BeatResetsTheWorld
Banned
The ONLY part of it that sounds better is the "Annie are you okay" part. And the music video...Smooth Criminal is probably my favorite ever while the AAF version is typical 90s punk rock
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Covers that sound better than the original songs
- Thread starter Amentallica
- Start date
- Status
The ONLY part of it that sounds better is the "Annie are you okay" part. And the music video...Smooth Criminal is probably my favorite ever while the AAF version is typical 90s punk rock
bishopcruz
Member
No, just, no. It IS a great cover, But nowhere near as good as the original.
I can't even... I like Disturbed, but god no.
Exactly what I was thinking.
One that is a bit of a cheat (Original was by Bruce Springsteen, but never released.)
http://youtu.be/WSVd8szH7Qk
and since we are GAF:
http://youtu.be/CAA_zE5a3JQ
Silly, I know, and honestly probably not better than the original, but I love it.
This has got to be one of the top ones. Along with Johnny Cash covering Hurt and Gary Jules' Mad World
Bob Dylan - Desolation Row
My Chemical Romance cover
I really don't care for the band, but I really like the energy of the cover. Kind of the perfect song to end Watchmen on.
hipbabboom
Huh? What did I say? Did I screw up again? :(
I still love the various version of "Love Song" by the Cure more but damn Adele's cover is really good!
Not really a cover I guess, since it's still mostly Nirvana, but I'm really digging Annie Clark singing on Lithium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOHvCIPPKH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOHvCIPPKH0
Luca Turilli - I'm Alive (Helloween cover)
Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiZoGwXcP50
The original just sounds dated and incredibly muffled.
Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiZoGwXcP50
The original just sounds dated and incredibly muffled.
Bitanator
Member
Beatles - Eleanor Rigby
Realm version
Simply amazing version done by one of the most brilliant Tech/Thrash bands ever
Realm version
Simply amazing version done by one of the most brilliant Tech/Thrash bands ever
cr_blah_blah
Member
People never believe me when I recommend the Shatner version too. The most unexpectedly legit great cover by Shatner that is great for reasons besides Shatner being Shatnery. I love Pulp and prefer the Shatner/Ben Folds version.
ReignofSparrows
Member
I am disappointed to see so many mentions of "Hurt" without anyone calling that out. Just, nope.
There are a few examples I can think of, but this one is exemplary in that it stays true to the feeling of the original but the artist truly makes it her own. It's also a cover of a song that I originally liked before the cover ever existed, so that carries weight with me as well.
Bat for Lashes version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhat3oUbNkw
Springsteen original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzQvGz6_fvA
There are a few examples I can think of, but this one is exemplary in that it stays true to the feeling of the original but the artist truly makes it her own. It's also a cover of a song that I originally liked before the cover ever existed, so that carries weight with me as well.
Bat for Lashes version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhat3oUbNkw
Springsteen original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzQvGz6_fvA
speculawyer
Member
Knockin' On Heaven's Door (original Bob Dylan) - As covered by Warren Zevon who was literally knockin' on Heaven's Door at the time.
NOTHING can beat Jimi Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower. He uses so much great guitar work on that song that it is one of his best.
With Knockin' on Heaven's door, it is an OK song for Dylan . . . but even the GnR and Eric Clapton, and Bob Marley versions are better than Dylan's.
Even Avril Levine is better.
NOTHING can beat Jimi Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower. He uses so much great guitar work on that song that it is one of his best.
With Knockin' on Heaven's door, it is an OK song for Dylan . . . but even the GnR and Eric Clapton, and Bob Marley versions are better than Dylan's.
Even Avril Levine is better.
OK maybe not.
TheKaeptain
Banned
Lisa Hannigan's cover of Nina Simone's Be My Husband.
Lisa's version
Nina's original.
A couple more covers from Lisa that I think are better than the original.
Somebody I Use to Know
Willie
The Man I Love
Moon River
Cannonball
Lisa's version
Nina's original.
A couple more covers from Lisa that I think are better than the original.
Somebody I Use to Know
Willie
The Man I Love
Moon River
Cannonball
Valerie
Original by The Zutons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3xpmfJp0Xc
Cover by Amy Winehouse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1hbWYH6ZEg
Original by The Zutons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3xpmfJp0Xc
Cover by Amy Winehouse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1hbWYH6ZEg
Gonna get my Punk Goes... ALL in this.
A Day to Remember - Over My Head compared to the original by The Fray
I don't think its better than the original, but Yellowcard's cover of Today is pretty damn good.
And if you wanna go real heavy, I think The Ghost Inside's cover of Southtown is sooooooooooo much better than the original.
My dude!
A Day to Remember - Over My Head compared to the original by The Fray
I don't think its better than the original, but Yellowcard's cover of Today is pretty damn good.
And if you wanna go real heavy, I think The Ghost Inside's cover of Southtown is sooooooooooo much better than the original.
My dude!
ReignofSparrows
Member
Lisa Hannigan is a delight.
TheKaeptain
Banned
She's the only person that I love more than Joni Mitchell and Nina Simone.
Original- Star Spangled Banner- ????
Cover- Star Spangled Banner- Whitney Houston
I kid, but I have never heard anyone sing it as well as she had ever since
Cover- Star Spangled Banner- Whitney Houston
I kid, but I have never heard anyone sing it as well as she had ever since
I could not agree more. Here's what I think have surpassed the originals:
Burn
Original by Ellie Goulding
Cover by Postmodernjukebox
Royals
Original by Lorde
Cover by Postmodernjukebox - Feat. Puddles the Clown
I like her, but you lost me. Nina's voice has no equal.
-tetsuo-
Unlimited Capacity
Space Oddity by Mike Masse
He has a bunch of other classics in acoustic that I prefer to the original.
He has a bunch of other classics in acoustic that I prefer to the original.
TheKaeptain
Banned
Nina's voice is the best ever but the song writing isn't the same. I grew up around folk music so Lisa's style comforts me more.
TheKaeptain
Banned
Eric Burdon's version of Paint it Black surpasses the original IMO
Almost every cover Our Last Night does I like more than the original, good pick.
TheKaeptain
Banned
Great version.
Yo Des how come you never put together a cover/b-side thread? I feel like we could get some miles out that.
Black Mamba
Member
Bob Dylan wrote it but the first official release was The Band on Music from Big Pink. They recorded a version together (The Band and Dylan) before that, but it wasn't released until much later on The Basement Tapes.The versions that Dylan has released on his own albums were recorded after The Band did it.
How about no
SpoonyBard
Banned
Gamma Ray's It's a Sin is better than the original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o80fZEwJ_6I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o80fZEwJ_6I
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
Well this was unexpected. Badass. Amazing. The original song is unbearable, this is a great song.
speculawyer
Member
TheKaeptain
Banned
GOAT
Oh shit found another Lisa track that I like more the original. Her voice is just soothing.
I Need A Dollar
bishopcruz
Member
The 1980s had so many of these:
Gloria - Umberto Tozzi
became
Gloria - Laura Branigan
Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Robert Hazard
became
Girld Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Tainted Love - Gloria Jones
became
Tainted Love - SOFT CELL
Always Something There to Remind Me - Lou Johnson
became
Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes
to name but a few that were better than the original (though honestly the Gloria Jones version is DAMNED close) but my GOD New Wave stole a lot of stuff.
However when I found out about this one it blew my mind:
Istanbul - The Four Lads
became
Istanbul - They Might Be Giants
Gloria - Umberto Tozzi
became
Gloria - Laura Branigan
Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Robert Hazard
became
Girld Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Tainted Love - Gloria Jones
became
Tainted Love - SOFT CELL
Always Something There to Remind Me - Lou Johnson
became
Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes
to name but a few that were better than the original (though honestly the Gloria Jones version is DAMNED close) but my GOD New Wave stole a lot of stuff.
However when I found out about this one it blew my mind:
Istanbul - The Four Lads
became
Istanbul - They Might Be Giants
speculawyer
Member
Holy crap. I feel stupid . . . I thought most of those were originals.
Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ugkg9RePc
Cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw2lsVjUQd8
Telephone
Original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0lei9Rh5FE
Cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DoWv6SYWWs
Original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ugkg9RePc
Cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw2lsVjUQd8
Telephone
Original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0lei9Rh5FE
Cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DoWv6SYWWs
OrlanisWorks
Banned
Red Red Wine from UB-40 far superior to its Neil Diamond original
- Status