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Title: Me and Bobby McGee Cover: Janis Joplin Original: Roger Miller (some controversy, Lightfoot may have recorded it first.)
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That's almost another category - covers that have become the "real" version of the song. I'm sure there are others like that - probably quite a few Dylan songs qualify.
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At least no one has tried to say that Whitney did "I Will Always Love You" better than Dolly yet.
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quote:Originally posted by Dagonee: That's almost another category - covers that have become the "real" version of the song. I'm sure there are others like that - probably quite a few Dylan songs qualify.
The thread that this thread initially was a derivative of was on precisely that topic. Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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People really like 311's version of "Love Song" better than The Cure? Sick. I like 311 and all, but the original song is a classic.''
I think it's kinda funny when they play the Tesla song "Thank you" on the radio, some people think it's Zeppelin. That's not to say Tesla's version is better, being the Zeppelin fan that I am. Posts: 4229 | Registered: Dec 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Flaming Toad on a Stick: Song: Have a Cigar Original: Floyd, I think. Cover: Primus
Song: Live and let Die Original: Wings, I think Cover: G'nR
If you're not even sure who did the original versions of these songs, how are you qualified to say that the covers are better?
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and a quick wikipedia search will almost certainly yield the answer... so there's really no excuse for anyone, ever. here, i'll do it for you...
Have a Cigar is indeed Pink Floyd.
Live and let Die is indeed Paul McCartney and Wings.
Wait a second... Speed, he was doubting his memory, and he wasn't even wrong... seriously, how many times have you heard a song, known the name of the song, but later forgot which artist did it? especially if you later find a cover of that song that you prefer? It's like... you weren't even being serious, were you?
Posts: 247 | Registered: Feb 2007
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I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Alanis Morisette's version of "Humps". Originally by... someone. The Black-Eyed Peas, I think.
Of course, saying her version is better than the original isn't really saying much. I haven't had the patience to actually listen to the whole song no matter who's singing it, but Alanis' version was amusing enough that I probably got about halfway through.
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For the love of god, stop saying that any covers of Beatles songs are better than the originals. I am starting to hate this thread.
Posts: 2705 | Registered: Sep 2006
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quote:Originally posted by JonHecht: For the love of god, stop saying that any covers of Beatles songs are better than the originals. I am starting to hate this thread.
Yes. There are a few versions that are maybe AS good-- Maura O'Connell comes to mind, and Aretha's version of "Let it Be" (which was released BEFORE the Beatles' version came out), but not BETTER. (Though I haven't heard a different version of "I am the Walrus", which I have never liked much. That might be better, who knows.)
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quote:Originally posted by JonHecht: For the love of god, stop saying that any covers of Beatles songs are better than the originals. I am starting to hate this thread.
The 1992 live version of "While my Guitar Gently Weeps" by Clapton and Harrison is much better than the original. Of course, both were part of the original recording on the White Album, but Paul, John, and Ringo are of course absent from the live version.
I'm not sure whether that's a cover or not.
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Now that some time has passed, I no longer feel that 311's version of Love Song is better than the original. I love every version of Love Song I've heard -- it's one of my favorite songs. At the time I think I was infatuated with what 311 did, which was, I think, to make it feel kind of sun-on-your-face hopeful. The original is more spacey and detached, at least it feels so to me. But, yes, I prefer the original song.
Claudia took umbrage with my love for Jeff Buckley's cover Halleluljah. In my defense, I would say that I love Leonard Cohen more than anyone I know. I now cause the literary-minded to think I know nothing of poetry when I say Cohen is my favorite poet. (I actually do read poetry -- he displaced Gregory Orr on my list.) But Buckley's version sounds particularly nothing like Cohen's, and it is, to me, vastly, gloriously beautiful.
Of course all credit goes to the originator.... I just can't get over how good and lovely Buckley sounds.
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I don't think there's any argument that Cohen is a gifted lyricist/poet. I also don't think there's any argument that he's anything but a mediocre singer (when he sings). But then, the same can be said for Dylan.
They both seem to be doing alright for themselves.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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A band called The Red Paintings (IIRC) does a great cover of Mad World. I like it about as much as I like the Gary Jules version. I dislike the Tears for Fears original.
I love A Perfect Circle's cover of Imagine. I don't think it's better, but I do think it's a perfect update for the modern era: the optimism of the original is replaced with dripping sarcasm.
I don't think Cash's cover of Hurt is better than the original, but I do think it's great.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes do a great cover of Britney Spears' Baby One More Time.
I don't think I've ever heard the Dylan version of Watchtower.
There's a great string version of Schism, by Tool.
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quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: OK OK I wouldn't say the cover is better per se, more that this cover is practically a different song and yet it is amazing.
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House of the Rising Sun Cover: Both Muse and Santa Esmeralda made awesome versions, both completely different takes Original: I think it was The Animals
Posts: 2054 | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by JonHecht: For the love of god, stop saying that any covers of Beatles songs are better than the originals. I am starting to hate this thread.
*clears throat*
We Can Work It Out Original: The Beatles Cover: Stevie Wonder
Posts: 2054 | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by JonHecht: For the love of god, stop saying that any covers of Beatles songs are better than the originals. I am starting to hate this thread.
This.
Should we start another thread for *uncoverable songs? Or just post them here.
*Uncoverable meaning that it unlikely that a cover will ever have the impact of the intial release.
I think Paint It Black is uncoverable.
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No, I haven't heard Apocalyptica do any Tool. I have a String Quartet Tribute to Tool disc that is definitely not four cellos.
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:I Shot the Sheriff Cover: Eric Clapton Original: Bob Marley
I'm sorry, but Clapton doing a song about racism was just plain stupid. It never made any sense until I heard Marley do it.
Posts: 3735 | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by GaalDornick: House of the Rising Sun Cover: Both Muse and Santa Esmeralda made awesome versions, both completely different takes Original: I think it was The Animals
Excuse me. That is a folk song. It was in a Lomax collection, even. I don't know that you can say they "covered" it if it's been around for ages, can you?
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Nobody said this one: Killing Me Softly With His Song Cover Artist: Lauryn Hill Original Artist: Roberta Flack
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What about: Seasons in the Sun Cover Artist: Blink182 Original Artist: Terry Jacks (Original-er Artist: Jacques Brell)
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