Has anyone ever done a cover of a song that was better than the original?

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Subcitizen

I can only think of, maybe, one. I know this is treading on sacred ground, but I swear that Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Voodoo Chile" is better than Jimi's. Oh crap! What have I done?

Jason

No lie! When I saw the title of this thread I was going to say the exact same thing! Loved Jimi, but Stevie Ray was friggin' awesome!

Since you took that one already:

"Big Ten Inch Record" by Aerosmith. Another version was done by Bull "Moose" Jackson in 1952, but I think the song originally dates back to the 1930's.

and

"Blue Bayou" by Linda Ronstadt. Blew Roy Orbison away.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

BRADLEY ANDERSON - Tips, reviews & resources to make your online business more profitable.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3773090].message }}

pickthat apple 13 years ago

I like this remix better than the original version

YouTube - sheffield flood june 2007 heavy rain...

PS there are plenty of songs better than the originals, but also plenty that are just redone and ruined very effectively.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3773418].message }}

TLTheLiberator

13 years ago

Earth Wind & Fires' Got To Get You Into My Life originally done by the Beetles is much better than the original IMHO, but EWF had the benefit of much better technology.

TL

Thanks

Signature

"It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3774244].message }}

whateverpedia

13 years ago

Hendrix did the definitive version of Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower.

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

Why do garden gnomes smell so bad?

So that blind people can hate them as well.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3774269].message }}

Bradley J Anderson 13 years ago

Originally Posted by whateverpedia

Hendrix did the definitive version of Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower.

Excellent choice. Forgot all about that one.
- Thanks
Signature
BRADLEY ANDERSON - Tips, reviews & resources to make your online business more profitable.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3774452].message }}
Kurt 13 years ago

Originally Posted by whateverpedia

Hendrix did the definitive version of Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower.

I've heard even Bob Dylan tributes Hendrix when Dylan does the song...

And while I love SRV, not sure I can agree his version is better than this:

YouTube - Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child (Slight...
- Thanks
Signature

Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3775182].message }}

TLTheLiberator

13 years ago

Elvis's cover of hounddog is much better than the original - IMHO.

TL

Thanks

Signature

"It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3775195].message }}

Bradley J Anderson

13 years ago

Hmmm... I still can't get the videos to show on here, and yes I do have 'Automatically embed media' and 'Automatically parse links in text' ticked in the Miscellaneous Options section.

But anyway, lets see what everyone else thinks about this one compared to the Hendrix version:

YouTube - Stevie Ray Vaughan - Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)

I have to agree they are both top-notch, though.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

BRADLEY ANDERSON - Tips, reviews & resources to make your online business more profitable.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3775348].message }}

jimbo13

13 years ago

A few here.

Roberta Flack singing 'Killing Me Softly' in 1973. Fugees were better than the original as well. Lori Lieberman sang the original in 1971.

Marc Almond singing 'Days of Pearly Spencer' I think is better than teh original.

Jonny Cash singing 'Hurt' is way better than the original by Nine Inch Nails. They don't even sound the same if you listen to them.

Nice thing about the latter is that those type of true stars like Jonny Cash sang other peoples songs such as the above as they respected the lyrics of the original,and by covering it were tipping their hats of to the band. I'm sure they were honoured that he thought their song was good enough to sing.

In the UK and probably US you get wannabee stars being put together by Simon Cowell covering a hit song to make money. No real respect in my opinion.

But that is just me.

Dan

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3775517].message }}

Dave Patterson

13 years ago

Janis Joplin gave this song the life Kristofferson probably intended it to have.....

YouTube - Janis Joplin - me and Bobby McGee

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Professional Googler

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3775587].message }}

ThomM

13 years ago

Keep in mind I'm a huge Bogart and Appice fan and have been for 40 years.
The first video sucks, but you'll get the idea. Vanilla Fudge, Keep me Hanging On.
The second is simply 3 amazing musicians. Beck, Bogart, and Appice, Superstition.

YouTube - Vanilla Fudge - Keep Me Hangin On

YouTube - Beck Bogert & Appice Live -...

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
Getting old ain't for sissy's
As you are I was, as I am you will be
You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3775672].message }}

KimW

13 years ago

Originally Posted by ThomM

Keep in mind I'm a huge Bogart and Appice fan and have been for 40 years.
The first video sucks, but you'll get the idea. Vanilla Fudge, Keep me Hanging On.
The second is simply 3 amazing musicians. Beck, Bogart, and Appice, Superstition.

YouTube - Vanilla Fudge - Keep Me Hangin On

YouTube - Beck Bogert & Appice Live - Superstition

Sorry to go off topic here, but Thom, if you like Vanilla Fudge I bet your a fan of this band too.

YouTube - Cactus - Jamming "One way or...

[ 2 ] Thanks
2 replies

Signature

Read A Post.
Subscribe to a Newsletter
KimWinfrey.Com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3778791].message }}

Frank Donovan

13 years ago

The Chimes took U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and turned it into something quite magnificent.

Even the modest, shy and retiring Bono admitted "This is how the song was meant to sound!"

YouTube - I still haven't found what I'm looking...

Frank

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3778880].message }}

Roaddog

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Frank Donovan

The Chimes took U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and turned it into something quite magnificent.

Even the modest, shy and retiring Bono admitted "This is how the song was meant to sound!"

YouTube - I still haven't found what I'm looking for - The Chimes

Frank

I like that girls voice, sounds like a cross between Anita Baker and towards the end... a little Chaka.

Good choice, Frank

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

KimW a Fellow Warrior Who Really Needs Help
Ken Strong Cancer Donation | Keep Ken Strong WSO

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3778975].message }}

Frank Donovan 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Roaddog

I like that girls voice, sounds like a cross between Anita Baker and towards the end... a little Chaka.

I agree, Jim. Her name's Pauline Henry. The Chimes didn't really do too much after that top 10 UK hit and she left the band to pursue a solo career.

Not sure what happened, but she did have a minor hit in 1994 with another cover: Bad Company's "Feel Like Making Love".

NB: This vid might only be viewable on the YouTube site:

YouTube - Pauline Henry - Feel Like Making Love...

Frank
- Thanks
Signature
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3779046].message }}

Roaddog 13 years ago

Kim,

That was waaaay cool..really liked that.

Dude plays a meeeean chair...

There's another band that ties in with all bands, like I said in the other thread. I was looking at all the old members on Wiki.

My mind, what's left........is bending
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
KimW a Fellow Warrior Who Really Needs Help
Ken Strong Cancer Donation | Keep Ken Strong WSO
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3778903].message }}
- QuickSurf 13 years ago
  
  Plenty have done covers that I like much more than the originals:
  
  Killswitch Engage covered Dio's "Holy Diver"
  
  YouTube - Killswitch Engage - Holy Diver
  
  Metallica covered Bob Segers "Turn The Page"
  
  YouTube - Metallica - Turn The Page (Live in...
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3778966].message }}

BrianMcLeod

13 years ago

Van Halen covering The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" on their debut album 1978

YouTube - Van Halen - You Really Got Me...

Thanks

Signature

Brian McLeod

Direct Response Copywriting

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3775720].message }}

Thomas

13 years ago

I think this is FAR better than the original:

YouTube - Ane Brun - Big in Japan

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3776113].message }}

realpph 13 years ago

sadly...I think the Manfred Mann version of "Blinded by the Light" is way better than Springsteen's original version
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3776346].message }}
- Steven Wagenheim 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by realpph
  
  sadly...I think the Manfred Mann version of "Blinded by the Light" is way better than Springsteen's original version
  
  I have to agree with that one. Manfred Mann's was awesome. Bruce's was
  flat out horrible.
  
  Go figure.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  My Soundcloud Music Channel
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3777617].message }}