Cover songs play a vital role in the music industry. Many bands have been launched on the back of a great cover – going on to perform and record original music. There have also been a number of artists who are already great in their own right who have a hit with a cover song. This list deals with the latter category. If you know of other excellent covers that are better than the original, be sure to mention it in the comments.
Original: Bob Marley
One of many covers that The Clash and Strummer did over the years, and also The Clash is also a highly covered band. It was not uncommon in the late 70s and early 80s for English and American bands to cover reggae songs and ‘bring them to the masses’ .
Original: Tears for Fears
From the Donnie Darko soundtrack, this cover of the Tears for Fears track is an infinitely better version of the song, and also a perfect piece of music for the dark themes explored in the movie.
Original: John Kongos
Classic Ryder take on great rambling dance hall shuffle from South Africa. While the lyric ‘Oh he lied, oooh he’s twistin’ my melon man’ sounded perfectly logical coming from Shaun Ryders Ecstasy fuelled mind, it wasn’t his line.
Original: Brenda Lee
Neil Tennant always had an ear for the sublime hook. And with this cover of Brenda Lee’s 1972 song, that was also covered by Elvis Presley (1972) Wilie Nelson (1982), the Petshop Boys took the song to a UK Number One.
Original: Public Enemy
An agitated mesh of distorted trip hop layered electronica, growls and most the introduction to the world of the stunning Martina Topley-Bird on lead vocals. Tricky credited Public Enemy with being a massive influence on him, but along with Massive Attack and Portishead, Tricky was massively influential in creating the Bristol Sound, or Trip Hop.
Original: The Four Lads
A strange piece this one, but every time I hear it, I can’t help but start nodding and tapping my feet. From the hugely underrated album Flood this song by the two Johns was one of their break through hits, alongside Particle Man and Birdhouse in your Soul.
Original: Trent Reznor
Reznor was famously was quoted as saying ‘that song isn’t mine anymore’ and earned Cash a Country Music Award for Single of the Year. The music video for the Cash version features footage from his life.
Original: Alphaville
Broke this Sydney band on the world stage when their cover of the German trio Alphavilles 80s hit Forever Young was played on an American soap opera The OC.
Original: David Bowie
Was played endlessly by MTV following the news of Kurt Cobain’s passing. This cover of the Bowie song from the 1994 Nirvana album Unplugged in New York showed that there was a lot more to Cobain than the howling grunge sound that Nirvana among others had pioneered.
Original: Prince
Sinead O’Connor had a world wide number one hit in 1990 with this cover of the Prince track originally performed by The Family in 1985. O’Connor’s version is the definitive version, and after the song became a number hit in the US, Australia, Germany and the UK, Prince even began to perform the song at his live shows.
Original: Leonard Cohen
Was always going to make this list, for its break through that it gave Jeff Buckley. Although Cohen’s version is actually more moving, the Buckley cover reached a newer generation that had not heard of Cohen.
Contributor: Spart
When I read the title of the list, I immediately thought Hurt by Johnny Cash.
I’m surprised to not see any Led Zeppelin on this list. Although they often changed the songs so much, they weren’t like the originals at all, they still had to pay royalties to the original artists. Pretty much anything from their first album and some from their second comes to mind…
Communication Breakdown, You Shook Me, Babe I’m Gonna Leave You come to mind…
Also Cocaine or After Midnight, originally by JJ Cale, covered by Eric Clapton and Crossroads which was a cover by Cream.
Lol, I guess I could make a whole blues list, although Zeppelin would hold a few of the spots on it, so it really would be biased…
And Black Magic Women covered by Santana
Blue Suede Shoes and Hound Dog covered by Elvis
I also see other people have mentioned All Along the Watchtower…
I better stop now, otherwise I could go on quite a bit, I see how narrowing stuff down to a list of ten really becomes quite difficult…
Kiwiboi: Funny you mentioned UB40 with Red Red Wine (which I didn’t know was a cover too!), as I was going to mention their cover of Elvis Pressley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” which is one of my very favorite songs ever!
For those mentioning “I will always love you” I think that though it became a bigger hit when Houston covered it, the original is just as good.
And BishopWhiteT: I was almost irritated teh first time I heard someone say “you have to listen to this cover of Jolene, done by The White Stripes, it’s way better than Dolly!” But then I listened to it, and I agree, it’s flippin amazing!
I sure would have liked the list to include BOTH the original and the proffered improvement. This helps in making a more intelligible comparison without having to hunt down the original elsewhere.
I listened to 5 of the above, and really can’t say I’m impressed in any event. Oh well… maybe next list…
My favorite cover song is probably either This Is Halloween by Marilyn Manson which was originally from the Nightmare Before Christmas, or I Fought The Law by Green Day.
Black Steel Is great! I need to go diggin’ through the old CDs again.
Anyway, a few of my favs…
“Dancing Days” by STP (originally Led Zepelin)
“Never Let Me Down Again” by Smashing Pumpkins (originally Depeche Mode)
“Little Wing” by Stevie Ray Vaughan (originally Jimi Hendrix)
By the way, Reznor’s version of Hurt was better.
Metallica – Sabbra Cadabbra
Metallica – Helpless
Metallica – The Wait
Metallica – The Prince
Metallica – Breadfan
Surprised that Watchtower wasn’t in this list. Even U2′s version is better than Dylans. Although I don’t think anyone can touch NIN’s original version of Hurt even though JC was dying as he sang it.
My version of Go with the flow should be in this list
http://myspace.com/deltidsharmonisk
“Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” is my FAVORITE They Might Be Giants song. I never knew it was a cover!
My very favorite cover of all time is the George Harrison/Paul Simon version of “Here Comes the Sun” done live on Saturday Night Live. I wish I had a recording of it. It is exquisite!
Funny, something happened today and it made me think of Mad World and so it’s been stuck in my head for a while now. And I didn’t feel like searching it on youtube OR watching Donnie Darko (greattt movie)…and so here it is for me to listen to. YAY.
Dear Listverse,
Please dig a little deeper. Music goes beyond the Billboard Charts.
Love,
Anyone Who Knows Anything About Music
Ooooh! I just found it on You Tube.
George Harrison/Paul Simon “Here Comes the Sun”
Beautiful.
i’m sure nobody else has heard of it, but thrice did a cover of “send me an angel” which was much, much better than the original. (at least i think so)
I very much agree with 1-2-4 and 6 the rest i dont disagree with its subjective. If Spart likes them, more power to him/her. Im in love with the Bass player from Tricky though!
How about Kill switch engage cover of dio’s Holy diver.
Love Train by Keb Mo far outshines the O’Jays version!
A Perfect Circle’s cover of Imagine.
The major to minor shift is very effective.
And the kit.
It almost makes it sound like a completely different piece.
I think Rufus Wainwright’s Hallelujah is more recognized by the mainstream public, mostly due to the fact that it was used on the Shrek soundtrack
RIP Joe Strummer. Such a tragic and early death of an extremely talented and influential figure. He still had so much more to give the world…
Last Kiss- Pearl Jam
#10 are you kidding?! Bob Marley was the greatest. Anyone else that has ever TRIED to sing this song has never captured the feeling Marley had put into the song.
YES to Buckley.
No. 10, noone beats Bob Marley Id say. What a legend!!
A really good one that is only recorded from a live show is Round Here by counting crows but covered by panic at the disco. I think they put more emotion into it. There’s two versions of it. One is with just piano. The piano one makes it really sad, even though it’s a sad song to begin with.
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1.Stanley Snail (ex-zappa guitarist Mike Keneally) doing the Yes song Siberian Khatru and doing it better than Yes.
2. John Goodsall (Brand x) doing Genesis’ Carpet Crawlers-a killer guitar sole
3.Bela Fleck and the Flecktones doing the Beatles Oh! Darling with an amazing vocal performance from guest John Cowen
4.Aynsley Lister’s version of Little Wing…I like this better than SRV’s version only because the lyrics are as important as the guitar itself and Aynsley delivers on both fronts.
5.Roy Buchanan doing Neil Young’s Down by the River
6.Gov’t Mule doing the Humble Pie tune 30 days in the Hole
7.Rory Gallagher doing As the Crow Flies by tony Joe White
8.California guitar Trio doing Bohemian Rhapsody on their live album…totally amazing musicianship
9.Jimi Hendrix’s version of All along the Watchtower
10. ….and yes, definately Jeff Buckley’s version of Hallelujah; this song will bring you to tears with it’s stunning beauty and passion.
Jose Gonzalez’s cover of The Knife’s Heartbeats is the best cover I’ve heard in a long time
OK, I disagree with the Redeption Song cover, and many people have said that no one tops Bob Marley.. but what about Sublime covering Trenchtown Rock (a Marley song)? I love the song, and i LOVE and respect marley, but I have to admit the Sublime version really captures the desire for music that the song is describing. Bradley Knowls voice on that one just echoes in my soul. Anyone out there know what I’m talking about??
http://www.imeem.com/tag/trenchtown%20rock/
Check it out for yourself.
Very good list, I would have out in Rage Against The Machine’s cover of Renegades of Funk or Born Of A Broken Man, but very good otherwise
I hate the Bee Gees’ disco stuff, but Eagle Eye Cherry does a version of “To Love Somebody” that is beautiful. It’s from the soundtrack to “Y Tu Mamà Tambièn” Talk about outshining the original.
my last post edit: sorry about Born Of A Broken Man, had a brain fart thinking it was a cover.
pretty much anything Me First and The Gimme Gimmes does
Siouxsie & The Banshees’ cover of Dear Prudence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Qe8d95vCc Rasputinas’ cover of wish you were here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUxCYgTlBU4
Some well-known covers I like:
Hurricane…Ani Difranco (Dylan)
I will survive…Cake (Gloria Gaynor)
Personal Jesus…Marilyn Manson (Depeche Mode)
Johny and Mary…Placebo (?)
Mrs. Robinson…Lemonheads
Across the universe…Fiona Apple (Lennon?)
jeff buckleys version is by far the best its like when you eat 2 pounds of peanuts take a hard rock molton ***** that loooks like a giant cracked easter eggg then you spray it with hairspray n light it on fire. halleujuh
Pretty much the only thing I disagree with here is Willie Nelson, not the Pet Shop Boys, should be credited with the best version of #7.
Worst List ever.
i still like the bob marley version of redemption song better, as well as leonard cohen’s version of hallelujah.
When I saw this list, I though “All along the watchtower”
@Matt (151): We tend to discourage those types of comments here. If it’s a list you are simply uninterested in, you can skip it & read another. Not every list will be for every reader. If you think it’s the “worst ever” because you disagree with it…well…the intro to the list encouraged people to add their own suggestions in the comments. A comment like yours just looks rude.
personally i prefer bowies version of man who sold the world its a bit more hypnotic
Great list, I would include Over the Rainbow by Eva Cassidy. I think it is one of the most beautiful songs ever!
oops! i wanna correct my previous commment, Matt’s comment was 153, not 151…Sorry aussie pride!
I have to disagree with Redemption Song. There’s no way anyone’s cover could possibly be better than Marley’s. His version is haunting.
I completely disagree about Redemption Song. Nothing is better than the original.
I agree with a lot of the other people here that NIN’s Hurt is better. I feel that the original is much more powerful and moving, whereas the Cash version is just very depressing.
*****es Aint ***** by Ben Folds was pretty good was a pretty god cover
Great list; all worthy inclusions. My favorite cover has been mentioned – Jolene by Jack White/White Stripes – much preferred to Dolly’s original.
Another tune, not really a cover, but could be is Bare Naked Ladies/Sarah Maclachlan version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/
We Three Kings. Too bad it only gets airplay around Christmas.
How could you forget Jimi Hendrix’s all along the watch tower
Orignal Bob Dylan
SEROUSLY?????
headstones cover of tweeter and the monkey man
‘How about Kill switch engage cover of dio’s Holy diver.’
Granted the cover was alright, it doesn’t even come close to the raw power and feeling in Dio’s voice. You can’t compare it to something down by possibly the best metal voacalist ever.
the band a day to remember did a really good cover of kelly clarkson’s song since you’ve been gone.
i’m not very fond of her, but the cover really does outshine the orginal.
I really enjoyed this list – I thought it was a really cool idea. I’m not sure this song should be on here, because I’m not sure it really outshines the original and I think a lot of people have never heard it, but I actually prefer The Used/My Chemical Romance cover of “Under Pressure” to the original. Just my opinion though.
@84. xXTurkinatorXx
Land of Confusion was originally done by Phil Collins…and I agree the Disturbed version is far superior.
@133. John
As a Killswitch & Dio fan I must disagree with you Killswitch’s was so awful Dio probably wished he would die just so he could turn in his grave
A very high quality list, and I’m sure a very tough one to write considering the number of excellent cover songs out there. The task would have been made even more difficult as the question of what defines a good song is incredibily subjective.
Personally my favourite song on the list is Hurt, followed closely by The Man Who Sold the World and Mad World.
Other favourites of mine that aren’t included are All Along the Watchtower by Hendrix (as mentioned by many others), and Frank Sinatra’s cover of The Impossible Dream.
Well done Spart!
DEVO’s cover of “I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction)?”
Or their cover of Secret Agent Man?
Or just about any of their covers.
Re: Land of Confusion was Genesis which Phil collins was in not him solo…Sorry!!
To: luna1580
if you could hear the song on a video called “lucky 3″ on youtube
also http://www.elliottsmithbsides.com
I personally think Jeffs hallelujah was more moving it’s definately more haunting. Also where is Whitneys I will always love you in my opinion that definately outshines dolly partons original.
This cover of Outkasts-Hey ya is pretty effin’ sweet. It gives the song a bit more substance and makes it worth listening to, have a listen and tell me what you think
And my bet is all of us could probably sound this good if we all grew beards like this guys.
My good God, Spart! What a fabulous list!
I don’t agree with every choice, I’m sure it’s a generational thing, but I truly love the list.
So. Here are my comments, for good or for ill:
10 – Bob Marley’s rendition of Redemption Man is far superior to Joe Strummer. Marley had a visceral connection with the song which was missing in the Joe Strummer version. Strummer’s was okay, and would have done if one had never heard Marley’s original. Not good enough.
9 – Gary Jules version of Mad World is far better than Tears for Fears! Great choice!
7 – Pet Shop Boys v. Brenda Lee.
This is like comparing Tulips to Elephants. It can’t be done.
No, really. I mean it. It’s not even close.
Pet Shop Boys do a fine job on a song called Always On My Mind.
Brenda Lee did a great job on a song called (amazingly enough!) Always On My Mind!
I prefer the song Brenda Lee sang, but I like the song by Pet Shop Boys, too.
5 – They Might Be Giants version of (absolutely anything, but in this case) Istanbul (Not Constantinople)is fabulous! I’ve been a major fan of this group since they got together.
4 – Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt is so much better than Trent Reznor’s I feel bad for Reznor.
3 – Youth Group does the best version of Forever Young, bar none.
2 – Bowie does the definitive version of The Man Who Sold The World. Bowie. Not Nirvana. There were some Nirvana songs I liked, but please, Bowie? Nuh huh.
1 – Yup, Sinead O’Connor can sing anything, anything, better than whoever sang it first. Nothing Compares To You is a tissue fest when she sings it, I saw Prince sing it live and it was ho-hum.
BONUS – This is a toughy. I like Jeff Buckley’s version better than Leonard Cohen’s, but there are other covers that are nearly as good. All in all, though, I think you chose wisely here.
Redemption Song, *NOT* man
WOW what a great list of comments!
I’ll be searching for some songs today!
The first song I thought of has not been mentioned yet
(I think)
Video Killed The Radio Star
The Buggles covered a band called The Cameras
Their original is nowhere near The Buggles great version!
I would suggest “Love Hurts” by Nazareth.