Cover songs you like better than the originals

[SheSaidSheSaid]

Got any?

I for one have always liked Metallica's version of "Turn the Page" (fun fact: first time I ever actually saw that video was during an MTV special on banned videos. It was on at like 3 o'clock in the morning and had viewer discretion warnings at the beginning of every segment. What was blurred out in this YouTube video was....not blurred out for that broadcast) better than Bob Seger's. Which is weird, because I'm really not all that big a Metallica fan, but I like their arrangement of the song a whole lot better.

Another artist I've never been too fond of is Michael Jackson. Especially 11 year old Michael Jackson. I heard a rather generic pop-rock version of "I Want You Back" a few weeks ago on the radio that I liked quite a bit better than the original, but I can't seem to find it again. I have no idea who performed it.

Then there's the obvious answer. Even Trent Reznor likes that version better.

[GNFfhqwhgads]

Alien Ant Farm's Smooth Criminal. Jackson's is a little stuttery.

[MagicMurderBag7]

Honest Bob's cover of Head Like A Hole is 100x better then the original NIN version.
And Jonathan Coulton's cover of Baby Got Back is just funny as hell.

And was that cover of I Want You Back by Steel Train? I think that was who I heard a cover of that song from and it sucked. It had zero feeling behind the lyrics. Maybe it was Anthony Green? I get all those bands my brother loves mixed up.

[SheSaidSheSaid]

And was that cover of I Want You Back by Steel Train?

Nope, that's not it. I wouldn't be surprised if people described the version I heard as "sucked," though. There's nothing terribly special about it. Good vocal harmonies, though. I just like it better than 11 year old Michael Jackson. His vocals are just so...sharp, and grating.

Maybe it was Anthony Green? I get all those bands my brother loves mixed up.

Can't find that one.

[FujiSkunk]

Manfred Mann's "Blinded by the Light," originally by Bruce Springsteen.

Point of Grace's "Hole in the World," originally by the Eagles.

Paul Young's "Every Time You Go Away," originally by Hall and Oates.

Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," originally by Gloria Jones.

Naked Eyes' "Always Something There to Remind Me," originally by Dionne Warwick.

The Doobie Brothers' "Jesus Is Just Alright," originally by the Byrds.

Club Nouveau's "Lean on Me," originally by Bill Withers (though the original is good in its own right).

But "Turn the Page" didn't need a remake, least of all by Metallica.

[SheSaidSheSaid]

Manfred Mann's "Blinded by the Light," originally by Bruce Springsteen.

I never knew he actually recorded that one. Reminds me of another one - "I'm a Believer." The Monkees version is a pop music touchstone. It's fairly well known that Neil Diamond wrote the song, but I was also surprised when I first learned that he recorded a version as well.

[FujiSkunk]

I never knew he actually recorded that one.

It's on his first album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. His version sounds, well, like a Bruce Springsteen song, which makes the weird lyrics seem even weirder. Manfred Mann gave them a more appropriate prog-rock setting.

[MagicMurderBag7]

Nope, that's not it. I wouldn't be surprised if people described the version I heard as "sucked," though. There's nothing terribly special about it. Good vocal harmonies, though. I just like it better than 11 year old Michael Jackson. His vocals are just so...sharp, and grating.



Can't find that one.

I knew one of those bands had a cover of it.

[SheSaidSheSaid]

Manfred Mann are an usual band. They're essentially a two-hit wonder, and the two songs are of vastly different styles - "Blinded by the Light" and "Doo Wah Diddy." Also, they were originally named after their keyboardist (Manfred Mann) and their drummer (Mike Hugg) making their name....the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers.

Yeah, going straight for Manfred's name was probably a good career move.....

[FujiSkunk]

Manfred Mann are an usual band. They're essentially a two-hit wonder, and the two songs are of vastly different styles - "Blinded by the Light" and "Doo Wah Diddy."

The Mighty Quinn would like a word with you.

Yeah, going straight for Manfred's name was probably a good career move.....

No argument there!