wait, I lie. I hated her cover of Dolly Parton's "I will always love you") She's all over Joan Armatrading. (I was never so disappointed as I was when I bought a Joan CD based on Melissa's covers, and found out that the original, is not always the best.) And Maggie May definitely prefers the ladies to Rod Stewart.

Lisa

Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security -- B. Franklin

KT Tunstall - get your freak on

Submitted by

Naibsel (27 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 2:49pm.

KT did an amazing cover of Missy's party starter "get your freak on" AWSOME!

I woldn't call it better than the original, just really good in a different way

Pet Shop Boys

Submitted by

p6der (22 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 2:56pm.

I think Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" are perfectly united in Pet Shop Boys' "Where the streets have no name(I can't take my eyes off you)".

Not that I don't like the originals, the 2 in 1 version just sounds better. Listening to only one at a time always makes me think that something is missing.

Fiona Apple

Submitted by

Carola (19 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 2:59pm.

My favorite cover is Fiona Apple version of Across the Universe, but I feel a little sacrilegious choosing it over the Beatles original.

And I love New Order's Bizarre Love Triangle, but from this version of Frente! bring tears to my eyes. I'm not sure why.

The Beatles Wrote It

Submitted by

Badass101 (66 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 3:03pm.

Fionna Apple's version is better! The Beatles wrote it so there is still loyalty:)

Frente!

Submitted by

Brunette (641 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 7:40pm.

I agree! and I'm not sure either!

Rufus..

Submitted by

broken.harp (77 posts)

on October 5, 2009 - 7:16pm.

Rufus Wainwright's version of Across the Universe is amazing, gives you goosebumps and makes ME cry..love Fiona Apple but Rufus takes it this time.. :)

-calvary come, calvary go, calvary leave me alone..

Bonnie Raitt & kd Lang

Submitted by

Badass101 (66 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 3:07pm.

I like Bonnie Raitt's version of Runaway and kd Lang's version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah

I sort of agree

Submitted by

Chase (49 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 4:26pm.

I like kd's version as well but Leonard Cohen is in a class of his own.

I sort of agree, too...

Submitted by

fallon ash (372 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 7:41pm.

...in that I'm unfamiliar with the first song, but I entirely agree with you on k.d.'s cover of Hallelujah. Once I'd heard her do it, every other version (including the original, with all respect to Mr. Cohen, his is still fantastic) paled in comparison.

Jeff Buckley's cover

Submitted by

QuestioningCanadian (92 posts)

on October 5, 2009 - 10:33pm.

I like Jeff Buckley's cover better than both the original, and the Rufus cover

Great list...

Submitted by

Keeva99 (254 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 3:12pm.

I love "Hazy Shade of Winter” by The Bangles :D

And not just cause it's The Bangles (although that definitely plays a factor), but I really liked the original, so when they released this I was very excited. It came on a tape called "Pump up the Volume" which also had Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven is a Place on Earth"...such a great mixed tape. sigh.

My constant internal facial expression...and yes, I work in retail.

"Cry Me A River" by The

Submitted by

Lauren (42 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 3:27pm.

"Cry Me A River" by The Cliks is DEFINITELY better than the original. Also, the cover of Irreplaceable by Gregory and the Hawk is pretty awesome (go to Youtube and search GATH (the actual letters GATH not the extended name)).

holy crap yes! her version

Submitted by

Bekkah (102 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 4:15pm.

holy crap yes! her version of irreplaceable is gorgeous!

The best cover: Sugababes

Submitted by

Shelly (32 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 3:31pm.

The best cover:

Sugababes doing "hey there delilah"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7pk33-BRhA

Hmmmm

Submitted by

deathbyblonde (313 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 3:42pm.

The White Stripes doing "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself", origionally by Burt Bacharach, is good but their version of Son House's "Death Lette" is amazing:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=roB6SJTibfY

Peggy Lee doing any cover, especially "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"

PJ Harvey's version of "Highway 61" and DeVotchka's "Venus in Furs" are both great, but so are the origionals.

I also looove Nick Cave's "Black Betty"

Ooooh, and this is probably one of my favorite covers ever:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ek5ZNgw8Vdk

Amanda Palmer, a ukelele, and a crowded bar. Watch it, trust me.

Radiohead "Creep" cover!

Submitted by

Ashley (94 posts)

on October 5, 2009 - 7:33pm.

Love, love, LOVE Palmer's cover and how she gets an entire bar of people to shut up and listen.

Elvis Presley's version

Submitted by

rhetri (84 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 3:58pm.

of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," originally released by Simon and Garfunkel in 1970 and recorded by Presley in 1970 as well. So very powerful.

I think Annie Lennox doing

Submitted by

Molly Bolt (171 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 4:16pm.

I think Annie Lennox doing "Waiting in Vain" is brilliant.

I agree

Submitted by

mollyblooming (80 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 11:21pm.

I actually like the cover better than the original, it's so lovely.

The Traitor

Submitted by

gypsywee (1052 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 4:32pm.

I love Martha Wainwright's cover of this Leonard Cohen song. I hesitate to say it's better (I love my Leonard!), but if you could wear out songs on your iPod, my copy would sound like an old 45!

Had to add a link...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb4Qyu9AjBY. There is a little interview clip toward the end...sorry.

I like covers. My favorite

Submitted by

Robin (105 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 4:27pm.

I like covers. My favorite is Fiona Apple's cover of Elvis Costello's "I Want You".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiOmhOumh-w

Her version of Across The Universe is really good too.

Then there's PJ Harvey ft. Björk's cover of The Rolling Stones "Satisfaction". Awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH8wrM0NARo

Sarah McLachlan - covering Joni Mitchell's "Blue" - Gorgeous. But she could cover anything and I'd love it. She can do no wrong. Also, her cover of XTC's "Dear God". I heard it for the first time a couple of days ago and I love it, and the fact that she has the guts to do a controversial song like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4xgjgJkacU

And her version of The Beatles "Blackbird". I'm not a big Beatles fan, but I like a lot of the covers.

And then Tori Amos (duh). I like all of her covers. The Eagles' "Desperado" is amazing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbj5yYd2r7o , 10CC's "I'm Not In Love", A Flock Of Seagulls' "I Ran" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBUFOTjFfL4 , R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion", The Cure's "Love Song" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7-FWGZI4IY (Love this one). And a lot of others, but these are the best, IMO.

Some others: Sarah Bettens' version of Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" - hauntingly beautiful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW1z8uVTVyc&feature=PlayList&p=813E19CBC6CF5881&index=2 .

Joan Armatrading's "The Weakness In Me", covered by Melissa. And... Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone singing Janis Joplin's Cry Baby/Piece Of My Heart at the Grammy Awards 2005: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_j3TDhc8vY&feature=PlayList&p=813E19CBC6CF5881&index=4

And... I really need to stop now. I'm getting carried away. Hehe.

Keep em coming

Submitted by

Chase (49 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 4:29pm.

I really dig your selections. I want more!!!!!

Hey, thanks! I posted some

Submitted by

Robin (105 posts)

on December 18, 2007 - 12:55pm.

Hey, thanks! I posted some more on the next page, if you're interested.

tori covers

Submitted by

karen (48 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 5:13pm.

must be live, mostly. i think.

first and foremost, 'smells like teen spirit', esp the boot from the day cobain was dead.

i love her 'river'.. especially around this time of the year :>

and maybe cause garland and oz was engrained in me since i was little, somewhere over the rainbow.... my ex covered it also and used tori's 'lemon drops' inflection... lovely

um, what else... i mean, some of her covers on the last tour were kinda reaching...

from her strange little tour, deffffinitely her eminem cover. i just remember being so blown away and fascinated by the way she was doing it FROM the trunk, how eminem must've sounded saying all that to the baby, driving along etc... how she recorded it from inside a tight box, etc... just so fucking good!

off SLG my favorite was easily 'rattlesnakes' ... something so sexy and scary about it.

but yeah i'll take your lead and stop while i'm ahead.. :)

Where do you go when you're lonely

Submitted by

Nik (10 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 4:31pm.

All due respect to Ryan Adams, the cover of his "When the Stars go Blue" done by the Corrs is vastly superior.

I also believe that ANY cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is better than the original (be it Jeff Buckly, Brandy Carlile, kd lang, the list goes on...)

My Favorite Covers

Submitted by

blabbermouth (54 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 4:55pm.

1. Cake - "Perhaps, Perhaps Perhaps" (original "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas" by Tony Bavaar

2. The Jeevas - "Have You Ever Seen the Rain"

3. John Mayer - "Message In A Bottle"

4. KT Tunstall - "I Want You Back"

5. Le Tigre "I'm So Excited"

6. J-Lo "You Belong to Me" (original by Carly Simon...a good version, but J-Lo's has the line "Don't MAKE me go to her house!", which gives it the extra point, heh)

7. Postal Service - "Take a Look at Me Now"

8. Sting - "Ain't No Sunshine"

9. Jason Mraz - "Summer Breeze"

10. The Beatles - "Twist and Shout" Lest we forget who, arguably, the most-covered band ever is...

Killing me Softly

Submitted by

firestarter45 (8 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 5:06pm.

Even though I love the Roberta Flack version of the song, I just love the Fugees interpretation better.

Grace Jones

Submitted by

Shannon (25 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 5:07pm.

I love the Grace Jones cover of the Johnny Cash song "Ring of Fire".

Tina Turner

Submitted by

brazen (122 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 5:31pm.

LOL, I challenge anyone to watch that TT clip and not grin like an idiot when Tina and the backing chicks do their twirls.... classic!

Thanks for the link.

covers

Submitted by

msgulp, Moderator (16327 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 6:03pm.

eric clapton's layla and the go! team's doing it right

"didn't i throw you out of a window? " - jessica/nikki, heroes

Letters to Cleo ...

Submitted by

Pirategrrrl (1994 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 6:28pm.

doing Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me" ....

Somone above mentioned Tori Amos' covers - I'll name the ones that you didn't (which also happen to be my favorite):
Tori does Bruce Springsteen - I'm on Fire
Tori does Joni Mitchell - Circle Game
Tori does Jim Croce - Operator

Non Tori:
KD Lang's cover of Joni Mitchell's A Case of You ...
Bruce Springsteen's cover of Edwin Starr's WAR ...
Bruce Springsteen's cover of Patti Smith's Because The Night ....
Patti's Smith's entire last album - Twelve ...
And anything by Me First and the Gimme Gimme's

Definitely agree with other's comments about Johnny Cash's covers, as well as Alanis doing My Humps ....

I smile, I grin, when the gal with a touch of sin walks in
I hope, and I pray, for a Hester to win just one more "A"

More Tori

Submitted by

MsWoo (476 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 6:47pm.

I once read that fans of Tori would buy an album of her performing nothing but "Happy Birthday" over and over again... but that it would be worth it, because if Tori did 100 versions of "Happy Birthday", each one would be unique.

It is true.

My favorite Tori Covers:

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I Don't Like Mondays

Ring My Bell

Strange Fruit

Angie

angie, yes yes yes

Submitted by

karen (48 posts)

on December 18, 2007 - 6:10pm.

yes!

you reminded me of two others, along with angie... all three were from a particularly special show and i remember playing these over and over and over...

so, angie, BOYS IN THE TREES (umm yeah maybe my all time favorite cover), and on saturday afternoons in 1963.

Good Taste

Submitted by

PaintedLady (95 posts)

on December 18, 2007 - 6:18pm.

I like your choices and taste in music:)

One more!

Submitted by

Pirategrrrl (1994 posts)

on December 19, 2007 - 2:19am.

Common People, ala William Shatner, originally by Pulp ....

I'm done. :)

I smile, I grin, when the gal with a touch of sin walks in
I hope, and I pray, for a Hester to win just one more "A"

Diana Krall's cover of

Submitted by

DetCurtis (62 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 6:38pm.

Diana Krall's cover of "Temptation". I can't remember who did the original, but Diana's version is more to my liking - it has that jazzy sexy atmosphere, absolutely perfect to put you in the right romantic mood...

Joan Jett covers

Submitted by

MsWoo (476 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 6:53pm.

People forget that "I Love Rock and Roll" is a cover of an old Arrows tune. And none of us shall ever forget her rendition of "Crimson and Clover." But Joan has some other great covers.

Star Star is a great cover of the Rolling Stones' Starf*cker

Do You Wanna Touch Me was far more interesting - however derivitive - than Gary Glitter's.

And of course, who could forget her version of the theme to the Mary Tyler Moore Show, "Love is All Around."

Those are just a few. I also like the other Gary Glitter songs she covers, as well as "New Orleans" and the Stooges' classic, "I Wanna Be Your Dog."

Couple more...

Submitted by

Tallulah71 (275 posts)

on December 17, 2007 - 7:27pm.

There's also her cover of "Love Stinks" originally done by The J. Geils Band and "Let's Do It" with Paul Westerberg, which was written by Cole Porter and covered many times.

Joan's Do You Wanna Touch Me

Submitted by

s a r a h (211 posts)

on October 5, 2009 - 7:08pm.

Joan's Do You Wanna Touch Me will always be a top played song in my life! Good pick

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